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Clopas

Clopas (Greek: Κλωπᾶς; also rendered Cleopas or Cleophas) was a first-century Jewish Christian figure mentioned in the New Testament, primarily identified as the husband of Mary, one of the women who witnessed the Crucifixion of Jesus. According to early Christian historian Eusebius, citing the second-century writer Hegesippus, Clopas was the brother of Joseph, the husband of the Virgin Mary, thereby making him an uncle to Jesus by marriage.^[1] He is further noted in tradition as the father of Simeon, who succeeded James the Just as the second bishop of the Jerusalem church after James's martyrdom around AD 62.^[1] The sole direct biblical reference to Clopas appears in the Gospel of John, where "Mary the wife of Clopas" is described standing near the cross alongside Jesus' mother, her sister, and Mary Magdalene during the Crucifixion. This positions Clopas' wife as a close associate of Jesus' family, possibly indicating his own involvement in the early Jesus movement, though no explicit actions or words are attributed to him in Scripture.^[2] Scholars debate whether Clopas is the same individual as Cleopas (Greek: Κλεόπας), one of the two disciples who encountered the resurrected Jesus on the road to Emmaus in the Gospel of Luke; the names may represent Greek variants of a Semitic original like Alphaeus, a common practice among first-century Palestinian Jews.^[3] Beyond these New Testament allusions, Clopas' significance emerges in patristic literature, where Hegesippus—preserved through Eusebius—describes him as part of Jesus' extended family, emphasizing the familial ties that linked early church leaders to the Savior.^[4] His son Simeon's leadership role underscores Clopas' indirect influence on the nascent Christian community in Jerusalem, highlighting themes of kinship and succession in the post-apostolic era.^[1] No archaeological or extrabiblical contemporary records of Clopas exist, leaving his portrayal reliant on these scriptural and historical testimonies.

Biblical Mentions

Gospel of John Reference

The Gospel of John records the sole explicit biblical mention of Clopas in John 19:25: "Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene."^[5] The Greek phrasing is ambiguous regarding the number of women and relationships, with translations varying in punctuation to reflect whether Mary the wife of Clopas is the 'mother's sister' or a distinct person.^[6] This verse places Mary, identified as the wife of Clopas, among the women witnessing Jesus' crucifixion, emphasizing their steadfast presence during his final moments. Within the broader crucifixion narrative of John 18–19, these women stand near the cross, a detail that positions them as intimate observers and contrasts with the Synoptic accounts where female followers view events from afar.^[7] In Johannine theology, this scene symbolizes the emergence of a new covenant community, as Jesus addresses his mother and the beloved disciple (John 19:26–27), entrusting them to one another and thereby inaugurating the church as a family bound by faith rather than blood.^[8] The women's proximity underscores themes of discipleship and witness, highlighting their pivotal role in bearing testimony to Jesus' redemptive death. The Greek term for Clopas, Κλωπᾶς (Klōpas), serves as a transliteration of an Aramaic name, possibly חלפאי (Chalphai), rooted in the verb חלף (halap), meaning "to exchange" or "to pass over."^[9]^[10] This linguistic form reflects the cultural milieu of first-century Judea, where Aramaic names were commonly Hellenized in Greek texts. The events described occurred circa 30–33 CE, during the Roman governorship of Pontius Pilate in Judea.^[11] In first-century Judaism, women's testimony held limited legal weight in courts, yet their attendance at crucifixions as mourners and eyewitnesses demonstrated profound loyalty and provided essential accounts of such public executions.^[12]^[13] This aligns with broader New Testament portrayals of women as primary witnesses to the crucifixion and resurrection.

