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Robert
Jackson
wrote:
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Hi, guys —
The Bible says that Jesus was Mary's First
Born. I believe the Church teaches this was
her only child and I'm trying to explain
this to someone that does not believe this.
- Are there any examples that I can use
to point out that this was a common phrase
for that time?
Thank you for any help you can give me with
this.
Robert
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{
Are
there any examples I can use to point out
that the term 'first born' was a common phrase? }
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Mike replied:
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Hi, Robert —
This is one of those questions we
have already answered.
Try searching our
knowledge base next time or checking
our Frequently
Asked Questions.
There are a lot of quick answers there, so give it a try.
I searched the knowledge base for you and found these web postings that may help:
Mike
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Robert
replied:
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Hi, Mike —
I guess I didn't word my question
correctly. Jesus is referred to as
Mary's First Born. I remember something
about a woman dying during child
birth. She had only the one child
and this was referred to as her first
born child, even though it was her
only child. I don't recall where
this was in the Bible and was hoping
you could help.
Thanks again for any help you can
provide.
Robert
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Eric
replied:
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Robert —
This is not in the Bible. It's a
historical inscription. You may be
conflating this with Michel never
having children until the day
she died.
However, you can find plenty of places
in the Law of Moses (Exodus, Deuteronomy,
Leviticus).
Do an online bible search for "first born" and firstborn,
where this term is used as a legal
term for the male who opens the womb.
Certain sacrifices had to be offered
for the firstborn man and beast.
One never waited until the second
born to make these sacrifices or
argued, if there was only one child,
that they weren't necessary. That
would be absurd. Even if you had
only one male, he was, for legal
and ritual purposes, the firstborn.
Eric
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Robert
replied:
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Thanks Mike,
You came through for me with your
answer. It's certainly clear and
is a help to me.
For your information, someone from
my Church asked if I knew anyone
that could provide reading material
to one of their relatives that is
in prison. I sent him some meditation
books written by Mark Link, S. J.
He wrote back he wanted a New American
Bible, I sent one to him and learned
the policy of the prison doesn't
allow them to receive books. I now
write him, giving him as much help
as I can, and this was one of his
questions to me. He found it hard
to believe Mary did not have sexual
relations with Joseph after the Birth
of Jesus.
Anyway, I am trying to help him as
much as I can. You and others at
AskACatholic have been a really great
help to me.
Thanks for all you do.
Bob Jackson
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Mike
replied:
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Hi, Bob —
Thank-you for the kind words, but
on this one, my colleague Eric deserves
the credit.
I have a great volunteer group of
lay Catholics that assist me in this
work. Many times, I learn
a lot from their answers.
You are right. Prisons will not allow
inmates to have books. The only way
to get around this
is if you:
- call the publisher
- buy
- the Bible
- Catholic Catechism
- book on the Early Church
Fathers
- or whatever for them and
- ask them to send it directly
to the prison at an address the
inmate gives you.
They will allow this.
John's answer to this question will
also help address your friend's
concern:
Take care,
Mike
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Eric
replied:
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Bob —
Check the prison policy.
Texas prisons, for example, do not
allow individuals to send books,
but if you send it directly from
Amazon or another legitimate site,
they will accept it.
Eric
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