Who Is Jesus Christ for Us Today?
To say that Jesus Christ is the truth of the Christian story calls for further examination. It is one thing to assert that the New Testament describes Jesus as the Oppressed One who came to liberate the poor and the weak (Chap. 4); but it is quite another to ask, Who is Jesus Christ for us today? If twentieth-century Christians are to speak the truth for their sociohistorical situation, they cannot merely repeat the story of what Jesus did and said in Palestine, as if it were selfinterpreting for us today. Truth is more than the retelling of the biblical story. Truth is the divine happening that invades our contemporary situation, revealing the meaning of the past for the present so that we
are made new creatures for the future. It is therefore our commitment to the divine truth, as witnessed to in the biblical story, that requires us to investigate the connection between Jesus' words and deeds in firstcentury Palestine and our existence today. This is the crux of the christological issue that no Christian theology can avoid.
This is a study of Jesus asking a strange question about who touched him in a great crowd all about Him. It puzzled His disciples that He asked such a question.
Who Is Jesus Christ for Us Today?
To say that Jesus Christ is the truth of the Christian story calls for further examination. It is one thing to assert that the New Testament describes Jesus as the Oppressed One who came to liberate the poor and the weak (Chap. 4); but it is quite another to ask, Who is Jesus Christ for us today? If twentieth-century Christians are to speak the truth for their sociohistorical situation, they cannot merely repeat the story of what Jesus did and said in Palestine, as if it were selfinterpreting for us today. Truth is more than the retelling of the biblical story. Truth is the divine happening that invades our contemporary situation, revealing the meaning of the past for the present so that we
are made new creatures for the future. It is therefore our commitment to the divine truth, as witnessed to in the biblical story, that requires us to investigate the connection between Jesus' words and deeds in firstcentury Palestine and our existence today. This is the crux of the christological issue that no Christian theology can avoid.
This is a study of Jesus asking a strange question about who touched him in a great crowd all about Him. It puzzled His disciples that He asked such a question.
The problem is that “growth” outside of the Covenant of the Bride is inconsistent at best. Is the individual truly overcoming sin, or is Satan providing them with false victories to deepen their confidence in their deceptive traditions?
Important study on the Emergent Church and its infiltration into Protestantism and the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The Omega of apostasy will deceive many people, for the devil is behind it. Our only safety is in an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ, and serious study of the Bible.
This is a study of Jesus being circumcised on the 8th day. It has caused a great deal of controversy, and we deal with that here. It also makes good sense, and this will also be revealed.
In this paper I examine the evangelical task of proclaiming the Christian kerygma in the modern world. First, I contextualize proclamation within the overall task of witnessing to the Gospel. Next, I show how the early Christian kerygma was shaped by the apostles according to their particular audience. Following this, I look broadly at the modern American audience and suggest some important points of emphasis and de-emphasis in our shaping of kerygma for them. Finally, I suggest a method for sharing the Good News that begins to integrate the results of this discussion.
This is a collection of writings dealing with the issue of eternal security. Christians have different views of this issue and have powerful arguments to support their view,
Jesus was a preacher to the spirits in prisonGLENN PEASE
This is a study of Jesus being a preacher to the spirits in prison. It is a text that has a number of interpretations. It is interesting to read about the different perspectives.
Jesus was preaching to the spirits in prisonGLENN PEASE
This is a study of Jesus descending into hell to preach to those in prison. It is a very difficult passage to understand and here we have a number of attempts to explain it all.
The problem is that “growth” outside of the Covenant of the Bride is inconsistent at best. Is the individual truly overcoming sin, or is Satan providing them with false victories to deepen their confidence in their deceptive traditions?
Important study on the Emergent Church and its infiltration into Protestantism and the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The Omega of apostasy will deceive many people, for the devil is behind it. Our only safety is in an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ, and serious study of the Bible.
This is a study of Jesus being circumcised on the 8th day. It has caused a great deal of controversy, and we deal with that here. It also makes good sense, and this will also be revealed.
In this paper I examine the evangelical task of proclaiming the Christian kerygma in the modern world. First, I contextualize proclamation within the overall task of witnessing to the Gospel. Next, I show how the early Christian kerygma was shaped by the apostles according to their particular audience. Following this, I look broadly at the modern American audience and suggest some important points of emphasis and de-emphasis in our shaping of kerygma for them. Finally, I suggest a method for sharing the Good News that begins to integrate the results of this discussion.
This is a collection of writings dealing with the issue of eternal security. Christians have different views of this issue and have powerful arguments to support their view,
Jesus was a preacher to the spirits in prisonGLENN PEASE
This is a study of Jesus being a preacher to the spirits in prison. It is a text that has a number of interpretations. It is interesting to read about the different perspectives.
Jesus was preaching to the spirits in prisonGLENN PEASE
This is a study of Jesus descending into hell to preach to those in prison. It is a very difficult passage to understand and here we have a number of attempts to explain it all.
Answers, purely through scriptural text many of the questions surrounding:
1. The Nature of the antichrist (the beast)
2. Nature and Identity of the Great Babylonian Whore of Revelation.
3. Reveals the nature and working of the "image that speaks."
4. Depicts and explains the "great falling away."
5. Exposes the true nature of the "Rapture."
6. Compares the Mystery of Righteousness with the Mystery of Iniquity.
7. Indentifies the "Woman In Travail" of Revelation 12.
This is surely to become a radical and earth shaking treatise of the "End Times" prophecies. Without pointing fingers at any group, or individual, the writer, using only scripture has thoroughly identifed the coming antichrist, explained how he shall arise to power, and explains the relationship between the "great falling away" and the reverse event to it, "the marriage supper of the Lamb."
