Our beloved Mom- A Study on the Theotokos- Part-XI (The Ever Virginity of St Mary-Mother of God by St Jerome) Clarifying the concept of ‘Brothers/Brethren’: In this part, St Jerome dwells on the fact that in the Holy Scripture the term ‘brothers’ is also used for friendship. He says: “But, to be brief, I will return to the last of the four classes of brethren, those, namely, who are brethren by affection, and these again fall into two divisions, those of the spiritual and those of the general relationship. I say spiritual because all of us Christians are called brethren, as in the verse, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” And in another psalm the Saviour says, “I will declare your name unto my brethren.” And elsewhere, (John 20:17) “Go unto my brethren and say to them.” I say also general, because we are all children of one Father, there is a like bond of brotherhood between us all. (Isaiah 66:5) “Tell these who hate you, says the prophet, you are our brethren.” And the Apostle writing to the Corinthians: (1 Corinthians 5:11) “If any man that is named brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner: with such a one no, not to eat.” So we have seen four classes of relationships wherein the term ‘brothers/brethren’ is used in the Holy Scripture. They are - Blood brotherhood (nature), Common nationality (race), the close relatives (kindred), and friendship (love). St Jerome teaches that in the case of references to our Lord’s brothers, the third meaning applies- the brothers are indeed the close relatives of Jesus Christ. St Jerome says: “I now ask to which class you consider the Lords brethren in the Gospel must be assigned. They are brethren by nature, you say. But Scripture does not say so; it calls them neither sons of Mary, nor of Joseph. Shall we say they are brethren by race? But it is absurd to suppose that a few Jews were called His brethren when all Jews of the time might upon this principle have borne the title. Were they brethren by virtue of close intimacy and the union of heart and mind? If that were so, who were more truly His brethren than the apostles who received His private instruction and were called by Him His mother and His brethren? Again, if all men, as such, were His brethren, it would have been foolish to deliver a special message, ‘Behold, your brethren seek you,’ for all men alike were entitled to the name. The only alternative is to adopt the previous explanation and understand them to be called brethren in virtue of the bond of kindred, not of love and sympathy, nor by prerogative of race, nor yet by nature. Just as Lot was called Abrahamsbrother, and Jacob Labans..” (We will continue with this letter of St Jerome’s...) May the prayers of our holy Mom-St Mary-the Theotokos be a strong refuge for us! (Ref: 17, St Jerome, The Perpetual Virginity of Blessed Mary, Against Helvedius)
Posted on: Fri, 29 Aug 2014 09:53:36 +0000
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