The Virgin Birth
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The Significance of the Virgin Birth
The Significance of the Virgin Birth
Christian Theology, 3rd ed. The Significance of the Issue
Next to the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, perhaps the one event of his life that has received the greatest amount of attention is the virgin birth. Certainly, next to the resurrection, it is the most debated and controversial.
The Debate Between the Fundamentalist and Modernists
Fundamentalists - said the virgin birth was an essential doctrine of belief that is predicated upon predictions in the Hebrew Bible and guarantees the qualitative uniqueness of the deity of the Messiah.
Modernists - said the virgin birth was not true history but rather an imaginative story, or parable and that to focus on the nature of His birth shifted attention from Yeshua’s spiritual reality to a biological issue.
The Practical Theological Implications of this Debate
For the Fundamentalists it meant
Yeshua was Deity not just a divinity.
Yeshua was fully God and not just a little ‘god.”
To accept the virgin birth is to accept that miracles can happen.
The accept the virgin birth is essential “saving” doctrine.
For the Modernists the denial of the virgin birth meant
Yeshua was divine but not Deity.
Yeshua was a good example but not a good God.
The every birth is amazing and the birth of Jesus is also amazing.
The death and resurrection are essential saving doctrine but not the virgin birth.
Christian Theology, 3rd ed. The Significance of the Issue
the liberal or modernist tended to see God as everywhere present and active. God was believed to be at work accomplishing his purposes through natural law and everyday processes rather than in direct and unique fashion. According to the conservative or fundamentalist, on the other hand, God is outside the world, but intervenes miraculously from time to time to perform a special work. The fundamentalist saw the virgin birth as a sign of God’s miraculous working,5 whereas the liberal saw every birth as a miracle. The virgin birth was, then, a primary battleground between the supernaturalistic and naturalistic views of God’s relationship to the world.
Working with Better Terminology
Virgin conception instead of Virgin Birth - by shifting the language to virgin conception it puts the focus on the miraculous moment that conceived the child rather than the Virgin who birthed the child.
Virgin Conception means that Yeshua’s conception in the womb of Miriam was not the result of sexual relationship.
Miriam was a virgin and remained so until after the birth of Yeshua. -
But he did not know her intimately until she had given birth to a Son. And he called His name Yeshua.
Miriam became pregnant through a supernatural miracle by the Holy Spirit but that does require nor demand that there was copulation between God and Miriam. -
The angel replied to her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.
Miriam had a normal birth of a child. -
But while they were there, the time came for her to give birth— and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped Him in strips of cloth and set Him down in a manger, since there was no room for them in the inn.
Some Christian traditions, especially Catholics, interpret the virgin birth as meaning that Yeshua was not born in a normal fashion.
The Catholic view of the birth of Yeshua is as follows:
He simply passed through the wall of Miriam’s uterus instead of being delivered through the normal birth canal, so that Miriam’s hymen was not ruptured. This was a sort of miraculous Caesarean section.
he simply passed through the wall of Mary’s uterus instead of being delivered through the normal birth canal, so that Mary’s hymen was not ruptured. This was a sort of miraculous Caesarean section
According to the related Catholic doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary, she at no point engaged in sexual intercourse, so that there were no natural sons and daughters born to Joseph and Miriam.
Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology, 3rd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2013), 677.
ante partum - before the birth she was a virgin
Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology, 3rd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2013), 677.
ante partum, in partu, et post partum
in partu - during the birth she was a virgin
et post partum - after the birth she remained a virgn
Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology, 3rd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2013).
The Catholic view elevated Miriam and created was is normally called Mariology:
Theotokos she became “the bearer of God.”