Bible Alive Jesus Christ 003: "The Starting Point for Christology"BibleAlive
We explore the facts which are “rock bottom” which lead us beyond history into Christology proper, since they raise the meaning and significance of the “Jesus event”: 1) Jesus’ death on the cross and 2) the Easter kerygma. Learn about the origins of the Four Gospels. See the extra-biblical documents that record the execution of Jesus. Learn the pre-Pauline formula of 1 Corinthians 15:3b-5 and its ramifications. Read the “empty-tomb” narratives and discover their meaning.
Jesus was the sender of the gospel to allGLENN PEASE
This is a study of the Great Commission of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark with comparisons with other texts. Jesus sent his disciples into all the world to bring the good news of salvation.
There are lots of theories out there about 'pre-tribulation or post-tribulation', but this should not be a basis for dividing true believers; as ultimately, the most important thing is that we are in a relationship with God, that we are walking closely with God and that we are ready for whatever comes in the end times.
Class Religion ClassYou are writing a reply to forum posts .docxsleeperharwell
Class: Religion Class
You are writing a reply to forum posts made by my classmates.
2 replies. 200-words in each reply.
The main forum post
[1]
is at the bottom.
What you are replying to:
First reply:
The quote for this option resonated with me quite a bit. It opened my eyes reading this option as in my opinion, believing in the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a fundamental belief of all of Christianity. I do not think that someone can claim to be a Christian and yet deny that Christ was resurrected on the third day after his crucifixion. In the Bible this is illustrated quite clearly: "if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9) Obviously scripture makes this pretty cut and dry, but something that really stuck out to me was not from the Bible, but rather our assigned reading this week. From the Resurrection and Ascension section, "there must be some historical truth in the claims of Jesus’ Resurrection, for no one trying to build a case would have rested it on the testimony of women, who had little status in a patriarchal society.” (Fisher, pg. 320) this opened my eyes a bit because I never thought of it in this sense. Of course women did not have the equal social and economic status back then as they do today in the majority of the world, so the fact that the two Marys were the first people to witness Jesus after death really lends credit to the truthfulness of the Bible. Further, I would argue that the most fundamental belief of Christianity is that Christ died to forgive the sins of all of humanity, and resurrected to rule alongside his Father in Heaven. The belief in Christ's resurrection is necessary in order to subscribe to the entire narrative of Christ being the savior and messiah of all of humanity. Without Christ's resurrection he simply becomes a martyr, or perhaps a false prophet to many people. It is his "otherworldly" resurrection that signifies his status as the savior of mankind.
Second Reply:
Hello classmates and professor,
This week I chose option A which states "the whole Christian Church stands or falls based upon the historical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." This seems to be a great debate, and I thought it'd be interesting to research. After review it seems the loyal believers of the resurrection have a few facts that they abide by. Below are those facts.
1. The Empty Tomb
2. The Burial
3. The Guard
4. The Disciples
5. The post resurrection appearance
6. The enemies of Christ gave no refutation of the resurrection
To the believers these are the undeniable facts that they go by to support that the resurrection took place. Now i will lay out the facts that the doubters go by.
1. There is no external historical confirmation of the New Testament stories
2. The New Testament stories are internally contradictory.
3. There are natural explanations for the origins of the Jesus legend
4. T.
The Catholic Church is in the midst of a great crisis. In fact, many commentators in Catholic media are already saying that the Church is perhaps already in the midst of a de facto schism. On one side, you have high-ranking liberal prelates pushing for major changes in the Church: same-sex unions, cohabitation, contraception, tolerance towards abortion, and many others. On the other side, you have faithful Cardinals and bishops fighting to preserve the True Traditional teachings of the Catholic Church.
We are living in the midst of the Great Apostasy in the End Times foretold so long ago. We are living in the period of a massive loss of the True Faith, just prior to the Second Coming of Our Lord.
In this 3-day online conference, we will cover in extensive detail this prophesied Great Apostasy in the End Times.
No issue before the human mind to-day is
fraught with greater importance than a correct
apprehension of the significance of Jesus. He
has always compelled the reverent attention of
reflective and serious people. Their response
to His supreme religious genius demonstrates
how deeply it has absorbed the variant multi-
tudes who have expressed their consciousness
of Him in speech, in literature, in art, in archi-
tecture, and chiefly in their efforts to emulate
His example and to do His will.
This morning we come to the end of our Liturgical Year with the celebration of the Feast of Christ the King as the Church reminds us that Christ is King of all things. But we cannot forget that we, too, are baptized into Christ’s kingship.
But with all this talk about ‘kings,’ when Pilate asked Jesus if he was the 'King of the Jews,' Jesus sidesteps that question and says that he came to testify to the ‘truth.’ But what does that ‘truth’ look like? (Funny, Pilate asked the same thing!)
Looking for clarity on all this? Perhaps Pope Francis, as well as the parable of the Old Turtle can shed light on the “Truth” and better explain what we are called to do with this Feast of Christ the King?
Check it out...
Similar to The virgin birth of christ chapter 1 the fundamentals (13)
Isn’t evolution science, and creation just a religious belief?
Creationist scientists don’t have all the answers
Why does it matter?
But how do we know that Genesis was meant to tell us that things were really made in six Earth-rotation days—couldn’t there be some other meaning?
Do the fossils show evolution?
مادة 1- في الله
نؤمن بأنه يوجد إله واحد، حي، حقيقي، روح ذات، واجب الوجود، سرمدي، غير متغير، خالق الكون، وحافظه، وضابطه. اله غير محدود في المحبة والرحمة والقداسة. والبر والعدل والحق والحكمة والقدرة.
