It says, "He never ate chocolate until after he ate it the first time".
I clearly said the example was imperfect. If you really care about this, you need to read the original language. The word that was used has been translated as "until", but if you look at the original language it is a word that does not make any pronouncement about the future. It really means "up until this point" and then it is silent. You can argue based on an English translation, but that is faulty.
Many believe that the Bible is not definitive about the ever virgin status of Mary. Luther himself believed that Mary was ever virgin. But the important point is that the ever virgin status of Mary was left out of the Lutheran confessions for two reasons. First, the Bible is not definitive either way. Second, it doesn't matter a wit regarding theology.
Today, in the confessional Lutheran churches, there are those who believe Mary was ever virgin and there are those who believe she was not. But no matter what, both believe it does not change the gospel and has no impact on our relationship with God or with our salvation.
I believe Mary had other children, after Jesus was born, but you are right, it has no affect on our salvation, or our relationship with God.
Then why does this thread have over 600 hits?
Your imperfect example does not convince me. One word does not a sentence make.
```````````````````````````````````````````````````
1850 King James Version w/Strong’s Concordance
Mat 1:25 And knew her not till (G2193) she had brought forth her firstborn (G4416) son: and he called his name JESUS.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
G2193- _heos, heh’-oce;
of uncert. affin.; a conj., prep. and adv. of continuance, until (of time and place):—even (until, unto), (as) far (as), how long, (un-) til (-l), (hither-, un-, up) to, while (-s).
In this sentence, this tells of the uncertain time there was in place that Joseph and Mary did not have sexual relations. The modifier is a preposition and as such pre suposes that the action taken (not having sex with her husband) happened before something else (the birth of Jesus.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
G-4416. prototokos, pro-tot-ok’-os;
from {A.}G-4413 and the alt. of {B.}G-5088; first-born (usually as noun, lit. or fig.):—firstbegotten (-born).
{A.} G-4413. protos, pro’-tos;
contr. superl. of G-4253; foremost (in time, place, order or importance):—before, beginning, best, chief (-est), first (of all), former.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In this sentence, this modifier explains the time disparity referenced earlier in the same sentence.
The word ‘till’ (untill) does not mean NEVER DID. It means UNTILL.
“has no impact on our relationship with God or with our salvation.”
Every breath I take has an impact on my relationship with GOD.
Jesus is not interested in the luke warm drippings in the bottom of the dishwasher. They will be cast aside.