Immaculate Conception - - The historic designation of the Roman Catholic dogma promulgated by Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1854, in the Papal Bull entitled “Ineffabilis Deus.” The central affirmation of this proclamation, which was read in St. Peter’s in the presence of over two hundred bishops, is expressed in the following words: It is proclaimed “by the authority of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul and in our own authority, that the doctrine which holds the blessed Virgin Mary to have been, from the first instant of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of Almighty God, in view of the merits of Christ Jesus the Saviour of Mankind, preserved free from all stain of original sin, was revealed by God, and is, therefore, to be firmly and constantly believed by all the faithful” - Louis Matthews Sweet, “Immaculate Conception, The,” ed. James Orr et al., The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia (Chicago: The Howard-Severance Company, 1915), 1456
Perpetual Virginity - see above.
The central affirmation of this proclamation, which was read in St. Peter’s in the presence of over two hundred bishops, is expressed in the following words: It is proclaimed “by the authority of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul and in our own authority, that the doctrine which holds the blessed Virgin Mary to have been, from the first instant of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of Almighty God, in view of the merits of Christ Jesus the Saviour of Mankind, preserved free from all stain of original sin, was revealed by God, and is, therefore, to be firmly and constantly believed by all the faithful”
Louis Matthews Sweet, “Immaculate Conception, The,” ed. James Orr et al., The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia (Chicago: The Howard-Severance Company, 1915), 1456.The central affirmation of this proclamation, which was read in St. Peter’s in the presence of over two hundred bishops, is expressed in the following words: It is proclaimed “by the authority of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul and in our own authority, that the doctrine which holds the blessed Virgin Mary to have been, from the first instant of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of Almighty God, in view of the merits of Christ Jesus the Saviour of Mankind, preserved free from all stain of original sin, was revealed by God, and is, therefore, to be firmly and constantly believed by all the faithful” - Louis Matthews Sweet, “Immaculate Conception, The,” ed. James Orr et al., The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia (Chicago: The Howard-Severance Company, 1915), 1456.
Louis Matthews Sweet, “Immaculate Conception, The,” ed. James Orr et al., The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia (Chicago: The Howard-Severance Company, 1915), 1456.
ante partum - before the birth she was a virgin
in partu - during the birth she was a virgin
et post partum - after the birth she remained a virgin
Glorification and Intercession - Since she led a sinless life, she was glorified and has a special place of privilege with Yeshua. The argument goes as follows for her place in intercession:
The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Volumes 1–5 (c) The Doctrine of Mary’s Glorification
Christ’s perpetual humanity leads to His perpetual Sonship to Mary
Yeshua is perpetually the son of Miriam and is still subject to His mother.
Since He is subject to her, He especially hears her prayers.
And since Miriam cared for Messiah’s body on earth how much more would she take care of His spiritual body in heaven.
The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Volumes 1–5 (3) Conclusion
Our conclusion on the whole question is that the lit. of Mariolatry belongs, historically, to unauthorized speculation; and, psychologically, to the natural history of asceticism and clerical celibacy.
The Evidences
The Evidences
I suggest that we need to recover the sense in which the Gospels are testimony. This does not mean that they are testimony rather than history. It means that the kind of historiography they are is testimony. An irreducible feature of testimony as a form of human utterance is that it asks to be trusted. This need not mean that it asks to be trusted uncritically, but it does mean that testimony should not be treated as credible only to the extent that it can be independently verified. There can be good reasons for trusting or distrusting a witness, but these are precisely reasons for trusting or distrusting. Trusting testimony is not an irrational act of faith that leaves critical rationality aside; it is, on the contrary, the rationally appropriate way of responding to authentic testimony. Gospels understood as testimony are the entirely appropriate means of access to the historical reality of Jesus.
I suggest that we need to recover the sense in which the Gospels are testimony. This does not mean that they are testimony rather than history. It means that the kind of historiography they are is testimony. An irreducible feature of testimony as a form of human utterance is that it asks to be trusted. This need not mean that it asks to be trusted uncritically, but it does mean that testimony should not be treated as credible only to the extent that it can be independently verified. There can be good reasons for trusting or distrusting a witness, but these are precisely reasons for trusting or distrusting. Trusting testimony is not an irrational act of faith that leaves critical rationality aside; it is, on the contrary, the rationally appropriate way of responding to authentic testimony. Gospels understood as testimony are the entirely appropriate means of access to the historical reality of Jesus.