نؤمن بأن الإله الواحد كائن في ثلاثة أقانيم الاَب والابن والروح القدس وأن هؤلاء الأقانيم جوهر واحد متساوون في القوة والمجد.
مادة 8- في خطية الإنسان
نؤمن بأن اَدم أبانا الأول خلق بلا خطية، ووعد بالحياة الأبدية على شرط الطاعة الكاملة إلى حين تحت قصاص الموت الجسدي والروحي إذا عصى.
وأنَّ اَدم بصفة كونه أبًا للجنس البشري تعين نائبًا عنهم. وأنَّه تعدي الوصية الإلهية مجربًا من إبليس فسقط بتعديه من حالته الأصلية حالة القداسة والشركة مع الله وصار عبدًا للخطية. وأنَّه بسبب خطيته وقع تحت الدينونة جميع البشر المتناسلين منه تناسلاً طبيعيًا ويولدون بطبيعة خاطئة بعيدة عن الله منها تصدر جميع الخطايا الفعلية. وإنَّه ليس في طاقة احد أن يخلص نفسه من حالة الجرم والفساد هذه.
معنى كلمة «ملائكة» في الكتاب المقدس؟
* معناها الأول واحدٌ في اللغات العبرية واليونانية والعربية وهو «رسول». واستُعملت في الكتاب المقدس لكل ما يستخدمه الله لإجراء مقاصده وإعلان ذاته وقوته، فجاءت فيه بمعنى «رسول عادي» (أي 1: 4 و1صم 11: 3 ولو 7: 24 و9: 52). وجاءت بمعنى «نبي» (إش 42: 19 وحج 1: 13 وملا 3: 1) وبمعنى «كاهن» (ملا 2: 7) وبمعنى «خادم العهد الجديد» (رؤ 1: 20). واستُعملت أيضاً لغير العاقل كعمود السحاب (خر 14: 19) والرياح (مز 104: 4). وسُمّي الأقنوم الثاني من الثالوث الأقدس «ملاك حضرته» و«ملاك العهد» (إش 63: 9 وملا 3: 1). وسُمّيت الأوبئة «ملائكة أشرار» (مز 78: 49) ودعا بولس الشوكة في جسده «ملاك الشيطان» (2كو 12: 7). ولكن كلمة «ملاك» اشتهرت باستعمالها للأرواح السماوية الذين يستخدمهم الله ليُجروا إرادته (مت 25: 31) فعُرفوا باسم «ملائكة الله»
و عصمة الكتاب المقدس
دكتور القس اشرف عزمى
________________
مفاهيم خاطئة عن الوحي
عندما نتحدث عن الوحي لابد ان نتجنب أولاً بعض المفاهيم الخاطئة عن الوحي قبل أن نتحدث عن المفهوم الكتابي الصحيح للوحي
مادة 72- قراءة الكتاب المقدس
قراءة الكتاب المقدس عنصر جوهري في العبادة الجمهورية. ويجب أنْ يكون لها مكان في كل خدمة. وأهمية هذه الفريضة تتطلب استعداد القسيس للقيام بممارستها بواسطة المطالعة والصلاة. وينبغي أنْ تُقرأ الكلمة بالاحترام، والتفكر، بكيفية تعبر بوضوح عن رسالة الروح، ويمكن إدخال قراءة الكتاب بالتبادل في الجزء الخشوعي من العبادة الجمهورية بكيفية نافعة للشعب.
صرخ الاعمى ابن طيمــا
يا يســوع ارحم فتــــاك
نال غيرى منــك بُـــرءاً
فــأعــن ضعفــى كــذاك
الجموع انتهرته
غضباً وهو يزيد
فدعاه الرب اقبل
ثًم سلنى ما تريد
لم يُرد مالاً سيفنـى
منه مع فقر ٍعـــلاه
بل بَغى رحمـة ربً
ليس يعطيها سواه
قال أرجو نورَ عين ٍ
أنت تعطيها البصـر
أبصرت عيناه حالاً
فـاقتفـــاهُ وشكـــــر
هوذا اسمعه ينادى
بتسابيــح النشيـــد
انظروا يا أصدقائى
رحمة الفادى المجيد
ليتمــا كــل ضـريــــر ٍ
يعرف الشافى الوحيد
ويُــوافيــه ليُـعطــــىَ
بصـــراً مــن جديـــد
Unit 8 - Information and Communication Technology (Paper I).pdfThiyagu K
This slides describes the basic concepts of ICT, basics of Email, Emerging Technology and Digital Initiatives in Education. This presentations aligns with the UGC Paper I syllabus.
How to Make a Field invisible in Odoo 17Celine George
It is possible to hide or invisible some fields in odoo. Commonly using “invisible” attribute in the field definition to invisible the fields. This slide will show how to make a field invisible in odoo 17.
Students, digital devices and success - Andreas Schleicher - 27 May 2024..pptxEduSkills OECD
Andreas Schleicher presents at the OECD webinar ‘Digital devices in schools: detrimental distraction or secret to success?’ on 27 May 2024. The presentation was based on findings from PISA 2022 results and the webinar helped launch the PISA in Focus ‘Managing screen time: How to protect and equip students against distraction’ https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/education/managing-screen-time_7c225af4-en and the OECD Education Policy Perspective ‘Students, digital devices and success’ can be found here - https://oe.cd/il/5yV
Operation “Blue Star” is the only event in the history of Independent India where the state went into war with its own people. Even after about 40 years it is not clear if it was culmination of states anger over people of the region, a political game of power or start of dictatorial chapter in the democratic setup.
The people of Punjab felt alienated from main stream due to denial of their just demands during a long democratic struggle since independence. As it happen all over the word, it led to militant struggle with great loss of lives of military, police and civilian personnel. Killing of Indira Gandhi and massacre of innocent Sikhs in Delhi and other India cities was also associated with this movement.
