Mary a Perpetual Virgin?

It is a commonly held belief within Catholicism that Mary was not only a virgin when Jesus was born, but that she remained a virgin even after Christ's birth.  If the Bible is to be believed (and it can!), we can see this is a grave error.  This error is one of the causes for the unwarranted elevation and adoration of Mary.   

First, Mat 1:24-25 says, "Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: (25) And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.  This word "till" signifies that Joseph did not have sexual relations with Mary UNTIL she gave birth to Jesus.  If it was a perpetual thing it would have simply read "And knew her not." 

Secondly, there are at least nine references to Jesus having brothers and sisters in the Bible.  This does not include that the book of Jude and James were written by His brothers.  These references can be found in Mat 12:46-50; Mat 13:55-56; Mar 3:31-32; Luk 8:19-20; Joh 2:12; Joh 7:2-3,5,10; Acts 1:14.  The Greek word for brother used in these passages is "adelphos" (G80).  That word is translated in the KJV as "brethren," 226 times; "brother," 113 times; and "brother's," 7 times.  Some may say, "But that word is used for relative or kin.  If the writer wanted to express the brothers of Jesus as "kin" he could have used the Greek word "suggenēs" (G4773) which is translated as "kinsmen," 5 times; "kinsman," 2 times; "cousin," 1 time; "cousins," 1 time; "kin," 1 time; "kinsfolk," 1 time; and "kinsfolks," 1 time.  Therefore, it is clear that the word "brother" as used in the above-referenced verses literally means "brother."  Furthermore, although this word can mean "brother in the spirit" it is not used in that manner here.  If it were, there would have not been made a distinction between His brethren and His disciples (Mat 12:50).  Surely His disciples were brothers of Jesus in a spiritual sense since they were doing the will of the Father, but Jesus typically called them his disciples.  Furthermore, His brothers didn't even believe Him to be who He claimed to be (Joh 7:5) so why would they have been called His brothers.  Therefore, if His brothers (who weren't really His brothers according to Catholics) were called "brothers" but didn't actually fit Jesus' definition of "brother," because they didn't even believe Him, why were they called brothers and not cousins, kinfolk, etc. It is because His brothers WERE His brothers in the flesh.  Catholicism is SO confusing!

Third, I have heard by Catholics that Joseph had children from a previous marriage.  This is were they claim his brothers and sisters came from that are noted in the Bible.  They are only STEP-siblings according to these mislead Catholics.  But if that were the case, why are they not mentioned in Mat 2:13-14 when the angel warned Joseph in a dream to "flee into Egypt."  Let's read Mat 2:13-14.  "...behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. (14) When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:"  If Joseph had other children from a previous marriage, why weren't they with Mary, Joseph, and Jesus?  Maybe it was because Joseph was divorced and his previous wife had the children at that time?  NOT.  Joseph was a "just man" (Mat 1:19).  So Joseph couldn't have been divorced.  The only option would be for the previous wife to have died.  If that were the case they should have had all those children with them.  This same situation can be seen in Luke 2:16 as well when the shepherds "found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger."

What we need to do is simply interpret the Bible literally unless the passage makes no sense interpretting it that way.  We need to stop reading the Bible with our doctrine-tainted glasses on and believe what God's word says.  May God Bless You as you search for His truth.

New Website for Catholics!!!

I just published our new website which will have more information regarding the doctrines of Catholicism.  It is a place where catholics can go to find the TRUE LIGHT.  You can get to the website at either http://www.thecatholic.net/ or http://www.thecatholicheart.info/.  Right now this website has links to online Gospel tracts, links to books about Catholicism, pictures, and information regarding some of the heretical teachings of the Catholic Church.  Some of the information is written by former Catholic Priests. This is a must-see website for any Catholic who wants to be sure what their church teaches and wants to be sure where they will spend eternity.  Right now it is a fairly basic site.  But I intend to add much information to it as time passes.  God bless you in your search for truth.  

Mary Co-Redemptrix?

Today we were knocking on doors sharing the Gospel in a nearby neighborhood.  My partner was talking to a young girl approximately 20 years old when her mother came to the door and started saying that Mary "suffered with Jesus" and that Mary was "sinless."  She was quite adamant about this and I asked her if that were so then why did she need to make a sin offering after the birth of Jesus?  She wasn't aware of this and about that time her husband came to the door and told us in not so many words to leave.  Firstly, the Bible says that "ALL have sinned and come short of the Glory of God (Rom 3:23)."  This "all" would quite certainly include Mary.  (As an aside this includes the Pope too.  The Bible is the only thing that we can trust, not man.)  We also see that in Luke 2:22-24 Mary offered a sin offering.  And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons" (Luk 2:22-24).  The meaning of this sacrifice is spelled out in the Old Testament as follows: "And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest" (Lev 12:6).  Mary was a SINNER!  The Catholic Church has elevated Mary to the level of goddess and it is a place she does NOT want to be.  Jesus was careful NEVER to have called her "mother" because, being God, He knew that there would come a time when false religions would elevate her above what should be. In Matt 12:46-50 someone said, "Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee" (v47).  His reply was, "Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!"  He then said, "whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother" (Mat 12:50).  Jesus pointed to His disciples and elevated them above His own mother, in the sense that He regards those who do His will to be above those who don't even if they are of His own family.  (I am not saying that Mary didn't do His will, just that He counts everyone that does His will as equal.)  Additionally, on the cross Jesus said, "...unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother!" (Joh 19:26-27)  Jesus called His mother "woman" and not "mother."  Again Jesus didn't want to elevate her.  Finally, we see the story of the wedding at Cana when Mary told Jesus they had no wine.  He said, "Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come(Joh 2:4)."  But then the Bible says, "His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it" (Joh 2:5).  We need to listen to Mary here.  "Whatsoever he saith...do it."  This is a command from "the Mother of God."  What did Jesus say?  Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (Joh 14:6).  It is not by religion that we come to God.  Neither is it by our good works. It is ONLY through Jesus that we can go to heaven and have our sins forgiven.  Jesus ALONE suffered for our sins.  The Bible says, "For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted" (Heb 2:18).  Finally, the Bible says, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1Ti 2:5).  Jesus ALONE suffered, Jesus ALONE is the way to heaven and forgiveness of sins, and Jesus ALONE is the ONLY mediator between God and man. Don't believe men (i.e. Popes and priests) who are sinners, believe the Bible for it is God's Word.  Please forsake your false religion and pagan traditions and call upon the name of the Lord to be saved.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Rom 10:13)