Mary

## Core Position

Mary was a genuine, godly woman chosen by God to bear the Son of God. She is honored as Scripture honors her. However, the Catholic doctrines of perpetual virginity, immaculate conception, and bodily assumption are TRADITION — none have textual foundation and some directly contradict Scripture. Mary herself pointed to Christ: "Do whatever he tells you" (John 2:5).

What Scripture Says About Mary

Luke 1:28 — "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you." Favored — not sinless from conception. Her favor is God's choice, not her sinless nature.
Luke 1:47 — "My spirit rejoices in God my Savior." Mary calls God her Savior. A person without sin does not need a Savior.
John 2:5 — Mary's last recorded words: "Do whatever he tells you." She pointed to Christ. Not to herself.
Acts 1:14 — After the ascension, Mary is among the disciples praying together — receiving, not dispensing. No intercessory role.

Perpetual Virginity — Rejected

Matthew 1:25 — "Joseph knew her not until she had given birth to a son." The word until (heos) implies normal marital relations afterward.
Matthew 13:55-56 — Jesus's brothers are named: James, Joseph, Simon, Judas. Sisters are also mentioned. Mary had other children after Jesus.
Mark 3:31-32 — "His mother and his brothers... standing outside." His brothers are present as distinct individuals.

Perpetual virginity is TRADITION — it contradicts the plain reading of Matthew 1:25 and the named siblings of Matthew 13:55-56.

Immaculate Conception — Rejected

The doctrine that Mary was conceived without original sin, preserved sinless from birth.

Romans 3:23 — "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." All.
Romans 3:10 — "None is righteous, no, not one."
Luke 1:47 — Mary calls God her Savior. One who has no sin requires no Savior.

TRADITION. Formally defined by Pope Pius IX in the bull Ineffabilis Deus in 1854 — over 1,800 years after Mary's life. No NT text establishes or suggests it.

Bodily Assumption — Rejected

The doctrine that Mary was bodily taken up into heaven at the end of her earthly life.

No NT text records, describes, or implies Mary's bodily assumption. No NT text mentions the circumstances of Mary's death. The absence of any record is significant given the NT's attention to detail on significant events.

TRADITION. Formally defined as dogma by Pope Pius XII in the apostolic constitution Munificentissimus Deus in 1950 — with no NT textual foundation.

What This Rejects

Perpetual virginity — Matthew 1:25, Matthew 13:55-56.
Immaculate conception — Romans 3:23, Luke 1:47.
Bodily assumption — no NT text records or implies it; defined 1950 AD.
Marian intercession / co-mediatrix — 1 Timothy 2:5 — one mediator; Acts 1:14 — Mary is receiving, not dispensing.