We all have good and bad thoughts from time to time and situation to situation. We are bombarded daily with spiraling thoughts(both negative and positive) creating all-consuming feel , making us difficult to manage with associated suffering. Good thoughts are like our Mob Signal (Positive thought) amidst noise(negative thought) in the atmosphere. Negative thoughts like noise outweigh positive thoughts. These thoughts often create unwanted confusion, trouble, stress and frustration in our mind as well as chaos in our physical world. Negative thoughts are also known as “distorted thinking”.
Chapter 3 - Islamic Banking Products and Services.pptx
The virgin birth of christ chapter 1 the fundamentals
1. The Fundamentals
A Testimony
CHAPTER I.
THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF
CHRIST.
BY THE REV. PROF. JAMES ORR, D. D.,
UNITED FREE CHURCH COLLEGE, GLASGOW, SCOTLAND.
Volume I
2. ' To the Law and to the Testimony '
Isaiah 8:20
The Fundamentals
A Testimony to the Truth
Volume I
3. FOREWORD
Thisbookis the firstof a serieswhichwill be
publishedandsenttoeverypastor,evangelist,mis-
sionary,theological professor,theological student,
Sundayschool superintendent,Y.M. C.A. and
Y. W. G. A.secretaryinthe Englishspeaking
world,sofar as the addressesof all these canbe
obtained.
Two intelligent,consecratedChristianlaymen
bearthe expense,becausetheybelieve thatthe
time hascome whena newstatementof the funda-
mentalsof Christianityshouldbe made.
Theirearnestdesire isthatyouwill carefully
readit and passits truthon to others.
THE FUNDAMENTALS
VOLUME I.
4. CHAPTER I.
THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF CHRIST.
BY THE REV. PROF.JAMES ORR,D. D.,
UNITED FREE CHURCH COLLEGE, GLASGOW,SCOTLAND.
It iswell knownthatthe lastten or twentyyearshave beenmarkedbyadeterminedassault
uponthe truth of the Virgin birthof Christ.Inthe year 1892 a great controversybroke
out inGermany,owingtothe refusal of a pastornamedSchrempf touse the Apostles'Creed
inbaptismbecause of disbeliefinthisandotherarticles.Schrempf wasdeposed,and
an agitationcommencedagainstthe doctrine of the Virginbirthwhichhasgrowninvolume
eversince.Othertendencies,especiallythe rise of anextremelyradical school of historical
criticism,addedforce tothe negative movement.The attackisnotconfined,indeed,to the
article of the Virginbirth.Itaffectsthe whole supernatural estimateof Christ — Hislife,
His claims,Hissinlessness,Hismiracles,Hisresurrectionfromthe dead.Butthe Virginbirth
isassailedwithspecial vehemence,becauseitissupposedthatthe evidence forthis
miracle ismore easilygotridof thanthe evidenceforpublicfacts,suchas the resurrection.
The resultisthat in verymanyquartersthe Virginbirthof Christisopenlytreatedasa fable.
Belief initisscoutedasunworthyof the twentiethcenturyin-telligence.The methodsof the
oldestopponentsof Christianityare revived,anditislikenedtothe GreekandRomantories,
coarse and vile,of heroeswhohidgodsfortheirfathers.A
7
8 The Fundamentals.
special pointismade of the silence of Paul,andof the otherwritingsof the New Testament,
on thisallegedwonder.
THE UNHAPPIESTFEATURE.
5. It isnot only,however,inthe circlesof unbelief thatthe Virginbirthisdiscredited;inthe
church itself the habitisspreadingof castingdoubtuponthe fact,or at leastof re-gardingit
as no essential partof Christianfaith.Thisisthe unhappiestfeature inthisunhappy
controversy.Till recentlynoone dreamedof denyingthat,inthe sincere professionof
Christianity,thisarticle,whichhasstoodfromthe beginninginthe forefrontof all the great
creedsof Christendom,wasincluded.Now itisdifferent.The truthandvalue of the
article of the Virginbirthare challenged.The article,itisaffirmed,didnotbelongtothe
earliestChristiantradition,andthe evidence foritisnot strong.Therefore,letitdrop.
THE COMPANYIT KEEPS.
From the side of criticism,science,mythology,historyandcomparative religion,assaultis
thusmade on the article longso dearto the heartsof Christiansandrightlydeemedbythem
so vital totheirfaith.For loudasis the voice of denial,one fact muststrike everycareful
observerof the conflict.Among those whorejectthe Virginbirthof the Lordfew will be
found— I do not knowany — whotake in otherrespectsanadequate view of the Person
and workof the Saviour.Itis surprisinghow clearlythe lineof divisionhere revealsitself.
My statementpubliclymade andprintedhasneverbeencon- futed,thatthose whoaccepta
full doctrine of the incarnation — thatis,of a true entrance of the eternal Sonof God into
our nature for the purposesof man'ssalvation — withhardlyanexceptionacceptwithitthe
doctrine of the Virginbirthof Christ,while those whorepudiate ordenythisarticle of
faitheitherholdaloweredviewof Christ'sPerson,or,more commonly,rejectHis
supernatural claimsaltogether.Itwill
The VirginBirthof Christ.9
not be questioned,atanyrate,that the greatbulkof the oppo-nentsof the Virginbirth —
those whoare conspicuousbywrit- ingagainstit— are in the latterclass.
A CAVILANSWERED.
