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mark_a
Guest
Don’t forget the Orthodox and the reformers!!Howdy folks. I love y’all, so don’t get offended.
But it is not scriptural to try and sell the idea that Mary is a virgin.
thanks
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WhoDatChristian
Guest
That’s your opinion. Where does it say in the Bible that Mary is a virgin her entire life? I presume you are going to suggest that relative and bretheren are synonyms?
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elvisman
Guest
REALLY? Can you name them?
Where does the Bible tell us that Jesus and John the Baptist were cousins?
MY Bible doesn’t say anything like that.
Okay - I challenge you to show me that she did not remain a virgin - using Scripture.
Not one single Protestant in history has been able to do that.
**And you’re telling us that you can?
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Erich
Guest
Guess you didn’t follow/read the link in my earlier post. Scripture shows that James, Joseph, Simon, and Jude are not, to use your term, “true brothers” of Jesus.
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mark_a
Guest
Perhaps this is part of tribal culture.
I have a friend from Camaroon who refers to his cousin as his brother and his nephew as his son.
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edward_george
Guest
Recall that when Jesus died, he gave Mary over to the care of the Beloved Disciple, the Apostle John. If Mary had had other children, this would not make the least bit of sense–why would Jesus entrust his mother to someone who wasn’t her child?
See here:
catholic.com/library/Mary_Ever_Virgin.asp
and here:
catholic.com/library/Brethren_of_the_Lord.asp
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See here:
catholic.com/library/Mary_Ever_Virgin.asp
and here:
catholic.com/library/Brethren_of_the_Lord.asp
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elvisman
Guest
**Where does the bible say that she DIDN’T remain a virgin?
As for the Greek use of breother in Scripture, the normal Greek words for “brother(s) “adelphos” and “adelphoi” were used much more liberally than the normal meaning. It was applied to cousins, uncles, nephews and kinsmen alike. The Aramaic word, “ach”, encompasses the meanings for brother of same parents, half-brother (same father), relative, kinship, same tribe, and evena fellow countryman. The attempt by some Protestants to apply one word for all of these meanings in 21st century English is ludicrous. Just as languages differ – so do the meanings of different words.
It can be illustrated that Jesus himself and the Apostles studied and quoted from the Septuagint. The fact is that many passages in the New Testament are directly correlated to these 7 books from the Septuagint. Some examples include: Matt. 27:42/Wis. 2:18-20, Luke 24:4/2 Macc. 3:26, John 10:22/1Macc 4:36 & 52-59, Rom. 11:33/Judith 8:14, 1 Cor. 10:20/4:7 and 1 Pet. 1:6-7/Wis. 3:5-6.
Furthermore, there was no term for the word “cousin” in the Aramaic language that Jesus spoke. When the Old Testament was translated into Greek in the centuries before the birth of Christ (the Septuagint), the words “adelphos” and “adelphoi” were used in places where “ach” was.
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Rascalking
Guest
My protestant friend was asked this and responded, "I think James (the “brother” of Jesus) wasn’t a believer at that time, so that’s why Mary was asked to be taken care of by someone else.
Before you scream at me-I don’t think Jesus had “brothers”-I think they were probably cousins. However, it’s not a central to me being a Christian.
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mark_a
Guest
Why cousins instead of steps?
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Sailor_Kenshin
Guest
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Erich
Guest
Why is it that non-Catholics want everyone to take what the Bible says literally, except when doing so would support Catholic teaching?
Actually – as you’ll see when you follow/read the link in my earlier post – looking at the evidence, there really isn’t an argument for Jesus having literal brothers.
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Spencerian
Guest
Hi, there.
A more important question to ask yourself as we explore your question is, “Where in the Bible does it say that all we need to know about Christianity must come from the Bible?”
I presume you believe in the Trinity. We know this from Scriptural information, but this was a teaching that was defined over time–you will not find the word “Trinity” itself anywhere in any properly-translated Bible (Catholic or non-Catholic).
The nature of the original roots of Christianity–which can be proven historically as originating in what we know as the Catholic Church–shows that the Word of God was taught by oral tradition for nearly 300 years.
Printing presses would not exist until some 1500 years later, and the compiled inspired texts that would form the Bible itself were combined by bishops at several gatherings in the 3rd and 4th centuries. Books were still made by hand, and were very expensive and rare. Even then, Scripture was taught orally until more texts were created and distributed.
Nowhere in the Bible did Christ teach his Apostles to go give away Bibles to others. He asked them to give of themselves, to go to the nations and teach orally. These oral teachings were compiled into what we know as Scripture.
Others have answered your questions about Mary’s virginity. I’ll give you another reason why we believe and hold to the perpetual virginity. If Jesus is representative of the New Covenant between God and man, as the living Word, Christ, states at the Last Supper (Luke 22:19-20), and the tablets of the Ten Commandments were the written word of God, in the Old Testament, what did the two have in common?
A perfect vessel to carry the Covenants in. Mary, a vessel perfected by God, became the Ark of the *New *Covenant to carry our Lord. It would not be suitable for Mary to bear anyone else in her womb anymore than for the Hebrews of the Old Testament to carry food or supplies in the Ark.
Nor does Scripture suggest that Joseph desired this act. Scripture *does *show that Mary chose perpetual virginity even before Gabriel asks her to bear Christ in her, in Luke 1:26-38.
I hope we are helping. It’s important to combine your fondness for Sacred Scripture with the living teachings given to man from God–teachings that the Catholic Church has passed down from millennia. No other Christian faith can make this claim using valid history or science. For it is also said in Scripture that Christ did and say much more than what was contained in Scripture (John 20:30-31). We would do well to note that the Bible, while an essential part of Christian teaching, was never intended as a complete guide to our Christian faith.
God bless.
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Rascalking
Guest
Hey, beats me man. I’ve never really thought about the virginity of Mary. It’s never been issue for me.
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elvisman
Guest
**You took the words right out of my mouth . . .
A couple of important things to remember, we are not limited to what is written in the bible.
What we hold to that is not written does not contradict what is written.
No, you will not find a scripture that maintains perpetual virginity. But you will not find scripture telling us otherwise.
What we hold to that is not written does not contradict what is written.
No, you will not find a scripture that maintains perpetual virginity. But you will not find scripture telling us otherwise.
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SonCatcher
Guest
You say that as though you are immune. Let me ask the following of you. I challenge you to respond to all parts even though some are mutually exclusive:
- Does it make any difference at all in Christ’s redemptive work whether Mary remained ever-virgin or bore other children?
1-a) If so, would the impact be positive or negative for her to have borne other children.
1-a-i) How would Mary bearing other children have added to Christ’s work?
1-a-ii) How would her bearing other children have detracted from Christ’s work?
1-b) If not, why do you even concern yourself over a teaching other Christians hold that helps them contemplate the Gospel of Jesus Christ more deeply?
1-b-i) How does engaging in debate over what you regard as trivial further the Gospel?
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Nicea325
Guest
Because it clashes with their novelties-that is why they believe what they believe.
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mark_a
Guest
Perpetual or otherwise?
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lil_flower_luv
Guest
Mary’s privilege was to give birth to Jesus and Jesus alone. He was not conceived by Joseph, but by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, His Mother was a virgin before and after His birth. Had it not been for this privilege to give birth to the King of Kings, she would have been like every other woman. But here’s the thing, my protestant brothers and sisters, she ISN’T like every other woman. Let’s start with that…
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rainman10
Guest
Well, then, it is really great to know that you believe in the Eucharist being the body and blood of Christ!! Or do you mean we all should take your word for it and nobody else, because YOU have the correct infallible interpretation of the Bible.
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