Mary - Queen of Heaven?

Question

Do you know why the Eastern Orthodox and the Catholics refer to Mary as Queen of Heaven? Consider this Old Testament verse:
1 Kings 2:19 "When Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, the king stood up to meet her, bowed down to her and sat down on his throne. He had a throne brought for the king's mother, and she sat down at his right hand..."

In Hebrew and other Middle Eastern culture of the time, the mother of the king was always considered the queen. The word for this was "Gabira", or "queen mother".
Now, Jesus is from the line of David, and among other things, is a king: In fact, he is the King of kings. It would be normal for any Jew, therefore, to consider his mother the queen.

This is totally biblical (if you understand biblical 'typology"), and is also culturaly correct. It is a failing of protestasnts that they read the Bible through American eyes and not eyes of first century Jews, otherwise they would see many of the things we Catholics see.

Does anyone out there understand this? Any comments?
God bless you all.

More info:
http://www.catholic.com/library/mary_saints.asp

Answer 1

When they deny the title "Mother of God" they in fact deny Jesus is Lord.

When they say the Catholics are all "misguided" then they are no different than the Non Christians who said the same thing about Christianity (the RCC) for 1500 years.

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Answer 2

I'm not sure what you're saying. I'm well aware Jesus respected His mother. I know when He calls her 'woman' at the wedding, He was using a first century term of deep respect. I'm still trying to understand the Catholic response to her biblical authority and ability. It's my understanding that Catholics pray through Mary or ask her to appeal to God on our behalf. If I understand that correctly, I'm unable to put scripture with it to support it. In the Bible, Christians pray through Jesus. As far as I understand, that's exclusive. I have no problem respecting or honoring Mary...she is the mother of Jesus. I just don't understand the high level of respect she is given in the Catholic church. I haven't intended on offending you. I am really searching for the truth. Thanks,

Answer 3

This was also a title applied to the Egyptian Goddess Isis, who had become very popular throughout the Roman Empire by the First Century C.E. Also, much of the iconography of Mary was adapted from the iconography of Isis -- the blue veils, stepping on a serpent, holding an infant (Jesus in the case of Mary, Horus in the case of Isis). Here is yet another example of Pagan symbolism being adopted by the early Christians.

Answer 4

Sounds right to me.

There are many stories throughout history of Mothers creating policy for kings, this ocured throughout the Roman empire as well.

Answer 5

No. Where in the Bible is Mary called the Queen of Heaven?

Mary’s meekness, sincerity and love of righteousness fit her well as a devoted disciple of Jesus. Nowhere do we find her with a halo on her head and richly decked out as the glorified “Queen of Heaven.” After Jesus’ death she was not glorified in the Christian congregation. In fact, very little is said about her. The last mention of her in the Bible shows her with the other faithful followers of the Lord in an upper room giving her worship to God. (Acts 1:13, 14) When she died her body returned to the dust, and there she slept in death until God’s due time to raise her with other faithful ones to life as a spirit creature in heaven. 1 Cor. 15:44, 50; 2 Tim. 4:8.

Answer 6

Good to see you back in force, CC.

That's still true with many royal lineages today, so I don't see why that wouldn't be a logical thing to believe for christians either.

Answer 7

If it is true that we "misread" the Bible, why is it that this title is not references by ANYONE (Jew or Gentile) at ANYTIME in ANY WRITINGS of the First, Second, third century? If it is asn you say a Biblical expression, why is it there no Biblical reference?

Answer 8

I totally agree with you Crusader,sound fact indeed.

Answer 9

Yes, she is the Mother of The God of this Earth

Answer 10

Mary would vomit if she knew you were worshiping her.


If she is in heaven she is worshiping Jesus the one in which she is there thru.

If she denied Jesus she is in hell and would warn you to turn from idolatry and trust Jesus or you will die in your sins and go to hell


Mary was a sinner....same as you me and Hitler. she needed a saviour and that saviour is Jesus.

There is one mediator in heaven and that is Jesus.

1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;