The Truth About Mary: What the Bible Really Says vs Roman Catholic Teaching
Many Christians are unsure about what the Bible really says about Mary.
Some churches teach that she was sinless, a mediator, or even taken up into heaven.
But Scripture gives a much simpler — and far more beautiful — picture.
Mary was a humble servant, blessed by God’s grace and chosen to bring the Savior into the world.
In this study, we’ll look closely at what the Bible teaches about Mary and how those truths differ from Roman Catholic traditions — so that our faith and worship stay centered on Jesus Christ alone.
Part of the “False Teachings” Series — Living for the Christ
Introduction: Honoring Truth, Not Tradition
Mary was a humble young woman from Nazareth.
God chose her for a holy purpose—to bring His Son into the world.
The Bible calls her “blessed among women” (Luke 1:42).
But over time, people have added man-made ideas about her—calling her sinless, a mediator, a queen of heaven, or someone who can hear prayers.
None of these teachings are found in Scripture.
This post is not written to attack Mary.
It’s written to honor God’s Word and show the real, biblical Mary—the faithful servant who always pointed to Jesus, not to herself.
1. Mary Was Blessed, Not Sinless
“And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!’” — Luke 1:28
Some older translations read “Hail, full of grace.”
The Greek word here, kecharitōmenē, means “to be graced” or “highly favored.”
It speaks of God’s favor given to Mary, not Mary’s own perfection.
Mary knew she needed saving:
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” — Luke 1:46–47
If she needed a Savior, she was human and sinful like us.
The Bible says:
- “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” — Romans 3:23
- “There is none righteous, no, not one.” — Romans 3:10
Mary’s story is not about her perfection; it is about God’s grace working through her faith.
✝️ Reflection
God doesn’t look for flawless people; He looks for faithful ones.
Mary said “yes” when God called her, and His power worked through her simple trust.
That same grace is offered to anyone who will believe and obey Him.
2. The Assumption of Mary
Catholic tradition says Mary was taken into heaven, body and soul.
The Bible never says this.
When God took someone to heaven, Scripture recorded it plainly:
- Enoch: “And he was not, for God took him.” — Genesis 5:24
- Elijah: “Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” — 2 Kings 2:11
No such record exists for Mary.
If it had happened, the apostles surely would have written about it.
God warns us not to add to His Word (Deuteronomy 4:2).
💖 Reflection
Faith grows strongest when it rests on Scripture alone.
We don’t need extra stories to make Mary important.
Her obedience to God’s Word was miracle enough.
3. Only Jesus Is the Mediator
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” — 1 Timothy 2:5
A mediator stands in the gap between two sides.
Only Jesus can do that because only He bore our sin and rose again.
The Bible says He “always lives to make intercession” for those who come to God through Him (Hebrews 7:25).
Mary herself depended on that same Mediator.
She is never called a go-between in Scripture.
✝️ Reflection
Jesus is enough.
When we rest our prayers and hopes on Him alone, our hearts find real peace.
No one else can stand in His place.
4. Praying to Mary
Jesus taught His followers:
“When you pray, say: ‘Our Father in heaven…’” — Matthew 6:9
Prayer is part of worship, and worship belongs only to God (Matthew 4:10).
The Bible also forbids trying to speak with the dead (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).
Mary, being human, cannot hear every prayer; only God can.
“O You who hear prayer, to You all flesh will come.” — Psalm 65:2
💖 Reflection
When you pray, talk directly to the One who can truly answer.
Jesus invites you to come boldly before the Father’s throne.
There’s no greater privilege than speaking with God yourself.
5. Veneration or Idolatry?
Some say they “venerate” Mary, not worship her.
Yet bowing before statues, lighting candles, and repeating prayers to her is still devotion that belongs to God.
“You shall have no other gods before Me.” — Exodus 20:3
“Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” — 1 John 5:21
Even John the apostle once bowed before an angel, and the angel stopped him:
“Worship God!” — Revelation 22:9
✝️ Reflection
True worship points upward, never sideways.
Anything that steals affection from God—even something that looks religious—becomes an idol.
Keep your heart single and your worship pure.
6. Did Mary Stay a Virgin Forever?
Mary was a virgin when she conceived Jesus, fulfilling prophecy (Isaiah 7:14).
