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.
And them guys got here 90 minutes EARLY!!
That has to be a first.
No; I did NOT get the room done 'til after they left.
Does this mean I NEVER got the room done?
Does it mean I have MORE rooms to do?
How long will these beds be virgin?
But you still listen!
I never said there was; just that it is NOT found in the bible.
There is a verse that speaks about fasting and praying so that others pay attention to you.
I don't know what this means!
Why did you not translate it for me??
If Spooner were a Freeper; I’d wonder who Liat was...
 'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone, ' it means just what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less.'
'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many different things.' 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master - that's all.' |
It appears we will not reach agreement on this, so it is fruitless to continue this conversation. I will leave you with links to commentaries on Luke 2:7 and Galatians 1:19. The diverse and contradictory opinions expressed in these commentaries demonstrate that the belief that Mary had other children is not as crystal clear as you make it out to be.
https://www.studylight.org/commentary/luke/2-7.html
https://www.studylight.org/commentary/galatians/1-19.html
Galatians 4:8 However, in the past, when you did not know God, you were slaves to things that are not really gods at all. 9 But now that you know God, or rather have been known by God, how can you turn back again to those powerless and bankrupt basic principles? Why do you want to become their slaves all over again? 10 You are observing days, months, seasons, and years. 11 I am afraid for you! I don’t want my work for you to haveg been wasted!
Gal 1:19 ‘adelphon’
It was named from the Greek allos - “other” and phanos - “to appear”, as it gave a deceptive reaction...
I expecially like the cupro-allophane as I am particularly attracted to the colors that copper produces.
Thanks so much for that reference!
. . . thereby we should merit grace , , ,
Uh-h-h-h-h-h-h . . .
. . . make satisfaction for sins . . .
Ow-w-w-w-w-w-w-!
Article XXVIII. . . .
More la-a-a-w-w-s-s! More o-o-r-r-ders! Geradet . . . AUS! (=Ah-te-e-en-SHUN!)
. . . Bishops . . . Pastors . . .
Episcopacy! Uniforms! backward collars . . . clergy . . . lay people . . . NICOLAITANS!!!
From: Strong's G3528
νικάω
nikaō
nik-ah'-o
From G3529; to subdue (literally or figuratively): -
conquer, overcome, prevail, get the victory.
And: Strong's G2992
λαός
laos
lah-os'
Apparently a primary word; a people (in general; thus
differing from G1218, which denotes one’s own populace): -
people.
(that is: ordinary people; common class of people; i. e. in the churches, lay people)
OK, TY, gotcha. Yep. A double-decker religion, with an unscriptural bishopric depriving autonomy of local churches; a clergy class dominating the pew warmers, making the rules, etc.; lots of traditions, rituals, and liturgy. Ah-h-h-h!
Compare status in the light of first-century Ephesus, Rev. 2:4-6, whose leader had left his first love, but who still hated Nicolaitanism, as does The Savior, yet.
See my dust. . . .
"heteros" also means other, but another of a different kind
Example:
Gal. 1:6: "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that
called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel
(ετερον ευαγγελιον, heteron euangellion = another gospel of a
different kind):
Gal 1:7 Which is not another (αλλο, allon = another of the
same kind as Paul's gospel); but there be some that trouble
you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Lent is the Christian time of preparation prior to Easter...How could it possibly be mentioned in the Bible??
Christians were not preparing for the Resurrection 40 days before it happened.
well....yeah, but he is still just a man.
Wasn't that the Wesley brothers group??
Semiramis became known as "Ishtar" which is pronounced "Easter", and her moon egg became known as "Ishtar's" egg."Ishtar soon became pregnant and claimed that it was the rays of the sun-god Baal that caused her to conceive.
The son that she brought forth was named Tammuz.
Tammuz was noted to be especially fond of rabbits, and they became sacred in the ancient religion, because Tammuz was believed to be the son of the sun-god, Baal. Tammuz, like his supposed father, became a hunter.
The day came when Tammuz was killed by a wild pig.
Queen Ishtar told the people that Tammuz was now ascended to his father, Baal, and that the two of them would be with the worshippers in the sacred candle or lamp flame as Father, Son and Spirit.
