Joses
Joses (or Joseph) was one of Jesus' brothers and a son of Mary.
Biography
Joses (also rendered Joseph) was one of the brothers of Jesus, named alongside James, Simon, and Judas in the Gospels (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3). As a son of Mary, he grew up in the household of Nazareth alongside Jesus. Like his brothers, Joses apparently did not believe in Jesus during His earthly ministry (John 7:5), though the post-resurrection community of disciples included Jesus' brothers (Acts 1:14), suggesting a transformation of faith following the resurrection. Joses is also potentially identified with the Joses whose mother Mary stood witness at the cross (Mark 15:40, 47), though this association is debated. He remains a peripheral figure in the Gospels, known primarily through family relationship rather than independent ministry.
Significance
Joses' story, though sparsely documented, raises important questions about familiarity and faith. Growing up with Jesus in the same household did not produce belief during Jesus' earthly ministry, a sobering reminder that proximity to the sacred does not automatically generate saving faith. Yet the presence of Jesus' brothers in the upper room (Acts 1:14) indicates that the resurrection transformed skepticism into devotion. Joses represents the universal human struggle to recognize the divine in the ordinary and familiar, and his family's ultimate faith testifies to the resurrection's power to overcome even the most intimate forms of unbelief.
Verse Appearances (5)
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]