Definition of the Doctrine
The doctrine of the virgin birth teaches that Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary without a human father. This was a supernatural act of God that ensured Jesus would be fully God and fully man, sinless and qualified to be the Redeemer of humanity.
This doctrine is very important to the believer. In fact, it is commemorated through one of the most commonly observed days of the sacred calendar : Christmas.
Key Terms:
- Incarnation: The eternal Son of God taking on true human nature (John 1:14).
- Theotokos: “God-bearer,” a term affirming Mary bore the divine Christ.
- Hypostatic Union: The union of two natures, divine and human, in the one Person of Jesus Christ.
- Protoevangelium: The “first gospel” found in Genesis 3:15, which is seen as the first promise of the Messiah.
Historic Confession Example:
The Apostles’ Creed: “He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.”
Biblical Foundations and Scriptural Proof
Genesis 3:15 – The Seed of the Woman
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
This is the first gospel promise. The unusual phrase “her seed” (not “his seed”) is seen by many theologians—such as Augustine, Luther, and modern evangelicals—as a veiled prophecy of the virgin birth, since seed typically comes from the man in biblical language. This early anticipation finds full expression in the birth of Christ through Mary, without the involvement of a human father.
Isaiah 7:14 – The Prophecy of the Virgin
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
The Hebrew word ‘almah implies virginity, and the Septuagint translates it with parthenos, meaning “virgin.” Matthew 1:22–23 directly applies this prophecy to Jesus, affirming its messianic fulfillment.
Gospel Narratives (Matthew 1:18–25; Luke 1:26–38)
- Mary is said to be “found with child from the Holy Spirit” before she and Joseph came together.
- The angel Gabriel explains to Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.”
- No sexual activity is involved. This is a divine act, not a natural process.
Other Passages
- Galatians 4:4 – “Born of a woman” subtly implies something unusual, possibly linking to Genesis 3:15.
- John 1:14 – “The Word became flesh” refers to the incarnation, inaugurated through the virgin birth.
Historical Development of the Doctrine
Early Church and Creeds
- Ignatius of Antioch and Justin Martyr defended the virgin birth as vital to understanding Christ’s divinity and humanity.
- The Apostles’ Creed and Nicene Creed (AD 325, 381) both affirm the virgin birth, embedding it in the heart of Christian orthodoxy.
Reformation Confessions
- Heidelberg Catechism (Q.35) and Second London Baptist Confession (1689) explicitly affirm Christ’s conception by the Holy Spirit and birth from the Virgin Mary.
Controversies
- Heresies such as Ebionitism and Adoptionism denied Christ’s divine origin, which made the virgin birth a theological battleground.
- The Council of Chalcedon (AD 451) upheld the hypostatic union—Christ’s two natures united in one Person.
Other Lines of Reasoning
Theological Necessity
- Christ had to be both God and man to be the perfect Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5).
- The virgin birth allowed Christ to be born without inherited sin, bypassing Adam’s line (Rom. 5:12–21).
Logical Consistency
- If Jesus were conceived by Joseph, He would be under Adam’s federal headship and sin nature.
- The Holy Spirit’s role ensures sinless humanity and divine origin.
Experiential and Devotional Support
- The virgin birth testifies to God’s sovereignty and power to intervene in history.
- It anchors Christian hope in a real, supernatural Savior.
Common Heresies and Errors Regarding the Doctrine
Ebionitism & Adoptionism
- Deny Jesus’ divinity or affirm it only as something adopted later.
- Contradicted by Luke 1:35 and John 1:1–14.
Mormonism
- Officially claims belief in the virgin birth, but contradicts it in practice.
- Brigham Young and other LDS leaders taught that God the Father had physical relations with Mary, making Christ the literal offspring of a physical exalted being.
- Quote: “He [Jesus] was not begotten by the Holy Ghost.” – Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 1, p. 50
- This sexualizes and materializes what Scripture describes as a spiritual miracle.
- Thus, Mormonism redefines the term “virgin birth,” distorting its meaning beyond orthodoxy.
Modern Liberal Theology
- Dismisses the doctrine as myth or irrelevant.
- Denies the miraculous, undermining Scripture’s authority and Christianity’s supernatural foundation.
Importance and Relevance for Contemporary Christians
Why It Matters
- It establishes Christ’s divine identity from the start.
- Without it, the foundation for atonement, resurrection, and salvation collapses.
For Worship and Life
- Magnifies God’s grace and power.
- Encourages faith in a God who intervenes miraculously.
For Evangelism
- Provides a compelling, miraculous event to anchor Gospel proclamation.
- Affirms that salvation is by God’s initiative, not man’s effort.
For Doctrinal Fidelity
- The virgin birth is not optional—denying it is to reject Christ’s unique identity and saving work.
Old Testament Shadows and Types of the Virgin Birth
Typology Principle
Hebrews 10:1 — “The law has but a shadow of the good things to come…”
Types are prophetic symbols fulfilled in Christ. Shadows point to a greater reality, which overshadows and surpasses them.
Isaac’s Miraculous Birth (Genesis 17–21)
- Sarah was barren and elderly, making Isaac’s birth a miracle of providence.
- But she still conceived through Abraham.
- In contrast, Mary was a virgin, and Jesus’ conception was not through any man, but by the Holy Spirit.
- Christ’s birth is a greater fulfillment, making Isaac’s birth a shadow of a more profound reality.
Isaiah’s Immediate Fulfillment vs. Final Fulfillment
- The prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 may have had a partial historical fulfillment (e.g., Hezekiah or another child of the time).
- But Matthew 1 shows the real, ultimate fulfillment is Jesus, born of an actual virgin.
These types and shadows serve as theological road signs, leading to the breathtaking fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
Doctrinal Summary or Confessional Statement
Doctrinal Summary:
Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, without sin. His miraculous birth fulfilled prophecy and ensured His unique qualification to be Savior and Lord.
Westminster Confession, Chapter 8.2:
“The Son of God… did, when the fullness of time was come, take upon him man’s nature… being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, of her substance.”
Applications and Exhortations
- Worship God for His power and wisdom in bringing the Savior into the world in such a miraculous way.
- Guard this doctrine as a non-negotiable truth of the Gospel.
- Teach it confidently to the next generation, grounding it in both Scripture and reason.
- Use it evangelistically, showing seekers that Christianity rests not in myth, but in divine history.
- Rejoice that your salvation is not man-made, but God-wrought—beginning in a virgin’s womb and culminating in an empty tomb.
This doctrinal explanation on the virgin birth is one of a series that I am developing to explain essential (core) doctrines of the Christian faith.
Robert Sparkman
rob@christiannewsjunkie.com
RELATED CONTENT
RC Sproul was one of the finest Bible teachers. He discusses the Incarnation and Virgin Birth in this sermon.
Alistair Begg is a fine Bible teacher as well. He addresses the topic of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ in this sermon. He mentions that the Virgin Birth should more properly be called the Virgin Conception, and I agree with this.
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