Relatives of Jesus

The NT writings are generally hostile to the relatives of Jesus. Even Luke, as noted by Conzelmann has passages hostile to the relatives. Commenting on Luke 8:19-21, Conzelmann states: “The very position of the scene indicates that the relatives are excluded from playing any essential part in the life of Jesus and therefore the life of the Church.” Yet, we know from the Acts of the Apostles and Eusebius that the early leaders of the church, even post 70, were in facts relatives of Jesus. Conzelmann does not explain how this happened.

Arthur A. Just, Jr., in one of his writings seems to suggest, that the relatives were rehabilitated and, without my reviewing the evidence in detail, that the named disciple and perhaps also the unnamed disciple on the road to Emmaus were relatives of Jesus. These two individuals return to Jerusalem and instruct the community into the meaning of what Jesus preached and why Jesus had to suffer before he entered into glory. This may explain why relatives of Jesus are part of the Jerusalem community prior to Pentecost.

Notwithstanding, it is my humble opinion, as previously stated, that the unknown disciple is Luke.

Copyrighted 2006

Religion

Christianity

Gospel of Luke