There Is History That Joseph Was a Widower with Four Children. Can You Prove That the Children Attributed to Mary Were Not Indeed Inherited?
1) Direct Answer
Yes. The “widower with four children” story is not Scripture. The Bible presents Jesus’ brothers and sisters as Mary’s own children born after the virgin birth.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- Psalm 69:8 says of the Messiah, “I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother’s children.” John 2:17 and Romans 15:3 apply Psalm 69 directly to Jesus. Now notice, it says “my mother’s children,” not “my father’s children.” That fits the virgin birth and shows Mary had other children.
- Matthew 1:25 says Joseph “knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son.” “Till” shows normal marital union followed the birth of Jesus, and “firstborn” points to more children afterward.
- Matthew 13:55-56 and Mark 6:3 name His brothers—James, Joses, Simon, Judas—and mention His sisters as present among them. The people said, “Is not this the son of Mary… and his brethren… and his sisters…?” That is natural, household language.
- John 2:12; Matthew 12:46; John 7:5 show “his mother and his brethren” moving and standing together as one family.
- Galatians 1:19 and 1 Corinthians 9:5 speak plainly of “the Lord’s brother.”
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- The Bible never says Joseph had previous children. That’s a later story, not the Word.
- The Messianic Psalm settles whose children they are—“my mother’s children.”
- “Till” and “firstborn” align with Mary and Joseph entering normal married life after Jesus’ birth.
- Jesus giving Mary to John at the cross doesn’t deny other sons; at that time His brothers did not believe (John 7:5). He entrusted her to a believing disciple present.
4) Reinforcing Statement
We don’t build doctrine on tradition. We stay with the Scripture: Jesus had brothers and sisters, Mary’s own children, born after His virgin birth.
Existing Follow-Up Answers
- Every "thing" God Ever "borrowed" Was Paid Back with Interest. Would It Not Be Inconsistent of God's Character to Borrow Mary's Womb and Not Repay?
1) Direct Answer No inconsistency at all. God did not "borrow" Mary's womb; God created a body by His Word and overshadowed a virgin. Then He hon
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What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
Mary's belief
59-0409 §8
And Mary said, "You know, since I heard the Rabbi say that this great God that brought us here and made us what we are, then He doesn't have to do things for us now like He did then... I've been thinking for a long time that if this God was as great in the days of our fathers as He was in the days of our grandfathers, then why isn't He just the same great God today?" That's only good thinking. And she goes back into the house and said, "We will read some of the Scriptures, just wherever God will lead us." And she p...
Fellowship
56-0212 §23
Well, I went out all elated and happy, and I begin to tell everybody about it; and about three or four months afterwards, the mother, she knew that she was to be mother again. Some of them said, "Is this Joseph?" I said, "I don't know." So, when it was born, it was a girl. Then everybody laughed. Said, "I thought the Lord never told you anything wrong." I said, "He never does. Joseph will be here. Don't worry." Years passed on. He always keeps His promise. Don't you believe that? So, we can love Him and put our con...
The Unchangeable Word of God
60-0724 §36
...given: and the government shall be upon his shoulders: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, mighty God, the Prince of Peace." And she stopped. And she said, "Joseph, you are well-learned in the Scriptures. What was the prophet speaking of when he said this, 'Unto us a son is born'?" "Well," Joseph said, "Mary, I believe he was meaning the Messiah, the coming Messiah that Moses spoke of." "Well," she said, "Joseph, how would the Messiah be? Will He be another God? Or will He be...? What relation will...
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever
52-0810E §21
I said, "Just as much sense as you're talking." I said, "It's absolutely impossible for that watch to be, its jewels, its regulation, and everything. There had to be a mastermind behind it to put together." Is that right? Well, how much greater, am I, or you, than that watch? See? So there's got to be a Masterpiece behind it. Is that right? And he said... I said, "I want to ask you a question, and we'll quit arguing." I said, "You say it's totally impossible for a baby to be born on this earth, unless having an act...
Shalom
64-0112 §48
But Mary and them, just presuming that. Well, see what it was, she got carried away. She got... She wanted to show before these priests and things that she wasn't the type of woman. And she, in doing that, she absolutely tore the foundation out from under her testimony, after she'd testified that an angel had come to her, "And said, 'Thou shall conceive and bear a son, knowing no man, a virgin-born son.'" And here before the high Sanhedrin, she says, "Joseph, your father here, and I, have sought you." And that twel...