Mary, Mother of God, The Greatest of all Her Titles

http://www.catholicchristiananswers.com ^ | August 12, 2015 | Jessie Neace

[NKP_Vet]

It is that time of week again, where we talk about the Mary, the Mother of God. This is definitely the single most important title that Mary has. If someone gets this wrong, then they get the Divinity of our Lord wrong, and that means the whole plan of Salvation is just messed up. So let us look at this most important title.

Theotokos, God-bearer in Greek, is what the council of Ephesus declared in 431. It specifically says this “If anyone does not confess that God is truly Emmanuel, and that on this account the Holy Virgin is the Mother of God (for according to the flesh she gave birth to the Word of God become flesh by birth), let him be anathema.” Now just that statement alone proves the early Church believed that there was Authority given to the bishops to decide sound doctrine, Mary was a Holy Virgin her entire life, and that She bore God. However, we only have time for one today.

Now many times we will hear non-Catholics tell us that this title is nowhere found in Scripture, explicitly at least. However, they cannot themselves find a Scripture verse that says that all doctrine and dogma must be explicitly proven in Scripture. I bet they can never find that. This is a trap they set up for themselves and it is a very unfair double standard that they expect us to meet, but they do not have to. However, on top of this double standard is if we used that same standard, then the doctrine of the Trinity is thrown out, since it’s not an explicit teaching, but instead is implicit in Scripture. This double standard seems to cause more problems that it’s worth wouldn’t you say?

Here is the cold hard truth of it though, all Christians rely on some Church Tradition, as well as Scripture, to validate their doctrines, whether they admit it or not. With that being said, Scripture and Tradition can never contradict one another. The Traditions of men can contradict the Word of God, but the Traditions God left us, through Christ, in the Holy Spirit, are binding upon us, as we are to hold fast to Traditions. So then, what is the real question? The real question is, Does Scripture contradict the teaching that Mary is the Mother of God, and is that doctrine found in Scripture at least implicitly?

Let us begin with Luke 1:43, where Mary visited Elizabeth. There Elizabeth exclaimed “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Because Mary was the Mother of the Lord, who is the Second part of the Holy Trinity, Mary is truly and rightfully called the Mother of God.

We also see in Isaiah 7:14 “Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which is interpreted God with us.” Jesus is God. He was God when He was in the womb, conceived, lived, died, buried, resurrected, in the Eucharist, and in Heaven. The Messiah, who is God, was to be born of a virgin, according to Scripture. God was born of a virgin, and it’s right there in Isaiah, who prophesied of Christ birth. That means both Old and New Testament support the Catholic Doctrine of the Mother of God.

However, this may not be enough for some non-Catholics. Some say that Elisabeth called Christ Lord, and not God, saying that Mary was only to give birth to the human child, the Lord Jesus Christ. So then the question becomes, does lord here mean divinity or just authority? Let’s look at the context.

First let us look at 1 Cor. 8:5, which states “Indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet to us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.” St. Paul makes it clear that Jesus is the one True, Lord, as opposed to all the false ones, that the pagans who converted in Corinth were probably worshiping. So then, they would understand that Jesus is God. This holds true to the Jews who converted too, who would know Deut. 6:4 “Hear, therefore, o Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord.”

So then that brings us back to Luke 1:43. Elizabeth calls Mary the mother of her Lord. The Mother…Mothers give birth to persons, not natures, let us remember that. Mary did not just give birth to the human nature of Christ, she gave birth to the person of Christ. Christ personhood is Divine, it is God the Son.

Then let us look at 2 Sam. 6:9 where the King, who was David says “How can the ark of the Lord come to me (being the ark of the covenant)” Then in 2 Samuel 616 we see King David leaping in the presence of the Ark, just as John the Baptist did. Then we yet again see another parallel, which says that the ark of the Lord abode in the house of Obededom the Gethite for three months (2 Sam. 6:11), and according to Luke 1:56 Mary remained in the house of Elizabeth about three months. Then, we see that the ark of the covenant carried three items, manna, the Ten Commandments, and Aaron’s rod. These are all types of things Christ are, the Bread of Life, Word made Flesh, and our true High Priest.

