Table of Contents
The Children of Mary
The Bible states that Mary had other children beside Jesus: “While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him” (Matthew 12:46); “Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd” (Luke 8:19).
The Bible also gives the names of Jesus’ brothers. “Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?” (Matthew 13:55,56); “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?” (Mark 6:3).
And after the Resurrection, in Acts 1:14, Jesus’ brothers and Mary are described as praying with the disciples. Also, Galatians 1:19 mentions that James was Jesus’ brother. However, the Bible does not tell us if these sons and daughters were from Mary or from a deceased wife for Joseph.
The Marital Relationship of Joseph and Mary
The Bible clearly teaches that Joseph had a normal physical relationship with Mary after she gave birth to Jesus. “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” (Matthew 1:24, 25). This verse is clearly against the Roman Catholic tradition of Mary’s perpetual virginity.
Some Catholics, in defense for the tradition of the perpetual virginity of Mary, teach that these “brothers” were Jesus’ cousins. However, in each instance, the specific Greek word for “brother” is used. There was a Greek word for “cousin,” but it was not used in the Bible to refer to Jesus’ brothers.
For more on the “perpetual virginity of Mary”, check the link:
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
