Matthew 1:18

1
Matthew 118

• Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows
  After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
  before they came together, she was found with
  child of the Holy Spirit

2
Some Deny The Virgin Birth

• Some claim Mary was a sexually questionable
  woman.
• The birth narratives are the atmosphere of
  legend, not of history.
• It runs against the laws of nature.
• It was based on pagan myths.
• It is only taught in Matthew Luke.
• It is not essential to the Christian faith.
• What is the Truth?

3
Why Believe in the Virgin Conception?

• It was prophesied (Isaiah 714 96-7 Gen.
  314-15).

4
Is the Woman of Isaiah 714 a virgin?

• Hebrew hmlu almah
• young woman of marriageable age
• Never used of a married woman!
• Greek OT (LXX)
• Gr. pa?????? parthenos
• a virgin
• Jews before Jesus thought it was a virgin!

5
Why Believe in the Virgin Conception?

• It was prophesied (Isaiah 714 96-7 Gen.
  314-15).
• It is Taught in All of the New Testament (Matthew
  116 18-24 Luke 126-38 Gal 44-5 John 823
  1926-27 John 11-3 14 phrase only
  begotten).

6
Why Believe in the Virgin Conception?

• Without it Jesus is not God (Col 29-10 Heb
  11-4 John 2026-29).
• Without it Scripture is not Inspired (2 Tim
  316-17 2 Peter 120-21).
• What is the alternative?

7
What About the Charges?

• The Jews claimed Mary was a sexually
  questionable woman but Scripture teaches she was
  highly favored had not known a man (Luke
  1).
• The birth narratives are presented as history
  (Luke 11-4).
• A miraculous itself sets aside the laws of
  nature No event like this had ever occurred
  before,how do we know but that it was the
  natural way for divinity to become humanity?
  (Boles, p. 31).

8
What About the Charges?

• It is true that many pagan myths described pagan
  gods taking human women (Caesars, Alexander,
  Pharaohs, etc.)yet there are distinct
  differences
• Pagan myths portray deities subject to carnal
  weakness.
• Scripture describes no such foolishness.
• All the supossed offspring of pagan divine
  couplings are dead.
• Jesus conquered death and ever lives!

9
Matthew 120-21

• Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take
  to you Mary your wife, for that which is
  conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she
  will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His
  name JESUS, for He will save His people from
  their sins