Mark 2:14 & Mark 3:18?

Most would say that Levi the tax collector (Mark 2:14) is the Matthew of Mark 3:18 and Matt 9:9. If the Alphaeus of Mark 2:14 and 3:18 is one and the same, that would mean there were 3 sets of brothers as part of the 12 apostles (i.e., Matthew and James in addition to Peter/Andrew and James/John). And yes, I would suppose that this James would be the "lesser" since he wasn't one of the sons of thunder, although I think the "lesser" James outlived the "greater" James, whom Herod beheaded early on.

 

Not so fast. I'm inclined to agree that Levi & Matthew are the same individual w/ different names (Matthew named himself "Matthew" in his own account). However, that does not mean that Matthew/Levi was brothers w/ James the son of Alphaeus. Maybe their fathers had the same name. At most we should say "it is possible" but not so bold as to say definitely "that would mean there were 3 sets of brothers." Just a cautionary warning. My mistake... just saw where you put "If"... my bad!

There are of course other possibilities. Nothing in the text, that I can think of, makes Levi son of Alphaeus one of the 12. That is something we assume (whether right or wrong). Just need to keep that in mind as well.

 

I would say no. The first is Matthew, the 2nd is James the son of Alphaeus was James the Less or little.

 

I agree with brother Bob.

 

Also, Luke 6:16 and Acts 1:13 note the apostle Jude being related to James:

"and Judas the brother of James"



And the phrase "James the Less" occurs only in Mark 15:40:

"among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome"

 

What translation are you using???

It should be (and is) Judas of/from James i.e. son of James.

Now if you are referring to Jude 1, that's different. But that is also a different James and Jude/Judas altogether (probably).