Was Jesus the only child of Mary?

Answer 1

NO Jesus was not the only child of Mary. Mary and Joseph had other children. James the author of the book of James was one of Jesus brothers. Matthew 13:55 states that he had other brothers named Joseph, Simon, and Judas. These brothers were half brothers because Joseph was Jesus' legal father but not his biological father.

More importantly, than who his biological brothers were is the fact that those who do the will of God, the Father, are Jesus' family (Matthew 12:50).

Roman Catholic answer:Yes, Jesus was the only child of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This has been held as accepted fact since she was still alive. Many protestants today base their feelings that Jesus had siblings on the fact that The Bible, following the Greek New Testament uses the words "brothers and sisters". The Greek word is Adelphoswhich denotes 1) male children of the same parents OR 2) male descendants of the same parents Acts 7:23, 26; Hebrews 7:5, OR 3) people of the same nationality, Acts 3:17, 22; Romans 9:3, OR 4) any man, a neighbor, Luke 10:29; Matthew 5:22, 7:3, OR 6) persons united by a common interest, Matthew 5:47, OR 7) persons united by a common calling, Revelation 22:9, OR 8) mankind, Matthew 25:40; Hebrews 2:17, or the disciples, and so, by implication, all believers, Matthew 28:10,; John 20:17; or believers regardless of sex - many references. In the King James Version, Jacob is called the brother of his Uncle Laban (Gen. 29:15; 29:10), ditto for Lot and Abraham (Gen 14:14; 11:26-27). There are also several Biblical references to Mary's perpetual virginity. Please note that "firstborn" is used in that sense only, not indicated other children. Finally, from the cross, Jesus entrusts His Blessed Mother to the apostle John, which would not be the case if there were other children. An interesting sidelight: John Calvin, and Martin Luther both vehemently believed in the Perpetual Virginity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In any case, the Church has definitively ruled on this: that the Blessed Virgin Mary was exactly that, and ended her life as a virgin totally dedicated to God.

Answer 2

That is the interpretation by Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, many in the Anglican Church and some Protestant Congregations

Answer:

In the gospels (Mark 6:3) four of Jesus brothers are named: James, Joseph, Judas and Simon. He may have had other siblings as well. Since Jesus was Mary's firstborn they all would have been younger than Jesus; or possibly half brothers of Jesus, children of Jospeh by a previous marriage. However there is no reference that Joseph was married or had children prior to his marraige to Mary.

Answer 3

No, although he was the first born, and Mary was a virgin when she conceived. Mark 6:3 names four brothers and says that he also had sisters. So he had at least six siblings. Matthew 1:24, 25 says that Joseph took Mary home to be his wife, but "he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus".

Answer 4

Most Bible scholars accept the evidence that Jesus had at least four brothers and two sisters and that all were offspring of Joseph and Mary by natural means after the miraculous birth of Jesus.

Ezekiel 1:10:

When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked. "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?"

Matthew 12:46-47: 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."

Some might argue that these "brothers" are in reference to his spiritual brothers who shared in his faith, but that is not the case. Jesus commonly compared his brothers, who are mentioned as not believing in him, to his spiritual brothers and followers.

John 7:3-5:

Therefore his brothers said to him: "Pass on over from here and go into Judea, in order that your disciples also may behold the works you do. For nobody does anything in secret while himself seeking to be known publicly. If you do these things, manifest yourself to the world." His brothers were, in fact, not exercising faith in him.

Matthew 12:46-49:

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.

Answer 5

Jesus is not an only child he has 4 brothers

Answer 6

Most people say YES and only a hand full say no.