Semper Virgo? A Biblical Review of a Debated Dogma

Abstract

The traditional and still widespread dogma that Mary remained a virgin both before and after Jesus’s birth is today widely believed explicitly to contradict the New Testament, which appears to speak unambiguously of Jesus having “brothers and sisters.” If held strongly, this view can incline some who hold the dogma to doubt Scripture, and can incline others who reject the dogma to think the Church Fathers willfully ignored Scripture. However, the view that Jesus’ siblings are Mary’s children is a face-value reading that rests on several assumptions that should be checked, and traditional positions are not without basis. This article reviews the question of Jesus’ “brothers and sisters” from an exegetical and historical perspective, demonstrating the warrant of the traditional claim, and concludes with reflections from patristic testimony to address theological objections often lodged against the dogma