Ishtar, who was now worshipped as the "Mother of God and Queen of Heaven", continued to build her mystery religion.
The queen told the worshippers that when Tammuz was killed by the wild pig, some of his blood fell on the stump of an evergreen tree, and the stump grew into a full new tree overnight. This made the evergreen tree sacred by the blood of Tammuz.
She also proclaimed a forty day period of time of sorrow each year prior to the anniversary of the death of Tammuz.
During this time, no meat was to be eaten.
Worshippers were to meditate upon the sacred mysteries of Baal and Tammuz, and to make the sign of the "T" in front of their hearts as they worshipped.
They also ate sacred cakes with the marking of a "T" or cross on the top.
Every year, on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox, a celebration was made.
It was Ishtar's Sunday and was celebrated with rabbits and eggs.
Ishtar also proclaimed that because Tammuz was killed by a pig, that a pig must be eaten on that Sunday.
By now, the readers of this tract should have made the connection that paganism has infiltrated the contemporary "Christian" churches, and further study indicates that this paganism came in by way of the Roman Catholic System.
The truth is that Easter has nothing whatsoever to do with the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We also know that Easter can be as much as three weeks away from the Passover, because the pagan holiday is always set as the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox.
Some have wondered why the word "Easter" is in the the King James Bible.
It is because Acts, chapter 12, tells us that it was the evil King Herod, who was planning to celebrate Easter, and not the Christians.
The true Passover and pagan Easter sometimes coincide, but in some years, they are a great distance apart.
So much more could be said, and we have much more information for you, if you are a seeker of the truth.
We know that the Bible tells us in John 4:24, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." [http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org/tracts/tract1.html ]
Can you tell us which of the above points is inaccurate? [ So many of the rites and dates in catholiciism appeared derived from the Nimrod/Ishtar mystery religion and the religion of Baal. Saturnalia anyone? Buehler? Buehler? ]
The whole denomination is quite different in its practices and programs than it was when I was a child. And even that was far different from what it was fifty years before my time.
I'm sorry to say that I lack any sense of allegiance to themodern Methodism of the 21st Century.
I kind of skimmed over what you wrote, but it is not very relevant to what we as Catholics will be doing next week.
Sunday, we will celebrate Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem to accomplish the Paschal Mystery of His death and Resurrection. We will start with a procession and entrance into Mass while holding palms in our hands. During the Mass, the readings are Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalm 22, Philippians 2:6-11; and the Passion of the Lord according to St. Mark.
Thursday, we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper, where on the night He was betrayed, Our Savior instituted the Eucharistic Sacrifice of His body and blood. The readings are from Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14; Psalm 116; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; and John 13:1-15. After the homily, the priest will wash the feet of 12 parishioners. After Communion the priest will carry the Blessed Sacrament through church to the place of reposition. After a period of Adoration, the Holy Thursday liturgy is concluded.
Friday, we celebrate the Lord’s Passion. The readings are Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12; Psalm 32; Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9; and The Passion of the Lord according to St. John. After a brief period of prayer, the cross will be processed into the church. The priest, clergy, and faithful will venerate the cross in procession. After Communion and a few prayers, all depart in silence.
Saturday, we celebrate the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night. A large fire is prepared and, after the blessing of the new fire, the Paschal candle is lit from the fire and at the entrance, all light their candles from the Paschal candle and process into church. The Easter Proclamation (Exsultet) is proclaimed, then the Liturgy of the word begins. The can be up to seven readings from Genesis, Exodus, Isaiah, Baruch, and Exekiel, and corresponding Psalms. The epistle is Romans 6:3-11 and the Gospel is Mark 16:1-7. After the readings, new members are Baptized and Confirmed. The we continue with the Liturgy of the Eucharist and Communion.
Sunday, we celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord. The readings are ACTS 10: 34a, 37-43; Psalm 118; either Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8; Sequence; and John 20:1-9. After the Homily we renew the Baptismal Promises and continue with the Mass.
There is much more to the celebrations, but I did not want to bore you. It is only after this that we go our separate ways and celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord with our families.
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