What is the Perpetual Virginity of Mary?

Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a chaste and pure woman chosen by God to be the Mother of His Son, the Savior of the world, as stated in Luke 1:28-35. She was to fulfill God’s promise as foretold in Genesis 3:15.

Mary, the virgin, conceived by the Holy Spirit, marking the direct fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). This miraculous event not only signifies the divine nature of Jesus but also highlights the unique role of Mary in God’s redemptive plan.

The Perpetual Virginity of Mary

The Catholic Church teaches that Mary remained a virgin after giving birth to Jesus. But what does the Bible say about this claim? Both the Gospels of Matthew and Mark mention that Mary had other sons and daughters:

“Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” (Matthew 13:55-56). Mark 6:3 echoes this: “Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” This indicates that Mary had other children, which raises questions about the doctrine of her perpetual virginity.

Some have suggested that these brothers and sisters of Jesus were actually His cousins. If this were true, why didn’t Matthew and Mark use the Greek terms for cousins (anepsios) or relatives (suggenes)? The Greek word for “cousin” appears in the New Testament in Colossians 4:10, and “relative” is used in Luke 1:36. Instead, both Matthew and Mark used the words for brothers (adelphos) and sisters (adelphe). This choice of words strongly suggests that they were indeed Jesus’ siblings, not cousins.

Matthew also mentions that Jesus had siblings in Matthew 12:46-50. Luke, in the book of Acts, refers to Jesus’ brothers (Acts 1:12-14). Furthermore, Jesus distinguishes between His physical brothers and His spiritual family in Mark 3:32-35 and Luke 8:19-21. Additionally, the apostle Paul states that Jesus had a brother (Galatians 1:19). These references collectively challenge the notion of Mary’s perpetual virginity.

Mary Had Sexual Relations With Joseph

Claiming that Mary was a perpetual virgin even after the birth of Christ contradicts Scripture. The Bible states, “Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS” (Matthew 1:24-25). The term “knew” refers to sexual relations in the Bible (Genesis 4:1, 25; 17).

If Joseph never knew Mary, then the phrase “till she had brought forth her firstborn Son” becomes meaningless. This indicates that their marital relationship was consummated after the birth of Jesus.

Sex Is Honorable

Some argue that sexual relations are unbecoming for the mother of Jesus. However, the Bible declares that sex between a married couple is honorable and not sinful. “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled” (Hebrews 13:4). In fact, the Lord commanded humanity to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28; Malachi 2:14-15).

Jesus quoted Genesis 2:24 in Matthew 19:5-6, affirming that the married couple “shall be one flesh.” This highlights the sanctity of marriage and the naturalness of sexual relations within it.

Who Introduced the Teaching of the Virginity of Mary?

The concept of the perpetual virginity of Mary originated from an apocryphal text known as the Infancy Gospel of James, or the Protoevangelium of James, which was written around the 2nd century. In contrast, the authoritative New Testament books were composed and validated by the apostles (Luke 11:49; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 2:20; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Peter 3:2). The early church relied on these texts for doctrine, which were inspired and recognized as Scripture.

A plethora of forged texts emerged after the canonical books were established. The Protoevangelium of James is similar to other apocryphal writings that attempted to leverage the authority of an apostle for credibility. James, the brother of Jesus, became known as an apostle of the resurrection (Galatians 1:19; 1 Corinthians 15:7).

However, the early church rejected this book due to its erroneous content. Origen, in his commentary on Matthew, dismissed the Protoevangelium of James as fraudulent and affirmed that Mary had other children, reinforcing the importance of adhering to canonical Scripture.

Why Is the Perpetual Virginity of Mary Promoted by the Catholic Church?

The Roman Catholic Church regards the doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary as one of the essential dogmas for Marian devotion. The Church also adopts other unbiblical doctrines related to Mary, such as the Divine Motherhood, the Co-redeemer, the Immaculate Conception, and the Assumption.

The Church elevates Mary to a divine status akin to Christ, claiming this is the reason she should be venerated, worshiped, adored, and prayed to. This elevation of Mary often leads to confusion regarding her role in salvation history, overshadowing the centrality of Christ.

Conclusion

The doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary lacks solid biblical foundation and is primarily rooted in human traditions and apocryphal texts. The evidence presented in the Gospels clearly indicates that Mary had other children, which challenges the notion of her remaining a virgin after the birth of Jesus. Furthermore, the Bible affirms the sanctity of marital relations, suggesting that it was not only acceptable but expected for Mary and Joseph to consummate their marriage.

Understanding Mary’s true role in God’s redemptive plan is essential for a proper grasp of the Christian faith. The elevation of Mary to a status that rivals Christ can obscure the central message of the Gospel. It is vital for believers to seek truth through Scripture and discern the teachings that align with the Word of God.