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I’ve compiled fifty arguments, many quite extensive, in a linked article, but here are ten brief but effective arguments from the Bible:
#1 The Greek word for “brother”: adelphos is used in the Bible for a wide variety of relatives, friends, and countrymen, besides the meaning of “sibling.” In Matthew 23:8 Jesus Himself calls the “crowds” and His “disciples” (23:1), “brethren” (adelphos; cf. 12:49-50). Every time Paul uses adelphos – 138 times — it means non-sibling.
#2 When Jesus went to the Jerusalem temple at age twelve (Luke 2:41-51), there are no other siblings in sight. The text says that “he” went with his parents back to Nazareth (Luke 2:51). Yet we’re to believe that Mary had no children between the estimated ages of 16 to 28 and five or more after that?
#3 Matthew 13:55-56 (cf. Mark 6:3) names four “brothers” of Jesus (often assumed to be His siblings). But Matthew 27:56 (cf. Mark 15:40) refers to “Mary the mother of James and Joseph” and she is called “the other Mary” twice (Matthew 27:61 and 28:1) in context. Thus, we know that these two are not His siblings.
Continued below.
www.patheos.com
#1 The Greek word for “brother”: adelphos is used in the Bible for a wide variety of relatives, friends, and countrymen, besides the meaning of “sibling.” In Matthew 23:8 Jesus Himself calls the “crowds” and His “disciples” (23:1), “brethren” (adelphos; cf. 12:49-50). Every time Paul uses adelphos – 138 times — it means non-sibling.
#2 When Jesus went to the Jerusalem temple at age twelve (Luke 2:41-51), there are no other siblings in sight. The text says that “he” went with his parents back to Nazareth (Luke 2:51). Yet we’re to believe that Mary had no children between the estimated ages of 16 to 28 and five or more after that?
#3 Matthew 13:55-56 (cf. Mark 6:3) names four “brothers” of Jesus (often assumed to be His siblings). But Matthew 27:56 (cf. Mark 15:40) refers to “Mary the mother of James and Joseph” and she is called “the other Mary” twice (Matthew 27:61 and 28:1) in context. Thus, we know that these two are not His siblings.
Continued below.
Mary's Perpetual Virginity: Ten Biblical Evidences
I attempt to summarize the very best & clearest biblical evidences regarding Mary's perpetual virginity (Jesus had no siblings), that can be stated within three minute's time!
www.patheos.com