Even knowing all this though, there are still those who would deny that Mary is the Mother of God. So then we have to ask, who is Jesus Christ to them? If Mary is not the Mother of God, then who did she give birth to? Many would say it was an earthly human lord, not God. So then, what does that make Christ? If Mary did not give birth to God, then who did she give birth to? Was not Christ God when He was conceived?

If someone says Mary only gave birth to the person of Christ one of two errors, or both could happen, and that is the Denial of the divinity of Christ, and that one would have to say Christ is two distinct persons, and that he is not One. Both were considered heresy in the Early Church. Christ is one Person, with two natures, Divine and Human, which go together and are not separate of one another. If one denies that, the ultimately they are speaking about a different Christ, and St. Paul warns us about that problem, and to not to give heed to them (2 Cor. 11:4).

So then, some say that Mary is the mother of the Trinity if we take it that far, however, this is not true. Mary gave birth to the 2nd part of the Trinity, the 2nd Person, who is still God just not the Trinity. However, we must never forget that each Person in the Trinity shares the same Divine Nature and is fully God.

One thing some still point out is that Christ is eternal, so for Mary to be the Mother of God she would have to be God. However the Church does not say Mary is the source of the Divine Nature of the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. To better understand this let’s look at humanity. Parents give birth to a person, however they are not the author of life, and certainly did not give the child it’s soul. Thus is true with Mary, she did not give Christ His Divine Nature, though she was the Mother of more than just the human form of Christ, because she gave birth to a person, who was God.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“[26] When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he saith to his mother: Woman, behold thy son. [27] After that, he saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own. John; Chapter 19

Christ instructed John to take Mary as his own mother. He did so. Christ said to his mother, John is your new son.

This does say anything beyond this.

“But then again, some people like to cherry pick the Bible. “

I wouldn’t accuse you or anyone of cherry-picking this passage and just to make it say things it does not. I’m just pointing out that it doesn’t say more than it actually says.

Best

[Romulus]

Some people just don’t want to know Jesus.

[ebb tide]

That’s crazy. That’s like saying Einstein’s mother was smarter than Einstein.

Twisted logic on your part.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“Some people just don’t want to know Jesus.”

Who are these people? Please name names.
How do you know they don’t want to know Jesus? Maybe they really do.

[Mr. K]

And apparently God had other sons besides Jesus.

“Genesis 6:2-7 - that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.”

[ealgeone]

With that being said, Scripture and Tradition can never contradict one another.

When catholics pray to Mary they are contradicting Scripture.

And please, don't say catholics don't pray to Mary for there is far too much evidence to the contrary.

[Arthur McGowan]

Mary is the Mother of Jesus.

Jesus is God.

Therefore, Mary is the Mother of God.

______________________________

If you deny that Mary is the Mother of God, then you deny that Jesus is God.

[BillyBoy]

>> If Mary is the mother of G-d then she, by definition, is higher than G-d. <<

Sorry, that makes no logical sense at all.

Stanley Ann Dunham is the mother of President Obama. Is she therefore, by definition, "higher" than President Obama? Nope, and nobody would claim she is.

[Arthur McGowan]

Mary is the Mother of Jesus.

Jesus is God.

Therefore, Mary is the Mother of God.

If you deny that Mary is the Mother of God, then you deny that Jesus is God.

[Arthur McGowan]

Dorothy is the mother of Sam.
Sam is a fireman.
Therefore, Dorothy is the mother of a fireman.

Mary is the mother of Jesus.
Jesus is God.
Therefore, Mary is the mother of God.

[Kolokotronis]

"If anyone will not confess that the Emmanuel is very God, and that therefore the Holy Virgin is the Mother of God (Θεοτόκος), inasmuch as in the flesh she bore the Word of God made flesh [as it is written, “The Word was made flesh”] let him be anathema." 1st Anathema of +Cyril of Alexandria against the heresiarch Nestorius from the proceedings of the 3rd Ecumenical Council.

[ebb tide]

John, in his Gospel, stated, "Jesus therefore had seen his mother"

What part of that do you not understand. Was John lying? Was Mary not Jesus' Mother? Or is the Bible in error? Or is Jesus not God?

Dominus tecum

[Arthur McGowan]

Your conclusion is true only if you totally, completely, absolutely fail to understand what has always been meant by the title, “Mother of God.” It never, never, never meant to anyone that Mary is the mother of the eternal, Triune God. No Christian theologian has ever been moronic enough to think that the title meant that.

