The notion is nevertheless not false. Indeed, the doctrine of sinlessness of Mary is not spelled out in the scripture, which is just fine by us.
Origen is generally not free from error; he was never glorified as saint and a certain heresy, Origenism is ascribed to him. Mor eimportantly, one can find among the works of the fathers of the Church almost anything (including some Protestant ideas); it is the consensus that counts, not outliers.
what is this belief based on?
The belief in the immaculate conception is a longstanding belief of the Church that was elevated into dogma in 19 Century. It is based on that: the ancient belief. However, the scripture suggest something like this: the angel called Mary "full of grace" (κεχαριτωμενη). Now that word is interesting. It is a past-perfect passive tense (who had been given grace). So what other significant event in the life of Mary prior to the Annunciation was there? Nothing except her conception. So it is a reasonable conjecture that she had been filled with grace since conception.
Annalex: >The belief in the immaculate conception is a longstanding belief of the Church that was elevated into dogma in 19 Century. It is based on that: the ancient belief.
It is just that....a belief. Without any scriptural support.
So if the pope says pigs can fly, we should just run with it???
However, the scripture suggest something like this: the angel called Mary "full of grace" (κεχαριτωμενη). Now that word is interesting. It is a past-perfect passive tense (who had been given grace).
Do you understand the significance of this perfect participle middle/passive in the Greek?
You do understand the catholic bible has this translated wrong? It should be translated as "favored one", or "you favored with grace."
So what other significant event in the life of Mary prior to the Annunciation was there?
She grew up in a household that believed the OT and understood it as evidenced by her praise to God in Luke 1.
She was married to a righteous man named Joseph. That's a pretty big event in anyone's life.
Do catholics also think Joseph was sinless also??
Nothing except her conception.
Proven incorrect as noted above.
So it is a reasonable conjecture that she had been filled with grace since conception.
So we get to the point...it's a feeling...a hope...a wish.
It is also just as reasonable, actually, even more reasonable to conclude she was not "filled with grace", even though that is the wrong translation of the verb.
Check out the significance of the perfect tense in Kione Greek and let me know what you find out.
Yeah; I've kinda figgered this out by now...