Free Republic
Browse · Search
Smoky Backroom
Topics · Post Article

This thread has been locked, it will not receive new replies.
Locked on 01/03/2007 10:18:06 PM PST by Religion Moderator, reason:

Unacceptable behavior for a religious subject.



Skip to comments.

Challenge: A Scriptural Portrait of Mary
The Bible | 1/1/7 | pjr12345

Posted on 01/02/2007 11:46:14 AM PST by pjr12345

Below are all the biblical references to Mary, the mother of Jesus that I could locate. Anything beyond Scriptural references is conjecture, the philosophies of men and not God.

Would anyone care to construct a Scripturally accurate portrait of Mary, leaving behind extra-biblical sources?

Please include your Scriptural references in support of your description.

Isaiah 7:13-14

Matthew 1:13-25; 2:11, 14, 20-21; 12: 46-50; 13:54-56

Mark 3:31-35; 6:3

Luke 1:26-56; 2:1-7, 16-19, 27, 33-35, 39, 41-51; 8:19-21

John 2:1-12; 6:41-42; 19:25-26

Acts 1:14


TOPICS: Apologetics; General Discusssion; Heated Discussion; History; Theology
KEYWORDS: another; bashingthread; mary; motherofgod; nativity; virgin
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 741-755 next last
To: kawaii

The Virgin Mary is blessed above all women, and therefore Christians have always called her “The Blessed Virgin Mary” in fulfillment of prophecy (Luke 1:28, 42, 45, 48).

The Blessed Virgin Mary is the mother of Jesus Christ who is God. She is, therefore, truly the Mother of God, the Mother of that Person who is God the Son, not by generating his divinity, for he was divine before his conception in the womb, but by generating his humanity and carrying him to birth in her womb by the power of the Holy Spirit and not by any human father (Luke 1:35; 41, 43, 48).

The Blessed Virgin Mary is mentioned in both the first and the last books of the Bible. In Genesis 3:15, God foretold that he would put enmity between the seed or offspring of the devil and the offspring of the Woman, and that the offspring of the Woman would crush the head of that old serpent, and the serpent would strike the heel of the offspring. Eve had surrendered to the serpent’s tempting, so there was no enmity between them, for “you are slaves of him to whom you yield yourselves to obey as slaves” (Rom. 6:16). The Woman foretold in Genesis could not have been Eve. Eve was not Satan’s enemy, but his slave. However, mention of the Woman, Mary, is found in the last book of the Bible in the twelfth chapter of Revelation (the Apocalypse).

The Blessed Virgin Mary is the woman who gave birth to him who is to rule all nations with a rod of iron, namely Jesus Christ, and she is, therefore, also the Mother of all Christians, who are her offspring, those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ, and we are bound to honor her, our Mother, the Second Eve, as Jesus Christ honors her (Exod. 20:12; Sirach 40:1; John 1:29; 1 Cor. 15:45-47; Rev. 12:1, 5, 17).

The Blessed Virgin Mary, in giving birth to Jesus Christ, the head of that body which is his Church, also gave birth into eternal life to the members of that body, all baptized Christians, and she is, therefore, the Mother of the Church and the Mediatrix of All Graces which come to us through Christ. As our Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary brings forth Christ in our hearts as she brought him forth in her womb (Gal. 2:20).

Blessed Mary is holier than the Ark of the Old Covenant, to touch which was death, for she was set apart as the Ark of God the Son for the exclusive use of our Great High Priest Jesus Christ, as his Mother, and she is, therefore, ever Virgin, the “garden enclosed” and, as she contained him whom the heavens cannot contain, she is the Holy of Holies, the Saint of Saints (Exod. 26:33; Lev. 16:2-34; 2 Sam 6:6-7; 1 Kings 8:27; Luke 1:34; Heb. 9:3, 12).

In accordance with her title in the Eastern Church, “The All-Immaculate One,” the Blessed Virgin Mary, as the Mother of Our Lord and God Jesus Christ, by a special privilege of Divine Providence, has been, from the moment of her conception, “full of grace,” even the “Uncreated Grace” who is our eternal life, namely God the Son, who lived in her heart before he became incarnate in her womb, and thus she was and is “filled with all the fullness of God,” and she has been preserved unstained by personal sin or by our disordered passions resulting from the original sin of Adam (Luke 1:28; John 1:4; 10:10; Rom. 5:12, 17; Eph. 3:19; James 1:15). For Mary and Satan are enemies; he has no part in her (Gen. 3:15).

