What texts prove that Mary was a sinner?

CHAPTER 3
1. The angel appears to Anna; 2. tells her a daughter shall be born to her, 3. devoted to the service of the Lord in the temple, 5. who, being a virgin and not knowing man, shall bring forth the Lord, 6. and gives her a sign, therefore, 8. Joachim and Anna meet and rejoice, 10. and praise the Lord. 11. Anna conceives, and brings forth a daughter called Mary.

1. Afterwards the angel appeared to Anna his wife saying: Fear not, neither think that which you see is a spirit.

Miraculous appearances are first naturally assumed to be an apparition: "And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear" (Matthew 14:26). Christ had to deal with this supposition when he appeared to the disciples after his resurrection: "But they were terrified and afrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your heart? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. (Luke 24:37-40). See this challenge also in John 20:27 with the doubting Thomas.

2. For I am that angel who has offered up your prayers and alms before God, and am now sent to you that I may inform you that a daughter will be born unto you, who shall be called Mary, and shall be blessed above all women.

Compare the angel's word to Anna that Mary would be blessed above all women ("a daughter will be born unto you, who shall be called Mary, and shall be blessed above all women") with the angel's word to Mary, "Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women" (Luke 1:28). An Eastern Orthodox service called "The Nativity of the Most Holy birth-giver of God" contains the following hymn: "Joachim and Anna wre delivered from the reproach of childlessness, and Adam and Eve from the corruption of death, in thy holy Nativity, O all-pure One. This do thy people celebrate, being redeemed from the guilt of transgressions, when they cry unto thee: The barren giveth birth to the birth-giver of God and the Nourisher of our Life."

3. Immediately upon her birth, she will be full of the grace of the Lord and will continue in her father's house during the three years of her weaning, and afterwards, being devoted to the service of the Lord, will not depart from the temple till she arrives to years of discretion.

Mary's "three years of weaning" may seem excessive to modern women, but it was not uncommon in the ancient world. The practice is still followed in many cultures today and is not unheard of in our own.

4. In a word, she will there serve the Lord night and day in fasting and prayer, and abstain from every unclean thing, and never know any man;

Mary would "never know any man" is an example of the euphemism "know in the Biblical sense," meaning to have sexual relations.

5. But, being an unparalleled instance without any pollution or defilement, and a virgin not knowing any man, will bring forth a son, and a maid shall bring forth the Lord, who both by his grace and name and works, shall be the Savior of the world.
6. Arise therefore, and go up to Jerusalem, and when you shall come to that which is called the golden gate (because it is gilt with gold), as a sign of what I have told you, you will meet your husband, for whose safety you have been so much concerned.
7. When therefore you find these things thus accomplished, believe that all the rest which I have told you shall also undoubtedly be accomplished.
8. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] According therefore to the command of the angel, both of them left the places where they were, and when they came to the place specified in the angel's prediction, they met each other.
9. Then, rejoicing at each other's vision and being fully satisfied in the promise of a child, they gave due thanks to the Lord, who exalts the humble.
10. And having praised the Lord, they returned home and lived in a cheerful and assured expectation of the promise of God.
11. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] So Anna conceived and brought forth a daughter, and, according to the angel's command, the parents called her name Mary.

CHAPTER 4
1. Mary brought to the temple at three years old, 6. Ascends the stairs of the temple by miracle. 8. Her parents sacrificed and returned home.

1. And when the three years were expired and the time of her weaning complete, they brought the Virgin to the temple of the Lord with their offerings.
2. And there were about the temple, according to the fifteen Psalms of degrees, fifteen stairs to ascend.

The "fifteen Psalms of degrees" refer to Psalms 120-134.

3. For the temple was built in a mountain, and the altar of burnt-offering outside and could not be come near but by stairs;
4. The parents of the blessed Virgin and infant Mary put her upon one of these stairs;
5. But while they were putting off their clothes in which they had traveled, according to the custom putting on some that were more neat and clean,
6. In the meantime, without the help of any to lead or lift her, the Virgin of the Lord went up all the stairs one after another in such a manner that anyone would have judged that she was of perfect age.
7. Thus the Lord did, in the infancy of his virgin, work this extraordinary work, and evidence by this miracle how great she was to be hereafter.
8. but, having offered up their sacrifice according to the custom of the law and having perfected their vow, the parents returned home after leaving the Virgin with other virgins who were to be brought up in the apartments of the temple.

