[jo kus]

Also, one does not build doctrine on what Scripture DOESN'T SAY. If one did, I could say that Joseph didn't die but was taken up by Space aliens. Hey, the Bible doesn't say he wasn't - and you know what, an apparition told me it happened so that must be proof enough.

Exactly. So why are you saying that Mary was NOT a virgin? Where does it say she had sex with someone? Where does it say that Jesus had a blood brother? Where does it say that Mary gave birth to another child? Sorry, the "til" argument is NOT conclusive. I have given you ample examples of "til" being used and an action did NOT continue afterwards. Unless you think Micah gave birth to children after her death...

What we say about Mary is a reflection on Scriptures, realizing that Mary is a type of the Church, just like the Jews crossing the Red Sea was a type of Baptism. Thus, we say Mary was a virgin because the Church is the virgin bride of Christ.

Perhaps you will not accept that. However, we don't interpret Scriptures by the literal sense alone. If we did, we would have a very limited useage for it. The Bible speaks to us today, not merely a recollection of historical events. The relationship between Mary and the Church is just one example of that deeper expression of God's revelation to mankind.

Regards

[Blogger]

Luke 2:7.

Mary was a virgin. She was not a perpetual virgin.

she brought forth her firstborn son. 7êáé åôåêåí ôïí õéïí áõôçò ôïí ðñùôïôïêïí êáé åóðáñãáíùóåí áõôïí êáé áíåêëéíåí áõôïí åí öáôíç äéïôé ïõê çí áõôïéò ôïðïò åí ôù êáôáëõìáôé (W&H)
ÊÁÔÁ ËÏÕÊÁÍ 2:7 (1550 Stephanus New Testament)
1550 Stephanus New Testament (TR1550)
Public Domain
7êáé åôåêåí ôïí õéïí áõôçò ôïí ðñùôïôïêïí êáé åóðáñãáíùóåí áõôïí êáé áíåêëéíåí áõôïí åí ôç öáôíç äéïôé ïõê çí áõôïéò ôïðïò åí ôù êáôáëõìáôé

ÊÁÔÁ ËÏÕÊÁÍ 2:7 (1894 Scrivener New Testament)
1894 Scrivener New Testament (TR1894)
Public Domain


7êáé åôåêåí ôïí õéïí áõôçò ôïí ðñùôïôïêïí êáé åóðáñãáíùóåí áõôïí êáé áíåêëéíåí áõôïí åí ôç öáôíç äéïôé ïõê çí áõôïéò ôïðïò åí ôù êáôáëõìáôé


TON PRWTOTOKON signifies that he was the first child of others. The eldest child.

It comes from protos meaning:1) first in time or place

a) in any succession of things or persons
and tiktw
1) to bring forth, bear, produce (fruit from the seed)

a) of a woman giving birth

b) of the earth bringing forth its fruits

c) metaph. to bear, bring forth


In other words, Jesus, per Luke 2, was the first in a succession that Mary gave birth to.