Expert: Mrs. Priscilla Lyons - 3/15/2007

Question
Priscilla,

Your answer makes not an ounce of sense to the statement and question that I posed about the virgin Mary.  If you have an answer I would appreciate it.

Thanks,
M.M.
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
I see by your answer to Mary Margaret that you have been schooled in the Protestant or Fundamentalist view of the scriptures.  Regarding Mary's virginity, the term brothers or bretheren is and English interpretation of Greek that came from a society that spoke Aramaic and Hebrew.  Terms used in our English bibles should be seen in light of the society they came out of.  There is no common word used in Aramaic or Hebrew that meant cousin, so it is easy to see how brother or bretheren was used instead.  Also, we use the same term for those who are brothers in the faith, yet are not "blood brothers".  Second, the words used in Matthew that you quote, "And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son", when you see their true meaning in light of the languages they came from (Hebrew and Aramaic), they do not mean Joseph had any relations with Mary after Jesus' birth. "Knew her not till" is used to prove Jesus divinity in that he had no earthly father and that Mary was truly a virgin, it has nothing to do with any sexual relations after his birth.  The term "firstborn" is applied to all male children who are the firstborn in a Jewish family.  It does not imply more kids after.  The designation is for inheritance purposes as the firstborn has first rights to inheritance.  Even an only child would be a "firstborn". The fact that the bible speaks of the brothers of the lord in fact does mean his kin on Mary's or Joseph's side of the family yet we are never explicitly told which side the kin comes from.  The brothers and sisters listed in the gospels are said to be James, Joses, Simon, and Salome.  Yet when we read that it was Mary the wife of Cleopas that was the mother of James and Joses and Salome, we can see that the Mary being spoken of is not the mother of the Lord.  In fact at the foot of the cross when we compare gospel accounts we see that Jesus' mother Mary and her sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magadalene were all present.  Mary the wife of Cleopas was also known as "the other Mary" spoken of in the gospels.  It was her children listed as Jesus brothers and sisters. Finally, every time Jesus' mother was listed in the gospels she called just that.  So we know that "Mary the wife of Cleopas" was not Mary the mother of the Lord. The bible is not definitive enough to say Jesus had blood brothers, nor is it definitive enough to say he didn't with 100% assurity.  I believe the evidence when interpreted in by the church in light of Tradition and the society the scriptures came from point clearly in the direction of Mary's continued virginity even after Jesus' birth.  Have you ever studied this in light these points?

M.M.
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I just read a C.S. Lewis quote that explains my view of the Scriptures and God.  "The Christian is in a different position from other people who are trying to be good.  They hope, by being good, to please God if there is one; or--if they think there is not--at least they hope to deserve approval from good men.  But the Christian thinks any good he does comes from the Christ-life inside him.  He does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us." "Mere Christianity"   Priscilla

Answer
Did you get this answer that I sent before the C.S. Lewis quote?
Answer: Dear Mary Margaret,
   Yes, I have a fundamental view of the Bible, as it is the foundation of my life. I Cor.3:11 "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."  I also believe that God has supernaturally provided and preserved His Word for us. II Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."
   I don't think the culture of the first century would think highly of a wife that stayed a virgin for at least 12 years (Joseph was alive at least until Jesus was 12 years old, Luke 2:41), but it's irrelevant, since the Bible clearly states that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
   God the Son became the sinless sacrifice so we (as Mary did) can give Him our sinful life in exchange for His perfection, and have peace about our future in a perfect place.  II Corinthians 5:21 "He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."  I John 5:13 "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life"
   May we, as Mary did, magnify the Lord and rejoice in God our Savior!
   Priscilla
You said the Bible doesn't give 100% assurance that Jesus had or didn't have blood brothers, so there's no point in arguing, but Paul would have said, "I saw none of the Lord's brothers" if he meant brothers in the faith in Gal.1:19, instead of "But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother."
   Also, Luke 1:36 mentions Mary's cousin Elisabeth, so Matthew 12:46 could have also been translated cousins instead of brothers.  Matt.12:46 uses the Greek word adelphus (a--from, delphus--womb) which would properly be translated to mean blood brother.
   Matt.13:55 and Mark 6:3 say essentially the same, "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Judas, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us?"  There are many common names and much debate about who is who by comparing gospels, but being correct won't matter if I don't make it to Heaven because I haven't given my sinful life to God to allow His perfect life to live through me.  "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God Who loved me and gave Himself for me." Gal.2:20