If "brothers" refers to Joseph's sons by an earlier marriage, not Jesus but Joseph's firstborn would have been legal heir to David's throne.
Why do you suggest that? Solomon was heir to David's throne, and he was not his eldest living son. Adonias was older but was not the king because God did not choose him. It seems silly to pretend that God would have to choose an older step-brother to be Christ when he rejected Adonias as king of Juda.
The second theory — that "brothers" refers to sons of a sister of Mary also name "Mary" — faces the unlikelihood of two sisters having the same name.
Perhaps, but it is hard to deny that the scriptures tell us that the Blessed Virgin did in fact have a sister named Mary. It may be odd, but it is so. And, just to be clear, I did not actually suggest that the brothers of the Lord were his cousins, which is a common theory, but rather his step-brothers.
Israel knew nothing of a marriage that was not consummated between two persons who could procreate, nor does the NT.
Well, I don't see how one could say that. I will grant that it is atypical historically, but so is much we read about in the New Testament. And that there is perhaps no direct record of such in the scriptures does not mean such a marriage never existed. In Christian marriage consummation is also generally considered necessary and yet people have been married, especially in older ages, for companionship or other such reasons. I had an elderly aunt who did just that, and we have no idea whether they consummated the relationship physically. After all, who is going to ask? And, if, as has been traditionally believed, St. Joseph was an elderly man at the time of the marriage he could quite possibly not have been, as you say, able to procreate.
Paul actually instructs the married to have sexual relations, and restricts abstinence in marriage to only a period of fasting, and then to come together again. (1Cor. 7:3-5)
Yes he does, but it is in a context. He makes that clear from the start by stating that what he is saying is "in fear of fornication." We know from this that he is speaking to people who are still sexually active. They are struggling against lust. He is not speaking about marriages in which the partners are not afflicted by this danger. An elderly man called by God and the Mother of our Lord would obviously not be in his mind, and neither would their life have been applicable to the people he is speaking to in this instance.
Except in rare instances "heōs" ("And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS." Matthew 1:25) indicates a terminus and a change, or allowing for that..
It can allow for a future change, but it is not required. The word as used there only means that there were no marital relations up to that point, and it implies nothing about what follows. Yes, it allows for future relations, but it also allows for otherwise. This is not a useful verse for drawing conclusions in this case.
Instead of any teaching that Mary was a perpetual virgin, ,we have many texts which refer to Mary having other children. (Mat_12:46,48, Mat_27:56; Mar_15:40,47, Mar_16:1; Luk_24:10; Joh_19:25; Gal_1:19)
I think you infer too much from these verses. Look at the first, Matthew 12.46-48. It refers to the Lord's Mother and his brethren, but it never says they are the children of his Mother.
My father has an adopted sister, and she is always called his sister. Nobody in our family introduces her to people known to him without calling her his sister. She is not, however, the physical daughter of his mother. Calling her a sister only describes her relation to my father, not to his mother. It doesn't even imply one. And yet she is his sister, and she is not the biological daughter of his mother.
Your second verse is much the same. Actually it is even weaker. Matthew 27.56 refers to "Mary the mother of James and Joseph" and you are suggesting, I am supposing, that this must be the Blessed Virgin. But, are we really supposed to believe that in the Gospel of our Lord he would not even deserve mention as a child of a woman in a list of her offspring? It would be strange enough to see him given in a list of other people in any way, as if they were all of the same level of importance, but not to be there at all? If this were the mother of the Lord I have no doubt she would be listed as just that, the Mother of the Lord. Not the mother of James and Joseph. These people are obviously not children of the same Mary. Mark 15.40, and 16.1 share the same problem, as does also the other verse from Luke. They are obviously not referring to the Mother of the Lord.
Actually, one verse you list is very confusing to me, and that is John 19.25. There we are told standing by the cross was "his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen." This never suggests that there is another child born to our Lady, and instead names her sister. I am at a loss as to why you think this contradicts the perpetual virginity of our Lady.
Jason Engwer states , Luke uses the word "supposedly" to describe Jesus' relationship with Joseph (Luke 3:23), but doesn't use any such terminology to describe Jesus' relationship with His brothers and sisters . . .