Bauckham, Richard. Jesus and the Eyewitnesses (p. 6). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.. Kindle Edition.
Bauckham, Richard. Jesus and the Eyewitnesses (p. 6). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.. Kindle Edition.
The Sources for the virginal conception.
The Eyewitnesses Memory of Events are Consistent
Now the birth of Yeshua the Messiah happened this way. When His mother Miriam was engaged to Joseph but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Ruach ha-Kodesh.
And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, made up his mind to dismiss her secretly.
But while he considered these things, behold, an angel of Adonai appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Miriam as your wife, for the Child conceived in her is from the Ruach ha-Kodesh.
She will give birth to a son; and you shall call His name Yeshua, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by Adonai through the prophet, saying,
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and give birth to a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which means “God with us.”
When Joseph woke up from his sleep, he did as the angel of Adonai commanded him and took Miriam as his wife.
But he did not know her intimately until she had given birth to a Son. And he called His name Yeshua.
Then in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by Adonai into a town in the Galilee named Natzeret
and to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Miriam.
And coming to her, the angel said, “Shalom, favored one! Adonai is with you.”
The Eyewitnesses Story Match Up
The Parents, Miriam and Joseph, are legally betrothed but have not consummated the marriage (; )
Now the birth of Yeshua the Messiah happened this way. When His mother Miriam was engaged to Joseph but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Ruach ha-Kodesh.
Then in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by Adonai into a town in the Galilee named Natzeret and to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Miriam.
Joseph is of Davidic Descent (, : , ; )
Now Joseph also went up from the Galilee, out of the town of Natzeret to Judah, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was from the house and family of David.
and to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Miriam.
and Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Miriam, from whom was born Yeshua who is called the Messiah.
Angelic Announcement of Birth (; )
The angel spoke to her, “Do not be afraid, Miriam, for you have found favor with God.
But while he considered these things, behold, an angel of Adonai appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Miriam as your wife, for the Child conceived in her is from the Ruach ha-Kodesh.
But while he considered these things, behold, an angel of Adonai appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Miriam as your wife, for the Child conceived in her is from the Ruach ha-Kodesh.
She will give birth to a son; and you shall call His name Yeshua, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by Adonai through the prophet, saying,
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and give birth to a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which means “God with us.”
Virginal Conception not by a man ( , , ; ).
Miriam said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am not intimate with a man?”
But while he considered these things, behold, an angel of Adonai appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Miriam as your wife, for the Child conceived in her is from the Ruach ha-Kodesh.
Virginal Conception by a miracle of Holy Spirit (, ; ).
And responding, the angel said to her, “The Ruach ha-Kodesh will come upon you, and the power of Elyon will overshadow you. Therefore, the Holy One being born will be called Ben-Elohim.
But while he considered these things, behold, an angel of Adonai appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Miriam as your wife, for the Child conceived in her is from the Ruach ha-Kodesh.
Angel Directs Child’s Naming (; ).
She will give birth to a son; and you shall call His name Yeshua, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Behold, you will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you shall call His name Yeshua.
Angelic Announcement that Child will be the Savior (; ).
She will give birth to a son; and you shall call His name Yeshua, for He will save His people from their sins.”
A Savior is born to you today in the city of David, who is Messiah the Lord.
Child born after parents have wed and live together (; ).
When Joseph woke up from his sleep, he did as the angel of Adonai commanded him and took Miriam as his wife. But he did not know her intimately until she had given birth to a Son. And he called His name Yeshua.
He went to register with Miriam, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. But while they were there, the time came for her to give birth—
Child born in Bethlehem (; ).
Now after Yeshua was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, magi from the east came to Jerusalem,
Now Joseph also went up from the Galilee, out of the town of Natzeret to Judah, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was from the house and family of David. He went to register with Miriam, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. But while they were there, the time came for her to give birth—
Child born during the reign of Herod the Great (; ).
