Welcome to Sunday School at East Valley International Church! Each week, we gather to explore the essential truths that form the foundation of our Christian faith. Through our “Fundamentals of the Faith” study, we’re discovering together what it means to follow Jesus, understand God’s Word, and live out our beliefs in everyday life. These sessions offer us all an opportunity to deepen our relationship with God and build a stronger understanding of the biblical principles that guide us. We’re glad you’re here as we learn and grow together!
The following notes are from discussions initiated by Pastor Joey or class members. I addressed this subject before the class session began, following the Pastor’s comments about Catholicism’s claim of Mary’s perpetual virginity.
A Biblical Examination of Mary’s Perpetual Virginity: Scripture, Context, and the Brothers of Jesus
The doctrine of Mary’s perpetual virginity—the teaching that Mary remained a virgin before, during, and after the birth of Jesus—has been a distinctive element of Catholic theology for centuries. This doctrine, formally defined as part of Catholic tradition, asserts that Mary never had marital relations with Joseph and that Jesus had no biological siblings. The references to Jesus’ “brothers” in Scripture are explained by Catholic theologians as referring to cousins, step-brothers from a previous marriage of Joseph, or other extended family members.
As we approach this topic, it’s important to do so with both respect for our Catholic friends and commitment to what Scripture actually teaches. This is not an attack on Catholic beliefs, but rather an examination of whether this particular doctrine finds support in the biblical text. Our authority must ultimately rest on Scripture itself rather than on church tradition, however ancient or revered.
The Biblical Evidence for Jesus’ Siblings
Direct References to Jesus’ Brothers and Sisters
The New Testament contains multiple explicit references to Jesus having brothers and sisters. These references are straightforward and appear in various contexts, making them difficult to dismiss as mere figures of speech or references to distant relatives.
Matthew 13:55-56 records the reaction of people in Jesus’ hometown: “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” This passage names four brothers specifically and mentions sisters (plural), indicating at least two sisters, meaning Jesus had a minimum of six siblings.
Mark 6:3 provides a parallel account: “Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” The use of specific names and the context of people who knew the family personally suggest these were well-known family members, not distant cousins.
John 7:3-5 describes Jesus’ brothers urging Him to go to Judea: “Jesus’ brothers said to him, ‘Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.’ For even his own brothers did not believe in him.” This passage reveals several important details: these brothers had enough closeness and familiarity to offer Jesus advice, they traveled with or near the family, and initially they did not believe in His messianic claims—suggesting they were not disciples but family members who knew Him in an ordinary domestic context.
Acts 1:14 places Jesus’ brothers in the upper room after the ascension: “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” Here we see a clear distinction made between Mary, the disciples, other women, and Jesus’ brothers—suggesting these brothers constitute a separate, identifiable group.
The Meaning of “Brother” in Greek
The Greek word used in these passages is adelphos (ἀδελφός), which primarily and most naturally means a biological brother—a male sibling sharing one or both parents. While adelphos can occasionally be used in a broader sense to mean a fellow countryman, a fellow believer, or a close associate, context determines meaning, and the contexts we’ve examined consistently point to biological siblings.
Critically, the Greek language had perfectly good words for “cousin” (anepsios, used in Colossians 4:10) and “relative” (suggenes, used in Luke 1:36, 58). If the New Testament writers intended to communicate that these individuals were cousins or more distant relatives, they had precise vocabulary available to do so. The consistent use of adelphos across multiple authors and contexts suggests they meant exactly what the word most naturally conveys: brothers.
The Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament used in Jesus’ time) demonstrates this usage clearly. When the Hebrew text speaks of biological brothers—such as Cain and Abel, or Joseph and his brothers—the Septuagint translates this with adelphos. When it refers to more distant relatives, it uses different terminology. The New Testament writers, familiar with Septuagint usage, would have followed these same linguistic conventions.
The Context of Family Relationships
Several passages place Jesus’ brothers in contexts that strongly suggest immediate family relationships rather than extended family or step-siblings. In Matthew 12:46-50, we read: “While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.’ He replied to him, ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ Pointing to his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.'”
This passage groups Mary and Jesus’ brothers together as a family seeking access to Him. The natural reading is that these brothers have the same familial claim and relationship to Jesus as Mary does—they are part of His immediate household. Jesus uses this moment to make a theological point about spiritual family superseding biological family, but the passage assumes the biological family relationship as the basis for the metaphor.
Similarly, John 2:12 states: “After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there a few days.” Here, Jesus’ brothers travel with Him and His mother as a family unit, distinct from His disciples. This pattern of Jesus’ brothers being grouped with Mary in a familial context appears repeatedly throughout the Gospels.
