The Bible talks about Jesus having siblings. Why do Catholics seem to prefer to say that those verses mean something else?
2006-06-28 12:58:46 · 22 answers · asked by wongun 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
There are about 4 relevant sections See:
John 2:12 and Mark 3:31 to start
2006-06-28 13:06:22 · update #1
There are about 4 relevant sections See:
John 2:12 and Mark 3:31 to start.
Please don't say it makes her more holy. Sex was created by God, and within the context of Biblical marriage, it is in no way "unholy" or makes a person sinful, as I believe all Catholics agree. Also, the virgin birth of Christ is not in question here. Without being crass, it's Mary's sex life afterwards I'm wondering about. Or rather, wondering why Catholics are wondering.
2006-06-28 13:15:43 · update #2
Mary is Ever Virgin
Exodus 13:2,12 - Jesus is sometimes referred to as the "first-born" son of Mary. But "first-born" is a common Jewish expression meaning the first child to open the womb. It has nothing to do the mother having future children.
Exodus 34:20 - under the Mosaic law, the "first-born" son had to be sanctified. "First-born" status does not require a "second" born.
Ezek. 44:2 - Ezekiel prophesies that no man shall pass through the gate by which the Lord entered the world. This is a prophecy of Mary's perpetual virginity. Mary remained a virgin before, during and after the birth of Jesus.
Mark 6:3 - Jesus was always referred to as "the" son of Mary, not "a" son of Mary. Also "brothers" could have theoretically been Joseph's children from a former marriage that was dissolved by death. However, it is most likely, perhaps most certainly, that Joseph was a virgin, just as were Jesus and Mary. As such, they embodied the true Holy Family, fully consecrated to God.
Luke 1:31,34 - the angel tells Mary that you "will" conceive (using the future tense). Mary responds by saying, "How shall this be?" Mary's response demonstrates that she had taken a vow of lifelong virginity by having no intention to have relations with a man. If Mary did not take such a vow of lifelong virginity, her question would make no sense at all (for we can assume she knew how a child is conceived). She was a consecrated Temple virgin as was an acceptable custom of the times.
Luke 2:41-51 - in searching for Jesus and finding Him in the temple, there is never any mention of other siblings.
John 7:3-4; Mark 3:21 - we see that younger "brothers" were advising Jesus. But this would have been extremely disrespectful for devout Jews if these were Jesus' biological brothers.
John 19:26-27 - it would have been unthinkable for Jesus to commit the care of his mother to a friend if he had brothers.
John 19:25 - the following verses prove that James and Joseph are Jesus' cousins and not his brothers: Mary the wife of Clopas is the sister of the Virgin Mary.
Matt. 27:61, 28:1 - Matthew even refers to Mary the wife of Clopas as "the other Mary."
Matt. 27:56; Mark 15:47 - Mary the wife of Clopas is the mother of James and Joseph.
Mark 6:3 - James and Joseph are called the "brothers" of Jesus. So James and Joseph are Jesus' cousins.
Matt. 10:3 - James is also called the son of "Alpheus." This does not disprove that James is the son of Clopas. The name Alpheus may be Aramaic for Clopas, or James took a Greek name like Saul (Paul), or Mary remarried a man named Alpheus.
Jesus' "Brothers" (adelphoi)) = Cousins or Kinsmen
Luke 1:36 - Elizabeth is Mary's kinswoman. Some Bibles translate kinswoman as "cousin," but this is an improper translation because in Hebrew and Aramaic, there is no word for "cousin."
Luke 22:32 - Jesus tells Peter to strengthen his "brethren." In this case, we clearly see Jesus using "brethren" to refer to the other apostles, not his biological brothers.
Acts 1:12-15 - the gathering of Jesus' "brothers" amounts to about 120. That is a lot of "brothers." Brother means kinsmen in Hebrew.
Acts 7:26; 11:1; 13:15,38; 15:3,23,32; 28:17,21 - these are some of many other examples where "brethren" does not mean blood relations.
Rom. 9:3 - Paul uses "brethren" and "kinsmen" interchangeably. "Brothers" of Jesus does not prove Mary had other children.
Gen. 11:26-28 - Lot is Abraham's nephew ("anepsios") / Gen. 13:8; 14:14,16 - Lot is still called Abraham's brother (adelphos") . This proves that, although a Greek word for cousin is "anepsios," Scripture also uses "adelphos" to describe a cousin.
Gen. 29:15 - Laban calls Jacob is "brother" even though Jacob is his nephew. Again, this proves that brother means kinsmen or cousin.
Deut. 23:7; 1 Chron. 15:5-18; Jer. 34:9; Neh. 5:7 -"brethren" means kinsmen. Hebrew and Aramaic have no word for "cousin."
2 Sam. 1:26; 1 Kings 9:13, 20:32 - here we see that "brethren" can even be one who is unrelated (no bloodline), such as a friend.
2 Kings 10:13-14 - King Ahaziah's 42 "brethren" were really his kinsmen.
1 Chron. 23:21-22 - Eleazar's daughters married their "brethren" who were really their cousins.
Neh. 4:14; 5:1,5,8,10,14 - these are more examples of "brothers" meaning "cousins" or "kinsmen."
Tobit 5:11 - Tobit asks Azarias to identify himself and his people, but still calls him "brother."
Amos 1: 9 - brotherhood can also mean an ally (where there is no bloodline).
