[blue-duncan]

"But Christ the Savior could not violate the physical integrity of His mother,"

The scriptures say that Mary was unclean due to the birth and could not touch any hallowed thing nor enter the synagogue until her 40 days of purification were complete.

Luke 2:22-24, "And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
(As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."

Lev. 12:1-4, "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled."

[adiaireton8]

John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. Why then was Jesus baptized?

(If you can answer that question, then you can know why it was fitting for Mary to keep the days of purification required by the Law of Moses.)

-A8

[HarleyD]

Most excellent post and point. Let me know if you ever get a response.

[Forest Keeper]

The scriptures say that Mary was unclean due to the birth and could not touch any hallowed thing nor enter the synagogue until her 40 days of purification were complete.

Luke 2:22-24, "And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."

Yes indeed. In addition, this scripture directly contradicts the opening words of the Protoevangelium of James:

1. In the records of the twelve tribes of Israel was Joachim, a man rich exceedingly; and he brought his offerings double, saying: There shall be of my superabundance to all the people, and there shall be the offering for my forgiveness to the Lord for a propitiation for me.

The passage in Luke speaks of turtledoves or pigeons, a poor man's sacrifice according to:

Lev. 12:7c-8 : " 'These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl. 8 If she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.' "

How strange that if Mary's father was so rich, that she was so poor right after marriage. It seems odd to me that if we are to accept the Protoevangelium as the source of so many Marian doctrines, that the opening words of the document so categorically contradict scripture.