ADELPHOS, what does it mean?

Protestants claim that the word "adelphos" only means brothers of the womb.  Therefore, they claim that Mary had other children.  They base that idea on this verse:

Matthew 13:55
Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?



Lets focus on that word, "brethren".  The original Greek uses the word "adelphos".  Strong's lexicon number 80.  Let me show you from the Blue Letter Bible:

Mat 13:55

Is 2076 not 3756 this 3778 the carpenter's 5045 son 5207? is 3004 0 not3780 his 846 mother 3384 called 3004 Mary 3137? and 2532 his 846brethren 80, James 2385, and 2532 Joses 2500, and 2532 Simon 4613, and 2532 Judas 2455?

Now, let's see a few instances of the word brethren in the New Testament in reference to brethren of Jesus:

Mat 4:18	And 1161 Jesus 2424, walking 4043 by 3844 the sea 2281 of Galilee1056, saw 1492 two 1417 brethren 80, Simon 4613 called 3004 Peter4074, and 2532 Andrew 406 his 846 brother 80, casting 906 a net 293into 1519 the sea 2281: for 1063 they were 2258 fishers 231.
Mat 4:21	And 2532 going on 4260 from thence 1564, he saw 1492 other 243 two1417 brethren 80, James 2385 [the son] of 3588 Zebedee 2199, and2532 John 2491 his 846 brother 80, in 1722 a ship 4143 with 3326Zebedee 2199 their 846 father 3962, mending 2675 their 846 nets 1350; and 2532 he called 2564 them 846.

Mat 12:49

And 2532 he stretched forth 1614 his 846 hand 5495 toward 1909 his 846disciples 3101, and said 2036, Behold 2400 my 3450 mother 3384 and2532 my 3450 brethren 80!

Mat 23:8

But 1161 be 2564 0 not 3361 ye 5210 called 2564 Rabbi 4461: for 1063 one1520 is 2076 your 5216 Master 2519, [even] Christ 5547; and 1161 all 3956ye 5210 are 2075 brethren 80.

Mat 28:10

Then 5119 said 3004 Jesus 2424 unto them 846, Be 5399 0 not 3361 afraid5399: go 565 tell 518 my 3450 brethren 80 that 2443 they go 5217 into1519 Galilee 1056, and there 2546 shall they see 3700 me 3165.

How many children did the Virgin Mary have again?


Just one folks.  The word "adelphos" has many meanings in Scripture.


Sincerely,


De Maria