The Bible does not explicitly say that Mary had other children. However, some interpretations of certain passages suggest that she did. Here's a breakdown:
Arguments for Mary having other children:
* "Brothers and Sisters" of Jesus: The Gospels mention "brothers" and "sisters" of Jesus. (Matthew 12:46-47, Matthew 13:55-56, Mark 3:31-32, Mark 6:3, Luke 8:19-20, John 2:12, John 7:3-5, John 7:10, Acts 1:14, 1 Corinthians 9:5, Galatians 1:19)
* Matthew 13:55-56: "Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us?"
* "Until" Passages: Some interpret passages using the word "until" to imply that Mary and Joseph had normal marital relations after Jesus' birth. (Matthew 1:25)
* Matthew 1:25: "but kept her a virgin *until* she had borne a son, and he called his name Jesus." The argument is that the "until" implies they had relations after Jesus was born.
Arguments against Mary having other children (Perpetual Virginity):
* Biblical Silence: The Bible never explicitly states that Mary had other children.
* Taking Care of Mary: Jesus entrusts his mother to the care of the apostle John at the crucifixion (John 19:26-27). Some argue this wouldn't have been necessary if Mary had other children to care for her.
* Greek Terminology: The Greek word "adelphos" (translated as "brother") can refer to cousins or other close relatives, not necessarily a sibling sharing the same parents. In Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke, there was no specific word for cousin, so "brother" would have been used for various male relatives.
* Joseph's Children: Some believe these "brothers and sisters" of Jesus were children of Joseph from a previous marriage. This is a more common belief in Eastern Christian traditions.
Different Interpretations by Denomination:
* Catholic and Orthodox Churches: Hold the doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary, meaning she remained a virgin before, during, and after the birth of Jesus. They interpret the "brothers and sisters" as cousins or other relatives.
* Protestant Churches: Have varying views. Some believe in Mary's perpetual virginity, while others believe the "brothers and sisters" were Jesus' siblings born to Mary and Joseph after Jesus.
In summary:
The Bible does not definitively state whether Mary had other children. The question is a matter of interpretation, based on different readings of specific passages and varying theological traditions. The Greek terminology used for "brothers and sisters" and the implications of passages using the word "until" are the main points of contention.