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Dedication To the truth of God’s Word as it is written. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any way, without the written prior permission of the author. All scriptural quotes are from the King James Bible Written by – Pastor T. L. Faulkner Copyright – 2010
Introduction
Mariology is the study of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Christian theology, especially in the Roman Catholic Church. This study started in the sixteenth century when it was separated from the rest of theology. It also concerns itself in defining the dogmas[1] about Mary.[2]
Mariology is also the veneration of the Virgin Mary and a complete body of religious doctrine and belief’s. The veneration given to Mary is above all other saints because of her unique relationship with Jesus, which is known as hyperdulia.[3]
The first signs of the recognition to Mary began around 150 A.D. when an apocryphal book was written known as the Protevangelium of James, which is said to have been composed by James, who was the half-brother of Jesus. This book is not in any Bible, nor accepted as being authoritative, and never considered to be recognized as canon.
Protevangelium was probably written in the middle of the second century, and the author claims to be James, but could not be since the author relies on the gospels of Matthew and Luke. James died in 62 AD, and the gospels of Matthew and Luke were written after James’ death. Therefore it was written by someone named James, an unknown author. It is a highly embellished version of the events connected with Christ’s birth as related in the Gospel of Luke.[4]
This Protevangelium is most likely to be a Docetist origin, which was an early Christian heretical sect that believed that Jesus Christ only had a spiritual body and could not suffer physical pain. Having a belief that things appear to happen but not in reality, for Docetism comes from a Greek word "dokien" meaning to seem or appear.
The book, “The Protoevangelium of James”, tells of Mary’s parents who were known as Joachim and Anna, who were advanced in years, and had no children at this time. Anna, the daughter of Matthan the priest, lamented about not having any children, and that an angel came to her saying that he heard her prayer. That she will have a child and was told by her midwife that it will be a girl, and she will be named Mary. Mary was born in Sepphoris in Galilee. Mary is the Greek form of the Hebrew name of Miriam.
It also tells of how Joseph was chosen, from others, to be espoused to Mary.
One other book that was written during this time was the gospel of the Nativity of Mary, written in Latin, which also relates the story of her birth and being espoused to Joseph.
The Assumption of the Virgin is a book in which the risen Christ tells her about her death and being transformed into heaven. It also speaks of where she performs miraculous healings, and this book was written in the fourth century. It was denounced as a heretical book in the fifth century, but there are those who still considerate it to be authentic.
The last book written is her own apocalypse, the Revelation of Mary, making her able to intercede for those that are damned, for their sins, like rising up late from bed on Sundays and not standing when a priest comes into a room.
There are traditions that have recorded on how the body of Mary, was taken to Jerusalem for burial, and that her body was carried into heaven three days later.
These books and traditions have created many beliefs and doctrines about Mary throughout the centuries beginning from the second century A.D..
[1] Dogma – In its original meaning from Greek dokein, “to seem,” signified that which seemed true to any one. It finally came into use to denote the opinions expressed by philosophers, and then gained the sense of authoritative degrees. Cyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, p 259 [2] Catholic Encyclopedia, p 622 [3] Catholic Encyclopedia, p 491 |