Posted on 03/12/2016 9:36:07 AM PST by Salvation
Perpetual virginity
3/9/2016
Question: I am a lifelong and devout Catholic and have always considered Mary to be ever virgin. But recently, I read in my Bible that Joseph had no relations with Mary “before” she bore a son (Mt 1:25). Now, I wonder if our belief does not contradict the Bible.— Eugene DeClue, Festus, Missouri
Answer: The Greek word “heos,” which your citation renders “before,” is more accurately translated “until,” which can be ambiguous without a wider context of time. It is true, in English, the usual sense of “until” is that I am doing or not doing something now “until” something changes, and then I start doing or not doing it. However, this is not always the case, even in Scripture.
If I say to you, “God bless you until we meet again.” I do not mean that after we meet again God’s blessing will cease or turn to curses. In this case, “until” is merely being used to refer to an indefinite period of time which may or may not ever occur. Surely, I hope we meet again, but it is possible we will not, so go with God’s blessings, whatever the case.
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In Scripture, too, we encounter “until” being used merely to indicate an indefinite period whose conditions may or may not be met. Thus, we read, “And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child until the day of her death” (2 Sam 6:23). Of course, this should not be taken to mean that she started having children after she died. If I say to you in English that Christ “must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet” (1 Cor 15:25), I do not mean his everlasting kingdom will actually end thereafter.
While “until” often suggests a future change of state, it does not necessarily mean that the change happens — or even can happen. Context is important. It is the same in Greek, where heos, or heos hou, require context to more fully understand what is being affirmed.
The teaching of the perpetual virginity of Mary does not rise or fall on one word, rather, a body of evidence from other sources such as: Mary’s question to the angel as to how a betrothed virgin would conceive; Jesus entrusting Mary to the care of a non-blood relative at this death; and also the long witness of ancient Tradition.
Ah, but God has blessed the marriage bed, so God would not defraud Joseph by removing Mary’s evident virginity. The carrying of Jesus would not be done to result in Joseph not actually having a virgin wife for conjugal bliss.
Are you asking about Hymenaeus and Philetus ?
If you are not, you should be.
I will repost, with the corrections and expansion, so that you can easily follow:
And where was the perpetual virginity and immaculate conception Divinely revealed? And how does denying this (perpetual virginity and immaculate conception) deny Christ?
"And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord,
what shall be the end of these things?
And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed
up and sealed till the time of the end" (Dan. 12:8-9)
With the tools we have today, whose workings our scientists and engineers have laboriously ferreted out of the secrets God has in the laws of nature, we are coming closer to actually understanding what God did in using a godly young woman to be the host of the body of the Savior.
The error-laden suppositions of the theofakirs of Rome have gone galley west. They are just too toweringly proud to admit they have been wrong all along, especially when theorizing about matters God determinedly hid from them as not necessary for their time in history.
No, instead of simply saying "We don't know" about things not open to them, and preaching what they did know, they have tried to force God's revelations, instead of just saying, "I believe. I can't prove, but I believe every word that has been given to us without mending it, bending it, white-washing it, cooking the books, synthesizing a new text, but just resting in Him Who sets limits.
They have just withheld from their gullible sycophants the truth of their ignorance. They have just not admitted they have overstepped their boundaries in spite of God's warnings.
God is going to hammer the pretentious religionists the same way He did the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, and rulers who set themselves against Him and against His Christ.
So be it. God may use you, Bro.
"For all your days be prepared,
and meet them ever alike.
When you are the anvil, bear -
when you are the hammer, strike."
- Edwin Markham
I'm not sure why you keep trying to change the topic. Besides, I did not deny the resurrection, as the two did.
By the teaching of the one holy catholic apostolic church, as is the Unity and Trinity of God. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.
Matthew, Catholic chapter eighteen, Protestant verses seventeen to eighteen,
Luke, Catholic chapter ten, Protestant verses sixteen,
Now, about Hymenaeus and Philetus ...
Did they deny the resurrection, or simply teach another version of it as in the rapture or something ?
Just think of them as early Protestants having an independent Bible study.
So, that’s the crux of it: sola ecclesia instead of sola scriptura.
Thanks, good night, and God bless.
Grace and peace,
K51
You keep trying to change the subject.
What’s wrong?
Don’t you have an answer to the questions asked?
You could just say so instead of deflecting all over the place.
Actually, your tactics give us plenty of reason to take a good guess at what the answer really is.
And that would be that if you deny the perpetually virginity, you can’t be saved.
Just another extra-Biblical hoop to jump through that Catholicism has added to salvation.
Nope. And let it keep you warm. Bye.
These “sources” Catholics like to imply early Christians believed concerning Mary as well as the early life of Jesus are actually gnostic writings which appeared much much later (tenth century or later). See:
http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/infancythomas.html
http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/infancyjames.html
It didn't originate with any of the authors of scripture so yes, it did originate out of thin air...Especially since the scriptures tell us the opposite...
Indeed! Now where is that edit button!
And taught that God purifies the heart by faith, and called Scripture the "more sure word of prophecy!
Read Romans 14. There are disputable matters.
God does not require us to agree lockstep with every least little point of doctrine as established by some denominational governing authority.
What a hoot Catholicism is: *We’re authoritative because we say so.*
Talk about pulling yourself up by your bootstraps.
Catholicism added all its traditions just like the Jewish religious leaders did in the day of Jesus and He soundly condemned them for adding to His word and tying burdens on men that they could not bear, burdens God NEVER intended to be there.
I don’t doubt that God will also condemn the burdens and bondage that Catholicism adds to His simple salvation message.
FWIW, when you can get all alleged 1.2 billion Catholics to agree on every last point of doctrine, then y’all can lecture us on the *failings* of sola Scriptura.
Otherwise, we’ll just sit back and watch the sedevacantists, the rad trads, the pre-V2, Post V2, EO etc, all condemn each other and continue to disagree.
Because there is plenty of self interpretation of not only Scripture, but the CCC and any pronouncements by the magisterium to go around. Not to mention that we’ve tried unsuccessfully for some time now, to get an official list of all the ex cathdra statements issued by popes and can’t even get that much.
Centralized governing authority doing all the thinking for the people and telling them what they are supposed to have to believe has done ZERO to getting them to all agree.
Catholics are in no position to criticize anyone for what they themselves do.
Thank you for the links. If the Apostels did not teach this Amriology and the direct students of the Apostles while they were alive did not teach these myths, well ...
Yes, I believe you could say that would be an ironclad guarantee, a dead giveaway, as it were. 😆😀😃
Bwahahahaha
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