Ask a Catholic

[Fiosh]

Before the Incarnation we did not know what God looks like. We could not make an image of the unseen God.

With the Incarnation, Jesus the God-man, presents to us the "face of God". We can now worship God in human flesh. And we can make representations of Him.

Isn't that going against His Word?

Worship God in the flesh?

Do you think it goes against His Word to worship Jesus???

[Guest man]

Before the Incarnation we did not know what God looks like. We could not make an image of the unseen God.

With the Incarnation, Jesus the God-man, presents to us the "face of God". We can now worship God in human flesh. And we can make representations of Him.

Isn't that going against His Word?

Worship God in the flesh?

Do you think it goes against His Word to worship Jesus???

It does if you're praying to statue.

[artsylady]

Luke1: 28 "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!"

In 1 Corinthians Paul told the church at Corinth that they were full of God's grace as well. He said more to the church than the angel said to Mary.

2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

[Fiosh]

1. Luke 2: 41-51 Jesus is 12 yrs old and there is no mention of any other children

I read the story but it certainly doesn't prove that there were no other siblings, nor does it prove Mary remained a virgin. If she had remained a virgin then Matthew 1:25, would not have read "But he had no until with her UNTIL she gave birth to a son". It would have read "And he never had union with her." Know what I mean? I think this verse says it quite clearly.

Nope. That argument is easily dismissed if you study the grammar of that time. It simply states that Mary was a virgin up to that time and makes no reference beyond it either way. Compare to I Timothy 6:14 for example "...to keep the commandment...until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ...". Does that mean to break the commandments after His appearance? No. Same thing.

2. Mark 6:3 Jesus is referred to as "the son of Mary" not "a son of Mary"

Actually, if you look at geneologies throughout the entire Bible, you will find this kind of thing. In Matthew 1:1 "Abraham was the father or Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob"

Well we know for a fact Isaac and Jacob both had siblings, so "THE son of" doesn't mean anything.

Different terms. You are saying "father of" in both cases. Not "the son of".

If the biography channel was speaking of OJ Simpson, and said he was "THE son of a barber", does that mean he had no siblings? No.

Yes it would. If the channel said "OJ was the son of the barber", it would mean he was the only one. Otherwise they would say he was a son of the barber.

Mark 6:3 (King James Version)

King James Version (KJV)

" 3Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him."

Actually, this verse DOES speak of siblings. Not just brothers but sisters as well. And we know that James also became a disciple.

Again, adelphos can be translated either way---brother or brethren (i.e. cousins, etc)

3. John 19:26 At the Cross, Jesus gave His mother to the Apostle John, and she went to live with him. Why would she not be taken care of by her other sons?

I read this whole chapter and the name "John" is not mentioned anywhere, unless I somehow missed it.

The "disciple whom He loved" is John. Ref with John 13:23 & John 21:20.

And other more subtle things, like for instance, in John 7: 3-4, it would be disrespectful in the culture of Jesus' time address an older brother as they spoke to Jesus.

I'm not sure what you mean here. Are you saying Jesus brothers were older than him?

No, I'm saying His younger brothers would not speak to him this way.

This verse actually seems to differentiate between Jesus brothers and the disciples, because the brothers spoke to Jesus about his disciples.

John 7

Jesus Goes to the Festival of Tabernacles

1 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want [a] to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him. 2 But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, 3 Jesus' brothers said to him, "Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world." 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.

Again, adelphos can just as easily be translated "cousins" or "close friends".

Where were his siblings as He went thru the Passion and crucifixion?

**********************************

Some offer the possibility that Joseph, Mary's husband had children from a previous marriage, but I don't lean in that direction.

[Fiosh]

Luke1: 28 "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!"

In 1 Corinthians Paul told the church at Corinth that they were full of God's grace as well. He said more to the church than the angel said to Mary.

2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

[Fiosh]

Before the Incarnation we did not know what God looks like. We could not make an image of the unseen God.

With the Incarnation, Jesus the God-man, presents to us the "face of God". We can now worship God in human flesh. And we can make representations of Him.

Isn't that going against His Word?

Worship God in the flesh?

Do you think it goes against His Word to worship Jesus???

It does if you're praying to statue.

Am I doing such a poor job of explaining?

Let me try again. I A M N O T P R A Y I N G T O A S T A T U E.

Now, you answer me this. Would you worship Jesus in the flesh if He appeared before you this minute?

[Fiosh]

If Mary was a virgin, then where did James the brother of Jesus come from?

What in scripture tells you she remained a virgin?

I'm sorry if it seems I'm bombarding you. I don't get a lot of time for message boards these days but I do have some time tonight.

James was not the son of Mary. He may have been a cousin or other relative of Jesus. In the New Testament the word for brother and the word for brethren are the same--adelphos. Check your concordance. Adelphos is used many times by Paul, for example, to refer to his brothers in Christ.

Are you referring to James, the son of Alphaeus Mark 3:18, James the son of Zebedee Mark 10:35, James the brother of Jude Jude1:1, James the son of Mary & Clophas and brother of Joseph Matt 27:56/John 19:25??

Can you be more specific?

Thanks,

F

Still waiting for you to clear this one up, AL.

Which James were you referring to???

Thanks,

F

[Guest man]

Before the Incarnation we did not know what God looks like. We could not make an image of the unseen God.

With the Incarnation, Jesus the God-man, presents to us the "face of God". We can now worship God in human flesh. And we can make representations of Him.

Isn't that going against His Word?

Worship God in the flesh?

Do you think it goes against His Word to worship Jesus???

It does if you're praying to statue.

Am I doing such a poor job of explaining?

Let me try again. I A M N O T P R A Y I N G T O A S T A T U E.

Now, you answer me this. Would you worship Jesus in the flesh if He appeared before you this minute?

Are you saying Christ is in those images?

[Pax]

No. There is no scientific way to prove it.

Why do you say that? I would think it could be proven scientifically very easy if it was true.

Artsylady, did you get a chance to read the website I posted on Eucharistic Miracles? If you look up the definition of the word faith in the Websters Dictionary you will see, Faith: "Firm belief in something for which there is no proof."

We must have faith in the Lord.

[Guest man]

Now, you answer me this. Would you worship Jesus in the flesh if He appeared before you this minute?

Why would Christ come to me and not the rest of the world? I seriously doubt that He would. But....if He did...I would probably tip over right there.