Posted: Feb 26, 2010 11:55 pm
Given that Paul tells us he had met and known Jesus' friend Peter and his brother James, I can't see how this works.
We'll have to have a debate some time later. I'm afraid I simply can't do it justice right now.
However, you are assuming your conclusion here. Only if there was a historical person for James and Peter to have been brother and friend to, which isn't indicated by anything else Paul says about them, is this a problem. "Brother of the Lord" is possibly an honorific, just as could be Simon being called (or having decided to call himself) the Rock. Insisting otherwise is reading the Synoptics back into Paul, which is assuming what you wish to prove.
I'll be back around on Sunday or Monday.