Christ the God-Man: An Advent Reflection on the Virgin BirthExemplo

Jesus Christ’s entry into humanity—a most unusual entry for the eternal Son of God—separates Him from the rest of us. Plainly put, He was born of a virgin. How does the Bible talk about the virgin birth?

The Gospel of Matthew tells us a lot (1:18-25). The marriage between Joseph and Mary was pledged though not consummated before the birth of Jesus. Mary was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit before they came together. Joseph agonized over this amazing event, but an angel confirmed the baby had been conceived by the Holy Spirit. Joseph abstained from sexual union with Mary until the baby was born. 

Luke also calls Mary a virgin when she conceived (Lk. 1:27,31). Mary too called herself a virgin (v. 34). The genealogical record declares with precision, “Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom (feminine gender) Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah” (Matt. 1:16). The feminine relative pronoun erases any ambiguity. Matthew uses the distinct word for virgin (Greek, parthenos) as that which the prophet foretold (Matt 1:23; cf. Isa. 7:14)—the virgin birth was prophesied in the Old Testament 700 years before Jesus! 

The divine author of Scripture wants us to clearly understand this: Jesus was born of a virgin.