ἀδελφός, -οῦ, ὁ (ἀ- copul, δελφύς, womb), in cl,
a brother, born of the same parent or parents. [In LXX (Hort,
Ja., 102f.), for אָח;] 1) lit. of a brother (Gen.4:2, al.). 2) Of a neighbour (Lev.19:17). 3) Of a member of the same nation (Exo.2:14, Deu.15:3). In NT in each of these senses (1. Mat.1:2, al; 2. Mat.7:3; 3. Rom.9:3) and also, 4)
of a fellow-Christian: 1Co.1:1, Act.9:30. This usage finds illustration in π, where ἀ. is used of members of a pagan religious community (M,
Th., I, 1:4; MM,
VGT, see word). The ἀδελφοὶ τ. Κυρίου (Mat.12:46-49 13:55 28:10, Mrk.3:31-34, Luk.8:19-21, Jhn.2:12 7:3, 5 10 20:17, Act.1:14, 1Co.9:5) may have been sons of Joseph and Mary (Mayor,
Ja., Intr. viff;
DB, i, 320ff.) or of Joseph by a former marriage (Lft,
Gal., 252ff;
DCG, i, 232ff.), but the view of Jerome, which makes ἀ. equivalent to ἀνεψιός, is inconsistent with Greek usage. (Cremer, 66.) (
AS)