Seminar 2 - The Birth of Jesus Christ

From the earliest days of the church the virgin birth has been an article of faith without question. The only ones to dispute the issue were the infamous Ebonites and Gnostics who for their own doctrinal reasons refused to believe the testimony of the nature of Jesus Christ. The Ebonites argued that the Isaiah 7:14 passage should be translated "a young woman," not a "virgin."

Biological Impossibility

Many have opposed the doctrine of the virgin birth purely on a human level supposing that since it is not scientific it is not possible. They allege that the people of the early church were ignorant and superstitious, easily falling prey to such fables. On that kind of argument we would have to debunk all the miracles of the Bible, the atoning death of Christ and his resurrection. They all were non-scientific and required extraordinary miracles from the hand of God. C.S. Lewis spoke of this fallacy of reasoning in his defense of the virgin birth.

"Thus you will hear people say, ‘The early Christians believed that Christ was the son of a virgin, but we know that this is a scientific impossibility.’ Such people seem to have the idea that belief in miracles arose at the period when men were so ignorant of the course of nature that they did not perceive a miracle to be contrary to it.

A moment’s thought shows this to be foolish, with the story of the virgin birth as a particularly striking example. When Joseph discovered that his fiancée was going to have a baby, he naturally decided to repudiate her. Why? Because he knew just as well as any modern gynecologist that in the ordinary course of nature women do not have babies unless they have lain with men.

No doubt the modern gynecologist knows several things about birth and begetting that Joseph did not know. But those things do not concern the main point that a virgin birth is contrary to the course of nature. And Joseph obviously knew that."

(McDowell, Defense, p189)

Early Jewish Records

Even in the time of Jesus there was controversy concerning his origin, as we have already seen in Mark 6:3. Among the Jews there was the rumor and belief that Jesus was the illegitimate son of Mary. It has been recorded that in an early genealogical table which dates from before A.D.70, Jesus was listed as "the bastard son of a wedded wife." Another scroll refers to him as "so and so, bastard son of an adulteress." The rabbis crudely called Jesus "the son of an adulteress." Some went so far as to say they k new the name of the illegitimate father of Jesus, a man, a soldier by the name of "Panthera.." Other rabbinical texts find references to Jesus ben Panthera ("ben" is the Hebrew word for "the son of.") Around A.D.160 a Platonist writer named Celsus chronicled the supposed escapades of Mary and Panthera. The document was known to the early church as well. Origen, one of the early church fathers, wrote a dissertation against the claims of Celsus in a work called, Contra Celsus. In it he argues convincingly t hat the spurious accusations against Mary were deliberate slander, obviously concocted to impugn the story of the virgin birth. As Christians we should not be surprised at this. These things were written when Christianity was being accused of cannibalism and blood sacrifices which contributed to the widespread persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. The Jews from the beginning made up stories in attempts to dissuade the multitudes that Jesus was an imposter. (see Matthew 28:11- 15)

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ASSIGNMENT: Run a search on the Internet of the names mentioned above and share your findings with the class. BE CAREFUL the Internet is full of misinformation and erroneous opinions of fools as well as full of vital information.

If you would like to glance through a discussion board that mentions Panthera, Mary and the Virgin Birth, etc. try http://qumran.com/qumran/ Again, be careful. Discussion boards are free-for-alls with many misinformed people and a lot of opinions. This is a kooky site SO BEWARE ! ! !

The full text of Contra Celsus is available an the Web at: http://www.yahshua.webhost.com.au/relig/books/lbks/gnostic/contc1.txt

Greek and Babylonian Mythology

Others have attempted to explain away the virgin birth saying that it was just an attempt to imitate the myths of the Greeks and Babylonians. In posting this argument they try to liken the virgin birth story to the Greek and Babylonian mythologies in which their gods were born in unusual circumstances. These pagan stories however usually resemble the fictitious stories of gods and goddesses having sexual relations with human beings. We need to be very careful in this regard. The virgin birth story never int imates that Mary had sex with a god. In fact, the miracle is that no sexual union was had at all. Such gods having sex are common in false cults such as the Mormons, but do not appear in the sacred scriptures. For this reason Paul and Peter warn the church to flee from such "cleverly devised fables and doctrines of devils." (I Tim. 1:4; 4:7; II Tim. 4:4; Titus 1:14 and 2 Peter 1:16) The Greek word for used for fables is "muthos" or myths. Sexual relations of humans with spirits is technically called "incub us" and is heathen and devilish in its entirety and a part of witchcraft, not the faith once delivered to the saints.

