How can Mary be a virgin when we hear of other brothers and sisters of Jesus, whose names are mentioned in the Scriptures?
Perpetual Virginity of Mary? Impossible!!! Wait a minute.
In the Proto Evangelium of James, there is a lot of information about the early life of Jesus. This book is an apocryphal literature which did not find its way into the list of books in the Bible due to some incongruity about its inspiration. However, it contains a lot of useful truths and established facts.
From this book, we know that Mary was married to a widower, a man named Joseph who already had several children. Hence Jesus in his humanity had stepbrothers and sisters.
The term “firstborn son” seems to suggest there were other children of Mary. In Luke 2:7 we come across this term referring to Jesus as Mary’s firstborn son. "Firstborn" was a legal term for Jewish people. The firstborn was to be presented in the Temple, as Jesus was. (Ref. Exodus 13:2 & Luke 2:22). Hence firstborn does not imply other children. That leaves us with the truth that Jesus is the only Son of Mary. Joseph is said to have died before Jesus was of age. Did Mary then got married another man? The answer is obvious.
Mt 13:55-56; Mk 6:3 listed the names of the brothers and sisters of Jesus. It is simple. There are other Marys mentioned in the New Testament who are relatives of the Mary, Mother of Jesus.
The brothers and sisters of Jesus in another sense would refer to the Cousins of Jesus. Since it was a Semitic custom to call cousins with a more endearing nomenclature of brothers and sisters, as it is in fact the practise in many Asian cultures.
Who then are the brothers and sisters of Jesus? In a third level of meaning, it refers to those who hear the word of God and put them into practise. (Mt. 12:46-50; Mk. 3:31-35; Luke 8:19-21)
From the above discussions, who then is John the Baptist to Jesus?
To Be Continued…
Mary, Mother of the Afflicted ...pray for us
Compiled by:
Eric K. Dagbui
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