Matthew 13:55-57 (Interpretation)
Q: In Matthew 13:55-57, the people of Nazareth mention Jesus brothers and sisters. So, apparently, contrary to Roman Catholic belief, Mary was not always a virgin.
A: See my comments at Matthew 1:25 and Matthew 12:46-47. I think this passage slightly augments the case that Mary and Joseph enjoyed a normal married life and had children, because specific relationships -- or, rather, the appearance of relationships -- are described by the townspeople. When describing relatives, one tends to start with the closest, and that is what we see here: father (at least, this is what the townspeople thought), mother, brothers, sisters. In addition, if the brothers were merely cousins, there would be little reason to separate them into two groups of male and female cousins. (It's not inconceivable that someone would do so, but why would Matthew preserve the longer statement if he wished to convey to his readers that these were cousins rather than brothers and sisters? A word like sungenes -- used in Luke 1:36 to describe Elizabeths relationship to Mary -- would have fit nicely here. But Matthew didnt use it.)
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
Q: In Matthew 13:55-57, the people of Nazareth mention Jesus brothers and sisters. So, apparently, contrary to Roman Catholic belief, Mary was not always a virgin.
A: See my comments at Matthew 1:25 and Matthew 12:46-47. I think this passage slightly augments the case that Mary and Joseph enjoyed a normal married life and had children, because specific relationships -- or, rather, the appearance of relationships -- are described by the townspeople. When describing relatives, one tends to start with the closest, and that is what we see here: father (at least, this is what the townspeople thought), mother, brothers, sisters. In addition, if the brothers were merely cousins, there would be little reason to separate them into two groups of male and female cousins. (It's not inconceivable that someone would do so, but why would Matthew preserve the longer statement if he wished to convey to his readers that these were cousins rather than brothers and sisters? A word like sungenes -- used in Luke 1:36 to describe Elizabeths relationship to Mary -- would have fit nicely here. But Matthew didnt use it.)
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