Now after Yeshua was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, magi from the east came to Jerusalem,
In the days of Herod, King of Judah, there was a kohen named Zechariah from the priestly division of Abijah. Elizabeth, his wife, was from the daughters of Aaron.
Child raised in Nazareth (; ).
And he went and lived in a city called Natzeret, to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets, that Yeshua shall be called a Natzrati.
When Joseph and Miriam had completed everything according to the Torah of Adonai, they returned to the Galilee, to their own city of Natzeret.
The Eyewitnesses Accurately Represent 1st Century Jewish Background
The Practice of purity during Betrothal (: ; b. Git. 57a)
The Practice of Disgracing Her Publicly ()
Now the birth of Yeshua the Messiah happened this way. When His mother Miriam was engaged to Joseph but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Ruach ha-Kodesh.
And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, made up his mind to dismiss her secretly.
The Mishnah Sotah
He who expresses jealousy to his wife [concerning her relations with another man (Num. 5:14)]—
Then a spirit of jealousy overcomes him and he is suspicious of his wife, when she is impure. Or a spirit of jealousy overcomes him and he suspects his wife, yet she is not impure.
“Then he should take his wife to the kohen. He must also bring a tenth of an ephah of barley flour as an offering for her. He is not to pour oil or put incense on it, because it is an offering for jealousy, a reminder offering drawing attention to guiltiness.
“The kohen is to bring her near and have her stand before Adonai.
Then the kohen is to take some holy water in a clay jar and take some dust from the floor of the Tabernacle and put it into the water.
Then the kohen will have the woman stand before Adonai, loosen the woman’s hair, put into her hands the reminder offering, the offering for jealousy, while in the kohen’s own hands are the bitter waters that bring a curse.
Then the kohen will have her swear under oath, then say to the woman, ‘If no man other than your husband has slept with you, and if you have not gone astray into impurity from your husband, may this bitter water that brings a curse not harm you.
If, however, you have gone astray from your husband and if you became impure and had sexual relations with a man other than your husband’—
Then the kohen is to have the woman swear under this oath of a curse, and say to the woman—‘then let Adonai cause you to be cursed and denounced among your people when Adonai causes your thigh to rot and your belly to swell.
“May this water which brings a curse enter your body and cause your belly to swell and your thigh to rot.’ “The woman is to say, ‘Amen, amen!’
“Then the kohen is to write these curses on a scroll and wash them into the waters of bitterness.
The kohen will then have the woman drink the bitter water bearing curses, so that the water of the curses of bitterness enters her.
The kohen is to take the jealousy offering from the woman’s hand, wave the offering before Adonai and bring it to the altar.
The kohen is to take a handful of the grain offering and burn it up in smoke on the altar as a memorial offering. The kohen will then have the woman drink the water.
“When she is made to drink the water that carries the curse, if she has defiled herself and been unfaithful to her husband, it will enter her and cause bitterness—her abdomen will swell and her thigh will waste away. She will be accursed among her people.
If, however, the woman has not defiled herself and is clean, she will be free from guilt and be able to have children.
“This is the Torah regarding jealousy, when a woman goes astray from her husband and defiles herself,
Then a spirit of jealousy overcomes him and he is suspicious of his wife, when she is impure. Or a spirit of jealousy overcomes him and he suspects his wife, yet she is not impure.
Num 5:14
See for the ritual of the Sotah
The Practice of Private Divorce (; b. Sota 8b)
Now the birth of Yeshua the Messiah happened this way. When His mother Miriam was engaged to Joseph but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Ruach ha-Kodesh.
And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, made up his mind to dismiss her secretly.
“Here what is the scriptural basis [for rabbis view that one has to humiliate the woman, even if she is not unclean]? ‘So that all women may be taught not to do after your lewdness’ (Ez. 23:48).” [Accordingly, there is no consideration shown to the accused woman.] But in that other instance, [namely, stoning the woman to death], you have no greater warning than that.”