CHAPTER 5
2. Mary ministered to by angels. 4. The high-priest orders all virgins of fourteen yers old to leave the temple and endeavor to be married. 5. Mary refuses, 6. having vowed her virginit to the Lord. 7. Thehigh-priest commands a meeting of the chief persons of Jerusalem, 11. who sought the counsel of the Lord in the matter. 13. A voice from the mercy-seat. 15. The high-priest obeys it by ordering all the unmarried men of the house of David to bring their rods to the altar, 17. that his rod which should flower, and on which the Spirit of God should sit, should betroth the virgin.

1. But the Virgin of the Lord, as she advanced in years, increased also in perfections, and according to the saying of the Psalmist, her father and mother forsook her, but the Lord took care of her.

"When my father and mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up" (Psalm 27:10); the Septuagint reads: "For my father and mother have forsaken me, but the Lord has taken me to himself."

2. For she every day had the conversation of angels, and every day received visitors from God, which preserved her from all sorts of evil and caused her to abound with all good things;

The word "conversation" in the Bible sometimes means "manner of life," but here is meant in the ordinary sense.

3. So that when at length she arrived to her fourteenth year, as the wicked could not lay anything to her charge worthy of reproof, so all good persons acquainted with her admired her life and conversation.
4. At that time the high-priest made a public order that all the virgins who had public settlements in the temple and were come to this age should return home, and as they were now of a proper maturity, should endeavor to be married according to the custom of their country,
5. Though all the other virgins readily yielded obedience to the command, Mary the Virgin of the Lord alone answered that she cold not comply with it.
6. Assigning these reasons, that both she and her parents had devoted her to the service of the Lord; and besides, that she had vowed virginity to the Lord, which vow she was resolved never to break by lying with a man.
7. The high priest hereby being brought into a difficulty,
8. Seeing he dared neither on the one hand dissolve the vow and disobey the Scripture, which says, Vow and pay.

The reference is to Psalm 76:11 and Ecclesiastes 5:4-6. The latter reads: Better it is that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay."

9. Nor on the other hand introduce a custom to which the people were strangers, commanded,
10. That at the approaching feast all the principal persons both of Jerusalem and the neighboring places should meet together that he might have their advice, how he had best proceed in so difficult a case.
11. When they were accordingly met, they unanimously agreed to seek the lord and ask counsel from him on this matter.
12. And when they were all engaged in prayer, the high-priest, according to the usual way, went to consult God.

"According to the usual way" refers to a bizarre Old Testament practice instituted by Moses. The Urim and Thummim were two objects in the high priest's breastplate that gave an oracular response. (In Hebrew, Urim means lights and Thummim means perfection.) "And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the Lord: And Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually" (Exodus 28:30). The Septuagint translates Urim and Thummim, but in verse 26, as "the Manifestation and the Truth on the oracle of judgment..." The use of these strange objects is also mentioned in Numbers 27:21, Deuteronomy 33:8, Ezra 2:63, and in the exact same words in Nehemiah 7:65.

13. And immediately there was a voice from the ark and the mercy-seat, which all present heard, that it must be inquired or sought out by a prophecy of Isaiah to whom the Virgin should be given and be betrothed;

The "ark and the mercy-seat" were two items of furniture in the inner sanctum of the temple, the Holy of Holies, and are described in Exodus 25:10-22.

14. For Isaiah says, there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a flower shall spring out of its root,
15. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and Might, the Spirit of Knowledge and Piety, and the Spirit of the fear of the Lord shall fill him.

"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord" (Isaiah 11:1,2). The Septuagint reads "a blossom shall come up from his root."

16. Then, according to this prophecy, he appointed that all the men of the house and family of David who were marriageable and not married, should each bring their rods to the altar,
17. And out of whatsoever person's rod after it was brought, a flower should bud forth and on the top of it the Spirit of the Lord should sit in the appearance of a dove, he should be the man to whom the Virgin should be given and be betrothed.

