Episode Details

A caller named Marianne asked Patrick Madrid how to explain to her evangelical son-in-law that Mary remained a virgin her whole life, especially since he believes the Bible says Jesus had brothers in the literal sense.

The Teaching in a Nutshell

Catholic dogma says Mary was a virgin before the conception of Jesus, during His birth, and after His birth for the rest of her life. Jesus was her only child. This belief isn’t just Catholic tradition; Patrick argues it’s what the Bible itself supports when understood correctly.

The ‘Brothers of Jesus’ Problem

Many Protestants point to verses like:

Matthew 13:55 - “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?”

Mark 6:3 - Similar listing of “brothers” of the Lord.

Patrick explains:

In the Bible, “brother” (adelphos in Greek) has a wide range of meanings. It can mean biological brother, but also cousin, nephew, or even close family friend.

Example: In Genesis 14:14, Lot is called Abraham’s “brother”, but we know from other passages that Lot was actually Abraham’s nephew.

The Famous “Until” Verse

Critics love to quote Matthew 1:25: “[Joseph] had no marital relations with her until she had given birth to a son.”

-Some assume “until” means they started relations afterward.

-But in biblical usage, “until” (heōs in Greek) does not mean a change afterward.

-Patrick’s analogy: “Grandma didn’t take her medicine until she died.” That doesn’t mean she took it after!

The ‘Firstborn’ Title

Luke 2:7 calls Jesus Mary’s “firstborn.” Skeptics think that means there must have been a “second-born.”

Not so! In Jewish law, firstborn is a legal term for the child who opens the womb, whether or not more children follow.

Even an only child is still the “firstborn” in biblical and legal language.

A Cross-Shaped Clue

At the crucifixion (John 19:26-27), Jesus entrusted His mother to John, not to one of His “brothers.”

If Mary had other biolo