The Identification of James, the Lord’s Brother
Perhaps the most compelling evidence comes from the specific identification of James as “the Lord’s brother.” Galatians 1:19 records Paul’s testimony: “I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother.” This James is distinguished from James, the son of Zebedee (one of the Twelve), and is identified specifically by his relationship to Jesus.
This James became a prominent leader in the Jerusalem church, as evidenced in Acts 15 and Acts 21. The historian Josephus, writing in the first century, refers to “James, the brother of Jesus who was called Christ.” Here we have an extrabiblical, non-Christian source using the same terminology and understanding that Jesus had a brother named James who led the Jerusalem church.
If James were merely a cousin or distant relative, why would Paul—writing to Gentile audiences unfamiliar with extended family dynamics—identify him as “the Lord’s brother” without qualification? Paul could have clarified if he meant something other than the natural meaning of the term, yet he uses the straightforward designation that his readers would understand as indicating a sibling relationship.
The letter of James in the New Testament, traditionally attributed to this same James, begins simply: “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (James 1:1). The humility of identifying himself as a servant rather than trading on his biological relationship to Jesus is noteworthy, yet the early church clearly understood this James to be Jesus’ brother.
The Virginal Conception vs. Perpetual Virginity
What Scripture Clearly Teaches
The Bible unambiguously teaches the virginal conception of Jesus—that Mary conceived Jesus through the Holy Spirit while she was a virgin, without a human father. This miracle is central to Christian faith and is clearly taught in both Matthew and Luke’s infancy narratives.
Matthew 1:18 states: “This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.” The passage emphasizes that Mary conceived before she and Joseph “came together”—a euphemism for sexual union.
Matthew 1:25 provides a crucial detail: “But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.” The word “until” (heos, ἕως) indicates a terminus—a point at which the previous condition changed. Joseph refrained from marital relations with Mary until Jesus was born, with the clear implication that normal marital relations commenced after that point.
Luke 1:34-35 records Mary’s question to the angel: “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel responds that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and God’s power will overshadow her. Mary’s question makes sense as expressing surprise at how she, currently a virgin, will conceive. It does not indicate a vow of perpetual virginity—indeed, such a vow would have been highly unusual for a Jewish woman betrothed to be married, as marriage’s primary purpose included procreation.
What Scripture Does Not Teach
Nowhere does Scripture teach or even suggest that Mary remained a virgin after Jesus’ birth. This doctrine arose later in church history as part of a developing veneration of Mary and an increasing association of virginity with superior holiness. While virginity dedicated to God’s service has biblical precedent (as with some of Paul’s teachings in 1 Corinthians 7), the notion that marital sexuality somehow defiles or diminishes holiness contradicts Scripture’s consistent teaching that marriage is honorable and the marriage bed undefiled (Hebrews 13:4).
The perpetual virginity doctrine requires us to read something into Scripture that simply isn’t there. It asks us to believe that when the biblical writers repeatedly refer to Jesus’ brothers and sisters, using the natural Greek terms for siblings, they actually meant something quite different but never bothered to clarify this highly unusual usage. It requires us to believe that Mary and Joseph, though married, never consummated their marriage—a situation that would have been virtually unthinkable in first-century Jewish culture and would have contradicted the biblical understanding of marriage.
Addressing Catholic Arguments
The “Brothers” as Cousins Theory
One Catholic explanation argues that the Greek adelphos should be understood as “cousin” because Aramaic (the language Jesus and his family spoke) used the same word (aha) for both brothers and cousins, lacking a specific term for cousin. Therefore, when the Aramaic was translated into Greek, adelphos was used even when cousins were meant.
This argument has several significant weaknesses. First, while Aramaic may have lacked a specific word for cousin, Greek did not—and the New Testament was written in Greek for Greek-speaking audiences. The authors could have and would have used anepsios (cousin) if that’s what they meant. The Gospel writers demonstrate awareness of family distinctions; Luke, for instance, carefully distinguishes between Elizabeth being Mary’s “relative” (suggenes) and not her sister.
Second, the Septuagint precedent undermines this argument. When the Hebrew Scriptures (which also lacked a specific word for cousin) were translated into Greek, the translators used adelphos for biological brothers and other terms for more distant relatives. The New Testament writers, steeped in Septuagint usage, would have followed the same pattern.
Third, if Jesus’ “brothers” were actually cousins, we would expect some biblical indication of who their parents were. The Gospels are careful about genealogies and family relationships. Yet nowhere are Jesus’ brothers identified as sons of any other parents. The natural assumption when brothers are mentioned with their mother, Mary, traveling as a family unit, is that they are her children.
The “Step-Brothers” Theory
Another Catholic explanation suggests these brothers were Joseph’s children from a previous marriage, making them Jesus’ step-brothers. This theory, found in some early apocryphal writings, attempts to preserve Mary’s perpetual virginity while explaining the biblical references to Jesus’ brothers.
