Virgin birth of Jesus

thumb|The Annunciation as depicted by Guido Reni, 1621 In Christianity and Islam, it is asserted that Jesus was conceived by his mother Mary solely through divine intervention and without sexual intercourse, thus resulting in his virgin birth. In accordance with these beliefs, Jesus had just one biological parent instead of the necessary two; Mary's husband Joseph was his father only in the legal sense. Most Christians hold also that Mary's virginity was perpetual. Though not biologically related, Jesus being Joseph's adoptive son is cited as linking him to the Davidic line. Quotes about New Testament Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, And they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. Gospel of Matthew 1:18-25 KJV. And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. Gospel of Luke 1:26-38 KJV. Others Dost thou believe in God the Father Almighty? Dost thou believe in Christ Jesus, the Son of God, who was born by the Holy Spirit from the Virgin Mary, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and died. The Creed of Hyppolityus (c. 215), in The Apostolic Tradition of St. Hyppolitus, XXI, 12, 15 (ed. Gregory-Dix, p. 26). As reported in Father Paul Palmer, SJ, Mary in the Documents of the Church, p. 4 (of 129), Lowe and Brydone (printers) Ltd, London L.W. 10, for Burns Oates and Washbourne Ltd, 28 Ashley Place, London, S.W.I. (with nihil obstat by E.A Cerny, S.S, D.D., and imprimatur by Franciscus P. Keough, D.D., Archbishop of Baltimore, given on 23 November 1951). OCLC 3286267. I believe in God the Father Almighty, and Christ Jesus His only Son, our Lord, who was born from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and buried... The Creed of Rufinus (c. 400), quoted in Denzinger-Banwart (DB, 2), Enchiridion symbolorum, defintionum et declarationum de rebus fidei et morum, ed. 24-25 by Umberg; Barcelona, 1948. As reported in Father Paul Palmer, SJ, Mary in the Documents of the Church, p. 4 (of 129), Lowe and Brydone (printers) Ltd, London L.W. 10, for Burns Oates and Washbourne Ltd, 28 Ashley Place, London, S.W.I. (with nihil obstat by E.A Cerny, S.S, D.D., and imprimatur by Franciscus P. Keough, D.D., Archbishop of Baltimore, given on 23 November 1951). OCLC 3286267. ...τὸν δι' ἡμᾶς τοὺς ἀνθρώπους καὶ διὰ τὴν ἡμετέραν σωτηρίαν κατελθόντα ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν καὶ σαρκωθέντα ἐκ Πνεύματος Ἁγίου καὶ Μαρίας τῆς παρθένου καὶ ἐνανθρωπήσαντα,... Et incarnátus est de Spíritu Sancto / ex María vírgine, et homo factus est. ...came down from heaven, was incarnate, became human, was born perfectly of the holy virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit... See the Nicene Creed on en.wikipedia. Here are reported the Ancient Greek (First Council of Constantinople (381)) and Latin text, as well as the English translation of the Armenian version of the prayer. O you, Jews, which is more difficult, for a virgin to bear a child, or for a rod to quickened into a living thing? You admit that at the time of Moses a perfect straight rod took the form of a serpent and became an object of terror to him who cast it down, and he who before had held the rod fast now fled from it as a dragon... These stories are highly suggestive, but the Jews still contradict and are not impressed by the argument drawn from the rod so long as there is no reference to births similar to our case, births which are strange and beyond nature. Ask them, therefore, the following questions: From whom was Eve begotten at the beginning? What mother conceived her who was without mother? Do not the Scriptures say that she was formed by the side of a man? Why cannot a child be born without a father from the womb a virgin? Woman owed a debt of gratitude to man, for Eve sprang from Adam, conceived by no mother, but brought forth as it were by msn alone. Now Mary paid this debt of gratitude when, through the power of God, or herself alone and not by man, immaculately she brought forth by the Holy Spirit. Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Catechetical Lectures, 12, 28-29 (PG 33,760-761). As quoted in Father Paul Palmer, SJ, Mary in the Documents of the Church, p. 8 (of 129), Lowe and Brydone (printers) Ltd, London L.W. 10, for Burns Oates and Washbourne Ltd, 28 Ashley Place, London, S.W.I. (with nihil obstat by E.A Cerny, S.S, D.D., and imprimatur by Franciscus P. Keough, D.D., Archbishop of Baltimore, given on 23 November 1951). OCLC 3286267. External links Category:Jesus Category:Mariology