Mary, mother of: Jesus Christ (Did she remain a Virgin?)
http://www.thearticleblogs.com/articles/142/1/Mary-mother-of-Jesus-Christ-Did-she-remain-a-Virgin/Page1.html
Dennis L. Siluk
Writing is more than a hobby for me. It's a passion, one of the ways I capture and celebrate life.
[Poet Laureate of San Jeronimo, Peru]
Awarded the Grand Cross of the City
Awarded the National Prize of Peru, "Antena Regional": The best of 2006 for promoting culture
Los Andes University (Peru): Recognition given to Dennis Siluk for his poetic and cultural contribution
Personal URL:
http://dennissiluk.tripod.com
By Dennis L. Siluk
Published on 04/9/2007
After I finished my BA degree, many, many years ago, I started working on my MA, in counseling, psychology, drugs and alcohol, etc., a combination—then I stopped for a period of time, not really knowing what I wanted to do, so I studied theology, read 400-books in 18-months, listened to over 10,000-hours of tapes from every corner of Christendom, Christology—through theology, even went to Haiti, up in the mountains to do some missionary work, only to find out I was not meant to be a missionary, or priest, or clergy, although I did go to a theological university for six months, and studied Old Testament Studies, along with several other courses.
Mary, mother of: Jesus Christ
(Did she remain a Virgin?)
After I finished my BA degree, many, many years ago, I started working on my MA, in counseling, psychology, drugs and alcohol, etc., a combination—then I stopped for a period of time, not really knowing what I wanted to do, so I studied theology, read 400-books in 18-months, listened to over 10,000-hours of tapes from every corner of Christendom, Christology—through theology, even went to Haiti, up in the mountains to do some missionary work, only to find out I was not meant to be a missionary, or priest, or clergy, although I did go to a theological university for six months, and studied Old Testament Studies, along with several other courses. But what bothered me was, I shouldn’t say bothered me, it was neither here or there for me, not a big issue, just a thorn in my side, was the controversy around Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. Why is there even an issue, in that: was Mary a virgin from the day she was born to the day she died? I mean, did she never have sex? Some folks said Jesus had brothers, sisters, and all that kind of stuff. And of course Joseph was a quite father in his time, and I think his time was short, and there is a reason for that, I believe he was an old man when he married Mary. Had a few children of his own, a widower.
Now we all have opinions, and I can prove anything beyond a doubt, but I can share what I think, and so I shall. If I hurt your feelings, don’t take it personal, it is just as it is an opinion. We shall venture into Joseph, Mary, Jesus—quickly, and I shall throw some Bible stuff your way, if you like it, do some homework of your own, if you don’t—file 13 it. Anyhow, I shall but this to rest once and for all:
1) the book of Mark, Chapter 6…and Matthew (Mt.) Chapter (Ch) 13, we see a Carpenter, Jesus, he son of Mary, and a few brothers: James, Joseph, Jude and Simon. And “Are not his sisters here with us….” We now can check out Mt. Ch. 12 & Mark (Mk) Ch. 3 and Luke, Chapter 8, and John Chapter 7.By all appearance; it looks like Christ had some brothers.
But in Bible reading I have learned you have to check out many things, the meaning of words, from the Hebrew to Greek to English, and one must read above and below the point of issue, and there are several other books, canons, not blessed, that can be reviewed; history that was not put into the bible simply because it was not necessary, or so the founding fathers of the bible (s) felt.
2) Let me point out, the Hebrew when he said: “brother” he meant just that: son of the father, as you would expect it to be. Mark wrote his Gospel in Greek and used the word "brother" or to be more exact "adelphos" (adelphos), meaning exactly what I earlier implied: blood related. Now go to John, chapter 20, see what Jesus has to say “…go to my ‘brethern’ (in some bibles brothers). He knew what He was saying. When Jesus said brothern, he meant Disciples. He even points his brothers and sisters out in Matt: 12, Mark 3; In John Chapter 7, it says, “Even his brothers didn’t believe him.”
So you see, we can get confused with the word brother and brothern, but we shall try to straighten this out.
3) The New Testament is pretty upfront about Mary’s character, in that she was a virgin at the time she was born (by the Holy Spirit). Later one acknowledged by the Church—also that she remained a virgin afterwards. This is part of the controversy, was she or was not? Again I say, it really shouldn’t matter that much, but for folks that like poking their nose (like me) into history, it is worth the time.
