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Did any of the Church Fathers interpret Matthew 1:25 as not speaking in a sexual sense?

Protestants often used Matthew 1:25 as proof text that Mary did not remain a perpetual virginity after her marriage to Joseph, but did any of the Early Church Fathers interpret or understand this ...
Connor Jones's user avatar
3 votes
7 answers
2k views

How many different people in the New Testament are called or claim to be "Brothers" or "Sisters" of Jesus?

Regardless of the doctrine of the Perpetual Virginity of Mary acknowledged as dogma by most Christians, which would necessitate a different interpretation of the words "brother" and "...
Peter Turner's user avatar
  • 34.2k
3 votes
0 answers
158 views

Did St. Augustine believe that Ezekiel 44:1-2 is a prophecy of Mary's perpetual virginity?

According to Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians, Ezekiel 44:1-2 And he brought me back to the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary, which looked towards the east: and it was shut. And the ...
user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
86 views

What arguments do Catholics and Orthodox Christians use against Matthew 1:25 disproving the perpetual virginity of Mary? [duplicate]

Both Catholics and Orthodox Christians believe that the blessed Virgin Mary remained a virgin not only until she had given birth to the Lord but for her entire life, but most Protestants use Matthew 1:...
user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
116 views

What are the main arguments Protestants use against the idea of the perpetual virginity of Mary?

Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodoxy have the doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary. Protestants generally don't have that belief. What are the main arguments Protestants use against the idea ...
Only True God's user avatar
6 votes
0 answers
535 views

What is the biblical basis to prove the perpetual virginity of Mary? [duplicate]

Roman Catholics believe that the blessed Mary not only was a virgin up until the birth of Christ but remained a perpetual virgin from then until the moment of her death. What is the biblical basis for ...
user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
1k views

Did the Early Church believe in the perpetual virginity of Mary? [duplicate]

Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians believe that the blessed Mary remained a perpetual virgin until she sadly passed away, but what was the Early Church Fathers view on the perpetual virginity of ...
user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
71 views

If Mary planned to consummate her marriage to Joseph, why was she confused when the angel told her she would bear a son? [duplicate]

The current top answer to this question (the answer given by SLM) asserts as a matter of fact that Mary and Joseph consummated their marriage Mary never took a vow of chastity Jesus was born in the ...
jaredad7's user avatar
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1 vote
3 answers
348 views

If Catholics believe new revelation from God has ceased, how do they defend the Marian dogmas?

The Marian dogmas are taught by the Catholic Church, but it is commonly held that some of the Marian doctrines such as her bodily accent to heaven are not biblical. But if Catholics believe revelation ...
Luke Hill's user avatar
  • 5,369
2 votes
1 answer
348 views

How did St. Jerome defend the Blessed Virgin's virginity 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘮 in light of Matt. 1:25?

How did St. Jerome defend the Blessed Virgin's virginity post partum in light of Matt. 1:25, which says St. Joseph "knew her not till she brought forth her firstborn son"?
Geremia's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
57 views

Did Is. 7:14 inspire Mary to take a vow of virginity?

Did any Catholic theologians think that the prophecy of Is. 7:14 ("Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel.") inspired the Blessed Virgin to ...
Geremia's user avatar
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2 votes
3 answers
406 views

Why did the Blessed Virgin Mary marry?

According to Catholicism, why did the Blessed Virgin Mary, who intended to remain a virgin, marry St. Joseph?
Geremia's user avatar
  • 41.5k
0 votes
0 answers
47 views

Did Mary pray to give birth to the Messiah although a virgin according to any Church Father? [duplicate]

I have judged this to be a not-so-impossible theory after some time doing a little investigation into the original intention of, and original Hebrew (or at least non-Greek words) underlying, the angel'...
Sola Gratia's user avatar
  • 8,420
2 votes
1 answer
228 views

Did Mary desire to be the Mother of the prophesied Messiah?

Before the Annunciation by St. Gabriel, did Mary desire to be the Mother of the prophesied Messiah?
jong ricafort's user avatar
1 vote
5 answers
631 views

How do Protestants explain Zechariah 12:10-14, used by Roman Catholics to prove Mary's perpetual virginity?

For those Protestants that believe that Mary had other children after Jesus was born, what do they make of Zechariah 12:10-14? 10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of ...
Paul Chernoch's user avatar
5 votes
4 answers
2k views

How are the words of Mary in Luke 1:34 incontrovertible proof of her perpetual virginity?

Based on this question it seems that a lot of weight is given to the simple statement by Mary to Gabriel that she is a virgin. Luke 1:34 NIV How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a ...
Kristopher's user avatar
  • 6,239
1 vote
4 answers
697 views

Perpetual virginity of Mary: why did Mary see "not knowing man" as an obstacle to the conception of Jesus?

It seems rather incontrovertable from the logic (Luke 1): You will concieve and bear a son How shall this be, since I know not man That Mary sees it as impossible to conceive, specifically because ...
Sola Gratia's user avatar
  • 8,420
4 votes
2 answers
1k views

What exactly does the Catholic Church mean by the "Virginity" of Mary?

Possible ways to understand "virginity" : Some people may define it as no sexual event whatsoever. Some may define as not having intercourse with a male. Some may define it as not participating in ...
aska123's user avatar
  • 1,531
4 votes
2 answers
2k views

Why is the perpetual virginity of Mary important in Eastern Orthodoxy?