The point about "supposedly" is interesting, but I don't think it works as he suggests. It must be remembered that this word appears during a genealogy of the Lord as traced through St. Joseph. Now, it is perfectly natural for the author to point out that such a genealogy, which would otherwise imply direct biological descent, was not meant to indicate that St. Joseph was the real biological father of our Lord or else he would risk confusing the reader regarding the Virgin Birth. That is not true in the case of brothers and sisters who were still brothers and sisters even if not born of the Virgin. It just wouldn't occur to most people to add "supposedly" in that situation, while it would be natural in a genealogy when relating to a person thought to be a father.
There is simply no need for Mary to be a perpetual virgin, unless martial relations are sinful or necessarily denoting inferior virtue, as some CFs erroneously held , contra. Heb. 13:4)
I don't like the word "need" in this context. Which dogmas are "needed" in that sense and which are not? Many people think certain moral teachings are not "needed" but I accept them anyway, because the Church teaches them. And I agree that there is nothing inferior or sinful about marriage, but that doesn't negate the value of one who chooses otherwise. St. Paul himself, as mentioned above, states he wishes all could be like him, but he knows not all can. He sees real value in continence, but also sees the danger for the weak. And just as there is no inferiority in marriage, given the Apostle's desire that all could be like him there is surely also no inferiority in the single life or a life of continence.
An awful lot of pure CONJECTURE in this statement; NONE of which is SUPPORTED by any facts.
I cannot 'procreate', but I sure like a roll in the hay!
Why does Catholicism deny this GOD given pleasure to Mary and Joseph?
Elderly man?
I hope a bunch of us OLD coots pounce on you whippersnappers (whipper - not mackerel) and mention Abraham, Noah, and others who were 'old men', yet fathered children late in life.
If "brothers" refers to Joseph's sons by an earlier marriage, not Jesus but Joseph's firstborn would have been legal heir to David's throne.
Solomon was heir to David's throne, and he was not his eldest living son. Adonias was older but was not the king because God did not choose him. It seems silly to pretend that God would have to choose an older step-brother to be Christ when he rejected Adonias as king of Juda.
It is good that you found that, which i myself had not realized when providing what another had argued, yet while Adonijah was the natural successor of David with his three older brothers being dead, Adonijah disqualified himself by publicly proclaiming himself king before David even died, which by inspiration David's promise seems to have foresaw. (1Kg. 1: 17,18,24)
And the establishment of the throne of Solomon kingdom itself was conditional, (2 Chronicles 7:17-20) upon faithfulness, as is any magisterial office, and not as superior to Scripture.
In any case, your appeal is to exception, but it is characteristic of the Holy Spirit to make manifest when there is an exception, for which multitudes of examples can be given, and thus the Holy Spirit is careful to provide the word "supposed" in Lk. 3:
"And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli," (Luke 3:23)
The second theory — that "brothers" refers to sons of a sister of Mary also name "Mary" — faces the unlikelihood of two sisters having the same name.
it is hard to deny that the scriptures tell us that the Blessed Virgin did in fact have a sister named Mary. It may be odd, but it is so. And, just to be clear, I did not actually suggest that the brothers of the Lord were his cousins, which is a common theory, but rather his step-brothers.
The second theory — that "brothers" refers to sons of a sister of Mary also name "Mary" — faces the unlikelihood of two sisters having the same name.
Again, that is possible, but nothing is recorded of that abnormal situation, and which would belong in the area of speculation, not doctrine. Perpetual virginity is not needed for any Biblical doctrine.
Israel knew nothing of a marriage that was not consummated between two persons who could procreate, nor does the NT.
Well, I don't see how one could say that. I will grant that it is atypical historically, but so is much we read about in the New Testament. And that there is perhaps no direct record of such in the scriptures does not mean such a marriage never existed.
