Was Jesus Mary's only child?

Question

I've heard differing things, just want to know what you think. =0)

Answer 1

no, Mary and Joseph had other children

Mark 3:31-32Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you."

Answer 2

YES,YES,YES
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.

Answer 3

Jesus’ brothers are mentioned in several Bible verses. Matthew 12:46, Luke 8:19, and Mark 3:31 say that Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see Him. The Bible tells us that Jesus had four brothers: James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas (Matthew 13:55). The Bible also tells us that Jesus had sisters, but they are not named or numbered (Matthew 13:56). In John 7:1-10, His brothers go on to the festival while Jesus stays behind. In Acts 1:14, His brothers and mother are described as praying with the disciples. Later, in Galatians 1:19, it mentions that James was Jesus’ brother. The most natural conclusion of these passages is to interpret that Jesus had actual blood siblings.

Answer 4

There are some Catholics that believe that Mary and Joseph never had sex. That Mary remained a virgin all of her life. This belief is not a major belief. It can not be proved.
Others believe that Mary and Joseph had other children based upon the scripture passage where Jesus is being told that His brothers and sisters are outside.
I am a devout Catholic who has no problem believing that Mary and Joseph had other children. I believe that Jesus was being born to a virgin mother but that after His birth, Mary and Joseph behaved like normal married people and had children of their own.

Answer 5

" The Virgin Mary" did not stay a virgin her whole life. Jesus had four brothers( James, Joses, Judas, and Simon) and an unspecified number of sisters. The Roman Catholic Church believe that these ''brothers" and "sisters" were Joseph 's children by an earlier marriage or were cousins of Jesus. Check Matthew 13:56 and Mark 6:3 , I find the answer in those passages. I hope I helped you, Have a blessed day.

Answer 6

A couple of other things to add along with some of the above postings...

In Aramaic, there is only ONE word for brother, cousin, close friend, etc. Jesus refers to his "brother" John the Baptist who is clearly his cousin.

Also, Jesus makes John the Beloved his ADOPTED brother at the foot of the cross because he had no other living male relatives. Back then, women were property. Mary would have been sold into slavery if she had no male to take care of her. So, by Jesus telling John that Mary was to now be his mother, Jesus was welcoming him into his family and instructing him to take care of Mary so she would not be abandoned.

Answer 7

Yes Jesus did have brothers and sisters. In Matthew 13:55-56 When Jesus said that a Prophet is without honor in his own town it says that the people said when they say and heard him teaching in the synagogue, "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his Mother Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Aren't all of his sister's with us?"(The Judas mentioned here is not thought to have been the Judas who betrayed Jesus,) It is known that his brother did travel with Jesus. Look it up for yourself!

Answer 8

No Mary gave birth to many 1/2 bothers and sisters to Jesus.

Answer 9

This is a copy from a homepage:
There were many children born after Jesus to Joseph and Mary. One of them, James, became a disciple of Jesus after his death and wrote a letter of the Bible. (Mr 6:3; Ga 1:19, Ac 12:17, Jas 1:1, Mt 13:55, 1 Cor 9:5 )

Matthew 12:46-47 As he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold his mother and his brethren stood without, seeking to speak to him. 47And one said unto him: Behold thy mother and thy brethren stand without, seeking thee. (DRC)

Matthew 13:55-56 Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary, and his brethren James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Jude: 56And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence therefore hath he all these things? (DRC)


For more info about Jesus, see HP http://bythebible.page.tl/Jesus-Christ.htm

Answer 10

No. He wasn't her only child. But it is argued for the sanctity of Mary's 'holy' image. There has been much bickering over the debate and both sides have explanations as to why they think their particular way. But to me, it is clear that Jesus had both brothers and sisters.

Answer 11

It says in one of the Gospels, either Luke or John, I forget which, that Mary and Jesus' brothers came to visit Him once, and (I paraphrase) He told them to wait. So I think He had brothers, and maybe sisters.