However, this theory lacks any biblical support whatsoever. Scripture never mentions Joseph having been previously married or having other children. The infancy narratives in Matthew and Luke both present Joseph as betrothed to Mary without any mention of existing children. When the family flees to Egypt and later settles in Nazareth, no other children are mentioned. When Jesus is described as “Mary’s son” in Mark 6:3 (unusual phrasing that may indicate Joseph had died), there’s no suggestion these brothers were only half-brothers through Joseph.
Moreover, if these brothers were older children from Joseph’s previous marriage, it seems strange that Jesus, the younger child, would be given precedence in the family and that these brothers would be seen as subject to Mary’s authority (as suggested in John 2:12). Ancient Near Eastern culture placed great emphasis on birth order and the rights of the firstborn.
The Argument from Jesus’ Commitment of Mary to John
Catholics sometimes argue that Jesus’ committing Mary to John’s care at the crucifixion (John 19:26-27) proves Jesus had no biological brothers who could care for her, as would have been the cultural expectation. If Jesus had brothers, why would He entrust Mary to John, a non-family member?
This argument, while initially appealing, doesn’t withstand scrutiny. First, John 7:5 tells us that Jesus’ brothers didn’t believe in Him during His ministry. Jesus may well have entrusted Mary to John, a faithful disciple, rather than to his brothers who had not yet come to faith. That these brothers later became believers (Acts 1:14) and James became a church leader doesn’t change the situation at the time of the crucifixion.
Second, Jesus was establishing a spiritual family principle, as He did repeatedly during His ministry. In Matthew 12:48-50, He defined His true family as those who do the Father’s will. Entrusting Mary to “the disciple whom he loved” demonstrated that spiritual bonds in Christ supersede biological family ties—a radical and important teaching for the early church.
Third, cultural obligations don’t dictate Jesus’ actions, particularly at the cross, where He was accomplishing redemption. Jesus frequently violated cultural expectations to make theological points. Reading this passage as proof that Jesus had no brothers requires importing an assumption that the text doesn’t support.
The Historical Development of the Doctrine
Early Church Perspectives
The doctrine of Mary’s perpetual virginity developed gradually in church history. It was not a universally held belief in the earliest centuries of Christianity. Some early church fathers accepted that Mary had other children, while others, influenced by growing ascetic movements that prized virginity as a higher spiritual state, began to argue for perpetual virginity.
Tertullian (c. 160-220 AD), an early church father, appears to have accepted that Mary had other children. Helvidius, a fourth-century theologian, argued based on Scripture that Mary had other children after Jesus. His position was considered acceptable by many until Jerome vehemently opposed him, and the weight of church authority gradually shifted toward perpetual virginity.
The Protoevangelium of James, an apocryphal second-century writing, promoted the step-brothers theory and contributed to developing Marian veneration. However, this document was never accepted as Scripture and contains numerous historical errors and legendary embellishments. Its influence on developing doctrine demonstrates how extra-biblical tradition began to shape beliefs not clearly taught in Scripture.
The Influence of Asceticism
The doctrine of perpetual virginity must be understood within the context of early Christianity’s increasing embrace of asceticism. By the fourth and fifth centuries, virginity was increasingly viewed as spiritually superior to marriage, contrary to Scripture’s teaching that marriage is honorable (Hebrews 13:4) and that forbidding marriage is a doctrine of demons (1 Timothy 4:3).
In this cultural context, the idea that Mary—who was being increasingly venerated—could have engaged in normal marital sexuality became distasteful to many church leaders. The doctrine of perpetual virginity served to elevate Mary above ordinary human experience and marriage, making her a perpetual virgin-mother figure.
This trajectory, however well-intentioned, moved away from biblical foundations. Scripture presents Mary as a blessed and faithful woman chosen by God, but still a normal human being who needed salvation through Christ (Luke 1:47, where Mary calls God “my Savior”). The biblical Mary is a model of faith and obedience, but she is not presented as perpetually virgin or as requiring veneration beyond that due to any faithful believer.
Theological Implications
The Goodness of Marriage and Sexuality
Affirming that Mary and Joseph had normal marital relations after Jesus’ birth upholds the biblical teaching on the goodness of marriage and marital sexuality. God designed marriage as a covenant relationship that includes sexual union (Genesis 2:24). Paul teaches that husbands and wives should not deprive one another except for brief periods of prayer (1 Corinthians 7:5).
The notion that Mary needed to remain a virgin to maintain her holiness or that marital relations would somehow defile her contradicts Scripture’s teaching. It introduces a false dichotomy between spiritual devotion and marital love, suggesting that the highest form of dedication to God requires avoiding the marital relationship that God Himself instituted.