But the Bible does not say she remained a virgin.
“[Joseph] did not know her until she had given birth to a son.” — Matthew 1:25
The word until implies a normal marriage afterward.
Scripture also names Jesus’ brothers and sisters (Matthew 13:55-56; Mark 6:3).
💖 Reflection
God’s power was revealed in Christ’s miraculous birth, not in Mary’s lifelong virginity.
The focus is always on Jesus—the miracle of God made flesh.
7. The Real Mary—Humble and Faithful
Mary trusted God even when she didn’t understand everything (Luke 2:50).
She suffered as she watched her Son die (Luke 2:35).
After the resurrection, she prayed with other believers (Acts 1:14).
When someone praised her loudly, Jesus replied:
“Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it.” — Luke 11:28
✝️ Reflection
Mary’s life teaches humility, obedience, and faith.
She followed God’s Word and pointed others to her Son.
That’s the kind of faith every believer can imitate.
8. Roman Catholic Teachings vs. Biblical Truth
Here’s a quick comparison between Catholic tradition and what the Bible actually teaches:
| Roman Catholic Teaching | What the Bible Actually Says | Key Scriptures |
|---|---|---|
| Mary was conceived without sin. | Mary called God her Savior — only sinners need a Savior. | Luke 1:28, 46–47; Romans 3:10, 23 |
| Mary remained a virgin forever. | Joseph “did not know her until she had given birth.” Jesus had brothers and sisters. | Matthew 1:25; 13:55–56 |
| Mary was taken to heaven body and soul. | The Bible never mentions this; only Enoch and Elijah were taken up. | Genesis 5:24; 2 Kings 2:11 |
| Mary is a mediator. | Jesus alone is the one mediator between God and man. | 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:25 |
| Mary hears prayers. | Only God hears prayer; contacting the dead is forbidden. | Psalm 65:2; Deuteronomy 18:10–12 |
| Mary should be venerated. | Worship belongs to God alone; angels refuse it. | Exodus 20:3–5; Revelation 22:9 |
| Mary is Mother of God (Theotokos). | Mary is the mother of Jesus in His humanity, not the origin of His deity. God has no mother. | Luke 1:43; John 1:1–3,14; John 8:58; Psalm 90:2 |
| Mary is Queen of Heaven. | “Queen of Heaven” in Scripture refers to a pagan idol condemned by God. The Bible gives Mary no royal title. | Jeremiah 7:18; 44:17–25; 1 Kings 2:19; Psalm 45:9 (bride, not mother) |
| Mary helps save souls. | Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone. | Ephesians 2:8–9; Acts 4:12 |
| Mary is mother of all believers. | The Bible calls her “the mother of Jesus.” | John 19:25–27; Galatians 4:26 |
| Mary was without sin and redeems mankind. | Jesus alone is sinless and Redeemer. | 1 Peter 2:22; 2 Corinthians 5:21 |
💖 Reflection
Comparing man-made doctrine with Scripture keeps us anchored in truth.
Mary would never want attention drawn to herself—her life’s message was, “Do whatever He tells you” (John 2:5).
9. Why Roman Catholics Call Mary “Mother of God” — and What the Bible Really Says
What the Catholic Church Teaches
The Catholic Church teaches that Mary is Theotokos — a Greek word meaning “God-bearer” or “Mother of God.”
This title was officially declared at the Council of Ephesus (AD 431), not in Scripture.
The logic goes like this:
- Jesus is God.
- Mary gave birth to Jesus.
- Therefore, Mary is the Mother of God.
Catholics use this title to emphasize Jesus’ divine nature, but in doing so, they also lift Mary far beyond her biblical role.
The Verse Catholics Use
“And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” — Luke 1:43
Catholics point to Elizabeth’s words, saying “Lord” means God, and therefore Mary must be “Mother of God.”
But in context, Elizabeth is recognizing Mary as the mother of the promised Messiah — the One who is Lord and Savior.
The phrase “mother of my Lord” does not mean Mary was the origin or source of God.
It simply means she carried the human Messiah, who is Lord.
What the Bible Actually Teaches
Mary was the mother of Jesus’ humanity, not His divinity.
