It cant mean that Joseph didnt know who Mary was because they were engaged to be married. So what could it mean? Could it mean that Joseph waited to "know" Mary until she gave birth to Jesus? I believe it is saying that Joseph waited to have sexual intercourse with Mary until she had given birth to Jesus. So according to Matthew, sometime after Mary gave birth to Jesus, is when Joseph got together with his wife Mary in order to consumate their marriage. Which means, plain and simply, that Mary and Jospeph had sex. Which means Mary didnt remain a virgin as certain religions teach. It is foolish to think that Mary, being the good wife she was, would be so inconsiderate of her husbands needs as to not allow him the priveledge to engage in the bonds of holy matrimony with his beloved wife. Jospeh did the right thing by waiting until Mary had given birth before he went in to his bride to consumate the marriage vows. How long do most wives make their husbands wait after they give birth?
2007-05-02 07:00:45 · 27 answers · asked by biblestudent07 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
For scritural references read Matthew Chapter One..the last two verses.
2007-05-02 07:04:34 · update #1
No Mary did not stay a virgin. Jesus had brothers, pretty hard to do as a virgin... Joseph did not consumate the marriage until after Jesus birth is how I have always read that piece of scripture.
2007-05-02 07:04:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 1⤋
You are correct. Joseph did not have sex with Mary until after Jesus was born. The Bible says that Jesus had brothers and sisters; therefore, Joseph and Mary had to have had sex after Jesus was born. The brothers and sisters of Jesus were not conceived by emaculant conception, as there could not have been more than one Son of God in the form of a man, because there is only ONE Son of God. There is no Daughter of God. Where people get this idea that Mary remained a virgin for life beats me. It ain't in the Bible.
2007-05-02 07:10:24 · answer #2 · answered by Preacher 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
From all the answers here, I see you are preaching to the choir. Of course Mary and Joseph had sex after Jesus was born. She did not remain a virgin after that. Jesus had younger brothers mentioned by name in Matthew 13:55 They even have an odd conversation in John 7. I am not sure where the idea that Mary was a virgin her whole life came from but it is not right.
2007-05-02 07:19:26 · answer #3 · answered by Yo C 4 · 4⤊ 2⤋
The catholic perversion has really changed the scriptural teaching on this one. As you point out, the text expressly teaches that Joseph and Mary had sexual relations. Jesus had half-siblings who are named in the New Testament. The false teachings surrounding infant baptism and original sin are primarily responsible for this twisting of God's word. Ezekiel chapter 18 is pretty clear that children are NOT CHARGED WITH THEIR PARENTS' SINS. In this passage, God presents a hypothetical family of alternating good and evil fathers and sons. Here is a short snip:
Ezekiel 18:19 “But you still ask, ‘Is the son guilty along with his father?’ No! The son did what was fair and right. He was careful to keep all of my rules. So you can be sure he will live. 20 People will die because of their own sins. The son will not be guilty because of what his father did. And the father will not be guilty because of what his son did. The right things a godly person does will be added to his account. The wrong things a sinful person does will be charged against him.
Why does this apply? The doctrine that babies are born guilty is false. Therefore there was no need to "figure out" a way for Jesus to be born without guilt. EVERYONE is born INNOCENT. This means the whole "immaculate conception" story is just so much bologna.
2007-05-02 07:10:20 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
that means that Joseph had sex with Mary, so Mary was no more a virgin, she was a virgin before giving birth to Jesus then Mary had more children. She did not stay virgin because she was married with Joseph.. you are right and supposedly most wives wait like 40 days after they gave birth..
2007-05-02 07:09:21 · answer #5 · answered by darli_amor 1 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Well 'certain religions' e.g Islam don't even mention Joseph's presence, thereby excusing the need to explain whether or not Mary remained a Virgin as the Christian and Islamic faith inform us she was at the time of Jesus' birth.
I think doctors recommend a minimum of a 6 weeks wait before women can resume intercourse.
2007-05-02 07:08:26 · answer #6 · answered by (notso)Gloriouspipecleaner 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you are correct- In the Torah, God gives instruction on how long to wait to be considered clean after giving birth. The Bible also states that Jesus had brothers and sisters.
In the scheme of things, the whole purpose for Jesus being here, what sense does it make to say Mary was sinless or a perpetual virgin. There is no Biblical foundation for any of this.
Keep studying , reading the word and learning the truth of it. Kudos for not being swayed by the doctrines of men.
2007-05-02 07:07:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Of course she didn't remain a virgin!! They had other sons and daughters. Jesus was just the immaculate conception since she was still a virgin at that point. And yes, it meant he had sex with her. God would not approve of her NOT having sex with her husband unless it was an agreed decision (that's in the bible- same goes to the husband, for sex in marriage is a gift) And usually, wives make their husbands wait until they feel up to having sex after giving birth (usually once they are well healed and a little more rested)
2007-05-02 07:05:49 · answer #8 · answered by boz4425 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋
The Biblical use of "know" means "to have sex with". You'll find it all over the OT, "So-and-so knew his wife, and she conceived". It means that although they were betrothed, they did not have sex until after Jesus was born. We know that Mary didn't remain a virgin after that point, because the Bible mentions other half-brothers of Jesus, James and Joses, who were sons of Mary and Joseph.
2007-05-02 07:04:42 · answer #9 · answered by FUNdie 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Not only did Joseph and Mary consumate their marriage after Jesus was born, but they had half brothers for Jesus. James and Jude were half brothers and their books are in the Bible.
2007-05-02 07:09:28 · answer #10 · answered by Jeancommunicates 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