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
Ask a Follow-up Question
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.
God's Word calls for a total separation from unbelief
64-0121 §20
It's always a connection with the spoken Word of God, God's promise for the day. And when it comes, it's so unusual till people can hardly grasp it; because we're so sewed into ... to forms and ideas of our own, that it's hard for us to grasp what's truth. I think much of that would apply to Joseph, in the days of Mary in her maternity. She was to be mother; and Joseph loved her, and he wanted to believe. He was a righteous man, a good man. And he wanted to believe that story that Mary was telling him, but still th...
Perseverant
64-0619 §32
And women then wasn't like they are now: get out here with shorts on a couple days before deliverance, out on the streets before men. That's a disgrace to humanity. That's right. She hid herself. And little Mary come up before she was to be a mother, and went up in the hills of Judea to see Elisabeth. And while Elisabeth had hid herself, no doubt one morning looking through the curtains, she saw this young lady come running and she recognized it to be her cousin, Mary. And as women then... They loved to see one ano...
God identifying Himself by His characteristics
64-0320 §18
Like Joseph---he was a son of David, and a good man, Joseph, the husband of Mary. He was a good man. And no doubt read the Bible, the scrolls, continually because ... and was looking for a messiah to come. And he should have knowed what the Scriptures said that would take place. Isaiah said, "A virgin shall conceive." Well, now, he was going with this young girl, Mary, probably eighteen years old---he was probably a bit older---and then when they were engaged to get married, she shows up to be mother. Now that was...
Jehovah of miracles
59-1126 §38
...pretty eyes from your mother, Ann. And oh, you're such a pretty girl. How are you getting along?" "Oh, just fine," she says. "I'm just feeling wonderful." And she said, "I was so happy to hear the news, that you were going to be mother." "Oh," she said, "That is right. And I'm so happy too." Mary said, "But you know what? I'm to be mother also." "Oh, you and Joseph have been married?" "No, I'm not even married at all, and I'm to be mother." "Well, I don't understand this. Now, you see, my baby is six months passed...
Mary's belief
61-0121 §50
...little eyes sparkling---you know, half full of tears of joy. "Yes, yes, I know all about it." "You know all about it?" "Yeah, yeah, I know all about it." "But, Mary, I'm bothered. It's six months with me as mother now and the baby's never moved. Now you know that's all unnatural. About three months is about right, but this is six months, and little John hadn't never moved yet." So she said, "I'm just a little bit worried about it and everything." She said, "Yeah, I understand it." And said, "You know, I'm going to...