The Scriptures vs. Catholicism

Mary

by David Lasseter

1. Mary:  We spent some time discussing Mary and the children she had other than Jesus.  Here are the verses that support the fact she had other children:

   1. Matthew 1:24-25:  “Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:  And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.”  The Bible didn’t say that Joseph never had sexual relations with Mary (i.e. “knew” her in the KJV).  Matthew states that he didn’t have sexual relations with her until she had brought forth her firstborn son.  Again we have that time-limiting word “until”.  Just as in Matthew 5 where Jesus said that the old law would not pass away until all had been fulfilled (which happened when Jesus died on the cross), the use of the word “until” in Matthew 1 tells us that Joseph and Mary did not have sexual relations until Jesus was born, but afterwards they engaged in the usual sexual relationship between husband and wife.

   2. Mark 6:2-3:  “And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?  Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.”  In these verses we learn that Jesus had half-brothers and sisters through the relationship between Mary and Joseph.

   3. John 7:3-5:  “His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.  For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.  For neither did his brethren believe in him.”  Here we learn that, at the time of John 7, His brothers did not believe in Him.  The point is that Jesus had brothers.

   4. Galatians 1:18-19:  “Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.  But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.”  Again, James is noted to be the brother of the Lord.