This doctrine would also require us to believe in the perpetual virginity of Joseph! This idea would appear to be based in part on an ascetic, un-biblical view of sex, according to which sexual relations are defiling or demeaning. The references to Jesus’ “brothers and sisters” were interpreted in three different ways in the early church. (1) Epiphanius (4th century) argued that they were Joseph’s children by a previous marriage. Joseph was a widower who thus brought to his marriage with Mary at