Potential Links to Other Figures

Scholars have proposed a potential connection between Clopas, mentioned explicitly in John 19:25 as the husband of one of the Marys present at the crucifixion, and Cleopas, one of the disciples who encountered the risen Jesus on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:18.^[14] This linkage rests on the rarity of the name and contextual similarities, such as both figures' proximity to Jesus' inner circle during key events. Arguments in favor include the likelihood that Palestinian Jews used bilingual equivalents—Clopas as a Semitic form and Cleopas as its Greek counterpart—for the same individual, positioning Cleopas as a significant early church leader.^[14] However, counterarguments highlight linguistic distinctions: Clopas derives from an Aramaic or Hebrew root, while Cleopas appears as a Hellenized name, possibly a contraction of Cleopatros, with no direct ancient attestation equating them beyond phonetic proximity in some manuscripts.^[15] Another hypothesized connection involves Clopas and the Mary described in Mark 15:40 and Matthew 27:56 as "the mother of James the Less and of Joses" (or Joseph), who was among the women observing the crucifixion from a distance.^[14] This Mary is tentatively identified as Clopas' wife, making her Jesus' aunt by marriage and the mother of his cousins James and Joses, based on the parallel presence of a Mary linked to Clopas at the cross in John.^[15] Such a familial tie would explain her prominence among the Galilean followers, though the identification remains speculative due to variations in naming conventions across the Gospels.^[14] In the apostolic lists, such as Matthew 10:3, a possible but unconfirmed association arises with James, son of Alphaeus, one of the Twelve. Some analyses suggest Alphaeus could be an alternate designation for Clopas, potentially making James his son and thus a relative of Jesus.^[15] This view draws on shared contexts in the Synoptic traditions but is weakened by philological evidence showing Alphaeus (from Aramaic Halphai) and Clopas as distinct names, with no manuscript support for their equivalence.^[15] The nominative variations between "Clopas" (Κλωπᾶς in John) and "Cleopas" (Κλεόπας in Luke) are attributed to phonetic adaptations in Greek transliterations of an underlying Aramaic name, where the consonants klp are preserved but vowels and the letter phi/pi differ across dialects and scribal traditions.^[15] Syriac versions render both similarly as "Kleopha," supporting their potential overlap, while Latin texts treat them interchangeably, reflecting early interpretive harmonization.^[14]

Identity Debates

Distinction from Alphaeus

The names Alphaeus and Clopas have been subjects of scholarly debate regarding whether they refer to the same individual in first-century Judean contexts, with etymological analysis playing a central role. Alphaeus (Greek: Ἀλφαῖος) is generally derived from the Hebrew name Ḥalpai or Halfai (חַלְפִי), meaning "successor" or "replacement," rooted in the verb ḥalaph (חָלַף), to exchange or succeed.^[16] In contrast, Clopas (Greek: Κλωπᾶς) is traced to the Aramaic form Chalphai or Hilfai (חַלְפַי), a related but distinct Semitic variant also implying succession or change, as evidenced in rabbinic literature such as the Talmud, where Hilphai appears as a personal name in discussions of lineage and succession.^[17] Parallels in contemporary sources, including Aramaic inscriptions from the period and indirect naming conventions in Josephus's accounts of Judean families, suggest these forms coexisted in bilingual environments but highlight subtle phonetic shifts between Hebrew and Aramaic pronunciations.^[3] Syriac versions of the New Testament, such as the Peshitta, render Alphaeus explicitly as Chalphai while transliterating Clopas as Kleopha, underscoring a perceived linguistic overlap without full equivalence. Arguments supporting the identity of Clopas and Alphaeus emphasize shared paternal roles in early Christian traditions, particularly as the father of James the Less (or James the Younger), whose mother is identified as Mary in both Mark 15:40 and John 19:25. This linkage posits that the James son of Alphaeus listed among the Twelve Apostles (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18) is the same figure, with timeline feasibility reinforced by the concentration of such familial figures in first-century Galilee, where naming redundancies were common among extended kin groups.^[17] Alphaeus is briefly referenced in the Gospels as the father of Levi the tax collector (Mark 2:14), adding to the profile of a Galilean figure active during Jesus's ministry.^[18] Counterarguments highlight distinct cultural naming practices in Hebrew versus Aramaic spheres, where Alphaeus aligns more closely with priestly or southern Judean lineages (e.g., as in Talmudic references to Halphai), while Clopas evokes Aramaic northern influences without direct overlap.^[19] Moreover, the absence of any explicit biblical equation between the two names—Clopas appearing solely in John 19:25 and Alphaeus in the Synoptic apostle lists—precludes definitive merger, leaving the distinction as a matter of interpretive tradition rather than textual mandate.^[20]

