This explains why you rarely see the roman catholic appeal to the Greek in this matter.
In the Greek, Luke uses the phrase τὸν υἱὸν αὐτῆς τὸν πρωτότοκον, translated literally as the son of her, the firstborn. In English we would say, her firstborn son.
The key word in this section is πρωτότοκον (prototokos). It means first, pre-eminent; the first among others. It allows for other children to be born to Mary.
Contrast this with John 3:16 where John uses the Greek Υἱὸν τὸν μονογενῆ, literally Son the only begotten.
The key word is μονογενῆ (monogenes). It means one and only; one of a class.
We know this is the correct description of Jesus as He is the only Son of God.
However, He is not the only son of Mary. Recall that Luke was a physician who by his own account researched a lot so we would have an accurate account of what happened.
If Luke wanted to indicate Mary had only one child he would have used the phrase John did.
In reading the accounts where the brothers and sisters of Jesus are mentioned we need to keep the verses in context.
We have the account of Paul in Galatians where he noted he met James, the Lord's brother among others.
These are not cousins of Jesus as the word cousin, ἀνεψιός, is used only in reference to Barnabas's cousin Mark. As Paul had traveled with Barnabas so he would know if he was a cousin or a brother or other relative.
>Mt 12:46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, [his] mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.<
"Brethren" (Gk: "adelphos") was a rendering of the Aramaic word for "kin"--which could mean anything from "blood-sibling" (cf. Matthew 4:21, etc.) to "fellow Israelite" (cf. Phillipians 4:8, etc.) No one can simply (and carelessly) "run away" with the English word "brother", and immediately conclude, "Ah! Blood siblings, and fellow biological children of Mary!" Ditto, for Matthew 12.
Here is where the roman catholic departs from the clear reading of the text....allowing the text to interpret itself as it does not fit their agenda.
In Phil 4:8 the text tells us Paul is writing to the church at Philippi. Were fellow believers called brothers and sisters? Yes. And how do we know the difference? CONTEXT IS KEY!!!!!!
Now, in this next passage in Matt, ask the following questions:
Where are they?
Where was Jesus from?
Where did His family live?
Some background on Nazareth will help with this. It was not a big town; rather it was a small village. Estimated population was around 500. The people know each other.
Where was Jesus teaching?
Was his teaching something new; something they'd never heard before?
To show their astonishment what did they ask?
When Jesus had finished these parables, He departed from there. 54He came to His hometown and began teaching them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? 55Is not this the carpenters son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this man get all these things? Matt 13:53-56
Now, after answering the questions and reading the verse in context.....we see Jesus had brothers and sister.
nice try, but Biblically wrong
The Bible clearly says Jesus had brothers and maybe sisters
That's a classic example of applying nature to God. God is Spirit, His ways are not our ways. Mormons and wiccans do that all the time. It's natural for man to have a wife therefore God must have a wife. God didn't show Himself with any form because people would build an idol that looked like that and worship the idol. Man is finite and needs help with things therefore God must also. It's pure blasphemy.
Mat 1:25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Knew her not = did not have sex
til = until (after Jesus was born)
And the the scriptures list Jesus' mother's other children...
The word "siblings" is nowhere in the text.
Do you know what siblings means??? Of course it is in the text...
"Brethren" (Gk: "adelphos") was a rendering of the Aramaic word for "kin"--which could mean anything from "blood-sibling" (cf. Matthew 4:21, etc.) to "fellow Israelite" (cf. Phillipians 4:8, etc.)
Adelphos never means kin in the scriptures...And neither does 'alelphe'...There is a word used for kin in the scriptures and it is not adelphos...
Adelphos means brothers..
Adelphe means sisters...
And Jesus had them both...