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The Claims of Rome and Eastern Orthodoxy  /  Mary  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 9
Regarding Mary’s perpetual virginity, Bercot argues Matthew 1:24–25 (“did not know her until…”) strongly implies normal marital relations afterward, and he traces the later view to the Proto-Evangelium of James and Origen’s “some say”; how does this case study affect how you evaluate long-held teachings that may have identifiable historical starting points outside Scripture?
Another way to ask: Bercot says Matthew 1:24–25 suggests Mary and Joseph had normal married life later, and that the opposite idea started later from other writings. How does this affect how you judge long-held teachings that seem to begin outside Scripture at a certain point in history?

Direct Answer This case study encourages evaluating long-held teachings by (1) the plain sense of Scripture and (2) tracing when the belief actually appears in history, especially if it arises from spurious writings. Bercot’s point is that age and popularity do not automatically equal apostolic origin.

Support from Transcript:

  • He says the NT has “no such teaching… not even a hint” of perpetual virginity.
  • He cites Matthew 1:24–25: Joseph “did not know her until she had brought forth her firstborn son,” arguing normal language implies relations afterward.
  • He notes “firstborn son” implies other children and points to references to Jesus’ “brothers,” rejecting unsupported explanations (cousins/sons of Joseph) as not stated in Scripture.
  • He introduces the Proto-Evangelium of James as “fictitious,” “spurious,” and “dishonest,” rejected from the canon and “never a contender.”
  • He pinpoints earliest patristic reference: Origen (c. 245) says “Some say” based on “the Book of James,” showing it wasn’t universal apostolic teaching.
  • He notes the belief “began to flower” after Origen; by the 4th century it became common, yet still contradicts Matthew 1:25.
Discussion Follow-ups How should Christians treat teachings that start with “some say” and later become mainstream? What role should historical origin play in deciding what to believe today?

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