[WVKayaker]

Christianity has always acknowledged that Jesus is God.

Quite true, but not the point of the article. The title of God does not attach to anybody mortal. Jesus was/is fully God. Mary in Scripture was chosen as the vessel to bring Him into the human world.

But, then, Roman Catholics try and make their version into something never spoken of in Scripture. They attribute all sort of sorcery and mysticism into their cultic ideas, and try to send people down that rabbit hole.

To those with the Holy Ghost indwelling, we know the Father's plan of salvation. It is quite simple. It requires simple faith and resting in His Grace. But, Roman Catholics want to distract and pervert that message with claims of some fictional woman's ability to redeem us like Christ. They tout all sorts of mystical visions to support their UNScriptiral ideas and policies. They are a cult.

God chose to provide us with a CLEAR path to eternal life with Him. He gives us simple instructions. He did not provide an alternate plan!

No matter how many believe believe a lie, it is still a lie! No matter how old an organization grows, if it does not provide the Truth of God's plan, then it is an abomination to God. Simply repeating the same things again and again does not add to the Truth. It only deceives those who do not know better!

John 3: 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.[e] 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. ****

Matthew 24: 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.

26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.

[ealgeone]

>>With that being said, Scripture and Tradition can never contradict one another.

Mary was conceived without original sin. Nor did She commit any sins during Her earthly life.

Which contradicts the Old and New Testaments that all have sinned and all are sinners and all fall short of the glory of God.

So again we find a catholic teaching leaning more on tradition that Scripture.

From catholic encyclopedia online:(http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=6056)

No direct or categorical and stringent proof of the dogma can be brought forward from Scripture.

Yet roman catholicism plows right on and tries to find it through a very poor translation of Luke 1:28.

Nor can the catholic rely upon the "unanimous consent of the fathers" for Origen, St. Basil and St Chrysostom deny she was sinless.

So here we have admission from catholic sources this concept is not found in scripture, it is not supported by the ECFs, which means it is contradiction to not only Scripture but catholic tradition as well.

Yet roman catholicism continues to advance this false teaching regarding Mary.

And we won't even go into this false teaching:

When therefore we read in the writings of Saint Bernard, Saint Bernardine, Saint Bonaventure, and others that all in heaven and on earth, even God himself, is subject to the Blessed Virgin, they mean that the authority which God was pleased to give her is so great that she seems to have the same power as God. Her prayers and requests are so powerful with him that he accepts them as commands in the sense that he never resists his dear mother’s prayer because it is always humble and conformed to his will.... — St. Louis de Montfort, in Treatise on True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin, #27, 246. http://www.ewtn.com/library/Montfort/TRUEDEVO.HTM

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“Mary is the Mother of Jesus.

Agree.

“Jesus is God.

Agree.

“Therefore, Mary is the Mother of God.

Disagree.

“If you deny that Mary is the Mother of God, then you deny that Jesus is God.”

Disagree.

[Charles Henrickson]

Historically, to call Mary “Mater Dei” or “Theotokos” is a confession about CHRIST, affirming his divinity and the mystery of the incarnation. One can and should safely say that much. To do so is **not** the same as buying into wrong beliefs and practices concerning Mary. I say this as a confessional Lutheran minister who rejects the errors of the Roman and Greek churches on this.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“What part of that do you not understand. Was John lying? Was Mary not Jesus’ Mother? Or is the Bible in error? Or is Jesus not God?”

Mary was his earthly mother.

That doesn’t not mean she created God.

She bore God. She didn’t create God through conception. Jesus existed as God from all eternity.

The verse you quote does not give Mary the title Mother of God. That is a human addition to what God said.

Best.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

Excellent point. In my Orthodox parish, the chanter had been using an English translation that rendered “Theotokos” as “Mother of God.” I had usually heard it translated “birthgiver of God.” When our bishop visited, he corrected the chanter during the service. Since then, he has chanted “Theotokos.”

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“Excellent point. In my Orthodox parish, the chanter had been using an English translation that rendered “Theotokos” as “Mother of God.” I had usually heard it translated “birthgiver of God.” When our bishop visited, he corrected the chanter during the service. Since then, he has chanted “Theotokos.””

Go Bishop!