She gave birth to His human body, not to His eternal being.
Jesus, the eternal Word, existed long before Mary was born:
- “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” — John 1:1
- “Before Abraham was, I AM.” — John 8:58
- “From everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” — Psalm 90:2
God has no beginning and no mother.
Mary was created by God; God was not created by Mary.
Jesus the God-Man: Fully God and Fully Human (One Person, Two Natures)
1) His Deity (fully God) — clear in Scripture
- John 1:1–3, 14 — the eternal Word is God, and the Word became flesh.
- John 20:28 — Thomas to Jesus: “My Lord and my God.”
- Colossians 2:9 — “In Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.”
- Hebrews 1:3, 8 — the Son is the radiance of God’s glory; the Father says to the Son, “Your throne, O God.”
- Titus 2:13 — “our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
- Romans 9:5 — “the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever.”
- Isaiah 9:6 (prophecy) — the Son is “Mighty God.”
2) His Humanity (fully man) — just as clear
- Luke 1:35; Matthew 1:20 — conceived in Mary by the Holy Spirit.
- Galatians 4:4 — “God sent forth His Son, born of woman.”
- Luke 2:7, 52 — born, grew in wisdom and stature.
- Matthew 4:2; John 19:28 — hunger and thirst.
- John 11:35 — He wept.
- Hebrews 2:14–17 — He partook of flesh and blood to save us.
- Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22 — tempted yet without sin.
3) One Person, Two Natures (not mixed or divided)
Jesus is one Person who is 100% God and 100% human.
His divine nature is eternal; His human nature began at His conception by the Holy Spirit.
- John 1:14 — “the Word became flesh.”
- 1 Timothy 3:16 — “He was manifested in the flesh.”
- Philippians 2:6–7 — being in the form of God, He took the form of a servant.
- Colossians 2:9 — deity bodily.
What Mary did — and did not do:
- She is the mother of the Person Jesus according to the flesh (cf. Romans 1:3; Romans 9:5 “according to the flesh”).
- She did not bring His deity into existence.
- She bore the human nature the eternal Son assumed, by the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35).
4) Why the God-Man matters for the gospel
Only God can save (Jonah 2:9; Isaiah 43:11).
Only a true man can stand in our place.
In Jesus, God the Son became man so He could die for sinners and bring us to God.
- 1 Timothy 2:5 — “one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
- Hebrews 2:14–17 — He became like us to make propitiation for our sins.
- Hebrews 7:25 — He always lives to intercede for us.
Where This Idea Really Comes From
The title Theotokos (God-bearer) began as an attempt to protect the truth that Jesus is both fully God and fully man.
At the Council of Ephesus, the church wanted to affirm that the child Mary bore was truly divine — not a separate human person.
This was meant to defend Christ’s deity, not to glorify Mary.
But over time, the title took on a life of its own.
It became a tool for exalting Mary, leading to prayers, devotion, and even worship that Scripture never commands.
After centuries of theological development, Mary began to be seen not just as the “Mother of God,” but as a heavenly mother, intercessor, and even co-redeemer — ideas foreign to the Bible.
This confusion of roles has blurred the clear line between the Creator and the created.
Plain truth:
Mary was the mother of Jesus in His humanity, not the origin of His deity.
Jesus is the eternal Son of God — He existed before Mary and created her.
“All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.” — John 1:3
✝️ Reflection
Hold fast to who Jesus truly is — the God-Man, one Person with two natures.
Mary magnified her Savior (Luke 1:46–47).
Let us do the same, giving all glory to Christ alone.
The Title “Queen of Heaven”
Catholics also call Mary the Queen of Heaven, believing that because Jesus is the King of kings, His mother must be the queen.
They argue this is supported by the Old Testament role of the queen mother (gebirah) in the royal household.
The verses they use:
- 1 Kings 2:19 — Solomon honored his mother Bathsheba, placing her on a throne at his right hand.
- Psalm 45:9 — “At your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.” (interpreted as Mary)
- Jeremiah 13:18 — “Say to the king and the queen mother…” (used to show the office existed)
- Luke 1:32–33 — Jesus is given the throne of David.
