Book of James or Protevangelium

[j_hoerter]

My son who is now a bible christian and I have been having loving, respectful discussions on our separate beliefs…currently, the brethren of Jesus. Is the above topic a valid, recognized book for me to use in my argument? It certainly clears up the whole issue! Need an answer. Thanks! jhoerter

 

[Adam_D]

I’ve heard Catholic Answers Live programs where an apologist uses that book to bolster the case against the view that Mary had other kids. But they are careful to say that it is definitely not a scriptural presentation. It is useful in that it reflects the popular view of the people. If you read the whole things though, it gets real crazy by the end. So you mustn’t give your son the impression that Catholics accept the protoevangelium as gospel truth, cuz when he reads the end he’ll think Catholics are whackos.

Catholic Answers provides a great defense on this matter, without using the protoevangelium HERE and HERE

 

[metal1633]

j hoerter:

My son who is now a bible christian and I have been having loving, respectful discussions on our separate beliefs…currently, the brethren of Jesus. Is the above topic a valid, recognized book for me to use in my argument? It certainly clears up the whole issue! Need an answer. Thanks! jhoerter

If the discussion is on the topic of the Lords Brethren, point out to him a couple of things. Only Jesus is ever called a son of Mary. Mary is nove called the mother of any of those others. If you is going to follow the Bible Alone then he cannot assume these were her children because it doesnt say so. They could very well be exactly who the Church says they are.

Another thing is to try to identify some of these people by name. James is without doubt the Bishop of Jerusalem (Acts 12:17, 15:13, 21:18; Galatians 1:19; 2:9-12) and the author of the first Catholic Epistle. His identity with James the Less (Mark 15:40) and the Apostle James, the son of Alpheus (Matt 10:3; Mark 3:18), may also be considered as certain. There is no reasonable doubt that in Galatians 1:19: “But other of the apostles [besides Cephas] I saw none, saving James the brother of the Lord”, St. Paul represents James as a member of the Apostolic college. Please take note that James, the Brother of the Lord is James the son of Alpheus, who was also call Cleopas. His mother was therefore the other Mary.

Its all right there in the bible. Mary wife of Cleophas and sister of the Virgin Mary (Jn 19:25) is the mother of James and Joseph (Mk 15:47; Mt 27:56) who are called the “brothers of Jesus” (Mk 6:3).