Why do most Protestants assume that Mary had other children when no one but Jesus is named as her son?

Question

FACT:
In the Bible, Jesus is always described as being THE Son of Mary, not A son of Mary. If Mary had other sons, it would say that Jesus was A son of Mary, but it doesn't.

I have a brother and a sister that we share the same father but different mothers. It isn't unreasonble to believe that Joseph was an old widower with children from a previous marriage.

In that language and culture, the term "brother" was used very loosely and meant a close relative. It did not have to mean that Jesus and His "brothers" had the same Mother.

Also, Jesus said that anyone who does the will of God could be called His brother. So in that sense, the ones called His brother wouldn't even have to be blood relatives of Jesus, they could have been close friends.

Even today in modern western culture, we call people who aren't even blood relatives our "brothers" and "sisters". This is common for a close friend or when speaking about our "brothers and sisters in Christ".

Answer 1

It's a recent idea because it was never taught anywhere until after the 18th century and the cult-type groups that call themselves Christians can't read the bible in the light of the original languages. "Brother" is the same word for "cousin", but if biblical scholarship contradicts their opinions, then everyone else(mainline churches) is wrong except them.

Acts 1:12-15 - the gathering of Jesus' "brothers" amounts to about 120. At nine months each, Mary was pregnant for 90 consecutive years???!
DUH, hello???

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.

Answer 2

Jesus being mentioned as "the" son of Mary occurs once in the whole New Testament. (Mark 6:3)

You are correct regarding the Greek word for brother. It is the word "adelphos," (Pronounced ad-el-fos) which is Strong's Ref. # 80. It is from GSN0001 "alpha," (as a connective particle) and delphus (the womb); a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote [much like GSN0001].

This is a debate that has preceded us, and will not likely be solved until His return. One thing that makes us ignert Prods think that they were true brothers of Jesus, rather than relatives, friends, or step-brothers and sisters is this: If they were Joseph's kids from a previous marriage, where were they when Joseph, Mary, and Jesus went to Egypt for nearly three years? He stayed away from his kids that long? Unlikely.

Answer 3

Orthodox Christians and Catholics both say she remained a virgin Mary had God in her womb- so it could be presived as being as respectful as jacking off on the arc of the covenant. edit the protestants who are making an issue of the other "Siblings need to point out in the Bible where it states clearly those are mary's children-not Joseph's by a privious marriage or some issue conserning the Semetic realtionship system that makes brother vauge- Lot for example is called Lots' brother and nephew there is not a line like "Joseph knew his wife and begat __"

Answer 4

Mark 6:3 Makes it quite clear about their blood relationship. Then there is Jude. You cannot Westernize the Bible. Mary did not reamain a virgin, she did marry Joseph and they had children and here are their names according to Jewish/ Middle Eastern Tradition.

God created "SEX" and it is a good thing between married couples. Furthermore Mary nor any saint or angel is to be worshipped and Prayed to. She was found to be without moral sin in Luke, she was only a vehicle for the virgin birth. Do you really beleive that God would be that Callous towards Joseph or Mary? or are you non- protestants still hung up on the Madonna Whore syndrome?

Answer 5

There are SOME protestants that believe this, not all of them. In the Gospels the disciples come to Jesus and say his mother and brothers want to see him.. he says I have no brothers or mother except those who do the will of God who sent me.... so... some take the word 'brothers' literally, while others do not. Then, everyone stands around insisting they are right - and I wonder, WHY is this so important?

Answer 6

There is no indication that Mary and Joseph did not enjoy a normal marital relationship once she had given birth to Jesus...in fact, it plainly states that Joseph did "take her to him to wife"...which would include those "husbandly privileges"...and it does state that Joseph did not know her TILL she had delievered Jesus...the obvious intimation that he DID "know her" (that would be in the Biblical sense, as in have sex with her) AFTER she had given birth to Jesus. Mary is NOT a "perpetual virgin" nor would there be any sensible reason to suppose that God would require her to be.
It also makes sense to suppose that Jesus waited to begin His ministry till the younger sons were able to take their Dad's place and take care of His mother.
Of course, you may be right, those other kids could be from an earlier marriage, but there is absolutely nothing in the Bible to support that notion, and every reason to suppose that Mary and Joseph had a normal married life together in every sense of the word. So the logical conclusion would be that they are her kids with Joseph.

Answer 7

Actually I read somewhere that Joseph was a widower and had many children before he met Mary. That is what confuses so many people.

Answer 8

I agree with "whynotaskdon" I'm an ex-Christian but even I know that the bible briefly mentions Jesus's brothers and sisters...Yet who cares if he had relatives or not, the importnat thing is if you're a Christian, just focus on him and not on his brothers and sisters.

Answer 9

The Bible does mention brothers and a sister.

Answer 10

The bible says that Jesus has brothers James, and Jude, who wrote the books named after themselves.

The bible says that when Jesus was in His hometown - someone said your mother, and brothers are here.

So I say he had brothers from my 100% reliable source