Issue 1669 – Did She? – February 11, 2025
Over coffee, the conversation turned to the New Testament book of Jude. My friend asked, “Who was Jude?”
When I replied that Jude was one of the brothers of Jesus, my friend got visibly upset. He was shocked and amazed that I would make such a claim. You see, my friend is a devout Roman Catholic, and their tradition holds to the belief in Mary’s perpetual virginity.
Scripture does not even hint at the doctrine of Mary remaining a virgin. That concept was something that was added later. The Roman Catholic faith points to “Protoevangelium of James,” a document believed to be written in the first century as “proof”, but even they must acknowledge that this work is not Scripture.
Beginning in the fourth century (300 years later), the doctrine of perpetual virginity began to emerge, but even then, it was based on this same non-scriptural document.
Yet the Scriptures seem to claim that Joseph and Mary were plainly intimate.
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. Matthew 1:24-25
The Blue letter Bible and the KJV puts it this way: “and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.”
You can read numerous translations and find the same thing … Joseph did not “know” her until after Jesus was born. The implication from a plain reading of the text is that he did “know her” afterwards.
As to Jesus having siblings, we have to look no further than Matthew. His brothers doubted Him.
When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor.” Matthew 13:53-57
After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life. But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, Jesus’ brothers said to him, “You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” For even his own brothers did not believe in him. John 7:1-5
Other verses identify Jesus as having brothers. See Matthew 12:46-48; Mark 3:31-35; Luke 8:19-21. These verses all refer to Jesus’s mother and brothers.
Is it not possible that all these “brothers” were only stepbrothers, being Joseph’s sons? Admittedly, that is possible; scripture seldom delineates between half and step siblings, although it does in some places. There are cases where various parents are involved, and we are told about it.
Does any of this “prove” that Mary was not a virgin? Not completely. Yet a simple reading of the texts would undoubtedly suggest it.
Is it reasonable to assume that Mary remained a virgin? Given the culture of the times, probably not. Is there any prophecy that Mary would stay a virgin? No.
Mary’s virginity at the time of Jesus’ conception is a foundational truth of the Christian faith. Catholics and Protestants would agree on that fact. Her perpetual virginity is at best suspect, if not entirely denied by a plain reading of the texts of the New Testament.
Now I believe that Mary did not remain a virgin, but I cannot “prove it”. You may believe that Mary remained a virgin, but likewise, you too will fail to “prove it” and have to do some very fancy exegetical analysis avoiding plainly what Scripture says to make your point.
The preponderance of Scriptural evidence points to the fact that Mary did not remain a virgin. No Scriptural evidence even suggests that she did not. The issue serves as a warning to anyone who builds a theology on the non-biblical. You stand on shaky ground at best.
Examine all doctrine in the light of the revealed truth of Scripture. Church tradition is not enough; we must go to the Word.
Until next time, may you be grounded in the truth of God’s Word.
Be blessed
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
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