I am looking into the Eastern Orthodox church, and was wondering why believing that Mary was a perpetual virgin was an important belief? Now I don't have a real problem if tradition holds that she was ...
David P's user avatar
  • 442
12 votes
4 answers
11k views

Which church father first taught the perpetual virginity of Mary?

Reformed theologian Herman Bavinck, in his Reformed Dogmatics, III, §366, briefly deals with Mary's perpetual virginity, and touches on the doctrine's history: We do not yet find this idea of Mary'...
Nathaniel is protesting's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
384 views

What is the basis for the Catholic teaching that Mary is holy?

What is the basis for the Catholic teaching that Mary is holy? Most other denominations don't hold to doctrines like perpetual virginity. They see Mary as special because she was chosen by God but ...
user33048's user avatar
9 votes
4 answers
3k views

Why is Mary's perpetual virginity a Catholic dogma?

I know Catholic dogmas must be accepted to become Catholic. They are non-negotiables as distinguished from doctrines or theological opinions. I know most Catholic dogmas relate to some essential truth ...
Arandor's user avatar
  • 101
2 votes
2 answers
261 views

How do proponents of the perpetual virginity of Mary view Matthew 13:53–57? [duplicate]

Matthew 13:53–57 reads: 53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where ...
terminex9's user avatar
  • 157
3 votes
4 answers
391 views

How do those who support the perpetual virginity of Mary doctrine harmonize the Protevangelium of James with the Gospel of Matthew?

I have a question concerning those who support the perpetual virginity doctrine. The Protoevangelium of James is the earliest source used to demonstrate how Joseph had children from a previous ...
user avatar
13 votes
2 answers
2k views

According to Catholic teaching, was Joseph and Mary's marriage a true marriage?

Well, I've read in several articles, and if not mistaken also in canon law, for a marriage to be valid, there has to be consummation (intercourse). However, since, if I'm not mistaken, by Catholic ...
An old man in the sea.'s user avatar
14 votes
1 answer
1k views

Why did Calvin reject these Catholic doctrines about Mary?

The Catholic Church has a few teachings about the Mother of our Lord that are not accepted by many Protestants. This is not evident in the doctrines of many early Protestant reformers including Luther,...
Andrew's user avatar
  • 8,181
15 votes
2 answers
6k views

What is the basis for the claim that Ezekiel 44 is about Mary the Mother of Jesus?

Upon being referred to the statements of Thomas Aquinas in Summa Theologia, I read this: It is written (Ezekiel 44:2): "This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall pass ...
mojo's user avatar
  • 5,951
4 votes
2 answers
2k views

How is the Catholic interpretation of the Woman of the Apocalypse as being Mary reconciled with the dogma of perpetual virginity?

In the Book of Revelation, 11:19—12:1-18, where the Woman of the Apocalypse is introduced, the passage describes "she wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth." Catholic tradition identifies ...
yippy_yay's user avatar
  • 221
18 votes
5 answers
8k views

When did Mary and Joseph learn that they were never supposed to have marital relations, according to Roman Catholic doctrine?

Roman Catholic doctrine teaches that Mary remained a virgin her entire life, even after marrying Joseph. It would seem that Joseph and Mary, at their betrothal, had likely expected to have, and ...
Narnian's user avatar
  • 64.2k
13 votes
1 answer
372 views

Justification of perpetual virginity of Mother Mary [duplicate]

How do Catholics justify St. Joseph not being able to consummate his marriage with his wife? It would seem as though the doctrine of Mary's perpetual virginity is at odds with Catholic teaching ...
PaulDaviesC's user avatar
1 vote
4 answers
15k views

Why doesn't the Bible tell us that Jesus was a virgin? [closed]

Christian religions constantly remind us that Mary was "forever virgin". So why doesn't the Bible tell us that Jesus was also a virgin?
Jim G.'s user avatar
  • 2,164
7 votes
3 answers
2k views

What do Protestants say was the source for the doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary?

Not counting Martin Luther, who appears to have believed in the doctrine of the Perpetual Virginity of Mary, what do other Protestants think is the source and reason for Catholic adherence to the ...
Peter Turner's user avatar
  • 34.2k
22 votes
5 answers
2k views

What significance, if any, does the doctrine of the eternal virginity of Mary have?

I understand that the Catholic Church (and perhaps the Orthodox church as well) teaches that Mary is "the eternal virgin" Mary. If this were an important doctrine, it seems there would be fairly ...
Narnian's user avatar
  • 64.2k
25 votes
5 answers
5k views

What is the Biblical evidence against the perpetual virginity of Mary?

I understand that the Roman Catholic Church teaches that Mary is the eternal virgin in that she never had sexual relations with Joseph (or any other man)--either before or after the miraculous ...
Narnian's user avatar
  • 64.2k
28 votes
2 answers
1k views

On what do Catholics base their doctrine of the eternal virginity of Mary?

I understand that the Catholic Church teaches that Mary is the eternal virgin in that she neither had sexual relations with Joseph (or any other man) either before or after the miraculous conception ...
Narnian's user avatar
  • 64.2k
9 votes
8 answers
3k views

Is Mary's virginity evidence that sex is always sinful? [closed]

It seems that sex is always a sin, as evidenced by the fact that Jesus had to be born of a virgin and not by traditional conception in order to be sinless. Is this true? Any viewpoint is welcome.
El'endia Starman's user avatar
30 votes
6 answers
3k views

What Protestant arguments exist for the perpetual virginity of Mary?

It's common knowledge that Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodoxy have the doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary. Protestants generally don't have that belief. Less known is that Zwingli and ...
StackExchange saddens dancek's user avatar