Mary was a virgin when she gave birth to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why do Catholics say that she is "ever-virgin"

Question

We read in Isaiah 7:14, "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." This Scripture was fulfilled 700 years later, when Mary gave birth to the Lord Jesus Christ in a stable in Bethlehem (Matthew 1:22-25). The dear Catholic people believe that Mary is eternally virgin or "ever-virgin" but the Bible does not support that view. We read in Mark 6:3, "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him?" A similar passage is found in Matthew 13:55-57. These verses tell us that Mary and Joseph had children AFTER Jesus was born. If the Catholic church is incorrect about the "eternal virginity" of Mary couldn'y they be wrong about other teachings?

Answer 1

Yes indeed young man, yes indeed.
Their very own encyclopedia states theirs is a religion of tradition.

Answer 2

This was one of many questions investigated by the Catholic-Lutheran joint commission for reunion of the two groups. Scripture scholars from both groups spent a lot of time discussing this issue and investigating it in the earliest texts. The conclusion of the theologians was that scripture is silent on whether or not Mary had other children. Certain passages make no sense at all if she did have other children, but some passages seem to almost require it. The problem is that both Hebrew and Greek do not distinguish between brothers, step-brothers, half brothers, and cousins regardless of their distance (second cousins etc). It is in the writings of the next fifty years after the apostolic period that the writings on ever-virginity appear. It is rather important to remember a number of things here.

First, the Catholic Church did not pick which books were in the New Testament until 397 when Pope Damasus issued the final list we use today. Second, Mary was a real person who lived among the Christians for quite some time. If you go to a country or city in which she lived you will find stories preserved about both her and Jesus and the apostles. Protestants have lost access to these stories by Luther's choice to exclude early Christian writings that he disagreed with. It is important that Luther excluded James, Jude and Revelations from the bible when the Reformation was going on. If he didn't agree with them, they were out.

Catholics use all the early writings. Some are not considered authentic, but are of historical interest anyway because they show divergent points of view. Also, many important places outside scripture attest either to perpetual virginity or to Mary as panagia based upon Luke's salutation "Chaire Kecharitomene!"

Scripture, read in Greek, provides no answer to the question. If you accept other early writings as the way to decide when you have a tie, then there are no writings to support the biological sibling perspective.

The findings of the commission are excellent scripture scholarship and I would recommend reading it. It is called "Mary in the New Testament." I forget who edited it.

One thing to remember, many Protestant denominations are trying to bring an end to Protestantism. Instead of believing Catholics wrong, find out how to heal the wounds. The worst aspect of Protestantism is the idea that a person can read scripture, find the right answer, realize everyone else is wrong and start their own church. With some fortune in the near future the Evangelical Lutheran Church will be a Catholic Church soon. Let's pray for that day.

Answer 3

To refuse to honor Jesus' Mother is to insult her son Catholicism honors Mary and bans adoring her or anyone but the One God the Trinity. Jesus is the One Way, Truth and Life Mary as Mediatrix of All Graces and Co Redemptrix are not doctrines of the R Catholic Church-let alone dogmas-but are sententia pia("pious opinions" or speculations), if expressed in an orthodox,Christ -centered and Chalcedonian apostolic and catholic sense The Marian Dogmas of the RCC are compatible with the Bible, Tradition and Reason and are Christ-centered and rely on Jesus as the One mediator, Saviour, Perfect Sacrifice and redeemer

Answer 4

Mary did not have other children. There was no word for cousin in their language so many times a close relative would be called brothers and sisters. If she had other children why did Jesus give her to John to take care of? Why is it that 2,000 years have gone by and all of a sudden everyone feels that it is open season on The Virgin Mary. They will have much to answer for. Joseph received news of Mary's pregnancy by God in a dream. Do you think that a Jewish man who was afraid to even say God's name would even think for a minute about intercourse with her afterwords? Absolutely NO. He knew what happened to the people who touched the ARK OF THE COVENANT -- they died. She is the new ARK OF THE COVENANT. In the book of Esther the Queen was given into the hands of the Kings eunuchs for care and that was what Joseph was. He was a Eunuch for the King. Scripture says that "some are eunuchs from birth, some from accidents, and some from their own desire for the furthering of the Kingdom of God"

Answer 5

The girl untop isn't exactly right because there is a word for cousin, but there are different verses that call cousins/uncles brethren... the brethren of Christ could infact of been from a past marriage of Joseph as alot of early writtings/ aphoryca state that Joseph who was an elderly man had children with a past wife. Since he was old it would make sense that he had a wife she most likley died and if he had a wife they probally had kids which would be the step-brothers of Jesus. They could of easily been cousins aswell. ..... i cant finish this now but and on.

Answer 6

Technically a woman can conceive a child ( be it from the Holy Ghost or a man) and keep her virginity but she loses it when the child passes thru the vagina and the hymen tears.
According to the Mosaic law if a woman did not comply to her marital duties to her lawful wedded husband she was sentenced to be lapidated to death. Mary was in a tight spot, she had obeyed God's will but she (as a married Jewish woman) had to obey the Jewish commandments if she wanted to keep alive.
For ages the Catholic Church considered sex as being dirty (necessary only for procreation) and could not accept the mother of Jesus as a woman who had polluted her body and soul. Their equation was: sex=impure; virginity= pure, and thus could not admit that Mary had had sex with Joseph.
Compared to the Bible, another flaw in Catholic doctrines is to consider Mary as another immaculate conception. That is, that she also was conceived by the Holy Spirit of God and that she was risen to Heaven to rule by her son's side. There is no verse that can sustain such beliefs. They just won't give in.
Another possibility is that virginity is referred to as a state of spirutual sanctity and not of total sexual inactivity.

Answer 7

The reformed churches are threatenedby the Catholic Church's power. This is just an excuse to invalidate it's doctrine. Atleast the Catholic Church has a fixed set of beliefs unlike the protestant churches who have a largely varied outlook on biblical interpretations.

Answer 8

The roman catholic church is wrong about quite a bit of biblical teachings, that is why it is considered a false religion by many a church. I being a Baptist, do not beleive in there teachings because of the falseness of its doctrines. Look up baptist theology and you will get a better understanding of the stand, and if you have any questions, they have a email that you can ask and they will answer.

Answer 9

Virgin was a title--read back a bit, mary's mother saint anne was also a 'virgin'--they were predecessors to nuns and served as wives to monks--it's NOT literal

Answer 10

years ago,not just catholics think of that. this called faith.
do u beleave things that people say and u think is right and others don't, where do u go from there> or better, u have a bf,or husband,went out nites, and someone said he was having affair,and u no way, this means that u beleave he never so what do u do
wheres your faith and also theres been papers found from day of this and the Lord ,and they found these papers,and thats how we
about all this, no one just put it there.
hope u can understand me.