The Biblical Teachings About Mary

Brother Felmar Serreno: There’s no arguing that Mary, the mother of the Lord Jesus, was a special woman. The Bible records her being called “blessed among women.” But does the Bible also call Mary ‘sinless,’ a ‘mediatrix’ or ‘the mother of God?’ Hello listener, and welcome back to this podcast version of God’s Message magazine. Our topic today is, “The Biblical Teachings About Mary.”

Mary, the mother of Jesus, holds a special place in the hearts of most Catholics. Over the course of the Catholic Church’s history, she has gotten increasing attention. Mary’s role in the faith of her devotees is evident. For them, prayers to her are said especially before statues that are supposed representations of Mary, which are common in their cathedrals and chapels, and even in their homes. The teachings of the Marian devotion, long been preached and practiced by Catholics, is considered by them as “authentic doctrinal teaching.”

But are they biblical? What does Catholic tradition teach about the Mary whom they worship? Are those beliefs in accordance with the teachings of the Bible about Mary, the mother of Jesus? 

Before we continue, we reiterate that in conducting these discussions, it’s never the intention of the Church Of Christ to hurt anyone’s feelings or to attack anybody. Rather, these studies are motivated by our interest for the truth. And in the interest of truth, on this episode we will be comparing teachings from several Catholic books to what is written in the Bible. Here on the podcast, I’ll be mentioning the title and author of each Catholic book. For further details on each book’s publication date, imprimatur, nihil obstat and other details, we have provided that information at the end of the transcript of this episode on our website incmedia.org.

Sinless, mediatrix, co-redeemer?

Brother Felmar: Catholic authorities teach that Mary did not sin in her lifetime. Here’s a quote from “Glories and Virtues of Mary,” a book by a priest named James Alberione:

“The Virgin Mary was immune from every sin. It is a dogma of faith that she was free from original sin. During her life she never fell into either mortal or venial sin. As for actual sin, the Council of Trent says that without special privileges, no one can avoid all venial sins during a lifetime; notwithstanding this, the [Catholic] Church maintains that the Blessed Virgin was exempt from any such sins.”2

This teaching contradicts what the Bible says that all people committed sin (Romans 3:23 , 5:12 ) and that the only One Who did not is our Lord Jesus Christ (I Peter 2:21-22). There is no biblical basis to the Catholic dogma that Mary was free and immune from sin. 

This is also the case with Catholic authorities’ calling Mary the “mediatrix”. From this book entitled “What The Church Teaches” which was written by J.D. Conway, a Monsignor in the Catholic Church, he wrote: “We do call Mary the Mediatrix of all Graces. It is a title which stresses the intimacy of her association with her Son in that work which she brought Him into the world to accomplish: the redemption and sanctification of our souls. Some Pope someday may declare it a doctrine of the church that Mary is mediatrix, in this sense.”3

While this may be the teaching in the Catholic Church, however, nowhere in the Bible is Mary given such a title or responsibility. Catholics also believe that devotion to Mary is necessary for salvation. Here’s another quote from “Glories and Virtues of Mary”: “The intercession of saints is most helpful; devotion to the Blessed Virgin is morally necessary for our eternal salvation. Jesus Christ is Mediator by right, Mary is mediatrix by grace.”2

Because of this, Catholic authorities call Mary “co-redeemer” to Jesus and that she also intercedes for sinners. In a book written by a Friar in the Catholic Church, Donald F. Miller, entitled “How To Explain What You Believe as a Catholic” it says here: “OUR CO-REDEEMER. The reasons for giving this title to Mary are these: The very fact that she was chosen to be with Him, from the beginning to work with Him, to suffer with Him, to pray with Him, makes it clear that Christ intended her as co-operator in the work of Redemption, which we express by the title ‘co-redeemer.’ All these things, taken separately or together, show that though He did not need to do so, God actually did choose Mary to help Him redeem mankind. … on earth she worked with Christ for the salvation and happiness of men, so she is doing now, by interceding for sinners…”4

But again, the beliefs that Mary is a “mediatrix” and that she goes “interceding for sinners” are not found in the Bible. Worse, they are against the teachings of the apostles that there is only one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (I Timothy 2:5). It is also wrong to believe that Mary is “co-redeemer” with Jesus and thus “necessary for salvation.” Apostle Peter clearly taught that only in the name of Christ can one be saved: 

Let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

[Acts 4:10-12 New King James Version]

Brother Felmar Serreno: Christ is the only Redeemer and God-appointed Savior—there is no one else besides Him, by Whom one can receive salvation. 

Mary, the mother of God?

Brother Felmar: The Catholic devotion to Mary has come so far as to her being called the “mother of God” and being compared to Christ and to God. Here’s a quote from “Fundamentals of Mariology” a Catholic book by theologian Juniper B. Carol: “By the very fact that she is the Mother of God, Our Lady is raised to a rank high above that of any other creature. … This dignity of hers is unquestionably ‘the greatest after God,’ as Pope Pius XI states. … Just as there cannot be anything better and greater than God, so there cannot be anything better or greater than His Mother.”5

This Catholic belief further implies that Mary is equal to Christ or perhaps, even greater. Here’s another quote from “Glories and Virtues of Mary”: “St. Bernardine of Siena declares that all obey Mary’s commands, even God; by this he means to say that God grants her prayers as if they were commands. The Mother has the same power as the Son. Mary was made omnipotent by Jesus.”2 Now, how blasphemous is it to think that Mary is equal to or even greater than Christ? The Bible teaches this:

For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

[I Corinthians 15:27-28 New King James Version]

Brother Felmar: There is no other human being equal to or greater than Christ, and Christ, on the other hand, is subject to the only one true God, who is the Father (John 17:1,3). Aside from God, there is no other God:

To whom will you liken Me, and make Me equal and compare Me, that we should be alike?… Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me.

[Isaiah 46:5,9 New King James Version]

Brother Felmar: Hence, the belief that Mary has equal power to or greater than that of both the Father and the Son is a false belief. 

Some may insist otherwise because they recognize Mary as the “mother of God” since they adhere to the Christ-is-God belief. However, over the centuries, the title “mother of God” given to Mary has created much debate and confusion, even to Catholic authorities themselves. A prayer written in Mater Mea Fiducia Me (My Mother, My Hope), page 54, states this: “Yes, oh Mary, you are: ‘Virgin Mother, daughter of thy Son.”<sp