The Blessed Virgin Mary exercised the greatest virtue by risking death by stoning for adultery for consenting to be the Mother of God; by being the first to believe in Jesus, and thus working the greatest of the works of God, the Incarnation of his Son; and by suffering the most agonizing sword of sorrow that pierced her Immaculate Heart at the crucifixion of her Son and the piercing of his Sacred Heart (Matt. 1:18-19; Luke 1:38, 45; 2:35; John 6:29; 19:25, 34).

God the Son has not suffered his Mother, the blessed, glorious, and ever Virgin Mary, to see corruption, but has honored her as the first of the saints, and assumed her, body and soul, into heaven (Exod. 20:12; Ps. 16:10; Rev. 12:1, 3, 14).

The Blessed Virgin Mary has been crowned Queen of the Universe by God the Father, whose daughter she is, by God the Son, whose mother she is, and by God the Holy Spirit, whose faithful spouse she is, and she has been crowned by the stars and clothed with the sun, and had the moon put under her feet in token of her being set, under her Son, the King of Kings, over all other created beings, as Queen of the Universe (Rev. 12:1, 5, 17; 17:14; 19:16).

The Blessed and ever Virgin Mary always bids us to do whatever Jesus says (John 2:5). Together with the rest of the angels and saints, as a witness to our lives, she sees our lives and hears our prayers now and is, as our Mother, our most potent intercessor with God (Matt. 18:10; John 2:1-11, esp. v. 3; Heb. 12:1; Rev. 5:8-10; 8:3-4).

The Bible does not ask us to pay Mary the adoration due to God alone; that would be idolatry. But the Bible does teach us: Honor thy mother, Mary, as Jesus did! We can also be assured that our Blessed Mother hears our prayers for she, as well as the other saints in heaven, is one of the “cloud of witnesses,” who observe us (Heb. 12:1), and witnesses are those who can testify under oath in court as to what they have seen and heard. Therefore, we should frequently request our Blessed Mother to pray to God, to obtain his graces for us. Following are several prayers to the Blessed Virgin that have been widely used throughout the Church over the ages.

The Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of Grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen (Luke 1:28; 42-43, 45, 48).


41 posted on 01/02/2007 2:09:31 PM PST by Danette ("If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: GCC Catholic

Your use of an apocryphal book is allowed only in the manner you've used - to support an historical claim. Had you used it to draw doctrine from, it would have to be poo poo'ed with great prejudice.

Very interesting analysis. I can't wait to see the response of others more learned than I!


42 posted on 01/02/2007 2:10:55 PM PST by pjr12345
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: pjr12345
Don't forget Luke 2:48:

"And when they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said unto him, Son, why has thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee, sorrowing."

I realize that his mother was upset, especially the inconvenience of having to return to Jerusalem with all his other little brothers and sisters, but is that what I think it is? --- an untruth issuing forth from the immaculate one.

43 posted on 01/02/2007 2:15:30 PM PST by Uncle Chip (TRUTH : Ignore it. Deride it. Allegorize it. Interpret it. But you can't ESCAPE it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pjr12345

What makes a book apocryphal?


44 posted on 01/02/2007 2:16:09 PM PST by kawaii (Orthodox Christianity -- Proclaiming the Truth Since 33 A.D.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: jkl1122

Buzz off....I asked a SIMPLE question.....I didn't ask if he was GAY, I asked what denomination he was. Why are non-Catholics always afraid to answer that??? Catholics ALWAYS identify themselves, yet non-Catholics do not. It makes no sense.


45 posted on 01/02/2007 2:16:32 PM PST by Suzy Quzy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: pjr12345

What is a no denomination Christian? Non denominational IS a denomination Church isn't it? Do you attend Church every Sunday?


46 posted on 01/02/2007 2:18:00 PM PST by Suzy Quzy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: texan75010

Well put.


47 posted on 01/02/2007 2:18:50 PM PST by Quix (LET GOD ARISE AND HIS ENEMIES BE SCATTERED. LET ISRAEL CALL ON GOD AS THEIRS! & ISLAM FLUSH ITSELF)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: pjr12345
Yes, I realize that using II Machabees beyond supporting history would have drawn flak. I will warn you however, that a good half (give or take) of the posters so far do hold it as canonical. The seven Deuterocanonical books were in the listings of many of the Early Church Fathers, as well as at the Council of Carthage. They were enumerated explicitly at Trent (which Catholics consider to be an Ecumenical Council), but this was an official listing only because the Protestant Reformers began to call them into question. The Church held them to be canonical long before Trent.

If you mean to exclude them and only hold to the 66 books in the Protestant Canon, you should specify that for the benefit of all of the posters on the thread.

