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To: jo kus
"So what does Mary having sex tell you about the Incarnation?"

I think the scriptures are pretty clear that Joseph and Mary did not have sexual relations until after the birth of Jesus. I think they are also clear that Jesus had brothers and sisters and that he was raised as a normal child in the family. Luke says He "grew and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom," and "He increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." Hebrews says, "He learned obedience by the things which He suffered" and "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

This a description of someone who has a normal upbringing. He has undergone all of the normal trials that a family, including siblings, and the relationships of His trade, would impose upon Him. I don't think He learned, grew, and suffered in the abstract, but experienced all of the vicissitudes of life, just as everyman did. He could not have attracted rugged men like fishermen, business men like tax collectors or intellectuals like religious leaders and Paul, if they were not convinced that He was a "real" man.
2,126 posted on 12/19/2006 8:29:43 AM PST by blue-duncan
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To: blue-duncan
I think they are also clear that Jesus had brothers and sisters and that he was raised as a normal child in the family.

Where does Scripture actually say that? You are presuming that because people in the 21st century cannot think of anything but sex, then people 2000 years ago must have had the same ideas on virginity. Thus, you make the leap of faith that Mary HAD to have had sex and any brother of Christ MUST have been a child of Mary. All presumption based on your current ideas of how marriage and society works TODAY.

This a description of someone who has a normal upbringing. He has undergone all of the normal trials that a family, including siblings, and the relationships of His trade, would impose upon Him.

So being an only child is NOT normal? If a one is the sole child in a house, that person is NOT human and has not experienced human life? Wow...

I don't think He learned, grew, and suffered in the abstract, but experienced all of the vicissitudes of life, just as everyman did.

Most certainly. But it doesn't follow that Christ experienced EVERYTHING that humans went through. I don't recall the Bible saying Christ was pregnant. But there you have it - a perfectly human thing that He didn't directly experience. We can also add having blood siblings to the list of things Christ didn't experience. This doesn't make Him any less human, just like you are not less human for not giving birth to a child (presuming you are a man)

Regards

2,136 posted on 12/19/2006 9:15:58 AM PST by jo kus (Humility is present when one debases oneself without being obliged to do so- St.Chrysostom; Phil 2:8)
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