[B-Greek] Mary's PRWTOTOKOS

Tony Costa tmcos at rogers.com
Mon Dec 22 12:13:31 EST 2003


Mark, I think Luke's use of  PRWTOTOKON can be implied to mean that Jesus
had other siblings, which Luke alludes to later in his gospel (8:19-20), but
I think the use of the term in 2:7 is to emphasize and safe guard the
supernatural virginal conception of Jesus (1:34-35). In other words, this
child was her first and his conception came about through the agency of the
Holy Spirit. As to Jesus' siblings, there is difference of opinion in Chruch
history whether they are cousins (Roman Catholic), Joseph's children from a
previous marriage (Orthodox) or natural siblings (Protestant). Best regards,

Tony Costa

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark Goodacre" <M.S.Goodacre at bham.ac.uk>
To: <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Monday, December 22, 2003 11:50 AM
Subject: [B-Greek] Mary's PRWTOTOKOS


> I was just reading an article on a certain John Tvedtnes who is
> quoted as saying that "It says in [Gospels of] Luke that Jesus was
> Mary's firstborn, which suggests she had other children."
> (http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Dec/12202003/saturday/121596.asp).
>
> Luke 2.7: KAI ETEKEN TON hUION AUTHS PRWTOTOKON
>
> So I'm wondering whether PRWTOTOKOS would suggest further children.
> I'd have thought that one might say firstborn without that necessary
> implication, especially if one were narrating the birth of the
> firstborn.  It would be different to describe someone as "firstborn"
> at a subsequent stage, I'd have thought.  But I just don't know what
> the background is. Does anyone have any ideas?
>
> Mark
> -----------------------------
> Dr Mark Goodacre                 mailto:M.S.Goodacre at bham.ac.uk
>   Graduate Institute for Theology & Religion
>   Dept of Theology
>   University of Birmingham
>   Elmfield House, Bristol Road     tel.+44 121 414 7512
>   Birmingham    B29 6LQ  UK      fax: +44 121 415 8376
>
> http://www.theology.bham.ac.uk/goodacre
> http://NTGateway.com
>
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