"Rod" refers to the long wood staff men carried. A rod was a measure of distance equaling nine feet (ten and a half in Ezekiel).

CHAPTER 6
1. Joseph draws back his rod. 5. The dove perches on it. He betroths Mary and returns to Bethlehem. 7. Mary returns to her parents' house at Galilee.

1. Among the rest there was a man named Joseph, of the house and family of David, and a person very far advanced in years, who drew back his rod when everyone else presented his.

The complete genealogy of Joseph, proving he was "of the house and family of David," is recorded in Matthew 1. He is depicted as "a person very far advanced in years" here and in the Protevangelion.

2. So that when nothing appeared agreeable to the heavenly voice, the high-priest judged it proper to consult God again,
3. Who answered that he to whom the Virgin was to be betrothed was the only person of those who were brought together, who had not brought his rod.
4. Joseph was therefore betrayed.
5. For, when he did bring his rod, and a dove came from Heaven and perched upon the top of it, everyone plainly saw that the Virgin was to be betrothed to him:

A dove is frequently a symbol of the Holy Spirit throughout the Bible and in early Church literature and art.

6. Accordingly, the usual ceremonies of betrothing being over, he returned to his own city of Bethlehem to set his house in order and make the needful provisions for the marriage.
7. But when the Virgin of the Lord, Mary, with seven other virgins of the same age who had been weaned at the same time and who had been appointed by the priest to attend her, returned to her parents' house in Galilee.

CHAPTER 7
7. The salutation of the virgin by Gabriel, who explains to her that she shall conceive without lying with a man, while a virgin, 19. by the Holy Spirit coming upon her without the heats of lust. 21. She submits.

1. Now at this time of her first coming into Galilee, the angel Gabriel was sent to her from God to declare to her the conception of our Savior and the manner and way of her conceiving him.

The Bible teaching about angels is that they are incorporeal beings created long before the material world. When medieval theologians debated how many angels could stand on the head of a pin, it was a serious metaphysical inquiry about whether spirits occupied space. Although evidently angels are sexless, they are always referred to as male in the Bible. Two in the canonical Scriptures are named: Gabriel (Daniel 8:16 and Luke 1:19,26) and Michael the archangel (Daniel 10:13,21 and 12:1; Jude 9 and Revelation 12:7). One is named Raphael in the book of Tobit in the Apocrypha.

2. Accordingly going to her, he filled the chamber where she was with a prodigious light, and in a most courteous manner saluting her, he said,
3. Hail, Mary! Virgin of the Lord most acceptable! O Virgin full of Grace! The Lord is with you, you are blessed above all women, you are blessed above all men, that have been born until this time.

This agrees with Luke 1:28.

4. But the Virgin, who had before been well acquainted with the countenances of angels, and to whom such light from heaven was no uncommon thing,
5. Was neither terrified with the vision of the angel, nor astonished at the greatness of the light, but only troubled about the angel's words:
6. And began to consider what so extraordinary a salutation should mean, what it did portend, or what sort of end it would have.

This agrees with Luke 1:29.

7. To this thought the angel, divinely inspired, replied:

Not that angels cannot read human thoughts without divine inspiration. Biblical angels and demons ("fallen angels") are superhuman, not supernatural.

8. Fear not, Mary, as though I intended anything inconsistent with your chastity in this salutation:
9. For you have found favor with the Lord, because you made virginity your choice.
10. Therefore while you are a Virgin, you shall conceive without sin and bring forth a son.
11. He shall be great, because he shall reign from sea to sea, and from the rivers to the ends of the earth.

This adds something to Luke 1:31ff.

12. And he shall be called the Son of the Highest; for he who is born in a humble state on earth reigns in an exalted one in heaven.

Note the present tense of "reigns." It is an intimation of the doctrine of the pre-existence or eternal sonship of Christ.

13. And the Lord shall give him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
14. For he is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, and his throne is forever and ever.
"King of kings and Lord of lords" agrees with John's vision of the post-resurrection Christ in heaven: "And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS" (Revelation 19:16).