Family and Kinship Ties

According to the second-century historian Hegesippus, as preserved by Eusebius of Caesarea, Clopas was the brother of Joseph, the husband of Mary and putative father of Jesus, thereby establishing Clopas as an uncle to Jesus within early Christian familial traditions.^[1] This kinship tie positioned Clopas' household as part of the broader desposyni, the extended relatives of Jesus who maintained leadership roles in the early church.^[21] Clopas' wife, Mary, is identified in the Gospel of John as a close relative of Jesus' mother, often interpreted as her sister, which further intertwined the families and explained her presence at the crucifixion.^[1] Their son, Symeon, succeeded James the Just (Jesus' brother) as bishop of Jerusalem around 62 CE, exemplifying how Clopas' descendants upheld the family's authority in the Jerusalem church.^[1] Following the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE, Clopas' lineage continued to lead the Christian community, with Symeon serving as bishop until his martyrdom under Emperor Trajan circa 107 CE, as detailed in Eusebius' account drawing from Hegesippus.^[1] This enduring role highlighted the desposyni's significance as guardians of apostolic tradition amid persecution, with Roman authorities under Vespasian specifically targeting them as potential Davidic heirs.^[1]

Early Christian and Patristic Sources

Hegesippus Account

Hegesippus, a second-century Jewish-Christian historian active around 110–180 CE, provides one of the earliest extra-biblical accounts of Clopas through quotations preserved in Eusebius of Caesarea's Ecclesiastical History. Writing in Greek but drawing on Hebrew and Aramaic sources, including the Gospel of the Hebrews and a Syriac Gospel, Hegesippus aimed to document the succession of early church leaders and preserve traditions from Jewish-Christian communities.^[22] In Ecclesiastical History Book 3, Chapter 11, Hegesippus identifies Clopas as the brother of Joseph, the husband of Mary and earthly father of Jesus, thereby establishing Clopas' kinship ties to Jesus' family. This relation positions Clopas' son, Symeon, as a cousin of Jesus and the second bishop of Jerusalem after James the Just. Eusebius quotes Hegesippus directly: "Hegesippus records that Clopas was a brother of Joseph." Symeon succeeded James following the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE, during a period when the church emphasized leadership from relatives of the Lord to maintain apostolic continuity.^[1] Hegesippus further details Symeon's martyrdom in Ecclesiastical History Book 3, Chapter 32, set against the backdrop of renewed persecutions under Emperor Trajan (r. 98–117 CE) and governor Atticus of Judea, around 107 CE. Heretics, possibly Gnostics or Judaizers, accused Symeon of being both a Christian and a descendant of King David, prompting Roman interrogation. Despite torture, the 120-year-old Symeon endured unflinchingly, leading to his crucifixion; his advanced age and resilience reportedly astonished the judge and executioners. This event occurred amid sporadic persecutions that had begun under Domitian (r. 81–96 CE), when descendants of David were sought out due to messianic fears, though many survived into Trajan's reign.^[23] As a traveler who visited churches in Corinth, Rome, and Italy to collect oral traditions, Hegesippus is valued for bridging apostolic eyewitness accounts with second-century documentation, though his work survives only in fragments via Eusebius. Eusebius praises Hegesippus' reliability for adhering to orthodox successions and avoiding heretical innovations, reflecting his role in combating emerging sects while upholding Jewish-Christian heritage.^[24]

