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Tim Maas
Supporter
In my opinion, Matthew and James the Lesser (or Younger) were not related, despite both their fathers being named Alphaeus. In cases where apostles were brothers (as with Peter and Andrew, or James the Greater and John), that relationship is clearly stated or depicted in the gospels (as in Matthew 4:18 and Matthew 4:21, or Mark 1:16 and Mark 1:19). There is no such mention in the case of Matthew and James the Lesser. Although the Bible does not explicitly state it, my understanding is that Alphaeus the father of James is often interpreted as being the same person as Clopas (or Cleophas), who is mentioned as being the husband of Mary, the mother of James, who was one of the women present at Jesus' crucifixion (Mark 15:40; John 19:25).
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