2006-07-03 01:21:38 · answer #1 · answered by Daver 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
@Daver,
You use biblical texts way out of context to support your belief. For instance Ez 44:2 is NOT talking about a physical gate of the temple (you must read verse 1 and following verses to see this); also Matt. 27:61, 28:1 there are 3 Marys, Jesus' mother Mary, Mary Magdalene, and Jesus' mother's sister the wife of Clopas. How you jump to the conclusion that this Mary is the mother of James and Joseph (making them "cousins") is a "leap of faith" that you have in hoping the scriptures prove your point. The Bible clearly says they are "brothers." There is nothing in scripture that proves or says that Joseph brought other children to the family from a previous marriage, in fact there is NO scriptural evidence that he did. The very idea that Mary remained a virgin after Jesus' birth wasn't even a belief until 4 centuries after the fact. Thus all of the other references you use are flawed because they assume that somebody got the facts wrong in translating the bible. Sorry, but those are the facts.
2014-01-09 09:59:18 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Catholics believe these siblings were half brothers from a previous marriage of Joseph. Protestant Christians, however, believe that after the birth of Jesus, Mary assume the role that any wife would. and that she and Joseph had a normal sexual relationship. Just like any married couple would have. Thes Protestant Christains believe that these siblings spoken of in the Bible are the children of Mary and not that of a previous wife of Joseph.
2006-06-28 13:05:45 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
first off i am a catholic and i'll go ahead and see if i can help u figure this out we have all learned that god is our father wel who is our mother now not really but in retrospect mary is the mother of us just because she was the mother of god's real son so she was a virgin when she gave birth 2 Jesus and she could have died a virgin but one thing is 4 certain mary the Virgin mother of jesus was a virgin when she had jesus and the day she was born she was born w/o sin that is y god had chosen her from day one to b the mother of his ONLY son
and 2 whoever said that catholics r pagans or watever u said we r not pagans we believe in gad and jesus and we do not worship mary we pay her great respect because she is jesus' mother
2006-06-28 13:16:26 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"It matters" first of all because it is a quesiton of Truth. The Catholic Church maintains that Truth is of God. Therefore, if we are to seek God with all our heart, all our mind, all our soul (and to love Him), then we must search for the Truth.
The perpetual virginity of the Virgin Mary is part of Faith. It is a belief that cannot be "proven" by rational proofs. It is accepted in Faith. Just like the Trinity. You cannot "prove" the Mystery of God as a Trinity of Three Divine Persons in One God. Yet you know that it is true (if you have Faith).
The "siblings" spoken of in the Gospels (actually the term used is "brethren") are not blood brothers of Jesus. The term "brethren" or "brother" or "sister" used in the New Testament is frequently used to express any kind of blood relation. What us moderns call "cousins" would have been called "brothers" by the N.T. Therefore, what the Church teaches (the perpetual virginity of the Virgin Mary) is in no way contradictory to the teachings of the Sacred Scriptures.
Why did the Virgin Mary remain a Virgin after marrying Joseph, and after the birth of Christ? That is another question. It is only for God and her to know the answer. But most likely it is because consecrated virginity is a means of consecrating (dedicating) one's entire existence (body and soul) to God. This is why priests today, as well as monks and nuns, takes vows of chastity. Not because they are "abnormal" or have a negative view about sex or marriage: but because their whole existence is given to God.
Hope this helps you in your search for Truth.
2006-06-29 08:30:42 · answer #5 · answered by uiogdpm 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
She remained a virgin because she never had sex with Joseph to become pregnant with Jesus. Jesus is the Son of God, and was given to Mary by God. Mary had to remain pure, a virgin, to be worthy of giving birth and mothering the Son of God. She is holy, and to be purely holy, she remained a virgin.
2006-06-28 13:06:04 · answer #6 · answered by baby k 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because the Roman Catholic church is a pagan infused refusal of Christianity. The dogma and doctrine of the Catholic religion is a corruption of the entirety of the Bible, which has always been an institution of power and control rather than an organization of believers in the word of God- kind of like almost all organized, state sanctioned, 501c3 corporation churches today- only the Roman church has been at it longer.
2006-06-28 13:05:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
@Daver, you make the main of biblical texts way out of context to assist your theory. case in point Ez 40 4:2 isn't speaking some definitely gate of the temple (you're waiting to learn verse a million and following verses to artwork out this); additionally Matt. 27:61, 28:a million there are 3 Marys, Jesus' mom Mary, Mary Magdalene, and Jesus' mom's sister the companion of Clopas. the way you bounce to the top that this Mary is the mother of James and Joseph (making them "cousins") is a "bounce of religion" which you have in hoping the scriptures practice your ingredient. The Bible for specific says they're "brothers." there is no longer something in scripture that proves or says that Joseph greater effective diverse toddlers to the kin from a prior marriage, in certainty there is no scriptural information that he did. The very theory that Mary remained a virgin after Jesus' delivery wasn't even a theory until 4 centuries after the certainty. for that reason each and each of diverse references you make the main of are flawed subsequently of certainty they anticipate that somebody have been given the information incorrect in translating the bible. Sorry, yet those are the information.
2016-10-31 21:16:30 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In theology, it is believed that those visited by God must be of the highest spiritual calling. To make Mary anything less then a virgin is to de-mystify her and to make her more human, as the mother of "God" she cannot be just another wife nor should she be associated with sex. It's a mythology holier-then-thou thing.
2006-06-28 13:05:25 · answer #9 · answered by kitten38po 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They also claim she was and is without sin.
They also claim she is still a virgin and living in heaven with God as an eternal (perpetual) virgin.
The only difference between Mary & Jesus is gender (according to the book of mythology).
2006-06-28 13:03:14 · answer #10 · answered by Left the building 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