There are several views from an early date over whether the Greek term adelphos, applied in these accounts to people described as adelphoi of Jesus, means that they were full brothers, half brothers, stepbrothers, or cousins.
Sejak awal telah ada beberapa pandangan seputar penerapan istilah Yunani adelphos pada orang-orang yang digambarkan sebagai adelphoi Yesus apakah berarti bahwa mereka saudara kandung, saudara tiri, atau saudara sepupu.