Other Church Fathers

Clement of Alexandria, in his Hypotyposeis (c. 200 CE), briefly references Clopas through his wife Mary, identifying her as "the other Mary" and a cousin of the Virgin Mary, thereby portraying the "brothers" of Jesus—such as James and Joses—as children of Joseph from a prior marriage, thus cousins of Jesus himself.^[25] This view aligns with the foundational account of Hegesippus, which influenced later patristic interpretations of Clopas' family ties. Epiphanius of Salamis, in his Panarion (c. 374–377 CE), describes Clopas as the brother of Joseph, making him Jesus' uncle and emphasizing the distinct motherhood of the Virgin Mary to affirm her perpetual virginity against groups like the Antidicomarianites who challenged it. Epiphanius further notes that Symeon, son of Clopas, succeeded James as bishop of Jerusalem, underscoring Clopas' role in the early Jerusalem church leadership.^[1] Jerome, in his treatise Against Helvidius (c. 383 CE), equates Clopas with Alphaeus to argue that Mary of Clopas—sister of the Virgin Mary and wife of Alphaeus/Clopas—was the mother of James the Less and Joses, rendering them cousins rather than uterine siblings of Jesus and thereby defending Mary's perpetual virginity.^[26] Jerome's distinction of these familial roles counters Helvidius' claim that the "brothers" implied biological siblings from Mary, reinforcing orthodox Christology. These references by Clement, Epiphanius, and Jerome served key theological purposes in patristic literature, particularly in anti-heretical polemics: they bolstered arguments against Ebionite views that denied Jesus' divine origin or perpetual virginity by emphasizing extended kinship ties, while refuting adoptionist tendencies that diminished his unique sonship.^[1]

Modern Scholarly Perspectives

Historical Context Analysis

Clopas emerges in the historical record of first-century Judea as the husband of Mary, one of the women witnessing the crucifixion of Jesus circa 30 CE, amid a landscape marked by Roman imperial oversight and Jewish aspirations for autonomy. This period, spanning roughly 20 BCE to 70 CE, saw Judea transition from Herodian client kingship to direct Roman provincial administration following the deposition of Herod Archelaus in 6 CE. Herod the Great had navigated a delicate balance by renovating the Second Temple around 20 BCE while incorporating Roman architectural elements, yet his successors, including Herod Antipas in Galilee, faced growing resentment over perceived cultural encroachments. The census imposed by Quirinius in 6 CE, aimed at tax assessment, ignited revolts led by Judas the Galilean, fostering the Zealot movement's opposition to Roman tributum capitis and soli, which symbolized foreign domination over sacred land.^[27] Temple politics further exacerbated tensions, with Roman prefects like Pontius Pilate (26–36 CE) wielding authority to appoint and depose high priests, often prioritizing political stability over Jewish ritual purity. Pilate's provocative acts, such as displaying imperial standards in Jerusalem and using temple funds for an aqueduct, underscored the friction between Roman governance and Jewish religious life, contributing to sporadic unrest that foreshadowed the Great Revolt of 66–70 CE. Clopas' era thus reflected a broader socio-political volatility, where Jewish families navigated Herodian alliances, Roman taxation, and messianic expectations in regions like Galilee and Judea.^[27] The role of Mary, wife of Clopas, as a crucifixion witness highlights the constrained status of women in first-century Jewish society. Under prevailing Jewish legal traditions, women's testimony was generally inadmissible in judicial proceedings, a practice rooted in tannaitic sources that limited female participation without explicit early rationales tied to reliability. This marginalization positioned women's observations—such as those at pivotal events—as informally significant yet legally discounted, emphasizing their peripheral yet culturally resonant presence in communal memory.^[28] Archaeologically, no artifacts directly attributable to Clopas have surfaced, but first-century Judean burial practices involved ossuaries for secondary interment, with inscriptions reflecting common Aramaic and Greek names. Parallels appear in the Caiaphas family tomb discovered in 1990, containing ossuaries inscribed with "Joseph son of Caiaphas" and other familial markers, illustrating elite Jewish naming conventions and ossilegium customs prevalent from the late Second Temple period through 70 CE. Such finds contextualize the socio-economic milieu of figures like Clopas within Jerusalem's priestly and lay circles.^[29]

