How did they know Mary was a virgin, wasn't she a married woman?

Question

Did they have a doctor standby to checked her out to sanction her virginity? Was Joseph gay or something?

Answer 1

Perhaps you should read Scripture, then formulate questions based on what it does -- or does not -- say.

Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”
22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.

This adequately answers your questions.

Peace.

Answer 2

Mary was a virgin at the moment of conception.
She became pregnant by the power of God's spoken thru the Holy Spirit.
Thus mary and the immaculate conception!
Thus Jesus was conceived free from all stain of original sin
meaning that Mary was not afflicted by the lack of sanctifying grace that afflicts humankind, but was instead filled with grace by God,
Mary was engaged (espoused) to Joseph at the time the Angel Gabriel announced Christ's birth to Mary and not married.

What happens after the conception between Mary and Joseph
is not explained but why would man and wife not enjoy each others company?

Answer 3

For the idiot who just said "another flaw if christianity', you obviously have not read the story. Joseph had not yet married Mary, they were engaged to be married. After the angel came to him in a dream and told him that Mary was having a baby who would be the son of God, Joseph married her so that people wouldnt say bad things about her being pregnant and not married. The best way to find out about this story is to read the first couple of chapters of Luke in the King James version of the Bible. This was not another "Flaw" in christianity, just another uninformed Skepticist.

Answer 4

Jesus had 4 earthly brothers. The Catholics seem to miss this point and still call Mary a "virgin forever". See below.

Matthew 13:55, "Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?"

It is believed that this James is the author of the Bible book that bears his name.

Mary was Joseph Carpenter's betrothed. In Jewish culture, they were as good as married. That is why Joseph considered divorcing her secretly even though they had not been wed.

Answer 5

In that culture, whoever had slept with Mary would have been stoned as well as Mary herself. Someone would have found out. There are no secrets in a small town. Joseph took a real chance, shunning by the community, to standby mary. and still marry her.

Answer 6

In those days, when you were engaged, you were considered married. The took marriage very seriously back then. You still didn't engage in intimate activity until the actual ceremony. Being the mother of the Messiah wouldn't be something that someone in the Jewish faith would lie about during that time. Being pregnant before marriage was something that would threaten your life. If you were lucky, they'd only send you away to most likely die in the wilderness. Why would Joseph had been gay?

Answer 7

Mary and Joseph weren't married before she concieved. In fact the Bible shows that Joseph first believed she had been with someone else because they never consumated their marriage when they finally were married. How do we know she was a virgin before this, the time period. Women who weren't virgins upon being married were stoned to death, one of the reasons why Mary had to leave her home from fear of being killed.

Answer 8

It depends on who you ask. The Catholic Church and the Qur'an both express the belief that she was a virgin before, during, and after birth (obviously through divine providence). Eastern Orthodoxy also takes this stance. Those who are neither Christian nor Muslim often take the view that Mary was not a virgin and the child was infused with the essence of God (if considered divine at all).

Answer 9

A woman was always checked by a relative or a mid-wife before marriage .Not to ,was considered a huge fraud.When Joseph found she was pregnant(this is when they were engaged),he decided to end the marriage contract quietly(He could of had her stoned to death).An angel came to him and told him what was up,then he was OK with it.After that ,because people wouldn't understand and would gossip etc.,she went to live with her cousin Elisabeth(John the Baptists mother).
After Jesus was born they had plenty of sex in fact they had a bunch of kids.The Bible names some,James,Joses,Jude,Simon and some sisters.
Gay my foot!

Answer 10

To the people quoting Biblical passages:

So, Joseph dreamt that he had been told that she was still a virgin... And that's proof is it? In this day and age if I told you that an angel came to me in a dream and said "Your fiancé did not have an affair, she was impregnated by God." what would your opinion be? Should you believe me or would you assume that I was nuts?