Thisreallyisan answerto the cavil oftenheardthat,whethertrue ornot, the Virginbirthis
not of essential importance.Itisnotessential,itisurged,toChrist'ssinlessness,
for that wouldhave beensecuredequallythoughChristhadbeenbornof two parents.And
it isnot essentialtothe incarnation.A hazardousthing,surely,forerringmortalstojudge
6. of whatwas andwas not essentialinsostupendousaneventasthe bringinginof the "first-
begotten"intothe world!But the Christianinstinct haseverpenetrateddeeper.Rejection
of the Virginbirthseldom, if ever,goesbyitself.Asthe late Prof.A.B.Bruce said,withdenial
of the Virginbirthisaptto go denial of the virginlife.The incarnationisfeltby
those whothink, seriously toinvolve amiracle inChrist'searthlyorigin.Thiswill become
cleareras we advance.
THE CASESTATED.
It isthe objectof thispaperto showthat those whotakethe linesof denial onthe Virgin
birthjustsketcheddogreat injustice tothe evidence andimportance of the doctrine they
reject.The evidence,if notof the same publickindasthat for the resurrection,isfar
strongerthan the objectorallows,andthe factdeniedentersfarmore vitallyintothe
essence of the Christianfaiththanhe supposes.Placedinitsrightset-
tingamong the othertruthsof the Christianreligion,itisnot onlynostumbling-blockto
faith,butis felttofitinwithself- evidencingpowerintothe connectionof these other
truths,and to furnishthe veryexplanationthatisneededof Christ'sholyandsupernatural
Person.The ordinaryChristianisawitness here.Inreadingthe Gospels,he feelsno
incongruityinpassingfromthe narrativesof the Virginbirthtothe won-
10 The Fundamentals.
derful storyof Christ'slife inthe chaptersthatfollow,thenfromthese tothe picturesof
Christ'sdivine dignitygiveninJohnandPaul.The whole isof one piece:the Virginbirth
isas natural at the beginningof the life of suchanOne — the divine Son — as the
resurrectionisatthe end.Andthe more closelythe matterisconsidered,the strongerdoes
thisimpressiongrow.Itisonlywhenthe scriptural conceptionof Christispartedwiththat
variousdifficultiesanddoubts
come in.
A SUPERFICIALVIEW.
It is,intruth, a verysuperficial wayof speakingorthink- ingof the Virginbirthtosay that
nothingdependsonthisbelief forourestimate of Christ.Whothatreflectsonthe subject
carefullycanfail tosee that if Christwas virginborn — if He was truly"conceived,"asthe
creedsays,"by the HolyGhost, born of the VirginMary" — there mustof necessityentera
7. supernatural elementintoHisPerson;while,if Christwassin-less,muchmore,if He wasthe
veryWord of God incarnate,there musthave beena miracle — the moststupendous
miracle inthe universe — inHisorigin?If Christwas,as Johnand Paul affirmandHis church
has everbelieved,the Sonof Godmade flesh,the secondAdam, the new redeemingHeadof
the race, a miracle wasto be expectedinHisearthlyorigin;withoutamiracle sucha Person
couldneverhave been.Whythencavil atthe narrativeswhichdeclare the factof sucha
miracle?
Who doesnotsee that the Gospel historywouldhave beenincompletewithoutthem?
Inspirationhere onlygivestofaithwhatfaithonitsown groundsimperativelydemandsfor
itsperfectsatisfaction.
THE HISTORICALSETTING.
It istime nowto come to the Scripture itself,andtolookat the fact of the Virginbirthinits
historical setting,anditsrelationwithothertruthsof the Gospel.Asprecedingthe
The VirginBirthof Christ.11
examinationof the historical evidence,alittle maybe said,first,onthe OldTestament
preparation.Wasthere anysuch preparation?Some wouldsaythere wasnot,butthisisnot
God's way,and we may lookwithconfidenceforatleastsome indicationswhichpointinthe
directionof the NewTestamentevent.
THE FIRSTPROMISE.
One'smindturnsfirstto that oldestof all evangelical promises,thatthe seedof the woman
wouldbruise the headof the serpent."Iwill putenmity,"saysJehovahtothe serpent-
tempter,"betweentheeandthe woman,andbetweenthyseedandherseed;he shall
bruise thyhead,andthou shaltbruise hisheel"(Genesis3:15. R. V.).Itisa forcelessweaken-
ingof thisfirstwordof Gospel inthe Bible toexplainitof alastingfeudbetweenthe race of
menand the broodof serpents.The serpent,asevenDr.Driverattests,is"the repre-
sentative of the powerof evil" — inlaterScripture,"he thatiscalledthe Devil andSatan"
(Rev.12:9)— andthe defeathe sustainsfromthe woman'sseedisamoral and spiritual
victory.The "seed"whoshoulddestroyhimisdescribedem- phaticallyasthe woman'sseed.
It was the womanthroughwhomsinhad enteredthe race;bythe seedof the woman
8. wouldsalvationcome.The earlychurchwritersoftenpressedthisanalogybetweenEve and
the VirginMary. We may rejectanyelementof over-exaltationof Marythey connected
withit,but itremainssignificantthatthispeculiarphrase shouldbe chosentodesignatethe
future deliverer.Icannotbelieve the choice tobe of accident.The promise toAbraham
was thatin hisseedthe familiesof the earthwouldbe blessed;there the male is
emphasized,buthere itisthe woman — the womandistinctively.There is,perhaps,asgood
scholarshave thought,an allusiontothispromise in1Timothy2:15, where,withallusionto
Adamand Eve,it issaid,"But she shall be savedthroughher(or the) child-bearing"(R.V.).
12 The Fundamentals.
THE IMMANUEL PROPHECY.
