1 Corinthians 9:5 (WEB)
Have we no right to take along a wife who is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?
As quoted in the map (KJV)
1 Corinthians 9:5 (KJV)
Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
Key words
- οἱ ἀδελφοὶ τοῦ κυρίουhoi adelphoi tou kyriou · Greek
- 'the brethren of the Lord' — the group James belonged to (Galatians 1:19).
- ἀδελφὴν γυναῖκαadelphēn gynaika · Greek
- 'a sister, a wife' — 'sister' here means a fellow believer; the same verse shows kinship words used beyond blood.
Why it matters
Paul mentions 'the brethren of the Lord' travelling with wives. Pitre lists the verse with Matthew 13:55 and Mark 3:31–35 as the biblical basis for the objection that Mary had other children (p 13). His answer in chapter 5 identifies these brethren with the sons of the other Mary and of Clopas, and notes that Hegesippus calls them the Lord's cousins.