Biblical relationships

[ocuinn]

I have a question bugging me. I am a Catholic by the way though have many Protestant friends and that is where I am getting these questions from:-

One of the arguments a Catholic Apologist would use against Jesus having brothers and sisters is that the Aramaic word for brother universally means cousin, uncle, sister etc.

My question is that if this is so, how can we be sure that anyone is related to anyone in the bible at all? It really muddles things up doesn’t it and it has refuted that line of argument straight away.

Also I know that nowhere in the Bible is Jesus referred to as ‘a’ son of Mary but rather ‘the’ son of Mary. But isn’t this English interpretation very much open to debate

The Ezekial Ark of the Covenant argument is sketchy because it is symbolic and could mean a number of things.

Don’t get me wrong I believe in The Catholic interpretation of the Bible but how do you convince a non Catholic of Mary’s perpetual Virginity? Surely not with these arguments?

AP Quinn

 

[maryj]

some of these “brothers” advise and reprimand Jesus (John 7:3-4, Mark 3:21) In Jewish culture, younger brothers NEVER admonish an elder brother. Therefore, they could not have been younger children of Mary.

Mathew 15 and John 19:27 In Mathew chapter 25, Jesus vehemently condemns the Pharisees because they have a proceedure, the Korban rule, that allowed chuildren to avoid taking care of their parents. In the OT, children had a solemn obligation to care for their elderly parents. This is why the Pharisee’s scheme to let people shirk this responsibility made Jesus so angry. So let’s turn to the cross. Jesus is about to die,(apparently Joseph is dead since he is not mentioned again after Jesus begins his ministry) Mary is in danger of being left alone, so he entrusts Her to John the Apostle(Zebedee’s son so not a sibling of our Lord!!!)
Jesus had admonished the Pharisee’s for dispensing people from the responsibility of caring for their own parents. Why would he not give this responsibility to His own sibling, why would He release His own brothers from this responsibility? Such inconsistency is inconceivable.
Jewish Culture-
Let’s go to Acts 1: 13-14
After the ascension, the followers of Jesus, John the Apostle with whom Mary now lived, and heres the CLINCHER!! Mary the Mother of Jesus, and his brothers. If these brothers of Jesus were also Mary’s sons, Mary would be praying togethar with her son’s who were FAITHFUL followers of Jesus, and then going home with John the Apostle, son of Zebedee. In her Jewish culture, such a thing would not happen.

Does that seem logical?? Hope that helps.