[Xenalyte]

If Mary was "forever a virgin," how does one explain the other children she and Joseph had? Like, say, the Apostle James?

[Tax-chick]

The Catholic Church teaches that those described in the Bible as "brothers of the Lord" and so forth were not children of Mary. There is nothing, in fact, that mentions their being children of Mary, so it's a question of interpretation of "brothers/sisters."

One line of analysis posits James, Joses, etc., as more distant relatives through His mother, because of the lack of nouns in Hebrew to designate "first-cousin-once-removed" and so forth. Another theory is that they may have been children of Joseph's from a previous marriage, and therefore Jesus' step-brothers.

It is, of course, a matter of one's accepting the interpretive authority of the Church on the question. On the other hand, the issue of Jesus' being conceived "of the Holy Spirit," rather than the natural son of Joseph, is clearly settled in the Gospels.

[madprof98]

There are a couple different traditions about this - because, of course, it occurred to the very early Christians who also insisted on the perpetual virginity of Mary. One line of tradition holds that the "brothers" of Jesus are in fact his cousins. This is most often cited by Catholics today. The Orthodox more often say that the "brothers" were half-brothers--sons of Joseph by an earlier marriage but not sons of Mary.

If the perpetual virginity of Mary were just a pious fiction, it would seem that many early churchmen would have rejected these somewhat convoluted explanations. But they did not.

[A.A. Cunningham]

If Mary was "forever a virgin," how does one explain the other children she and Joseph had?

Scripture teaches the Blessed Virgin Mary gave birth to only one child, Jesus Christ. A belief shared by Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, et al.

Like, say, the Apostle James?

Scripture teaches that there were two Apostles named James. Scripture also teaches that the parents of James the Greater were Zebedee and Salome. The parents of James the Lessor were Cleophas(Alphaeus) and the other Mary(Matthew 27:56,61, 28:1, John 19:25)

[Grut]

If Mary was "forever a virgin," how does one explain the other children she and Joseph had? Like, say, the Apostle James?

Maybe God made her a virgin retroactively? 'Omnipotence' gives pretty good latitude.

[Rosary]

Dumb question-Jesus was the ONLY BEGOTTEN, anyone else who say otherwise utters Blasphemy---and there is enough earthquakes and hurricanes without adding offence to Mary ,and Joseph-and GOD.

[RobbyS]

How do you know that she and Joseph had other children? There is an old tradition, iaud out in a 2nd Century writing called "The protogospel of St, James" which has it that James and the other brothers were the children of Joseph, but not of Mary.

[Gamecock]

It is something like the RC church declaring that Priests not be allowed to marry, but the "first Pope" was indeed married.

Go figure....

[AlaninSA]

"If Mary was "forever a virgin," how does one explain the other children she and Joseph had? Like, say, the Apostle James?"

And where (in whatever version of the Bible you're using) does it say that Joseph and Mary had other children?

When Jesus uses the term "brothers and sisters," it's no different than me calling another Knight "brother." That is, we're all brothers and sisters in God's family.

[tgambill]

She was not a "forever virgin"..just a short note, It was all about Jesus. He was born not of man, as man born of man and woman is born in original sin so the story goes. By Jesus being born of God's Spirit and Mary he was born not of sin, but sinless from the beginning. Very simple. People claim to see Mary, and this, that and the other..in Pizza's (sold for $25,000), grilled cheese sandwiche...($10,000+) and all over......I would suggest Angels do appear...but who knows......