This is more appeal to silence in order to support a very notable (and essential according to Rome) aspect, which again would only allow it as speculative, not doctrine. The fact is that the very description of Mary in the beginning, and repeated by the the Lord in Mt. 19, is that marriage in that of being one flesh,
"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." (Genesis 2:24)
The Holy Spirit is careful to characteristically record notable exceptions to the norm, even of lesser characters, from great age (Methuselah), to excess size (Ogg) and fingers (Goliath), strength (Samson), distinctive holiness (Job, Noah, Daniel) prolonged virginity and devotion (Anna), diet (John the Baptist), the supernatural transport of Enoch and Phillip, the celibacy of Paul and Barnabas, and uncharacteristic duplicity of Peter, absence of parents, sinlessness (of Christ is stated at least thrice), yet Marian lifelong sinlessness and virginity are not, but are read into the text based upon the fallacious idea of necessity, or possibility.
I had an elderly aunt who did just that, and we have no idea whether they consummated the relationship physically. After all, who is going to ask?
I distinctly said "between two persons who could procreate," and as for asking, that the marriage was procreated and the bride was a virgin was a issue that the OT law recognized and dealt with.(Dt. 22:13-21)
Paul actually instructs the married to have sexual relations, and restricts abstinence in marriage to only a period of fasting, and then to come together again. (1Cor. 7:3-5)
Yes he does, but it is in a context. He makes that clear from the start by stating that what he is saying is "in fear of fornication." We know from this that he is speaking to people who are still sexually active. They are struggling against lust. He is not speaking about marriages in which the partners are not afflicted by this danger.
Rather, it does not say the married couples were struggling against lust, but what the text is dealing with is preventing getting in that condition due to going to extremes (or having to go to extremes to prevent it in marriage), by being tempted by sexual desire so as to engage in an unholy manner of release, which can occur when faced with a situation in which satisfaction is offered and desire awakened. This was why the devil tempted Christ to deliver Himself prematurely from His fast in Mt.4 after He became hungry, and the Israelites sinned in the manner in which they ate (with the blood) due to Saul's imposed fasting. (1Sam. 14:24-33) For two persons of opposite gender to live together as celibate is akin to keeping a cake in the refer and never eating it.
While those who are gifted with the ability to remain celibate should be single, (1Cor. 7:7) and to whom Paul advocates celibacy, the desire to express affect sexually is the normal extension of a romantic relationship btwn two persons in love, and it remains that marriage is both described as sexual union, or leaving the continent status of family life, and becoming one flesh, and in which marital relations are enjoined (thus the sin of Onan), and which serve a far deeper purpose then merely gratification of the glands.
For contrary to the unScriptural conclusions of some church "fathers" that marital relations must involve sexual lust, the marriage bed is undefiled as it need not involve lust. (Heb. 13:4)
Thus an unconsummated marriage of perpetual virginity btwn Joseph and Mary (which i think would ascribe more virtue to the former than the latter) is clearly contrary both to the description of marriage and lacks precedent in any marriage btwn two souls able to procreated. And consistent with the Holy Spirit noting exceptions to the norm, the only manifest marriage that was not consummated was btwn feeble David who "gat no heat" and Abishag "who ministered to him, but the king knew her not." (1Kg. 1:1-5) But instead of this, the only testimony we have provided are things which normally indicate marital relations, including "And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS." (Matthew 1:25).
Except in rare instances "heōs" ("And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS." Matthew 1:25) indicates a terminus and a change, or allowing for that.
It can allow for a future change, but it is not required. The word as used there only means that there were no marital relations up to that point, and it implies nothing about what follows.
This also impugns the Holy Spirit as a teacher and is basically special pleading, as in the rare exceptions in which "heōs" ("till") denotes continuity, then that is not hard to see. (Mat 11:12; 12:20; 26:36; 27:8; 28:20; Jn 5:17; 1Co 8:7; 1Jn 2:9;
Some examples of heōs (Strong's 2193) denoting continuity are not valid ones, and for others i researched,
(Mat 12:20) A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till2193, he send forth judgment unto victory.
This denotes a terminus with the context of that of Christ's work of redemption till all that will be redeemed is gathered in, as after that there will be not more bruised reeds and smoking flaxes, as He will make all things new, bless the Lord .
(Mat 24:21) For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to2193 this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Denotes a limit, that of unprecedented tribulation even up to the time of “then,” this time, but also for all time. Thus the grammatical use of heos to stress the unprecedented nature of tribulation is clarified as not meaning a terminus.