- Revelation 12:1 — “A woman clothed with the sun… and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” (interpreted as Mary crowned in heaven)
What the Bible really says:
- 1 Kings 2:19 — Bathsheba’s position was symbolic of honor, not worship. It does not justify praying to a queen mother.
- Psalm 45:9 — The “queen” in this psalm is a bride, not a mother, and represents the Church — not Mary.
- Jeremiah 13:18 — Simply recognizes an earthly queen mother; it is not a prophecy about Mary.
- Luke 1:32–33 — Declares Jesus as King, but says nothing about Mary’s coronation.
- Revelation 12:1 — The “woman” likely represents Israel or God’s people, not Mary specifically.
The most important verses:
In the Old Testament, the only direct mention of “Queen of Heaven” is found in Jeremiah 7:18 and Jeremiah 44:17–25, where the title refers to a pagan goddess worshiped by Israel — something God condemned in the strongest terms.
“The children gather wood, the fathers kindle fire, and the women knead dough to make cakes for the Queen of Heaven. And they pour out drink offerings to other gods, to provoke Me to anger.” — Jeremiah 7:18
Calling Mary by this same title goes directly against Scripture, which forbids giving divine honor to anyone other than God.
The Biblical Truth
The Bible never gives Mary a royal title.
It never shows her sitting on a throne, crowned, or ruling in heaven.
She is honored as a faithful servant, not a co-ruler or queen.
“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” — Luke 1:38
Mary’s greatness is found in her humility.
She magnified the Lord, not herself (Luke 1:46).
💖 Reflection
Mary’s true beauty is not in her titles but in her faith.
She obeyed God’s Word and pointed others to Jesus.
The more we understand Scripture, the clearer it becomes — all glory belongs to Christ alone.
Let’s honor Mary as the Bible does: a blessed, faithful servant who rejoiced in her Savior and worshiped the God who created her.
10. The Real Way to Honor Mary
The best way to honor Mary is to follow her example of faith.
She said yes to God’s call and trusted His Word.
✝️ Reflection
When you obey God, you honor Mary’s legacy far more than by praying to her.
Faith and obedience are the true marks of devotion.
11. All Glory to Christ Alone
Mary was a servant. Jesus is the Savior.
She gave birth to the Lord of life—but He is life itself.
“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.” — Romans 11:36
💖 Reflection
Keep your eyes on Jesus.
When He is at the center, every other truth falls into place.
Mary pointed to Him—let’s do the same and live fully for the Christ.
Final Summary: The Truth That Sets Us Free
From start to finish, the Bible gives us a clear and simple picture of Mary.
She was a humble, obedient servant, chosen by God to bring the Savior into the world.
She believed His promises, rejoiced in His mercy, and pointed everyone to her Son.
But Scripture never gives her the roles that later tradition invented — sinless, mediator, co-redeemer, queen of heaven, or mother of God.
Each of those ideas exalts Mary beyond what the Word of God allows and shifts attention away from the only One worthy of worship: Jesus Christ.
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” — 1 Timothy 2:5
He alone was without sin.
He alone died for our salvation.
He alone rose again and lives forever to intercede for His people.
Mary needed that same Savior just as we do.
The enemy always tries to distort truth — to replace pure devotion to Christ with devotion to something or someone else.
But the Word of God calls us back to simplicity, to faith, and to the worship of the one true God.
So let us honor Mary the way Scripture does: as a woman of faith, chosen and blessed, who trusted God completely.
But let us worship Jesus alone — the eternal Son of God, the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world.
“To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” — Revelation 5:13
💖 Reflection
True faith never glorifies the messenger more than the message.
Mary’s life pointed to Christ; our lives should do the same.
Let every heart magnify the Lord and rejoice in God our Savior — just as Mary did.
A Call to Return to God’s Word
If this study helped you see Mary through Scripture’s eyes, spend time this week reading Luke 1–2 and John 2 on your own.
Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you what it means to live with Mary’s humility and Jesus’ focus.
If you’ve believed things that aren’t in God’s Word, let His truth set you free.
He calls us to worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).
👉 Coming next in this series: False Teachings — Praying to Saints and the Danger of Idolatry
Stay faithful. Stay humble. Keep living for the Christ. 💖