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| Lk 1:34 | how can this be, I know not man? | Mary, evidently understanding how conception works (she did live a rural farm area, after all), asks how the angel's promise is to be accomplished. This is something she would not say if she expected the marriage to Joseph to be consummated. Early writings claim that Mary was a consecrated virgin, and that the more senior Joseph was to be her protector. The Church has not ruled definitively on this matter. |
| Lk 2:41-51 | Jesus evidently the only son of Mary | |
| Mk 6:3 | the son not "a son" of Mary | |
| Mt 13:55-56 | brothers James, Joseph etc. [1]verse used to challenge Catholic teaching | This verse is sometimes interpreted as naming the actual brothers of Jesus from the line of Mary |
| Mt 27:56 | Mary, mother of James, Joseph | This verse identifies a Mary (a popular name at the time) as the mother of James and Joseph. |
| Jn 19:25 | Mary the wife of Cleophas | But this verse identifies Mary of Cleophas as the sister of Mary, the Blessed Virgin. |
| Mk 15:47 | ...is James, Joses mom | And here Mary of Cleophas is the one identified as the mother of James and Joses/Joseph |
| Mt 27:56 | ...is James, Joses mom | |
| Jn 19:26 | Mary given to John, not brothers | Jesus gave Mary to John to take care of, not something that should happen if Mary had other sons to fulfill that role. |
| Jn 7:3-4 | brothers act like elders | The "brothers" act like elders, not something one would expect if Jesus had younger siblings. This supports the idea that Joseph had other children from a prior marriage -- as described in an early extrabiblical narrative). |
| Mk 3:21 | brothers: "he is out of his mind" | Again, not something one would expect from younger siblings. |
| Mt 1:25 | knew her not until her firstborn [1]verse used to challenge Catholic teaching | The use of "until" can imply a change in condition after the event, but not necessarily so. |
| Mt 28:20 | with you always, until the end | Here, "until" does not mean that after the end that Jesus will abandon us. |
| 1 Tm 4:13 | until I arrive, attend to duties | |
| 1 Cr 15:25 | he reigns until enemy underfoot | The reign of Jesus will not end with the subjugation of his enemies. |
| Lk 1:80 | John in desert until manifestation | |
| Ex 13:2 | first-born opens womb, sanctified | The term "firstborn" is a special designation for the first child, denoting a special consecration to God. It does not imply that additional children have been (or will be) born of the same mother. |
| Nb 3:12 | first-born opens womb | |
| Ex 34:20 | redeem first-born among sons | |
