Burial Box of St. James (A Catholic Perspective)

Catholic Answers ^ | Oct 22, 2002 | James Akin

[polemikos]

A little something to chew on (Greek: trogo).

[RnMomof7]

Weren't Genealogies traced through the line of the father in biblical days?

The half brothers argument raises some questions..Where were these brithers and sisters when Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem?Did they travel with their father and his wife..there is no mention of others there..Did they go to Egypt with Mary and Joseph?

There are many children mentioned as siblings to Jesus was Joseph an old man? Could an old man have easily made these journeys

[heyheyhey]

Considering the time (mass attacks against the Catholic Church), the place and the scholars involved, I regard the ossuary box to be a hoax, until proven otherwise.

To say it verifies the "historical Jesus" is nothing more than a propaganda trick.
The historical existence of Our Lord needs no further proofs.

[azhenfud]

"Where were these br(o)thers and sisters when Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem?"

Good point. Also, if Joseph was so concerned of himself that he contemplated putting Mary aside for being "with child" and unwed, it hardly makes sense he should himself father children out of wedlock, so these "others" could not have been younger siblings from other spouses.

[xzins]

The half brothers argument raises some questions..Where were these brithers and sisters when Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem?Did they travel with their father and his wife..there is no mention of others there..Did they go to Egypt with Mary and Joseph?

Hey, grandma....we always left our kids with the grandparents.

It's heresy to suggest he married another woman after Mary, isn't it? It'd bother both Protestants and Catholics. Protestants want MARY to have other kids. Catholics WANT Joseph to be celibate after meeting Mary. (Father of the Church and all that.)

If brothers are blood brothers, then there are only two choices: They had both parents in common or they had only one parent in common.

I understand that in the Nicean/Post-Nicean era that the discussion centered around Mary being "impregnated" by 2 different "husbands" when the 1st husband was still living. They believe it made her into a "loose woman."

How would you argue against Mary being "an adulteress?"

[Joshua]

"There are many children mentioned as siblings to Jesus was Joseph an old man? Could an old man have easily made these journeys "

If James is from a previous marriage and Joseph is an old widower how old would this have made James?

[RnMomof7]

I have read that many Catholics believe Joseph was a widower and that he brought children into the marriage..but that would make them all the big brothers and sisters with Jesus being the youngest..it also begs the question where were these "kids" when the Holy couple traveled and later settled in Egypt

One more thought..It is a sin for a woman to refuse to be a wife in all respects to her husband...so if Mary refused that right to Joseph that was a sin..

Now in the long runs none of this matters much ..Jesus is still the product of a Virgin Birth , Son of God..King of Kings and Lord of Lords..

[xzins]

Can you address the "adulteress" question of #6? I'm interested in your perspective, you being an ex-Catholic.

[RnMomof7]

Pretty old me thinks..

[RnMomof7]

I guess I would dismiss it.. Both as an ex RC and a "prody":>)

[AlguyA]

"One more thought..It is a sin for a woman to refuse to be a wife in all respects to her husband...so if Mary refused that right to Joseph that was a sin."

Of course, it also would have been a sin for Mary to be pregnant without being married. So, obviously, we can assume God's plan for Mary must have been unique. Further, where in Scripture does it say Joseph demanded that "right?"

[Joshua]

"Further, where in Scripture does it say Joseph demanded that "right?" "

Where in scripture does it say he wouldn't?

[AlguyA]

"Where in scripture does it say he wouldn't?"

It doesn't. So if I were a sola scriptura Protestant, I really wouldn't be able to comment on the matter of Mary's perpetual virginity, one way or the other.

[polemikos]

ping

[RnMomof7]

Why would it be a sin to be pregnant and not married? The fornication is the sin ..not the pregnancy

[RnMomof7]

I think that is fair..but we can make assumptions that husbands and wives have sex..and there were other children it seems..so it is a reformation position that Mary and Joseph had a full and happy marriage..

But I am comfortable with Joseph not wanting to have sex with her too..it makes no difference either way Jesus is the Son of God, born by a Virgin Birth ..planned before the foundation of the earth to pay for my sins..He died on the cross and rose from the dead ..He is my Savior and my Lord and my King whether his mom had sex or not..

[Joshua]

"It doesn't. So if I were a sola scriptura Protestant, I really wouldn't be able to comment on the matter of Mary's perpetual virginity, one way or the other. "

If it weren't for Catholics that are duped by tradition that contradicts Scripture there would be no need for the foolish discussion on Mary's virginity.

Why is that papists want us to defend our views with scripture and then hide behind the skirt of tradition and sola scriptura when the same thing is asked of them?

Hypocrisy or scriptural ignorance?

[Irisshlass]

<>One more thought..It is a sin for a woman to refuse to be a wife in all respects to her husband...so if Mary refused that right to Joseph that was a sin..<>

In the dream Joseph had, the angel didn't use marital union..."go in unto".

Genesis 30
3 She said, "(1) Here is my maid Bilhah, go in to her that she may (2) bear on my knees, that (3) through her I too may have children."
4 So (4) she gave him her maid Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her.
16 When Jacob came in from the field in the evening, then Leah went out to meet him and said, "You must come in to me, for I have surely hired you with my son's mandrakes." So he lay with her that night.

Genesis 16
2 So Sarai said to Abram, "Now behold, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. (1) Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her." And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

Genesis 16
3 After Abram had lived (1) ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram's wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife.
4 He went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her sight

According to Jewish Law...Joseph was forbidden to her for all time..

[RnMomof7]

HUH???

That makes no sense..How was a Jewish marriage sealed?