(Joh 5:17) But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto,2193, and I work.
Denotes continuity, as it has no terminus. The Father is working even up to now, but continuity of obvious.
(Act 8:40) But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till2193 he came to Caesarea.
Denotes a terminus, not of his preaching but his present continuous preaching circuit.
(1Ti 4:13) Till2193 I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Denotes a terminus, not of his ministerial work forever, but of commanded activity that he is to occupy himself with uninterrupted until Paul's arrival.
(Act 25:21) But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till2193 3757 I might send him to Caesar.
This denotes a terminus, with Paul being held in one place until sent elsewhere, obliviously not an end to his imprisonment.
Instead of any teaching that Mary was a perpetual virgin, ,we have many texts which refer to Mary having other children. (Mat_12:46,48, Mat_27:56; Mar_15:40,47, Mar_16:1; Luk_24:10; Joh_19:25; Gal_1:19)
I think you infer too much from these verses. Look at the first, Matthew 12.46-48. It refers to the Lord's Mother and his brethren, but it never says they are the children of his Mother.
I am not inferring anything than the normal conveyance of the text, that of a mother with her children, rather than cousins, a distinction the Spirit of Christ knows how to make when fit:
But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. (Luk 2:44)
And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. (Luk 21:16)
Note however, that is it not necessary that Mary had children in order to believe Mary had a normal consummated marriage, in the absence any teaching that she has an extraordinary marriage, and not simply in conceiving and carrying Christ, which extraordinary miracle is stated.
Your second verse is much the same. Actually it is even weaker. Matthew 27.56..are we really supposed to believe that in the Gospel of our Lord he would not even deserve mention as a child of a woman in a list of her offspring? It would be strange enough to see him given in a list of other people in any way, as if they were all of the same level of importance, but not to be there at all?
James, and Joses are listed as brethren along with Simon and Judas (Joseph in the Vulgate, the two names being one and the same in some Talmudic writings) in Mt. 13:55, all common names, but it likely does denote the wife of Cleophas, sister of the Virgin (Jn. 19:25) which should be your argument, although there were "many women were there beholding afar off." (Mt. 27:55)
But your objection agrees with my point, as it would be unreasonable not to mention the most notable Child in this list (and another text is provided which clarifies it), as it would not to mention a unique cleave-less marriage and extended virginity and solitary child status of Christ, which is noted in other cases of notable, but less notable, characters.
Now, it is perfectly natural for the author to point out that such a genealogy, which would otherwise imply direct biological descent, was not meant to indicate that St. Joseph was the real biological father of our Lord or else he would risk confusing the reader regarding the Virgin Birth.
Indeed, this careful attendance to extraordinary aspects is why in the novel absence of any record for such an aspect as perpetual virginity and a cleave-less marriage, when that noted when it occurred before, as did post marital virginity among a devout, then the norm is to be assumed.
There is simply no need for Mary to be a perpetual virgin, unless martial relations are sinful or necessarily denoting inferior virtue, as some CFs erroneously held , contra. Heb. 13:4)
I don't like the word "need" in this context. Which dogmas are "needed" in that sense and which are not? Many people think certain moral teachings are not "needed" but I accept them anyway,
"Needed" refers to it being essential as seen by Catholics, some of whom liken Mary to be Ark which Uzziah died when he touched it. But which was due to his lack of qualification or reverence, and is not analogous to a lawful marriage. Or it is desperately argued that Mary's question, "How can this be, since I know not man?" means she had already taken a vow of perpetual virginity. And a pope is aghast at the thought that Mary would ever "be so incontinent as to contaminate with the seed of human intercourse the birthplace of the Lord’s body, that court of the eternal king." (Pope Siricius I, Letter to Bishop Anysius [A.D. 392])
So much for marriage being "honourable in all, the bed being undefiled," and the glorification of it by the Holy Spirit.
The fact is that Mary's parents did not need to be sinless to bear Mary, nor holy men to be channel's for God's pure words, nor would Mary need to either be sinless nor a perpetual virgin to bear the Christ. Instead it is part of the larger hyper exaltation of the Mary of Catholicism far "above that which is written," (1Cor. 4:6), which is the larger issue.
Now i am too tired to say more.