Apostles

THE APOSTLES : M.M.NINAN
Hebrew make the equation impossible so that two different Marys are meant. Some want to
equate Alphaeus, Cleophas, and the Cleopas of Luke 24:18.
2. The father of the apostle Levi (Mark 2:14). Comparison of Matthew 9:9 and Luke 5:27 would
indicate Levi was also called Matthew.
Alphaeus in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE al-fe'-us (Alphaios; Westcott and Hort, The New
Testament in Greek, Halphaios):
(1) The father of the second James in the list of the apostles (Mt 10:3; Mk 3:18; Lk 6:15; Acts 1:13).
(2) The father of Levi, the publican (Mk 2:14). Levi is designated as Matthew in the Gospel of Mt
(9:9).
There is no other reference to this Alpheus.
Some writers, notably Weiss, identify the father of Levi with the father of the second James. He
says that James and Levi were undoubtedly brothers; but that seems improbable. If they were
brothers they would quite likely be associated as are James and John, Andrew and Peter.
Chrysostom says James and Levi had both been tax-gatherers before they became followers of
Jesus. This tradition would not lend much weight as proof that they were brothers, for it might arise
through identifying the two names, and the western manuscripts do identify them and read James
instead of Levi in Mk 2:14. This, however, is undoubtedly a corruption of the text. If it had been the
original it would be difficult to explain the substitution of an unknown Levi for James who is well
known.
Many writers identify Alpheus, the father of the second James, with Clopas of Jn 19:25. This had
early become a tradition, and Chrysostom believed they were the same person. This identity rests
on four suppositions, all of which are doubtful:
(a) That the Mary of Clopas was the same as the Mary who was the mother of the second James.
There is a difference of opinion as to whether "Mary of Clopas" should be understood to be the wife
of Clopas or the daughter of Clopas, but the former is more probable. We know from Mt 27:56 and
Mk 15:40 that there was a James who was the son of Mary, and that this Mary belonged to that
little group of women that was near Jesus it the time of the crucifixion. It is quite likely that this Mary
is the one referred to in Jn 19:25. That would make James, the son of Mary of Mt 27:56, the son of
Mary of Clopas. But Mary was such a common name In the New Testament that this supposition
cannot be proven.
(b) That the James, who was the son of Mary, was the same person as the James, the son of
Alpheus. Granting the supposition under (a), this would not prove the identity of Clopas and