15. To this discourse of the angel the Virgin replied not as though she were unbelieving, but willing to know the manner of it.
16. She said, How can that be? For seeing, according to my vow, I have never known any man, how can I bear a child without the addition of a man's seed?
17. To this the angel replied and said, Think not, Mary, that you shall conceive in the ordinary way.
18. For, without lying with a man, while yet a Virgin, you shall conceive; while a Virgin, you shall bring forth; and while a Virgin shall be able to nurse your baby.
19. For the Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow you, without any of the heats of lust.
20. So that which shall be born of you shall be only holy, because it only is conceived without sin, and when born, shall be called the Son of God.
21. Then Mary, stretching forth her hands and lifting her eyes to heaven, said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.

This agrees with Luke 1:38, except Luke adds "And the angel departed from her."

CHAPTER 8
1. Joseph returns to Galilee to marry the Virgin he had betrothed. 4. He perceives she is with child, 5. is uneasy, 7. purposes to put her away privately, 8. is told by the angel of the Lord it is not the work of man but the Holy spirit. 12. He marries her, but keeps chaste, 13. leaves with her to Bethlehem, 15. where she brings forth Christ.

1. Joseph therefore went from Judaea to Galilee, with intention to marry the Virgin who was betrothed to him:
2. For it was now nearly three months since she was betrothed to him.
3. At length it plainly appeared she was with child, and it could not be hid from Joseph:
4. For going to the Virgin in a free manner, as one espoused, and talking familiarly with her, he perceived her to be with child.
5. And thereupon he began to be uneasy and doubtful, not knowing what course it would be best to take;
6. For being a just man, he was not willing to expose her, nor defame her by the suspicion of being a harlot, since he was a pious man.
7. He purposed therefore privately to put an end to their agreement and privately to put her away.
8. But while he was meditating on these things, behold the angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, and said, Joseph, son of David, fear not;

The Bible cites many examples of angels appearing to people both in a waking or dreaming state. This verse agrees with Matthew 1:20.

9. Do not be willing to entertain any suspicion of the Virgin's being guilty of fornication, or to think anything amiss of her, neither be afraid to take her as your wife;
10. For that which is begotten in her and now distresses your mind, is not the work of man, but the Holy Spirit.
11. For she of all women is that only Virgin who shall bring forth the Son of God, and you shall call his name Jesus, that is, Savior: for he will save his people from their sins.
12. Joseph thereupon, according to the command of the angel, married the Virgin and did not know her, but kept her in chastity.
13. And now the ninth month from her conception drew near, when Joseph took his wife and what other things were necessary to Bethlehem, the city from whence he came.
14. And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled for her bringing forth.
15. And she brought forth her first-born son, as the holy Evangelists have taught, even our Lord Jesus Christ, who with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, lives and reigns to everlasting ages.

Gospel of the Birth of Mary

Gospel of the Birth of Mary CHURCH FATHERS: Home

The date it was written is unknown, but is late, whatever that means.

throughfireytrial said:

No thanks, I read the Bible only for my doctrine...all else is or well could be just doctrines of man. One should guard their heart against false testimony.

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How do you know it is false?

Bob Carabbio said:

Totally FALSE.

NOBODY was Born Again, and indwelled by the Holy Spirit until it became possible AFTER the Crucifixion - the reason being that the Temple sacrifice ONLY HID SIN, but never "Eliminated it". The Old Testament Faithful were held in a place Jesus referred to as "Abraham's Bosom" - UNTIL their redemption was made possible by Jesus' SIN OFFERING. THEN they became Clean, and could enter Heaven.

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Remind me to remove Hebrews 11:1-12:3 from my Bible.

Regeneration in the Old Testament? – Grace Evangelical Society

"This means that all the saints of the OT who trusted God and followed his ways in the obedience of faith were born again by the Spirit and indwelt by the Spirit. For example, Numbers 14:24 says of Caleb, "My servant Caleb, because he has a different Spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into this land." And Numbers 27: 18 says, "And the Lord said to Moses, 'Take Joshua the son of Nun, in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand upon him.'" The OT believers were saved the same way we are: they were born of the Spirit, they trusted in God's promises, and they followed his commandments in the obedience of faith." How Believers Experienced the Spirit Before Pentecost

read to here