Interpretations by Key Scholars

James Tabor, in his 2006 book The Jesus Dynasty, proposes that Clopas was the brother of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and that this kinship preserved a dynastic bloodline central to early Christian leadership following Jesus' death. Tabor argues that the "brothers" of Jesus mentioned in the Gospels—James, Joses, Judas, and Simon—were actually children born to Mary and Clopas after Joseph's death, ensuring the continuation of Jesus' royal Davidic lineage through familial succession rather than spiritual adoption alone. This theory draws on patristic traditions as a foundation but emphasizes archaeological evidence, including Tabor's involvement in the Talpiot tomb excavations, where he critiques sensationalized DNA claims linking ossuaries to Jesus' family as overstated while defending the authenticity of related inscriptions like that on the James ossuary.^[30] Raymond E. Brown, in his comprehensive 1994 commentary The Death of the Messiah, analyzes the figure of Clopas through Semitic name studies, concluding that Clopas (Greek Klōpas) is distinct from Alphaeus (Greek Alphaios), as the former derives from an Aramaic form like Klopas or Chalaf, while the latter stems from Halpai or a similar root unrelated to substitution or kinship ties. Brown attributes this distinction to the diverse naming conventions in first-century Judea, cautioning against conflating the two as the same individual despite later traditions linking them as Joseph's relatives. His analysis underscores the historical unreliability of equating all "brothers" in the Gospels with blood relations, favoring interpretive caution based on linguistic evidence.^[31] Modern scholarly interpretations of Clopas reveal gaps in earlier research, particularly an overemphasis on dynastic theories like Tabor's at the expense of broader perspectives, including feminist readings that highlight the agency of associated female figures such as Mary, wife of Clopas. Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, a pioneering feminist theologian, advocates for reconstructing the roles of women like Mary of Clopas as active witnesses and leaders in early Christian communities, critiquing patriarchal interpretations that marginalize their contributions to the passion narrative and kinship networks. Her work calls for a malestream-free hermeneutic that integrates these women's voices to challenge traditional family-centric views of Clopas.^[32]

