I never smoked TILL the day I was married.
That does not mean, imply, or indicate ANYTHING about what has happened since.
By the way, I have not smoked since I was married either.
Those who use the "TILL" proof text prove nothing but their ignorance.
I guarantee you, if I was St. Joesph, I would also have refrained from relations with the Mother of My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Anyone who argues otherwise cannot comprehend the immensity of the Incarnation and all it entails, or is simply being disingenuous.
The plain use of language would say that on the day you were married that you did smoke UNLESS you clarify that you haven’t smoked since then either. Your examples was ridiculous. I never used it as proof of anything. I was pointing out your error.
Mary wasn’t an ark of the covenant. She was the mother of Jesus. She was blessed among all women but she was still a woman. The immensity of the incarnation is comprehended by many that believe it had more to do with Jesus than it did with Mary. There was nothing superspiritual about the physical body of Mary. Once her pregnancy was complete, there was no physical reason or spiritual one that she could not have sex with her husband. If you were Joseph you would have been negligent in your marital vows.
Your post attempts to make your point by twisting the way people actually use language. Again, what sacred cow are you trying to protect with such intellectual gymnastics?
The only reason someone would use the “till” as you use it would be to trick the listener into assuming what, in fact, a reasonable person would assume.
What would your response be to a 30 year old person who says “I didn’t rape women until I was 20?” What would be the reason for wording it that way?
>>I guarantee you, if I was St. Joesph, I would also have refrained from relations with the Mother of My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Anyone who argues otherwise cannot comprehend the immensity of the Incarnation and all it entails, or is simply being disingenuous.<<
You may want to read about the lives of the prophets. You’d be surprised how fast day to day life sets in after witnessing a miracle, even when you, yourself, are a part of it. IOW, I don’t give your guarantee value unless you yourself are speaking from experience. I will say this: From a “lower level” perspective, I am speaking from personal experience.
If you really believe that, then try calling you local DEA office and saying something like "Hi this is Dr. _____. I just wanted you to know that I never abused my prescription pad until last month.", and hanging up. How long do you think it would be until you got a visit?
Until is not a meaningless, irrelevant word.