THE VIRGIN BIRTH
by Chris Walls
The Virgin Birth
Chris Walls
Introduction
The virgin birth has become one of the most debated doctrines in Christianity. Next to the resurrection of Christ the virgin birth has become one of the most controversial topics in Christianity. It is something that in many ways is essential to belief of Christians. Why? You might ask, because as R.C. Sproul says, "To deny the virgin birth is usually linked to the denial of the supernatural or miraculous elements of scripture."
That is what most of those who want to deny the virgin birth is actually denying, the supernatural aspects of scripture.
The question comes, "What are some of the arguments against the virgin birth?"
1) The lack of references in other passages to the virgin birth.
People who hold this view will ask why Mark or John do not make reference to the virgin birth, since Mark was the first Gospel written and John is the most theologically sound of the Gospels. They will also refer to Paul's own silence as well.
The first problem is the idea of an argument being built from silence. Just because someone is silent on the subject does not mean it is not important to them.
The answer to that question actually comes in the form of a question. Why do Mark and John give very little reference to the birth of Christ? These two did not seem to be interested in the birth narrative at all. Mark does not give any account of the birth or infancy of Christ. The nature of John's gospel is the same as Mark's, there is no birth narrative.
There is a hint in Mark's gospel that he did know about the virgin birth. This occurs in Mark 6:3. There are parallel passages to this story in Matthew and Luke. Matthew reports that the people of Nazareth asked, "Is not this the carpenter's son?" (Matt. 13:55); and Luke has, "Is not this Joseph's son?"(Luke 4:22). However the report in Mark reads, "Is not this carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and ar ...
Chris Walls
Introduction
The virgin birth has become one of the most debated doctrines in Christianity. Next to the resurrection of Christ the virgin birth has become one of the most controversial topics in Christianity. It is something that in many ways is essential to belief of Christians. Why? You might ask, because as R.C. Sproul says, "To deny the virgin birth is usually linked to the denial of the supernatural or miraculous elements of scripture."
That is what most of those who want to deny the virgin birth is actually denying, the supernatural aspects of scripture.
The question comes, "What are some of the arguments against the virgin birth?"
1) The lack of references in other passages to the virgin birth.
People who hold this view will ask why Mark or John do not make reference to the virgin birth, since Mark was the first Gospel written and John is the most theologically sound of the Gospels. They will also refer to Paul's own silence as well.
The first problem is the idea of an argument being built from silence. Just because someone is silent on the subject does not mean it is not important to them.
The answer to that question actually comes in the form of a question. Why do Mark and John give very little reference to the birth of Christ? These two did not seem to be interested in the birth narrative at all. Mark does not give any account of the birth or infancy of Christ. The nature of John's gospel is the same as Mark's, there is no birth narrative.
There is a hint in Mark's gospel that he did know about the virgin birth. This occurs in Mark 6:3. There are parallel passages to this story in Matthew and Luke. Matthew reports that the people of Nazareth asked, "Is not this the carpenter's son?" (Matt. 13:55); and Luke has, "Is not this Joseph's son?"(Luke 4:22). However the report in Mark reads, "Is not this carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and ar ...
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