Posted on 03/12/2016 9:36:07 AM PST by Salvation
Perpetual virginity
3/9/2016
Question: I am a lifelong and devout Catholic and have always considered Mary to be ever virgin. But recently, I read in my Bible that Joseph had no relations with Mary “before” she bore a son (Mt 1:25). Now, I wonder if our belief does not contradict the Bible.— Eugene DeClue, Festus, Missouri
Answer: The Greek word “heos,” which your citation renders “before,” is more accurately translated “until,” which can be ambiguous without a wider context of time. It is true, in English, the usual sense of “until” is that I am doing or not doing something now “until” something changes, and then I start doing or not doing it. However, this is not always the case, even in Scripture.
If I say to you, “God bless you until we meet again.” I do not mean that after we meet again God’s blessing will cease or turn to curses. In this case, “until” is merely being used to refer to an indefinite period of time which may or may not ever occur. Surely, I hope we meet again, but it is possible we will not, so go with God’s blessings, whatever the case.
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In Scripture, too, we encounter “until” being used merely to indicate an indefinite period whose conditions may or may not be met. Thus, we read, “And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child until the day of her death” (2 Sam 6:23). Of course, this should not be taken to mean that she started having children after she died. If I say to you in English that Christ “must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet” (1 Cor 15:25), I do not mean his everlasting kingdom will actually end thereafter.
While “until” often suggests a future change of state, it does not necessarily mean that the change happens — or even can happen. Context is important. It is the same in Greek, where heos, or heos hou, require context to more fully understand what is being affirmed.
The teaching of the perpetual virginity of Mary does not rise or fall on one word, rather, a body of evidence from other sources such as: Mary’s question to the angel as to how a betrothed virgin would conceive; Jesus entrusting Mary to the care of a non-blood relative at this death; and also the long witness of ancient Tradition.
De Montfort is one of many authorities on the worship of Mary without calling it worship. "Ever Virgin" is but a tiny piece of a very large puzzle.
You sir, have a lot of patience and biblical knowledge to attempt to detangle writings that just leave my head spinning.
Sorry.
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And if I didn’t say it before, I do appreciate your response.
Blessings, ealgeone.
Wow. I’m keeping company with Elsie, the Great.
No.
Gabriel didn't come to Mary's house and say, "Well, I've asked three others and they said no. How about you?"
Mary knew what Gabriel was telling her. She just didn't understand the process by which it would happen which Gabriel explained to her.
Which is EXACTLY why Jesus came.
Somehow Catholics seem to have this idea that we can somehow clean ourselves up to make ourselves worthy of God and His grace. NOTHING could be further from the truth.
While we were yet SINNERS, Christ died for the ungodly.
If righteousness could come by the Law, Christ died for nothing. He didn't die for only those who couldn't do it on their own. He died for all even those who THINK they can do it on their own.
All we need to disprove the Catholicism deception of perpetual virginity is one brother of Jesus. Paul names at least one in James the brother of our Lord.
What you really need is a brother of Jesus who is His mother’s son, similar to what is written of Benjamin, “And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son...” Genesis 43:29
Unfortunately for you, there is nowhere in Scripture that it is written that any of the brothers of Jesus was His mother’s son.
Catholics keep denying the examples put before them.
Good to know, lol.
AHhh...
Don’t sell the farm; for...
SMTA; too!
If CLEANNESS could come by PURGATORY, Christ died for nothing.
Well; since Catholicism will NOT allow BROTHER to mean BROTHER; but COUSIN...
...watcha gonna do?
If Rome insists on calling BROTHER a COUSIN; then it had better come up with some SISTERS or BROTHERS of Mary!
Details, details......
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