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NASB | Matthew 1:25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 1:25 but he kept her a virgin until she had given birth to a Son [her firstborn child]; and he named Him Jesus (The LORD is salvation). |
Subject: Was Mary a virgin her whole life |
Bible Note: Brian, if your object is to show that there isn't complete harmony among the various denominations of Protestantism, you really don't need to work at it so hard! Most of us Protestants are all too keenly aware of the fact, concede it, and walk away not feeling especially proud of it. But isn't it something like the pot calling the kettle black when Catholics disparage Protestants on account of their denominational differences? Come, come, Brian, are you asking anyone to believe that all is sweetness and light within the Roman church, that there is complete accord on every issue, that there are no schisms or splinter groups within the RCC? Do you think every Roman Catholic on the face of this earth believes the same way on every issue concerning the Christian faith? I believe you know perfectly well that that is not true, and if you don't, you certainly should..... Let me tell you a story. I have a relative who is a Catholic and who lives in Boston. Two years ago he visited us at Christmas time. We went as a family to Christmas Mass at a local Catholic church, Immaculate Conception by name. I said to my relative, "I don't believe in the immaculate conception." Whereupon he replied, "Hank, are you telling me you don't believe in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ?" Said I: "I'm saying I don't believe in the immaculate conception of Mary." Said he: "Well, I don't believe that either, but immaculate conception doesn't have anything to do with Mary, it's about Jesus." Said I: "No, it's about Mary." But knowing he wouldn't accept any theological talk coming from a Southern Baptist, and not wanting to promote family strife by debating the issue, I advised him on his returning home to Boston to take the matter up with his parish priest. He did. And he later informed me that I was right, immaculate conception did refer to Mary. And added, "That's what we believe, all right." I have always thought it odd that after having told me he didn't believe in the immaculate conception of Mary either, he later said, after talking with his priest, "That's what we believe, all right." This may be an atypical example in the Catholic church; I have no way of knowing. On the other hand it may be the norm that the priest tells the parishioner what the parishioner believes and the parishioner believes it. --Hank |