When I talk In English to someone, I use the term “My brother…” and then the name “Mike” when we say "brother" we usually mean brother--a male sibling sharing both biological parents, this is no big research finding, just a normal everyday that has been going on worldwide for a very long time. But to be honest, the term brother has a wider range of meaning: sibling, biological parent, step-brother, male sibling, male sibling adopted, comrade, etc., all depending on the environment, as an issue, one must point this out, in everyday life, this is not important.
4) So, the question is: did Mary remain a virgin? Aramaic had a strong influence on the New Testament Bible, one point I did not bring out above was, a word for brother can mean ‘cousin’ the Aramaic word aha would have been rendered literally with the Greek word for brother (adelphos), with the new Christians.
We can look also at: were they adoptive brothers, in trying to save Mary’s reputation of being a virgin to her death. This would do it, but I can’t find any evidence to support this. But as a counselor, I’ve learned to keep a clear head, look at what is underneath, not the surface, the surface is always the situation, not the problem or issue, and we are getting close to that.
5) It would seem to me, more likely, they were step-brothers: children of Joseph who were Jesus' brothers by marriage. That is to say, the manuscript known as the Protoevangelium of James (c. A.D. 120)—indicates that Joseph was a widower who already had a family prior to his marriage to Mary, and therefore was willing to become the protector, or custodian of a sanctified, and set apart virgin. (He was old at the time they married I do believe, and that is why the bible does not go on with Joseph, to the point of him being around when Christ grew to manhood.)
So did Christ have brothers? Perhaps so, if indeed Jesus was the single son of Mary, and James was the only son just Joseph, then Jesus and James would not literally have been brothers, blood brothers that is. When we hear the phrase “brother of Jesus” we must look deep into the well, Matt. 13. You see, the word ‘brother’ meant more than that, or perhaps in this case, less, it did not mean ‘blood’ related (review the: Book of Tobit))for broader meanings)).
6) Perhaps what Eve did, Mary, mother of Christ undid. When I look at this issue I also look at who is saying what. The Church Fathers, believed Mary as remaining a virgin throughout her life; when I say Church Fathers I mean, those who could remember her, perhaps talked to the apostles (up to the turn of the century, 100 AD or so)) if indeed Christ died about AD 30)). Also, one should look at what Pope Martin I, AD 659 insisted on at the council that she, Mary remain “ever-Virgin,” thus she was already considered that.
7) Another point of contention may be, what did Christ say at Calvary? Did he not say to John: to take his mother home with him, he entrusted her with him, why not with his blood brothers or sisters that would be the norm (John 19). Matter of fact, it was unthinkable for a Jewish mother to go live with a friend after the death of her son, if she had any other child of her own!...
In short, did Mary remain a virgin, after the birth of Christ? And did Christ have brothers and sisters? I feel, and think she did, and I can’t find anything to the contrary. And yes, Christ had brothers and sisters, but I think not blood related.
Article Source: http://www.thearticleblogs.com
You may reprint this article in its entirety so long as you do not modify the content or resource box.
After I finished my BA degree, many, many years ago, I started working on my MA, in counseling, psychology, drugs and alcohol, etc., a combination—then I stopped for a period of time, not really knowing what I wanted to do, so I studied theology, read 400-books in 18-months, listened to over 10,000-hours of tapes from every corner of Christendom, Christology—through theology, even went to Haiti, up in the mountains to do some missionary work, only to find out I was not meant to be a missionary, or priest, or clergy, although I did go to a theological university for six months, and studied Old Testament Studies, along with several other courses. But what bothered me was, I shouldn’t say bothered me, it was neither here or there for me, not a big issue, just a thorn in my side, was the controversy around Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. Why is there even an issue, in that: was Mary a virgin from the day she was born to the day she died? I mean, did she never have sex? Some folks said Jesus had brothers, sisters, and all that kind of stuff. And of course Joseph was a quite father in his time, and I think his time was short, and there is a reason for that, I believe he was an old man when he married Mary. Had a few children of his own, a widower.
Now we all have opinions, and I can prove anything beyond a doubt, but I can share what I think, and so I shall. If I hurt your feelings, don’t take it personal, it is just as it is an opinion. We shall venture into Joseph, Mary, Jesus—quickly, and I shall throw some Bible stuff your way, if you like it, do some homework of your own, if you don’t—file 13 it. Anyhow, I shall but this to rest once and for all:
1) the book of Mark, Chapter 6…and Matthew (Mt.) Chapter (Ch) 13, we see a Carpenter, Jesus, he son of Mary, and a few brothers: James, Joseph, Jude and Simon. And “Are not his sisters here with us….” We now can check out Mt. Ch. 12 & Mark (Mk) Ch. 3 and Luke, Chapter 8, and John Chapter 7.By all appearance; it looks like Christ had some brothers.
