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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Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
The Ark
55-0522 §2
So, I was a little bit excited, as they said, of the arrival of a new boy; as every time, very grateful for it. When the nurse brought him down out of the room, I said, "Joseph, I've looked for you for four years, but I'm sure glad you're here." Here about four years ago, I was... Just before the little girl was born, before we knew that she was coming, why, I was praying one day, after reading the life of Joseph in the Bible, and I thought, Such a perfect man. Abraham was election. Isaac was justification. And Jac...
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 6:E-33
"I know your service." Jesus said, "He that is greatest of all is servant to all." A wise man commented on that saying. Here is what he said, "Only history will prove the truth of that dictum." That man was right. All the truly great men of history have been servants. They who demanded to be served; they who oppressed; they who sought to always be at the head, have gone down in shame. Even the very rich are condemned by God when they have not used their wealth right. But look into history and you will find that the...
Church Ages, part 8: The Philadelphian Church Age
60-1210 §77
I'd just like to give this little illustration on account of there might be somebody here that never seen it. Watch this. This is the Father, this is the Son, and this is the Holy Ghost. Now, watch close. Father, Son, Holy Ghost. That's what Jesus said in Matthew 28:19. Is that right? Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Now, who is this? Father. (Listen, class.) Father, Holy Ghost, Son. Now, who's this? Holy Ghost. Who's this? [Congregation says, "Father."] Who's this? [Congregation says "Son."] Son. All right. Now, this...
Expectation
51-0930 §26
Well, after eight days, let's notice, little Mary, with a black name to start with, supposingly to have a illegitimate child by Joseph, born out of wedlock. Everyone in the country then would scoff at her, "There's that woman not even married and got a baby." But in her heart she knew whose baby that was. We was just talking on that this afternoon. Here she comes to the temple; let's look, standing down the line, now maybe two hundred women, or three. Way down there stood some of them holding a lamb, a rich man's o...
Strait is the Gate
59-0301M §49
Let me give you some estimations that'll shake you. According to medical science, in the city of Chicago, according to doctor's statistics, that there's thirty thousand abortion cases in Chicago alone, in thirty days, that the doctors has. How many of these little pills and things they take of abortion cases? Statistics shows, in the United States, that there is more illegitimate children born than there is holy wedlock children. Did you know the Bible said, in Deuteronomy 14:2, that an illegitimate child, it would...