Recent content by TiberiusMaximus

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  1. T

    A Textual Challenge to the “Mary and Joseph Had Later Relations” Position

    Yes. One of the perpetual (no pun intended) and ill-informed red herrings in the debate over the historical Christian belief about the perpetual virginity is the argument that it is un-Jewish, which has cropped up here and there in this very thread. But the doctrine is so very deeply rooted in...
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    A Textual Challenge to the “Mary and Joseph Had Later Relations” Position

    The fact that Mary uses the present tense ("I do not know a man") in response to Gabriel's future tense statement ("you will conceive") defeats your position rather than supports it. Mary is responding by describing her state of being that she anticipates continuing into the future - a very...
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    A Textual Challenge to the “Mary and Joseph Had Later Relations” Position

    Of course, the name calling speaks for itself that the ahistorical position against the perpetual virginity--seemingly originating in heretical segments of the church per the historical record--is unbiblical. Otherwise, why have they resorted to schoolyard-bullying tactics?
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    A Textual Challenge to the “Mary and Joseph Had Later Relations” Position

    This is not responsive to the text. As Moonwood has observed repeatedly, not one answer thus far actually addresses the text, in context, of the Annunciation without ignoring it, misstating it, or reading into it what is not there. As for Matthew 1, not only is it not to the contrary of...
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    A Textual Challenge to the “Mary and Joseph Had Later Relations” Position

    Not only does the tense not change the idiom's meaning, it reinforces it - the present tense is not used to speak exclusively of what is true in the moment without regard for the future, but rather it is very commonly used to speak to conditions (like ongoing celibacy, continuing into the...
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    A Textual Challenge to the “Mary and Joseph Had Later Relations” Position

    It matters because it's true and part of the deposit of faith. It has nothing to do with ideas of purity in the conventional sense you seem to be using it. Marital intimacy is a divinely ordained gift, and the Church does not teach otherwise. Mary simply had a unique role to play in salvation...
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    A Textual Challenge to the “Mary and Joseph Had Later Relations” Position

    A related point adding to the force of your argument (and something the other person got exactly backwards in their response to you): Gabriel is announcing to Mary what is, in effect, a prophecy, being delivered in the future tense ("you will conceive"). Mary's response to Gabriel, in the...
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    A Textual Challenge to the “Mary and Joseph Had Later Relations” Position

    It is a very compelling passage. I've yet to read an argument that denies the historic Christian teaching of the perpetual virginity that handles this passage persuasively. The arguments generally take the form of (1) ignoring the force of Mary's reaction, in context, which is inexplicable if...
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