Illustration created for this project.
Clopas
The husband of one of the Marys who stood by the cross of Jesus; by tradition a kinsman of Joseph.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1
Ancient writers — non-biblical testimony · 1
Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1
Origin & birthplace
Family & lineage
Desconocido — Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
Ancient writersThe second-century writer Hegesippus, quoted by Eusebius, describes Clopas as a brother of Joseph (the husband of Mary) and the father of Symeon, who became the second bishop of Jerusalem after James. This makes Clopas one of the few New Testament minor figures with an independent early notice.
Hegesippus (2nd c.), quoted in Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 3.11, 3.32.1-6, and 4.22.4, trans. Kirsopp Lake, Loeb Classical Library 153 (1926); Clopas as brother of Joseph and father of Symeon, second bishop of Jerusalem.
Name & titles
ScholarlyClopas (Greek Klopas) is a Semitic name, distinct in origin from the Greek Cleopas, though the similarity in spelling has long fueled attempts to equate the two men.
Onomastic point: Aramaic/Semitic origin of Klopas versus Greek Kleopas.
Where in scripture
JohnBut there were standing by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
John 19:25 — His wife at the cross
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
Places in their life
Photo: Godot13 — CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)