The ideaof the Messiah,graduallygatheringtoitselfthe attributesof adivine King,reaches
one of itsclearestex- pressionsinthe greatImmanuel prophecy,extendingfrom
Isaiah7 to 9:7, and centeringinthe declaration:"The Lord Himself will give you[the
unbelievingAhaz] asign; behold,avirginshall conceive,andbeara son,and shall call his
name Immanuel"(Isa.7:14; Cf.8:8, 10). This isnone otherthan the childof wonderextolled
inchapter 9:6, 7: "For untous a childis born,untous a son isgiven; andthe government
shall be uponhisshoulder;andhisname shall be calledWonderful,Counsellor,The mighty
God, The everlastingFather,[Fatherof Eternity],The Prince of Peace.Of the increase
of hisgovernmentandpeace there shall be noend,uponthe throne of David,anduponhis
kingdom,"etc.Thisisthe prophecyquotedasfulfilledinChrist'sbirthinMatt. 1 .23, and it
seemsalsoalludedtointhe glowingpromisestoMary inLuke 1 :32, 33. It ispointedoutin
objectionthatthe termrendered"virgin"inIsaiahdoesnotnecessarilybearthis
meaning;itdenotesproperlyonlyayoungunmarriedwomanThe context,however,seems
clearlytolay an emphasisonthe unmarriedstate,andthe translatorsof the Greekversion
of the OldTestament(the Septuagint) plainlysounderstooditwhentheyrendereditby
parthenos,aword whichdocsmean"virgin."The tendencyinmanyquartersnow isto ad-
mitthis(Dr. Cheyne,etc.),andeventoseekanexplanation of itinallegedBabylonianbeliefs
ina virgin-bi-rth.Thislast, however,isquite illusory.1It is,on the otherhand,singular
9. that the Jewsthemselvesdonotseemtohave appliedthisprophecyatanytime to the
Messiah — a fact whichdisprovesthe theorythatitwasthistextwhichsuggestedthe story
of a Virginbirthtothe earlydisciples.
1 For the evidence,see myvolume on"The VirginBirth,"Lecture
VII.
The VirginBirthof Christ.13
ECHOES IN OTHER SCRIPTURES.
It was,indeed,whenone thinksof it,onlyonthe suppositionthatthere wastobe
somethingexceptional andextraor-dinaryinthe birthof thischildcalledImmanuelthatit
couldhave affordedtoAhaza signof the perpetuityof the throne of Davidonthe scale of
magnitude proposed("Askiteitherinthe depth,orinthe heightabove."Ver.10).We look,
therefore,withinteresttosee if there are anyechoesor sug- gestionsof the ideaof this
passage inotherpropheticscriptures.Theyare naturallynotmany,buttheydonot seemto
be altogetherwanting.There is,first,the remarkable BethlehemprophecyinMicah5 :2, 3
— alsoquotedasfulfilledinthe nativity(Matt.2:5, 6)— connectedwiththe saying:
"Therefore willhe give themup,until the time thatshe whotravailethhathbroughtforth"
("The KingfromBethlehem,"
saysDelitzsch,"whohasa namelessone asmother,andof whose fatherthere isno
mention").MicahwasIsaiah'scontemporary,andwhenthe close relationbetweenthe two
isconsidered(Cf.Isa.2:2-4, withMicah 4:1-3), itis difficultnottorecognize inhisoracle an
expansionof Isaiah's.Inthe same line wouldseemtolie the enigmaticutterance inJer.
31 :22: "For Jehovahhathcreateda new thinginthe earth:
a womanshall encompassaman" (thusDelitzsch,etc.).
TESTIMONY OF THE GOSPEL.
The germs nowindicated inphopheticscriptureshadapparentlyborne nofruitinJewish
expectationsof the Messiah,whenthe eventtookplace whichtoChristianmindsmade
themluminouswithpredictive import.InBethlehemof Judea,as
10. Micah had foretold,wasbornof a virginmotherHe whose "goingsforth"were "fromof old,
fromeverlasting"(Micah5:2; Matt. 2:6). Matthew,whoquotesthe firstpart of the
verse,canhardlyhave beenignorantof the hintof pre-exist- ence itcontained.Thisbrings
us to the testimonytothe miraculousbirthof Christinour firstandthirdGospels — the
14 The Fundamentals.
only Gospelswhichrecordthe circumstancesof Christ'sbirthat all.Bygeneral consentthe
narrativesinMatthew(chapters1, 2) and inLuke (chapters1, 2) are independent — that
is,theyare notderivedone fromthe other — yettheyboth affirm, indetailedstory,that
Jesus,conceivedbythe power of the HolySpirit,wasbornof a pure virgin,Maryof Nazar-
eth,espousedtoJoseph,whosewifeshe afterwardsbecame.
The birth tookplace at Bethlehem,whitherJosephandMaryhad gone forenrollment ina
censusthat wasbeingtaken.The announcementwasmade toMary beforehandbyanangel,
and the birthwas preceded,attended,andfollowedbyremarkableeventsthatare narrated
(birthof the Baptist,withannunciations,angelicvisiontothe shepherds,visitof wise men
fromthe east,etc.).The narrativesshouldbe carefullyreadatlengthtounderstandthe
commentsthatfollow.
THE TESTIMONY TESTED.
There isno doubt,therefore,aboutthe testimonytothe Virginbirth,andthe questionwhich
now arisesis — What isthe value oi these partsof the Gospelsasevidence?Are they
genuine partsof the Gospels?Orare theylate anduntrust- worthy'additions?Fromwhat
sourcesmay theybe presumedtobe derived?Itisonthe truth of the narrativesthatour
belief inthe Virginbirthdepends.Cantheybe trusted?Orare ther mere fables,inventions,
legends,towhichnocreditcan be attached?
