Her Firstborn

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Her Firstborn

Luke 2:7

Excerpt


The reference to Jesus as the “firstborn” does not preclude Mary’s and Joseph’s later having had children as “only” (monogenēs) would, but it need not require the birth of other children either. An ancient grave inscription that speaks of the deceased as having died while giving birth to her “firstborn” son proves this (cf. also 2 Esdra 6:58; Pss. Sol.13:9; 18:4). In light of the later references to the “brothers and sisters of Jesus” (Luke 8:19–21; Acts 1:14; cf. Mark 6:3; etc.), Luke probably used “firstborn” instead of monogenēs because he knew of other sons. Luke clearly did not want to indicate that Jesus was Mary’s only son, or else he would have used monogenēs. In addition Matt 1:25 strongly implies that Joseph and Mary lived in a normal marital relationship after Jesus’ birth. This reference to Mary’s firstborn son prepares the reader for Luke 2:22–24.


Stein, Robert H. Luke. Vol. 24. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992. Print. The New American Commentary.

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