48 posted on 01/02/2007 2:19:00 PM PST by GCC Catholic
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: isaiah55version11_0

Ping


49 posted on 01/02/2007 2:19:26 PM PST by isaiah55version11_0 (For His Glory)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kawaii

Who decides what is scripture and which passages relate to Mary, Martin Luther, nearly 2000 years of consistent, uninterrupted Church teachings?

Why, for instance, do you omit the passages about the Mother of Jesus in Revelations 12?


50 posted on 01/02/2007 2:20:21 PM PST by dangus (Pope calls Islam violent; Millions of Moslems demonstrate)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Suzy Quzy

THE BIBLE declares that

ALL [humans] have sinned and come short of the glory of God.


51 posted on 01/02/2007 2:21:22 PM PST by Quix (LET GOD ARISE AND HIS ENEMIES BE SCATTERED. LET ISRAEL CALL ON GOD AS THEIRS! & ISLAM FLUSH ITSELF)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: GCC Catholic

Can we hold to the Canon as it was decided before the Council of Trent?


52 posted on 01/02/2007 2:23:23 PM PST by Blogger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Chip

Actually all we see here is an English translation of a Greek Story, written from the oral teaching of St Paul by the Apostle Luke. St Paul was not present when this occured (likely in Aramaic).

Can you please show us the greek for father, and son? (You'll note that in this verse the normal Greek for biological son isn't used).


53 posted on 01/02/2007 2:23:41 PM PST by kawaii (Orthodox Christianity -- Proclaiming the Truth Since 33 A.D.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: Suzy Quzy

Uh-oh....I know where this is going.

We have a "non denominational" church in our small city.

They believe that Mary isn't worthy of prayer and adoration or respect. They teach that all who pray to Her are non christian.

I don't think Mary's Son would be pleased.


54 posted on 01/02/2007 2:24:12 PM PST by Danette ("If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: Quix

Not Mary, the Mother of GOD!!!


55 posted on 01/02/2007 2:24:16 PM PST by Suzy Quzy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: Claud

as a completed action to which nothing more needs to be added,
= = =

As a completed action is a viable Greek comment, note.

"which nothing more needs to be added"

is an inference, an extrapolation.

The parameters of the grace are not specified in the Scripture. There is plenty of ambiguity about that Grace. Therefore, lots of inferences are plausible and few to none may be accurate from God's perspective.

We can conclude from the reference that Mary was Graced. Period. The reference doesn't include the purpose of the grace, the extent of the grace, the size, shape, tone, feelings, boundaries, of the grace. It merely indicates she was graced--and that THAT PARTICULAR PAST GRACING was completed--perhaps for that time, that moment, that unspecified purpose. Perhaps with follow-on implications. Perhaps not. Not specified, clarified, elaborated.


56 posted on 01/02/2007 2:26:08 PM PST by Quix (LET GOD ARISE AND HIS ENEMIES BE SCATTERED. LET ISRAEL CALL ON GOD AS THEIRS! & ISLAM FLUSH ITSELF)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: GCC Catholic
Yes, I realize that using II Machabees beyond supporting history would have drawn flak. I will warn you however, that a good half (give or take) of the posters so far do hold it as canonical.

Mind you those that do hold it as canonical as well as those who don't base this entirely on the scripture which the Apostolic church collected together. Those who are part of churches connected with apostolic tradition hold as canonical the books which the church has taught were inspired by God. Those who don't find the Deuterocanonical to be canonical are those that started with the canon of the apostolic church and eliminated books they didn't like.
57 posted on 01/02/2007 2:27:38 PM PST by kawaii (Orthodox Christianity -- Proclaiming the Truth Since 33 A.D.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: Danette

Catholics do not ADORE MAry, we REVERE her as the MOTHER OF GOD!! I just do not understand why protestants can't see that the MOTHER OF G O D is SINLESS from conception! It's the onlt thing that makes sense.


58 posted on 01/02/2007 2:27:57 PM PST by Suzy Quzy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: kawaii

I never construed Holy Spirit as one of the parents living with Mary and Joseph as a parent.

It is plausible that He graced Mary with Jesus then took on other roles in her life, Joseph's life and the lives of all their other children.

Groping toward Far-Sided extrapolations not rooted in Scripture seems a huge hazardous leap, to me.


59 posted on 01/02/2007 2:28:14 PM PST by Quix (LET GOD ARISE AND HIS ENEMIES BE SCATTERED. LET ISRAEL CALL ON GOD AS THEIRS! & ISLAM FLUSH ITSELF)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: dangus

I'm trying to get a clarification on just that from the thread-starter. Who decideds what is scripture, and on what authority.


60 posted on 01/02/2007 2:28:42 PM PST by kawaii (Orthodox Christianity -- Proclaiming the Truth Since 33 A.D.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 741-755 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Smoky Backroom
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson