Jesus Christ was Born of Woman . . . fact or fiction?

Mary was of the seed of David, see Matthew 1:16

JoeT

 

Let's look at brothers.

BROTHERS WHERE NONE CAN BE FOUND!

LOOKING FOR BLOOD RELATED BROTHERS WHERE NONE CAN BE FOUND!

“Brother”, in Greek ἀδελφός (adelphos) According to Strong he gives the following definitions:

Lexicon :: Strong's G80 - adelphos

• a brother, whether born of the same two parents or only of the same father or mother
  
• having the same national ancestor, belonging to the same people, or countryman
  
• any fellow or man
  
• a fellow believer, united to another by the bond of affection
  
• an associate in employment or office
  
• brethren in Christ
  • a. his brothers by blood
    
  • b. all men
    
  • c. apostles
    
  • d. Christians, as those who are exalted to the same heavenly place

(Source: blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?t=kjv&strongs=g80 )​

adelphos does not define the relationship between individual in antiquity clearly unless the relationship is defined. An example of unambiguous brothers:

And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. [Matthew 4:21]​

Brothers appear twice in the verse and furthermore points to the paterfamilias, the father sits in a boat with the brothers mending nets. Clearly verse has two brothers James and John with the same blood related father. Likewise ‘brothers’, mothers or fathers are clearly illustrated in similar verses such as Matthew 10:21; Mark 6:17; Luke 20:28 and John 11:21

adelphos is used in yet another form to distinguish national ancestry, particularly among the men of Israel. Those whose linage was from Abraham were considered ‘brethren’:

Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. [Acts 13:26]​

Here we see the relationship of men based on heritage. ‘Brethren’ are those who are of Abraham’s stock, one of the 12 tribes of Israel. But notice the distinction is ambiguous; one need only be a member of the 12 tribes to be “brothers.” Likewise see Matthew 5:47, after all, even today we refer to brothers as being from the same nation. You might recall the movie ‘Band of Brothers’ and the sense of pride and respect we have for our fathers of WWII who fought as a band of American brothers.

adelphos is also used to describe our fellow man regardless of nationality. An example:

For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, [Hebrews 2:11]​

Jesus suffered and died, said St. Paul, for all of mankind, not just the Jew, not just Jerusalem. Again there is an ambiguity of blood relationship except that all humans are related to Adam and Eve.

adelphos is used as an expression of affection. This is frequently expressed in the family of God, were no blood relationship exists. We see this brotherly love in Matthew 18:8, John 21:23 and Acts 6:3 and again in St. Paul’s work Romans 1:13:

Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. Romans 1:13​

Even today as indifferentism runs rampant we address people as ‘brother’.

adelphos is used in Sacred Scripture to express fellow officers, notice the use of brethren in Scripture also expresses those a hierarchy of office. Of particular note is St. Paul addressing the Colossians where St. Paul addresses the faithful as well as his fellow Bishop Timothy.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, and Timothy, a brother, the saints and faithful brethren in Christ Jesus, who are at Colossa. [Colossians 1:1-2]​

Here we see Timothy as a brother Bishop in the Kingdom of God, the Catholic Church and we see the family of God in the faithful “brethren in Christ Jesus”. Please don’t tell me that all the people in the Church of Colossa are blood siblings of Jesus Christ.

You might also see Colossians 2:13 and Ephesians 4:21 where we see the distinguishing mark of office in ‘brother’. And there is no blood relationship inferred by the text.

adelphos is used for a brethren in the service of Christ.

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. [Matthew 25:40]​

These brethren in Christ are members of His Kingdom, His Church as the first fruit, the ministers of the Lord. They were called brothers because they too became adopted sons of God. Fear not, Christ said, tell my brothers to go to Galilee. Was Christ wasn’t referring only to James His supposed brother, but all those who walked with Him, then and all those who walk with Him now. Also, see also Hebrew 2:11 sqq. Matthew 28:10; John 20:17 Romans 8:29

So we see that when St. Paul refers to James the Lord’s brother, Paul is acknowledging James is an Apostle, as He is. He is acknowledging there is a hierarchy being established within the Church where certain leading members are organizing into the core Magisterium. Consequently, By His Mercy has correctly identified which adelphos was being used in the text.

1) James, son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21, Matthew 10:2, Mark 1:19-20, Mark 3:17, etc.)
2) James, son of Alpheus (Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18, etc.)​

In fact we can name all the adelphos in Scripture such that none is left as the blood related sibling of Christ.

As an aside, it has been suggested that the Greek συγγενής (syggenēs), meaning in, or clansmen as well as countryman, would have been used if the blood relationship between “brothers” was something less than that of blood related siblings. However, it seems that the overwhelming number of the uses of “brother” meaning something other than a blood related sibling makes the argument weak if not void all together. As an example, Christ lists the various relationships distinguishing brethren from clansmen:

“Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee” [Luke 14:12]​

Even more important the reason that adelphos is frequently used by Christ because of His two greatest commandments, the first commandment defines the second. “Master,” Christ is asked, “which is the greatest commandment in the law? Jesus said to him: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. And the second is like to this: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments dependeth the whole law and the prophets.” [Matthew 22:36 - 40] Without exception Christ is calling all to be His brother as adopted sons of God. We are to treat all men in the same loving way as we Love God and ourselves.

You seem be a man of constant sorrows having trouble identifying brothers, dare we ask, O' Brother, Where Art Thou?

JoeT

 

I'm a patient person, we can wait as many minutes as you like. OP is claiming that God acted through Mary to preserve her from sin, both original sin and actual sin. She received sanctification and justification at her conception, just as you receive them at Baptism your parents state of soul did not affect receipt of those graces.

Mary received all the graces you received at baptism, and more when she was conceived so that she remains without stain of sin throughout her life. Mary was not 'forced' into a spousal union with God, she accepted humbly and freely saying to God's emissary: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her." [Luke 1:38].

Is it foolish? Please feel free to explain how Jesus Christ was born 'a man' from the womb of sin maintaining his humanity and Divinity in another way. How do you cram Divinity into a a soiled box keeping it clean? Read the second half of post 49 and tell us which of the philosophical categories you fit into: Ebionism, Adoptionism, Docetism, Arianism, Nestorianism, Apollinarianism or maybe Monophysitism? The only other way is through the Catholic Marian doctrines which maintains the view of Jesus Christ as God/man uniquely and inseparably joined, so much so that what is said of one can be said of the other.

JoeT

 

With all that sex going on it should be easy to produce a scriptural verse of the uterine siblings of Jesus as Wapole asked?

JoeT