was jesus an only child?

Question

is it possible that in that misoginist society Mary would have got away with having just one child? what happened with Joseph? was he not a widower? did he have any sons or daughters from previous marriages? well i stop, it is starting to sound like the begining of Santa Barbara,or worse Falcon Crest

this is getting confusing guys. half your answers say yes the rest say no. TV soap operas comments please grow up. it was about how the question sounded no the bible. Although it coould be as well, now that you mention it!

Answer 1

no,
mary had other children

Answer 2

Many Protestants believe that Mary and Joseph had relations after Jesus was born and produced siblings.

These beliefs are held because of two passages that were badly translated in the King James Version. In one of them, Jesus refers to his brothers. However, the original Greek says "close relative" -- which could be cousins.

The other says something like 'Mary and Joseph had no relations until Jesus was born." In English, there is an implication that something happened after the birth of Jesus. Again, the original Greek is different -- saying only that there were no relatins before the birth of Jesus -- but not implying anything after his birth.

Catholics believe that Jesus was an only child. Part of this is that they were not burdened by the mistranslations of the KJV. But there are other reasons.

The Protestant Bible is missing several books that were part of the Christian Canon since the early days of the Church (St Irenaeus included them when he declared which of th ebooks of the Bible were the inspired word of God -- and the Council of Rome included them when they gave their blessing to the Official Christian Canon in the 4th Century). Martin Luther decided that these books did not belong in the Bible. For some reason Protestants (even non Lutherins) believe him.

These books that Catholics believe are part of the Bible contain a passage where Mary says that she took an oath to God to remain a virgin. Nowhere does it say that she didn't break this oath and have relations with Joseph -- but Catholics decided that the Mother of Jesus was likely to keep an oath that she made to God -- therefore she must have stayed a virgin.

Unless there were no virgin births, their belief would be that he had no siblings.

Answer 3

I do not know your age or the seriousness of your inquiry but I would certainly not categorize our religious history with a pathetic tv soap opera. Mary was married to Joseph who did have one son, James, from a previous marriage, she died. Mary was innocent and never laid with any man. Jesus was immaculately conceived and Joseph knew this and never touched Mary in that way because she was meant to always be innocent. Joseph knew this, loved her, and protected her. A really good book to read for insight on Jesus's childhood would be "Out of Egypt" by Ann Rice. Another way to answer your question is to say no, because we are all of Gods children which makes Jesus our brother and there for he would not be an only child.

Answer 4

Jesus was not an only child. He had both brothers and sisters. One of his brothers,James,was mentioned specifically in the Bible.

Joseph is not really mentioned in the Bible after the birth of Jesus. I assume that is because the Bible is about Christianity and not the family of Jesus.

The Bible does not state that Joseph was a widower nor whether or not he was previously married.

Comparing the Bible to a soap opera is very disrespectful.

Answer 5

Jesus was not an only child. He had at least 4 brothers (James, Joseph, Simon and Jude) and 2 sisters. Matthew 13:53-56
Also read Mark 3:31-35.
Mary and Joseph had normal sexual relations after she gave birth to Jesus. Read Matthew 1:25

Answer 6

Mary was a virgin when she got married, she didn't stay that way, no good Jewish man would stay married to a woman who wouldn't sleep with them. They took the "be fruitful and multiply" very seriously. She had other kids, the bible references the brothers and sisters of Jesus. The bible doesn't say Joseph was a widower, people just like to assume that.

Answer 7

If you read the NIV Bible, Jesus had brothers and sisters. If you ask Catholics, they will tell you that Jesus didn't have brothers and sisters. They say that in order to keep their belief that Mary was a virgin her entire life. In other words, they change what the Bible says in order to justify their idolatry. That's why you will see "no" answers.

BTW, the NIV version was a direct translation of ancient Greek (the main language that the Bible was written in) into modern day English. The Catholics read a Bible that has been translated a few times, diluting tand losing the meanings of verses.

Answer 8

Yes. Joseph was not written about in the bible, other than what was needed to know. He lived a long life after Jesus died on the cross. Mary had another son.

pa

Answer 9

No, the bible says that Mary had other children and even names one as Jesus' brother, James I believe. And Joseph must have died because Jesus was the head of the family at the time of his death. He and Mary are supposed to have married young and as virgins so I doubt he had other children by another woman. The virginity of Mary was ONLY important at Jesus' birth, it was not important that she stay that way for life!!!

The reason the Bible doesn't mention them and their names is because, much like the date of his birth, none of it was important! God says in the bible that "the day of your death is greater than the day of your birth" because then you'll have proven your faith to God.

Answer 10

No, Joseph and Mary carried on as regular families do. I believe there is the mention of a brother of Jesus (by name) in the Bible.

Answer 11

Jesus was Mary's first born. It's my understanding that it was Joseph's first marriage. Joseph did not touch Mary until after Jesus' birth. She was still a virgin when she delivered the baby. Mary and Joseph had children together, so Jesus did have half-siblings.