Question: Was Jesus really born of a virgin?

    Answer: There are a number of Biblical facts relative to Jesus of Nazareth which singularly distinguish him as the "only begotten." Some of these features are his teaching (Matt. 7: 28, 29), his resurrection (I Cor. 15: 1-9), and his virgin birth (Matt. 1:23).

   Isaiah's prophesy of the virgin birth. Isaiah 7: 14 is almost universally conceded as referring to Jesus' birth. Hear Isaiah, "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel." Some argue the Hebrew word for "virgin" (almah) simply means a young woman, without reference to virginity as such. If such is the intended meaning in Isaiah 7: 14, how do we explain "sign"? In other words, what would have been distinguishing about a young woman conceiving?

    The fulfillment in the New Testament. Matthew shows Isaiah 7: 14 had its fulfillment in the person of Jesus (Matt. 1: 21-23). Of importance, is also the corresponding Greek word which Matthew used for "virgin" (parthenos). There is less quibble about parthenos directly and simply meaning virgin, having never sexually been with a man. When Mary learned of God's intention of selecting her to
bring the Son of God into the world, she stated, ".. .How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?"(Lk. 1:34.)

    Beloved, Jesus was born of a virgin. To deny this Biblical fact is to deny the Bible itself and Jesus' Sonship, modernism to the contrary notwithstanding. Man must realize that a particular teaching does not have to harmonize with man's thinking in order for it to be true. If man cannot accept the virgin birth, then how can he accept, "for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost" (Matt. 1:
20). The virgin birth is a basic, essential doctrine of pristine Christianity!