Christ's disciples and their families.

[blackstrap]

Anyone here know of sources that speak about the families of Christ's disciples ? Any wives or children mentioned? It seems as though most were living hand to mouth as fishermen or whatever, so if they followed Jesus all over the land , what happened to their families if in fact they had any ? I wonder how old most were. Perhaps they were quite young and didn't have their own families established yet. It is possible that parents and or grandparents took up the slack. Maybe the Christian community helped out. 

As I have said before, I am re-reading the New Testament and these odd thoughts come out. 

[Pyreaux]

Peter’s Wife - Matthew 8:14

“And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.”

This explicitly states Peter had a wife, as he had a mother-in-law.

The other Apostles' Wives - 1 Corinthians 9:5:

“Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?”

Paul is defending the right of apostles (including himself) to have wives. “Cephas” = Peter; “the brethren of the Lord” = James and Jude. Indicates that most of the apostles were married, and it was normal for them to travel with their wives.

Paul’s “Yokefellow”, Philippians 4:3:

“And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel…”

"Yokefellow” could be his wife as some scholars argue this based on idiomatic language.

Paul's Divorce?

In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul implies he was living celibate but acknowledges marriage is good. In 1 Corinthians 9:5, he defends the right to have a wife, implying that others do, even possibly himself at some point. Some speculate that Paul may have been widowed or separated upon his conversion, since Jewish Pharisees like Paul were expected to marry.

Peter's Wife was Martyred - Clement of Alexandria (c. 150–215 AD) In Stromata, Book III, Chapter 6:

“They say, accordingly, that the blessed Peter when he saw his own wife led to death, rejoiced on account of her call and conveyance home, and called very encouragingly and comfortingly, addressing her by name, ‘Remember the Lord.’”

Peter had a wife and suggests she was also martyred.

“The apostles, accordingly, in accordance with their particular ministry, devoted themselves to preaching without any distraction, and took their wives around as sisters, not as wives, to minister to housewives, on account of the requirements of women.”

The Apostles were married, but may have practiced sexual abstinence in later life to focus on missionary work.

Tertullian (c. 155–240 AD) in On Monogamy and Against Marcion

He implies that apostles, especially Peter, were married, while affirming Paul's celibacy was a special/temporary calling.

Tradition holds that all the Apostle were married except John who was the youngest apostle. Early sources (like Eusebius and Irenaeus) treat John as uniquely pure or virginal compared to others, which may also be why he was entrusted with Mary, Jesus’ mother (John 19:26–27).

Peter's Daughter

Roman Catholic tradition says Peter had a daughter named Petronilla.

Philip's Daughters

Acts 21:8–9:
“Philip the evangelist… had four virgin daughters who prophesied.”

These daughters became early Christian prophetesses. Eusebius quoting Papias believe Philip moved to Hierapolis with his daughters, and they lived and ministered there.

Jude Thaddaeus's Grand Son

According to Eusebius, quoting Hegesippus (Ecclesiastical History 3.19–20), reports that the grandsons of Jude, the brother of Jesus, were brought before the Roman Emperor Domitian (c. 81–96 AD). Domitian was concerned about a possible Davidic uprising. But when he saw they were poor farmers and harmless, he let them go.

Thomas Didymus

Some Syriac Christian traditions say Thomas evangelized India and may have married into and baptized a royal family, but these accounts vary. Later apocryphal texts like the Acts of Thomas describe a complex missionary life.

Matthew Levi

As a former tax collector, he was likely financially secure and thus possibly married, but no records. Tradition says he ministered in Ethiopia or Persia and was martyred.

Why no others? 

Many themes lean on that the apostles, especially after Jesus' resurrection, choosing celibacy or continence for the ministry (cf. 1 Cor. 7:29–33). And then many were also thought to be martyred before raising families or seeing descendants grow.

Genealogical records of early Christians were not widely preserved. Early Christian emphasized spiritual children (converts) over biological lineage.

Edited May 15, 2025 by Pyreaux

[Calm]

1 hour ago, blackstrap said:

Anyone here know of sources that speak about the families of Christ's disciples ? Any wives or children mentioned? It seems as though most were living hand to mouth as fishermen or whatever, so if they followed Jesus all over the land , what happened to their families if in fact they had any ? I wonder how old most were. Perhaps they were quite young and didn't have their own families established yet. It is possible that parents and or grandparents took up the slack. Maybe the Christian community helped out. 

If they weren’t the first born son, seems like it would be less complicated.

Maybe their wives went with them.

[Calm]

6 minutes ago, Pyreaux said:

This explicitly states Peter had a wife, as he had a mother-in-law.

She didn’t have to be living though.

[Calm]

13 minutes ago, Pyreaux said:

Many themes lean on that the apostles, especially after Jesus' resurrection, choosing celibacy or continence for the ministry

Seems like that might be more distracting for some people.

Plus it often improves sleep quality.

I can see worrying if your wife might get pregnant could be problematic, but if one’s wife is past menopause.

Edited May 15, 2025 by Calm

[OGHoosier]

10 hours ago, Pyreaux said:

Jude, the brother of Jesus, were brought before the Roman Emperor Domitian

Pedantic comment. Judas Thaddeus was not Jude, the brother of Jesus. The Gospels are fairly clear that Jesus' brethren did not believe on Him during His ministry and consequently would not be found among the earliest iteration of the Twelve, though James the Just joined them later. 

