Christian Message Boards: It is not in the Bible !?

This is topic It is not in the Bible !? in forum Bible Topics & Study at Christian Message Boards.

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Posted by wincam (Member # 14085) on :

it seems it need not and should not be accepted, according to some, if it is not in the Bible - it seems it is not in the Bible that Mary had children other than Jesus - any comments - wincam

Posted by Carol Swenson (Member # 6929) on :

Mark 6:3 and Matthew 13:55-56 state that James, Joses (or Joseph), Judas, and Simon were the brothers of Jesus, the son of Mary. The same verses also mention unnamed sisters of Jesus.

James was an important leader in the early church.

Posted by wincam (Member # 14085) on :

for sure it states that Jesus had brothers and sisters but how is it concluded from this that they were children to Mary - except by those who thought He was the son of the carpenter Joseph as at Matt.13:55 and Lk.2:48 - as for James and His supposed brothers and sisters it seems being older than Him they thought He was mad and tried to restrain Him - they as supposed next male next of kin did not claim His body for burial nor provide mother Mary with shelter, protection or a home - as regards James he was acceptable to the Jews as long as he still conformed which it seems he did until just a few minutes before his death when he on declaring Jesus as the way he was hurled from the temple roof to his death when he was bludgeoned to death by a fuller's staff as he fell - wincam

Posted by Carol Swenson (Member # 6929) on :

The Bible tells us that the people of Jesus' hometown called them His brothers and sisters. They knew Him and His family. They apparently did NOT know of His virgin birth or that He was conceived of the Holy Spirit.

James the brother of our Lord seems to be the most likely candidate for author of the epistle of James. He does not identify himself in this way; humbly, he calls himself "a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ." That Jesus had brothers and sisters is stated in Matthew 13:55-56 and Mark 6:3, and one of His brothers was named James. (By "brother," of course, I mean half-brother. Joseph was not our Lord's father since He was conceived by the Holy Spirit of God.)

James and the other brothers did not believe in Jesus during His earthly ministry (Mark 3:31-35; John 7:1-5). Yet we find our Lord's brethren in the Upper Room praying with the disciples (Acts 1:14). What effected the change from unbelief to faith? First Corinthians 15:7 indicates that Jesus appeared to James after His resurrection! This convinced James that Jesus truly was the Saviour, and he, in turn, shared this knowledge about Jesus to the other brothers.

James became the leader of the church in Jerusalem. Paul called him "a pillar," in Galatians 2:9. It was James who moderated the church conference described in Acts 15. When Peter was delivered from prison, he sent a special message to James (Acts 12:17); and when Paul visited Jerusalem, it was to James that he brought greetings and the special "love offering" from the Gentiles (Acts 21:18-19).

We have no record in the Bible, but tradition tells us that James was martyred in a.d. 62. The story is that the Pharisees in Jerusalem so hated James' testimony for Christ that they had him cast down from the temple and then beaten to death. The story also relates that James died, as did his Savior, praying for his murderers, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

What kind of a man was James? He must have been a deeply spiritual man to gain the leadership of the Jerusalem church in so short a time. His stature is seen in Acts 15, where he was able to permit all the factions to express themselves, and then bring peace by drawing a conclusion based on the Word of God. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 9:5, suggested that he was a married man. Again, tradition tells us that he was a man of prayer, and this explains the emphasis on prayer in his letter. It was said that he prayed so much, his knees were as hard as a camel's!

James was a Jew, reared in the tradition of the Law of Moses; and his Jewish legalism stands out in his letter. (Note also Acts 21:18ff, where James asked Paul to help him pacify the Christian legalists in the Jerusalem church.) There are over fifty imperatives in the Epistle of James. James did not suggest—he commanded! He quoted the Old Testament only five times, but there are many allusions to Old Testament passages in the letter.

While still an unbeliever, James must have paid attention to what Jesus taught; in his letter there are numerous allusions to our Lord's sayings, particularly the Sermon on the Mount. Compare these passages:

• James 1:2—Matthew 5:10-12
• James 1:4—Matthew 5:48
• James 1:5—Matthew 7:7-12
• James 1:22—Matthew 7:21-27
• James 4:11-12—Matthew 7:1-5
• James 5:1-3—Matthew 6:19-21

Keep in mind that James led the church in Jerusalem during a very difficult time. It was a time of transition, and such times are always upsetting and demanding. There were many Christian Jews in Jerusalem who still held to the Old Testament Law (Acts 21:20). The temple and its services were still in operation, and the full light of the Gospel of God's grace had not yet dawned. We who have read Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews might be prone to judge these early believers; but we must not. They were saved people, but they were still in the shadows of the Law, moving out into the bright light of God's grace. While there may have been differences in degrees of spiritual knowledge and experience, there was no competition between Paul and those who directed the Jerusalem church (Gal. 2:1-10).

Wiersbe

Posted by wincam (Member # 14085) on :

imho James was more favoured and acceptable as Bishop of Jerusalem because he still clung to his jewish/judaen background of 'by works' rather than by 'the way' - remember it took a Damascus experience to change Paul - Peter was more receptive and pliable and child like in fact simple simon - wincam

Posted by Ablorba (Member # 14122) on :

Carol Swenson, how beautifully written!

wincam, it's good to sometimes disagree about facts-they are important- but also it's good to hold opinions as not factual and so nothing to rely upon.

The wise man built his house upon a rock, and his house stood firm through the storm. So we Christians if we build our soul's house upon the rock of Jesus Christ withnessed by the Holy Spirit and the Bible, we are safe.

Trusting in opinions for our soul's growth and foundation is building our house on the sand, and when the storm blows the fall of that house will be great.

So wincam, it is better for all of us to depend on facts even if we disagree. It's also better if we only express our opinion mildly and don't depend on them.

--Sacramento Pine

Posted by wincam (Member # 14085) on :

Sacremento Pine - we cannot and and must not trust in your opinion after seduction, according to your own lecture - closer inspection will reveal that Carol said much the same as I - in fact exactly the same only different - wincam

Posted by Ablorba (Member # 14122) on :

I did not mean to offend. I will be more respectful in future. Thank you.

--Sacramento Pine