Mary the wife of Clopas stood near the cross.
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother
and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,
and Mary Magdalene.
John names Mary the wife of Clopas at the cross, with the mother of Jesus, His mother’s sister, and Mary Magdelene. The Greek can be read as three women or four. His mother’s sister and Mary the wife of Clopas may be one woman or two. She is not the mother of Jesus. She is often identified with Mary the mother of James, because both stand in the company of women at the cross who are not Magdelene. John does not say that. The church should not speak more certainly than the verse.
Mary the wife of Clopas stood by the cross.
She is named beside His mother and Mary Magdelene.
She may be the other Mary. John does not say so.
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
John names her. He does not say she is the other Mary. Keep the name he gives, and do not invent the rest.
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