MARY - DID SHE HAVE CHILDREN AFTER GIVING BIRTH TO OUR LORD?

A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE

[Norman Geisler states, (When Critics Ask, Victor Books, USA, 1992, p. 346)]:

"It is true that the words for brother and sister [in the original Greek Bible] can mean close relative. This must be determined by the context and from other Scriptures. And in the case of Jesus' brothers and sisters, the context they were his real half brothers and sisters.

First, nowhere does the Bible affirm the doctrine of Mary's perpetual virginity.....

Second, when 'brothers and sisters' are used in connection with father or mother, then it does not mean cousins, but actual blood brothers and sisters...."

[Compare Luke 14:26]:

"If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple."

...Such is the case with Jesus' brothers and sisters...

[Compare Mt 13:55-56]:

(v. 55) "Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?

(v. 56) And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this man get all these things?"

...Third, there are other references in the Bible to Jesus' 'brothers.' John informs us that 'even His brothers did not believe in Him' (John 7:5). And Paul speaks of 'James, the Lord's brother' (Gal 1:19). On another occasion Mark refers to 'His [Jesus'] brothers and His mother' (Mark 3:31). John spoke of 'His mother, His brothers, and His disciples' (John 2:12). Luke mentions 'Mary the mother of Jesus, with His brothers' being in the Upper Room (Acts 1:14)."