References

[1]
Church History, Book III (Eusebius) - New Advent
He was a cousin, as they say, of the Saviour. For Hegesippus records that Clopas was a brother of Joseph. Chapter 12. Vespasian commands the Descendants of ...
[2]
Sorting Out the Seven Marys in the New Testament
John 19:25 is the only instance wherein Mary of Cleophas is mentioned by name in the New Testament. [71] She is likely the wife of a man named Cleophas, and ...
[3]
The Relatives of Jesus - The Gospel Coalition
It is very plausible to suppose that Joseph's brother Clopas also used the Greek name Cleopas. Luke names him because he was a sufficiently significant person ...
[4]
Philip Schaff: NPNF2-01. Eusebius Pamphilius
For Hegesippus records that Clopas was a brother of Joseph. Hegesippus, quoted below in Bk. IV. chap. 22, calls Clopas the uncle of the Lord, which ...
[5]
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2019:25&version=NRSVUE
[6]
The Woman at the Foot of the Cross (John 19:25-27) - Redemptorists
Aug 7, 2020 · While the women stand at a distance, according to the Synoptic gospels, in John they are at the foot of the cross, by the cross of Jesus.
[7]
The theology of the Johannine passion narrative: John 19:16b-30
John's theology of Jesus' death is constructed by the narrative, focusing on four scenes, and is interpreted with concern for its ecclesiological significance.
[8]
The name Clopas - meaning and etymology - Abarim Publications
Jul 11, 2017 · Meaning: Traverse, Exchange; Etymology: From the verb חלף (halap), to traverse, exchange or renew. Related names: • Via חלף (halap): ...
[9]
Clopas; Cleophas - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
... name of the husband of one of the women who stood by the cross of ... Distinguished from Cleopas, a Greek word, while Clopas is Aramaic. Copyright Statement
[10]
Dating the Death of Jesus Christ - BYU Studies
After considering all the historical accounts, we maintain that the first weekend of April A.D. 30 is the most likely time of the death of Jesus.Missing: women | Show results with:women
[11]
Women as First Witnesses to the Empty Tomb - Right Reason
Apr 23, 2011 · The women's testimony is significant because, in first-century Palestine, women's testimony was considered inferior to men's, making it ...
[12]
Why were many women present at the crucifixion according to ...
Compassionate Witness to Suffering. Women in first-century Judaism often attended executions to mourn (Josephus, Ant. 17.6.3). Their devotion contrasts with ...
[13]
The Relatives of Jesus by Richard Bauckham - BiblicalStudies.org.uk
Luke names one of the two disciples in his story of the walk to Emmaus as Cleopas (Lk. 24:18). This Greek name is not the same as the Semitic name Clopas, but ...
[14]
[PDF] The Family of Jesus - Bible Introductions & Dictionaries
Clopas and Cleopas are translated alike. An attempted identification of Clopas with the Cleopas of Luke 24, of course, would have to rest on historical, and ...
[15]
The amazing name Alphaeus: meaning and etymology
Jul 11, 2017 · Meaning: Traverse, Exchange; Etymology: From the verb חלף (halap), to traverse, exchange or renew. Related names: • Via חלף (halap): Clopas, ...
[16]
None
### Summary on Clopas, Alphaeus, and Their Identity
[17]
CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Cleophas - New Advent
This name, Clopas, is thought by many to be the Greek transliteration of an Aramaic Alphaeus. This view is based on the identification of Mary, the mother of ...
[18]
Alphaeus - Meaning & Verses | Bible Encyclopedia - Bible Study Tools
Many writers identify Alpheus, the father of the second James, with Clopas of John 19:25. This had early become a tradition, and Chrysostom believed they were ...Missing: Hilphai Talmud
[19]
Alphaeus - Encyclopedia of The Bible - Bible Gateway
These scholars also hold that Alphaeus and Clopas are derived from the same Heb. word, חלפי, the one by dropping the aspirate, and making Alphaeus, the other by ...Missing: distinction etymology
[20]
CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: St. James the Less - New Advent
Probably the son of Cleophas or Clopas (John 19:25) where "Maria Cleophæ" is generally translated "Mary the wife of Cleophas", as married women are commonly ...Missing: scholarly | Show results with:scholarly
[21]
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/themelios/article/the-relatives-of-jesus/
[22]
https://referenceworks.brill.com/display/entries/EECO/SIM-036377.xml
[23]
Philip Schaff: NPNF2-01. Eusebius Pamphilius: Church History, Life ...
... chap. 11, note 14), for it was while Hegesippus was on his way to Rome that he saw Primus; and since he remained in Rome until the accession of Anicetus he ...
[24]
The Brethren of the Lord
St. Jerome then states his view in the treatise against Helvidius somewhat as follows: The list of the Twelve Apostles contains two of the name of James, the ...
[25]
CHURCH FATHERS: The Perpetual Virginity of Mary (Jerome)
The outcome of his views was that virginity was ranked below matrimony. Jerome vigorously takes the other side, and tries to prove that the sisters and brethren ...Missing: Alphaeus | Show results with:Alphaeus
[26]
Judea as a Roman Province, AD 6-66 | Religious Studies Center
This chapter will discuss the Roman political activities in Judea from AD 6 to 66 and how the Jews responded to Rome's intervention.
[27]
Women's Testimony in Jewish Law: A Historical Survey - jstor
This article explores Jewish legal rulings regarding women's ability to give testimony. It deals with the early stages of the legal sources and compares.
[28]
Ossuary Inscriptions from the 'Caiaphas' Tomb - jstor
A Tomb in the Kedron Valley Con taining Ossuaries with Hebrew Graffiti Names. British School of Archaeology in Jerusalem,. Bulletin 5:56-60. Naveh J. 1970 ...