The Practice of Legal Adoption by Joseph’s Naming of Yeshua (; cf. ; Cf. M. Baba Bathra 8:6)
The Mishnah Baba Batra
He who says, “This is my son,” is believed.
She will give birth to a son; and you shall call His name Yeshua, for He will save His people from their sins.”
The Mishnah Baba Batra
He who says, “This is my son,” is believed.
The Practice of Circumcision on the 8th Day (; ; , cf. , ; )
The Genealogical Records (; ).
The Memory of Important Details
The Genealogical Records (; ).
The Names of Specific Political Dignitaries relating to Israel in 1st Century.
Caesar Augustus ()
Quirinius governor of Syria (Luke 2:2)
Herod the Great (Matt 2:3).
Archelaus ().
The Census of Caesar Augustus ().
The order of King Herod to kill children ().
The Memory of Jewish Names and Tribes
Joseph & Miriam
Elisheva & Zechariah (Luke 1)
Shimon & Hannah ()
Tribe of Asher ()
Priestly division of Abijah ().
Daughters of Aaron ().
The Levitical Cycle of Priestly Service ().
The use of Jewish Imagery and Scriptures (; ).
The memory of 1st Century Jewish towns
Nazareth
Bethlehem
Town in Judah
Jerusalem
The Secondary Passages of Biblical Evidence
But when the fullness of time came, God sent out His Son, born of a woman and born under law—
Concerning His Son, He came into being from the seed of David according to the flesh.
The Ancient Sources for the Birth of the Messiah
Celsus (c. A.D. 179), according to Origen (c. A.D. 248), claimed that Jesus was the illegitimate son of a Roman soldier (Contra Celsum 1.32–33).
Celsus (c. A.D. 179), according to Origen (c. A.D. 248), claimed that Jesus was the illegitimate son of a Roman soldier (Contra Celsum 1.32–33)
Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels 2. Roman Historians and Other Writers
Celsus (c. A.D. 179), according to Origen (c. A.D. 248), claimed that Jesus was the illegitimate son of a Roman soldier (Contra Celsum 1.32–33)
“when she was pregnant she was turned out of doors by the carpenter to whom she had been betrothed, as having been guilty of adultery, and that she bore a child to a certain soldier named Panthera;”
C. A. Evans, “Jesus in Non-Christian Sources,” ed. Joel B. Green and Scot McKnight, Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1992), 366.
The Mishnah
Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels 3.1. On the Parents and Birth of Jesus
Rabbi Simeon ben Azzai (late first/early second century) claims that he “found a scroll of genealogical record in Jerusalem, in which was written: ‘A certain person was illegitimately born of a married woman’ ” (m. Yebam. 4:13; cf. b. Yebam. 49a).
The Talmud (b. Sanh. 106a)
The Babylonian Talmud: A Translation and Commentary The List of Those Who Do Not Enter the World to Come Kings and Commoners: Summary Judgments
“This is in line with what people say: ‘She who came from princes and rulers played the whore with a carpenter.’ ”
The Apostle’s Creed ca. 100
Ignatius, Bishop of Syrian Antioch ca. 105
2For our God, Jesus the Christ, was conceived in the womb by Mary according to a dispensation, of the seed of David but also of the Holy Ghost; and He was born and was baptized that by His passion He might cleanse water.
19. And hidden from the prince of this world were the virginity of Mary and her child-bearing and likewise also the death of the Lord—three mysteries to be cried aloud—the which were wrought in the silence of God
Objections to the Virgin Conception
Objections to the Virgin Conception
Unexpected Ignorance - ,
When His family heard about this, they went out to take hold of Him; for they were saying, “He’s out of His mind!”
Then His mother and brothers come. Standing outside, they sent word to Him, summoning Him.
The Virgin Conception Undermines Yeshua’s True Humanity.
The Virgin Conception Undermines Yeshua’s Deity/Pre-Existence.
The Virgin Conception is really a repackaged Pagan Myth.
The Virgin Conception Breaks Natural Law
The Virgin Conception is not a Jewish Idea