Mary’s True Blessedness
Scripture tells us Mary is blessed not because of perpetual virginity but because of her faith and obedience. When a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you,” Jesus responded, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it” (Luke 11:27-28). Jesus redirected attention from biological relationship or physical conditions to spiritual faithfulness—the true source of blessedness.
Mary herself, in the Magnificat, rejoices not in her virginity but in God’s mercy: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me” (Luke 1:46-49). Her blessedness comes from God’s gracious choice and her faithful response, not from a physical condition maintained throughout her life.
The Humanity of Jesus
Jesus’ having brothers and sisters affirms His full humanity and His identification with human family life. Hebrews 2:17 tells us Jesus “had to be made like his brothers in every way, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest.” Growing up in a family with siblings would have been part of Jesus’ normal human development and experience.
The doctrine of perpetual virginity, while intending to honor Mary, can inadvertently diminish Jesus’ humanity by making His family situation unique and unlike other humans. Scripture presents Jesus as fully human (while also fully divine)—tempted in all ways as we are yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Having siblings would be part of that normal human experience.
Scriptural Authority vs. Church Tradition
The Reformation Principle of Sola Scriptura
This examination ultimately raises the question of authority: Do we base our beliefs on Scripture alone, or do we grant equal authority to church tradition? The Protestant Reformation reasserted the principle of sola Scriptura—that Scripture alone is our final authority for faith and practice, while church tradition and reason serve important but subordinate roles.
The Catholic position on Mary’s perpetual virginity rests primarily on church tradition rather than clear biblical teaching. The Catechism of the Catholic Church acknowledges that this doctrine is part of the “constant tradition” of the church, but admits it’s not explicitly stated in Scripture. This represents a fundamental difference in approach to authority.
When Scripture clearly teaches something, we must believe it. When Scripture is silent or unclear on a matter, we should hold our positions humbly and not make them tests of orthodoxy. The perpetual virginity of Mary falls into the latter category—it’s a tradition that developed over centuries but lacks clear biblical support and, in fact, appears to contradict the natural reading of multiple biblical texts.
Testing Tradition by Scripture
Paul commended the Bereans because “they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11). Even apostolic teaching was to be verified by Scripture. How much more should later church traditions be tested against the biblical text?
Jesus Himself criticized the Pharisees for nullifying God’s Word through their traditions (Mark 7:13). While not all tradition is bad—Paul speaks positively of traditions he passed on (2 Thessalonians 2:15)—tradition must never contradict or supersede Scripture. When a tradition requires us to read biblical texts in ways that strain their natural meaning or to dismiss clear evidence, we should question whether that tradition is faithful to Scripture.
Conclusion: Honoring Mary Biblically
In examining this doctrine, we’ve seen that Scripture consistently refers to Jesus’ brothers and sisters using language that most naturally indicates biological siblings. The Greek terminology, the various contexts in which these siblings appear, the specific naming of Jesus’ brothers, and the absence of any biblical indication that these were cousins or step-siblings all point toward the conclusion that Mary had other children after Jesus’ birth.
This conclusion in no way diminishes Mary’s unique role in salvation history. She was chosen by God to bear the Messiah—an honor beyond measure. She responded with faith and obedience, saying, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1:38). She stood by the cross when most of Jesus’ disciples had fled (John 19:25). She joined the early church in prayer (Acts 1:14). These testimonies to her faith and devotion are powerful and inspiring.
But honoring Mary biblically means understanding her as Scripture presents her—as a faithful, humble servant of God who was blessed to bear the Savior, not as a perpetually virgin figure who transcended normal human experience. It means recognizing that her greatness lay in her faith and obedience, not in maintaining a physical condition of virginity. It means seeing her as the Lord saw her—blessed among women, yet still human, still in need of a Savior, and living a normal married life with Joseph after Jesus’ birth.
The doctrine of perpetual virginity, however ancient and well-intentioned, requires us to read Scripture in ways that contradict its plain meaning. It asks us to believe that when the biblical writers repeatedly called certain individuals Jesus’ brothers and sisters, they actually meant something quite different. It imports assumptions about the superiority of virginity that Scripture doesn’t support. And ultimately, it places church tradition above biblical evidence.
As believers committed to Scripture as our final authority, we must conclude that Mary did not remain a virgin throughout her life, and that Jesus had biological brothers and sisters born to Mary and Joseph after His birth. This conclusion honors Scripture’s clarity and authority, upholds the biblical view of marriage and sexuality, and recognizes Mary’s true blessedness as rooted in faith rather than in a perpetual physical condition.
May we, like Mary, respond to God’s Word with faith and obedience, and may our doctrines always be shaped and corrected by Scripture rather than by traditions, however venerable they may be.