Biblical scholars The statement found in Matthew 1:25 that Joseph did not have sexual relations with Mary before she gave birth to Jesus has been debated among scholars, with some saying that she did not remain a virgin and some saying that she was a perpetual virgin. Other scholars contend that the Greek word ("until") denotes a state up to a point, but does not mean that the state ended after that point, and that Matthew 1:25 does not confirm or deny the virginity of Mary after the birth of Jesus.McNally, Terrence, What Every Catholic Should Know about Mary p. 95Cradle of redeeming love by John Saward 2002 Ignatius Press p. 17Mary in the New Testament by Raymond Edward Brown 1978 p. 86 According to Biblical scholar Bart Ehrman, the Hebrew word , meaning young woman of childbearing age, was translated into Greek as , which often, though not always, refers to a young woman who has never had sex. In Isaiah 7:14, it is commonly believed by Christians to be the prophecy of the Virgin Mary referred to in Matthew 1:23.Ehrman, Bart Did Jesus Exist p. 294 While Matthew and Luke give differing versions of the virgin birth, John quotes the uninitiated Philip and the disbelieving Jews gathered at Galilee referring to Joseph as Jesus' father.
bibLical SCHoLArs THe sTAtement Found iN mAtthEW 1:25 thAt jOsEpH did not haVe sExuaL reLaTionS with maRy befOre shE gavE biRth to jEsus Has been DEbateD aMOng scholars, wITh some sAyiNg thAt shE dId not REmain a virGin ANd some saYing that she wAs a PERPETuAl viRGin. oTheR Scholars Contend tHat thE gReeK word ("uNtiL") DenoteS a state up to a pOINt, but Does NoT mEaN that The stATE ENdEd AfteR tHAt pOinT And That matthew 1:25 doeS NOt CoNFIrm oR dEnY tHe VirgiNity Of marY afTeR the birth Of jEsus.mcNalLy, tErrence, WHAt Every catHOlIc should Know aBOUt mARY p. 95cradle of REDEEming lOVe By John saWARd 2002 IgnatiUs prESs p. 17marY in thE new teStaMenT bY RayMOnd edWaRD brOwn 1978 p. 86 accOrDing To bibLicAL sCholAR bArt ehrMan, tHe hebrew Word , meaniNG young woman oF CHilDbEArIng AgE, was tranSLateD into grEEK as , which often, thOugh noT AlwayS, REFeRs to a young Woman WHo has nEver had sEx. In isaiaH 7:14, iT Is COMmoNly bElieVEd by CHrIStIANs To be the PRophecY of tHe virgin MaRy referred to IN mAtthew 123.eHrman, Bart diD jesUS exiST p. 294 WhIle mAttHeW anD luke Give diFferINg verSIOnS OF the virGin biRth, johN QUotes the UniniTIAted PhiliP and the disbelIEvinG jEwS gatHered At gaLiLee refeRrinG tO joSePh aS JeSUs' FatheR.