The answerto several of these questionscanbe giveninverybrief form.The narrativesof
the nativity inMatthewand Luke are undoubtedlygenuinepartsof theirrespectiveGospels.
Theyhave beenthere since everthe Gospelsthemselveshadanexistence.The proof of this
isconvincing.The chaptersinquestionare foundineverymanuscriptandversionof the
Gospelsknowntoexist.There are hundredsof manuscripts,someof themveryold,
belongingtodifferentpartsof the world,andmany versionsindifferentlanguages(Latin,
Syriac,
11. The VirginBirthof Christ.15
Egyptian,etc.),butthese narrativesof the Virginbirthare foundinall.We know,indeed,
that a sectionof the earlyJewishChristians — the Ebionites,astheyare commonlycalled
— possessedaGospel basedonMatthew fromwhichthe chaptersonthe nativitywere
absent.Butthiswas not the real Gospel of Matthew:it wasat besta mutilatedand
corruptedformof it.The genuine Gospel,asthe manuscriptsattest,
alwayshadthese chapters.
Next,asto the Gospelsthemselves,theywere notof late andnon-apostolicorigin;butwere
writtenbyapostolicmen,andwere fromthe firstacceptedandcirculatedinthe church
as trustworthyembodimentsof soundapostolictradition.
Luke'sGospel wasfrom Luke'sownpen — itsgenuinenesshasrecentlyreceivedapowerful
vindicationfromProf.Harnack,of Berlin — andMatthew's Gospel,whilesome dubietystill
restson itsoriginal language (AramaicorGreek),passedwithoutchallengeinthe early
church as the genuine Gospel of the ApostleMatthew.Criticismhasmore recentlyraised
the questionwhetheritisonlythe "groundwork"of the discourses(the "Logia") thatcomes
directlyfromMatthew.
Howeverthismaybe settled,itiscertainthatthe Gospel inits Greekformalwayspassedas
Matthew's.It must,therefore,if notwrittenbyhim, have hadhisimmediate authority.
The narrativescome to us,accordingly,withhighapostolic sanction.
SOURCES OF THE NARRATIVES.
As to the sourcesof the narratives,nota little canbe gleanedfromthe studyof their
internal character.Here twofacts reveal themselves.The firstisthatthe narrative of Luke
isbasedon some old,archaic,highlyoriginal Aramaicwriting.
Its Aramaiccharacter gleamsthroughitseverypart.In style,tone,conception,itishighly
primitive — emanates,apparently,fromthatcircle of devoutpeople inJerusalemtowhom
itsown pagesintroduce us(Luke 2:25, 36-38). It has,there-
16 The fundamentals.
12. fore,the highestclaimtocredit.The secondfact isevenmore important.A perusal of the
narrativesshowsclearly —whatmighthave beenexpected — thatthe informationthe)
conveywasderivedfromnolowersource thanJosephandMary themselves. Thisisa
markedfeature of contrastin the narratives — that Matthew'snarrative isall toldfrom
Joseph'spointof view,andLuke'sisall toldfromMary's. The signsof thisare unmistakable.
MatthewtellsaboutJoseph'sdifficultiesandaction,andsayslittle ornothingaboutMary's
thoughtsandfeelings.Luke tellsmuchaboutMary — evenherinmostthoughts — butsays
nextto nothingdirectlyaboutJoseph.The narratives,inshort,are not,assome wouldhave
it,contradictory,butare independent andcomplementary.The one supplementsand
completesthe other.Bothtogetherare neededtogive the whole story.Theybearin
themselvesthe stampof truth,honesty,andpurity,andare worthyof all acceptation,as
theywere evidentlyheldtobe inthe earlychurch.
UNFOUNDED OBJECTIONS.
Againstthe acceptance of these early,well-attestednarratives,what,now,have the
objectorstoallege?Ipassby the attemptsto show,bycritical elimination(expurgingLuke
1:35, and some otherclauses),thatLuke'snarrative wasnota narrative of a Virginbirthat
all.Thisisa vainattemptinface of the testimonyof manuscriptauthorities.Neither
needIdwell onthe alleged"discrepancies"inthe genealogiesandnarratives.These are not
serious,whenthe independence anddifferentstandpointsof the narrativesare
acknowledged.The genealogies,tracingthe descentof ChristfromDavid
alongdifferentlines,presentproblemswhichexercise the mindsof scholars,buttheydonot
touch the central fact of the beliefof bothEvangelistsinthe birthof Jesusfroma vir-
gin.Evenin a Syriacmanuscriptwhichcontainsthe certainlywrongreading,"Josephbegat
Jesus,"the narrative goeson,
The VirginBirthof Christ.17
as usual,to recountthe Virginbirth.Itisnot a contradiction,if Matthew issilentonthe
earlierresidence inNazareth,which Luke'sobjectledhimfullytodescribe.
SILENCE OFMARK AND JOHN.
13. The objectiononwhichmoststressislaid(apart fromwhatis calledthe evidently"mythical"
character of the narratives) isthe silenceonthe Virginbirthinthe remainingGos-
pels,andotherparts of the NewTestament.This,itisheld conclusivelyprovesthatthe
Virginbirthwasnot knowninthe earliestChristiancircles,andwasa legendof laterorigin.
As respectsthe Gospels — Mark andJohn — the objectionwouldonlyapplyif itwasthe
designof these Gospelstonarrate,asthe othersdo,the circumstancesof the nativity.But
thiswas evidentlynottheirdesign.BothMarkand Johnknew that Jesushada humanbirth
— an infancyandearlylife — andthat Hismotherwas calledMary,but of deliberate
purpose theytell usnothingaboutit.Mark beginshisGospel withChrist's
entrance onHis publicministry,andsaysnothingof the period before,especiallyof how
Jesuscame to be called"the Sonof God" (Mark 1:1). Johntraces the divine descentof Jesus,
and tellsusthatthe "Wordbecame flesh"(John1:14) ; but how thismiracle of becoming
fleshwaswroughthe doesnotsay. It didnotlie withinhisplan.He knew the churchtradi-
tionon the subject:he hadthe Gospelsnarratingthe birthof Jesusfromthe Virgininhis
hands:and he takesthe knowledge of theirteachingforgranted.Tospeakof contradiction
ina case like thisisout of the question.