But in Bible reading I have learned you have to check out many things, the meaning of words, from the Hebrew to Greek to English, and one must read above and below the point of issue, and there are several other books, canons, not blessed, that can be reviewed; history that was not put into the bible simply because it was not necessary, or so the founding fathers of the bible (s) felt.
2) Let me point out, the Hebrew when he said: “brother” he meant just that: son of the father, as you would expect it to be. Mark wrote his Gospel in Greek and used the word "brother" or to be more exact "adelphos" (adelphos), meaning exactly what I earlier implied: blood related. Now go to John, chapter 20, see what Jesus has to say “…go to my ‘brethern’ (in some bibles brothers). He knew what He was saying. When Jesus said brothern, he meant Disciples. He even points his brothers and sisters out in Matt: 12, Mark 3; In John Chapter 7, it says, “Even his brothers didn’t believe him.”
So you see, we can get confused with the word brother and brothern, but we shall try to straighten this out.
3) The New Testament is pretty upfront about Mary’s character, in that she was a virgin at the time she was born (by the Holy Spirit). Later one acknowledged by the Church—also that she remained a virgin afterwards. This is part of the controversy, was she or was not? Again I say, it really shouldn’t matter that much, but for folks that like poking their nose (like me) into history, it is worth the time.
When I talk In English to someone, I use the term “My brother…” and then the name “Mike” when we say "brother" we usually mean brother--a male sibling sharing both biological parents, this is no big research finding, just a normal everyday that has been going on worldwide for a very long time. But to be honest, the term brother has a wider range of meaning: sibling, biological parent, step-brother, male sibling, male sibling adopted, comrade, etc., all depending on the environment, as an issue, one must point this out, in everyday life, this is not important.
4) So, the question is: did Mary remain a virgin? Aramaic had a strong influence on the New Testament Bible, one point I did not bring out above was, a word for brother can mean ‘cousin’ the Aramaic word aha would have been rendered literally with the Greek word for brother (adelphos), with the new Christians.
We can look also at: were they adoptive brothers, in trying to save Mary’s reputation of being a virgin to her death. This would do it, but I can’t find any evidence to support this. But as a counselor, I’ve learned to keep a clear head, look at what is underneath, not the surface, the surface is always the situation, not the problem or issue, and we are getting close to that.
5) It would seem to me, more likely, they were step-brothers: children of Joseph who were Jesus' brothers by marriage. That is to say, the manuscript known as the Protoevangelium of James (c. A.D. 120)—indicates that Joseph was a widower who already had a family prior to his marriage to Mary, and therefore was willing to become the protector, or custodian of a sanctified, and set apart virgin. (He was old at the time they married I do believe, and that is why the bible does not go on with Joseph, to the point of him being around when Christ grew to manhood.)
So did Christ have brothers? Perhaps so, if indeed Jesus was the single son of Mary, and James was the only son just Joseph, then Jesus and James would not literally have been brothers, blood brothers that is. When we hear the phrase “brother of Jesus” we must look deep into the well, Matt. 13. You see, the word ‘brother’ meant more than that, or perhaps in this case, less, it did not mean ‘blood’ related (review the: Book of Tobit))for broader meanings)).
6) Perhaps what Eve did, Mary, mother of Christ undid. When I look at this issue I also look at who is saying what. The Church Fathers, believed Mary as remaining a virgin throughout her life; when I say Church Fathers I mean, those who could remember her, perhaps talked to the apostles (up to the turn of the century, 100 AD or so)) if indeed Christ died about AD 30)). Also, one should look at what Pope Martin I, AD 659 insisted on at the council that she, Mary remain “ever-Virgin,” thus she was already considered that.
7) Another point of contention may be, what did Christ say at Calvary? Did he not say to John: to take his mother home with him, he entrusted her with him, why not with his blood brothers or sisters that would be the norm (John 19). Matter of fact, it was unthinkable for a Jewish mother to go live with a friend after the death of her son, if she had any other child of her own!...
In short, did Mary remain a virgin, after the birth of Christ? And did Christ have brothers and sisters? I feel, and think she did, and I can’t find anything to the contrary. And yes, Christ had brothers and sisters, but I think not blood related.
Article Source: http://www.thearticleblogs.com
You may reprint this article in its entirety so long as you do not modify the content or resource box.