Speaking of James the Just, Epiphanius argues that he was a Nazarite and a lifelong celibate. This is a fourth-century writing so not contemporary, but there are no contradictory traditions.

[telnetd]

12 hours ago, blackstrap said:

As I have said before, I am re-reading the New Testament and these odd thoughts come out. 

As far as what I have seen in the Book of Mormon, there is no specific mention of 
whether the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus in the Americas were married or had 
families. 

Did that odd thing also come to your attention?

[Pyreaux]

2 hours ago, telnetd said:

As far as what I have seen in the Book of Mormon, there is no specific mention of 
whether the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus in the Americas were married or had 
families. 

Did that odd thing also come to your attention?

Silence means little, as at near all levels of clergy in the New Testament automatically assumes they are married and have children to show he can manage his own household before he's put over a church:

"A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife... having his children in subjection with all gravity;" (1 Timothy 3:2, 4).

"Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well." (1 Timothy 3:12).

"Don’t we have the right to be accompanied by a believing wife, as the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?" (1 Corinthians 9:5).

The earliest Church did not prohibit marriage for priests, bishops, or apostles.

The Church later feared land, wealth, and office would pass to clergy children, turning parishes and bishoprics into family dynasties. Enforcing celibacy ensured that all Church property stayed in the institution, not in private hands. This view is supported by many historians, including Peter Brown (in The Body and Society) and Garry Wills (in Why Priests?).

Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches (in communion with Rome) still allow married men to be ordained as priests (though bishops are celibate).

Edited May 15, 2025 by Pyreaux

[blackstrap]

3 hours ago, telnetd said:

Did that odd thing also come to your attention?

No it didn't. In my defense , the record of the lives and travels of the BoM 12 is quite sparse compared with the record provided by both scripture and secular sources for the lives and travels of the NT 12/11/12... I will pay more attention the next time I read the BoM, thanks.

[InCognitus]

22 hours ago, Pyreaux said:

The other Apostles' Wives - 1 Corinthians 9:5:

“Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?”

Paul is defending the right of apostles (including himself) to have wives. “Cephas” = Peter; “the brethren of the Lord” = James and Jude. Indicates that most of the apostles were married, and it was normal for them to travel with their wives.

Paul’s “Yokefellow”, Philippians 4:3:

“And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel…”

"Yokefellow” could be his wife as some scholars argue this based on idiomatic language.

Early Christian sources back this up (as I'm sure you know, but I'll document part of it here).

St. Ignatius of Antioch (c. 108 - 140 AD)
Epistle to Philadelphians, Chapter. 4
CHAP. IV.--HAVE BUT ONE EUCHARIST, ETC. 

"Husbands, love your wives, as fellow-servants of God, as your own body, as the partners of your life, and your co-adjutors in the procreation of children. Virgins, have Christ alone before your eyes, and His Father in your prayers, being enlightened by the Spirit. May I have pleasure in your purity, as that of Elijah, or as of Joshua the son of Nun, as of Melchizedek, or as of Elisha, as of Jeremiah, or as of John the Baptist, as of the beloved disciple, as of Timothy, as of Titus, as of Evodius, as of Clement, who departed this life in [perfect] chastity,  Not, however, that I blame the other blessed [saints] because they entered into the married state, of which I have just spoken.  For I pray that, being found worthy of God, I may be found at their feet in the kingdom, as at the feet of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob; as of Joseph, and Isaiah, and the rest of the prophets; as of Peter, and Paul, and the rest of the apostles, that were married men. For they entered into these marriages not for the sake of appetite, but out of regard for the propagation of mankind. Fathers, 'bring up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord;' and teach them the holy Scriptures, and also trades, that they may not indulge in idleness. Now [the Scripture] says, 'A righteous father educates [his children] well; his heart shall rejoice in a wise son.'"

Clement of Alexandria (c. 155 - c. 220 AD)
The Stromata, or Miscellanies
Book III, Chapter VI, 52-53

"Peter and Philip had children, and Philip gave his daughters in marriage....  Even Paul did not hesitate in one letter to address his consort.  [Philippians 4:3] The only reason why he did not take her about with him was that it would have been an inconvenience for his ministry. Accordingly he says in a letter: 'Have we not a right to take about with us a wife that is a sister like the other apostles?' [1 Corinthians 9:5]  But the latter, in accordance with their particular ministry, devoted themselves to preaching without any distraction, and took their wives with them not as women with whom they had marriage relations, but as sisters, that they might be their fellow-ministers in dealing with housewives."

[telnetd]

On 5/15/2025 at 2:58 PM, Pyreaux said:

"Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well." (1 Timothy 3:12).

Mormon males can be ordained deacons as young as 12 I think

[Stargazer]

On 5/17/2025 at 7:06 PM, telnetd said:

Mormon males can be ordained deacons as young as 12 I think

The current policy states: "Young men join the deacons quorum beginning in January of the year they turn 12. At this time they are also eligible to be ordained deacons if they are prepared and worthy."

So a boy born on December 31 can join the deacons quorum and be ordained to that office a day after he turns 11.