SILENCE OFPAUL.
How far Paul wasacquaintedwiththe factsof Christ'searthlyoriginitisnot easyto say.To a
certainextentthese factswouldalwaysbe regardedasamongthe privaciesof the
innermostChristiancircles— solongat leastas Mary lived — and the detailsmaynothave
beenfullyknowntillthe Gospels
18 The Fundamentals.
were published.Paul admittedlydidnotbase hispreachingof hisGospel onthese private,
interiormatters,butonthe broad, publicfactsof Christ'sministry,death,andresurrec-
tion.It wouldbe goingtoofar, however,toinferfromthisthatPaul hadno knowledgeof the
miracle of Christ'sbirth.Luke was Paul'scompanion,anddoubtlesssharedwithPaul
all the knowledge whichhe himself hadgatheredonthisandothersubjects.One thing
certainis,that Paul couldnot have believedinthe divine dignity,the pre-existence,the
sinlessperfection,andredeemingheadship,of Jesusashe did,andnot have beenconvinced
that Hisentrance intohumanitywasno ordinaryeventof nature,butimpliedan
unparalleledmiracleof some kind.ThisSonof God,who "emptied"Him-
self,whowas"bornof a woman,bornunderthe law,"who"knew no sin"(Phil.2:7,8; Gal.
4:4; 2 Cor.5:21), was not,and couldnot be,a simple productof nature.Godmust have
14. wroughtcreativelyinHishumanorigin.The Virginbirth wouldbe toPaul the most
reasonable andcredible of events.
So alsoto John,whoheldthe same highview of Christ'sdignityandholiness.
Christ'ssinlessnessaproof.
It issometimesarguedthata Virginbirthisnoaidto the explanationof Christ'ssinlessness.
Mary beingherself sinful innature,itisheldthe taintof corruptionwouldbe conveyed
by one parentas reallyasby two.It isoverlookedthatthe hole factisnot expressedby
sayingthat Jesuswasbornof a virginmother.There isthe otherfactor — "conceived
by the HolyGhost."What happenedwasa divine,creative miraclewroughtinthe
production of thisnewhumanitywhichsecured,fromitsearliestgerminal beginnings,
freedomfromthe slightesttaintof sin.Paternal generationinsuchanorigin
issuperfluous.The birthof Jesuswasnot,asin ordinarybirths,the creationof a new
personality. Itwasa divine Person— alreadyexisting— enteringonthisnew mode of exist-
The VirginBirthof Christ.19
ence.Miracle couldalone effectsuchawonder.Because Hishumannature had this
miraculousoriginChristwasthe "holy"One fromthe commencement(Luke 1:35).SinlessHe
was,as His whole life demonstrated;butwhen,inall time,didnatural generationgive birth
to a sinlesspersonality?
THE EARLY CHURCH A WITNESS.
The historyof the earlychurch isoccasionallyappealedtoinwitnessthatthe doctrine of the
Virginbirthwasnot primitive.Noassertioncouldbe more futile.The earlychurch,so
far as we can trace it back,in all itsbranches,heldthisdoctrine.NoChristiansectisknown
that deniedit,save the JewishEbionitesformerlyalludedto.The general bodyof the
JewishChristians — the Nazarenesastheyare called — acceptedit.Eventhe greater
Gnosticsectsin theirownwayadmittedit.Those Gnosticswhodenieditwere repelledwith
all the force of the church's greatestteachers.The Apostle Johnisrelatedtohave
vehementlyopposedCerinthus,the earliestteacherwithwhomthisdenial isconnected.
15. DISCREDITED VAGARIES.
What more remainstobe said?It wouldbe waste of space to follow the objectorsintotheir
varioustheoriesof amythical originof thisbelief.One byone the speculationsadvanced
have brokendown,andgivenplace toothers — all equallybaseless.The newestof the
theoriesseeksanoriginof the belief inancientBabylonia,andsupposesthe Jewstohave
possessedthe notioninpre-Christiantimes.Thisisnotonlyopposedto all real evidence,but
isthe givingupof the contentionthatthe ideahad itsorigininlate Christiancircles,andwas
un- knownto earlierapostles.
THE REAL CHRIST.
Doctrinally,itmustbe repeatedthatthe beliefinthe Virginbirthof Christisof the highest
value forthe right apprehensionof Christ'suniqueandsinlesspersonality.Here is
20 The Fundamentals.
One,as Paul bringsoutin Romans5 :12 ff.,who,free fromsinHimself,andnotinvolvedin
the Adamicliabilitiesof the race reversesthe curse of sinand deathbroughtinby the first
Adam,and establishesthe reignof righteousnessandlife.HadChristbeennaturallyborn,
not one of these thingscouldbe affirmedof Him.Asone of Adam'srace, not an entrant
froma highersphere,He wouldhave sharedinAdam'scorruptionanddoom — would
Himself have requiredtobe redeemed.ThroughGod'sinfinite mercy,He came fromabove,
inheritednoguilt,needednoregenerationorsanctification,butbecame Himselfthe
Redeemer,Regenerator,Sanctifier,forall whoreceive Him."Thanksbe untoGodfor Hisun-
speakable gift"(2Cor.9:15).