Helvidius (sometimes Helvetius) was the author of a work written prior to 383 against the belief in the
perpetual virginity of Mary. Helvidius maintained that the biblical mention of "sisters" and "brothers" of the Lord constitutes solid evidence that
Mary had normal marital relations with
Joseph and additional children after the miraculous conception and birth of
Jesus. He supported his opinion by the writings of
Tertullian and
Victorinus.[1] Helvidius is sometimes seen as an early
proto-protestant, along with
Vigiliantius,
Jovinian and
Aerius of Sebaste.[2]
Jerome, in reply, wrote a treatise known under the title The Perpetual Virginity of Blessed Mary,[3] where he vigorously takes the other side, and argues that the "sisters" and "brothers" spoken of were either step-brothers, children of Joseph by a former marriage (cf. Protoevangelium of James), or first cousins, children of Mary's relative/relation/kinswoman[4]Elizabeth and siblings of
John the Baptist. When Jerome wrote this treatise both he and Helvidius were in Rome, and
Damasus was Bishop of Rome.
Helvidius also accused Jerome of translating the
Vulgate from corrupt Greek manuscripts.[5] All the works of Helvidius are lost; we know some things about his tract against the belief in the perpetual virginity of Mary only through Jerome's treatise written in response to it.[6]
Helvidius considered the state of being married as an honor and argued against the high glorification of celibacy, which Jerome attacked.[7] Helvidius is one of the early opponents of the
monastic movement.[8]
Jerome often insults Helvidius as a rough, uneducated man.[7]
^Les Garret, 1982. Which Bible Can We Trust? Christian Centre Press, p. 61
^"Brothers of Jesus". BiblicalTraining.
Spokane, WA. Retrieved 2016-08-31. The works of Helvidius have not survived. In his reply to Helvidius, however, Jerome makes many references to Helvidius' ideas.
Schaff, Philip,
History of the Christian Church, vol. III: Nicene and Post-Nicene Christianity. A.D. 311–600, The Christian classics ethereal library, § 47. Helvidius, Vigilantius, and Aerius.