The virgin birth is not a myth or fable. It is the witness of the Old and New Testaments, of Jesus himself, the gospel writers, the writers of the epistles and the witness of the early church, who fought against the Ebonite and Gnostic philosophies which denied it.

The So-called Immaculate Conception of Mary

It is fitting at this time to take up the subject associated with Christ’s birth that has caused confusion and concern through the centuries; that is the so-called "immaculate conception of Mary." The Roman Catholic church has held to this doctrine as part of its veneration of Mary as co-mediator and co-redeemer with Jesus Christ.

Paul makes it very clear in I Timothy 2:5 that Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man and he needs no assistance.

"For there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (I Tim. 2:5)

We must ask everyone who believes in the mediation of saints and/or Mary, ‘Which part of "ONE" don’t you understand?’ Jesus himself made it abundantly clear when speaking to his disciples just before his death when he said,

"I am the way the truth and the life, no man comes unto the Father but by me." (John 14:6)

The Roman Catholic church did not always hold to this position. The idea of the mediation of Mary came about during later centuries when so many other church doctrines became as polluted as the papacy and priesthood. It was these extra-biblical doctrines, added to the scriptures by the Church, that led men like Martin Luther to call the church back to the Bible in what we now call the Reformation.

Did the early church know of the fable of Mary’s immaculate conception?

The answer is yes. At least it was known to the church around the second century. The book was not mentioned in other literature until the middle of the second century. It was rejected by the church as spurious (unauthentic) since its own authorship claims to be by the hand of James who died before Matthew and Luke were written, yet the author claims to know of those books. In addition he claims to have written it "at the time of an uproar in Jerusalem at the death of Herod." Herod died in 4 or 5 B.C. Even the books own proponents say this is impossible and that James, the brother of our Lord, was not the author.

The story of the immaculate conception is contained only in the apocryphal book of the Infancy Gospel of James, which was excluded from the canon for reasons we discussed in the first lesson of this series. Yet we find the Roman Catholic Church in later centuries deriving doctrine from the very books it considered non-canonical and of questionable origin at best. Remember it was not the Protestant Church that approved the canon (the Protestant movement didn’t begin until the 1500s) it was the Roman Catholic Church.

The story of Mary’s so-called immaculate conception comes from the apocryphal book of the Gospel of James. The Roman Catholic Church has built around this story a doctrine which has greatly influenced the lives and faith of its adherents. It is a dangerous doctrine of another salvation which is not taught in any of the canonical books of the New Testament. Paul warned the church with the severest language concerning those who would teach another gospel than what he preached.

I marvel that you are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ, but though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:6-9 (The NIV says, Let him be eternally condemned." Which is a kind way of saying "Let him be eternally damned.")

We ought to give earnest heed to these words and warn our brothers and sisters who are of the Roman Catholic Church lest in their ignorance they be eternally damned. It is not a mild doctrinal difference to say that any human being is co-equal with Jesus Christ as mediator and co-redeemer. It is blasphemy! The Roman Catholic Church did not always believe this way. It was in 1854 that the doctrine became a dogma of the church by the encyclical of Pope Pius IX:

"And since she has been appointed by God to be the Queen of heaven and earth, and is exalted above all the choirs of angels and saints, and even stands at the right hand of her only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, she presents our petitions in a most efficacious manner. What she asks, she obtains. Her pleas can never be unheard.

Given at St. Peter's in Rome, the eighth day of December, 1854, in the eighth year of our pontificate."
Read the entire document at: http://www.rc.net/rcchurch/popes/pius9/ineffab.asc

The Roman Catholic Church has made serious errors regarding the nature of Mary and her position in the eternal state of things. 1) It calls her Queen of Heaven 2) It declares that she is the mediatrix between man and Jesus Christ. 3) It instructs that prayers should be addressed to her for her intercession to Jesus Christ, as well as prayers to other deceased saints. 4) It teaches that she is the co-redemptrix with her son Jesus Christ. 5) She ascended to heaven without dying. None of these are biblical do ctrines. They are theological extensions of apocryphal writings which contradict the inspired Word of God.

Conclusions

Is it any wonder that the Church discourages the reading and study of the Word of God by laymen? In every case where laymen are allowed to read and study the scriptures their eyes are opened to who Jesus really is and to the full knowledge of salvation by faith alone and by grace alone. Someone will surely say, "Pastor, you are being too hard on the Catholic Church." Am I? It is the gospel that is hard on the Catholic church or any other church that teaches contrary to the scriptures. Jesus challenged the J ews to "search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." (John 5:39) and he promised that "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." (John 8:32) And again "If any man will do his will he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." (John 7:17) Jesus had no fear that the lowliest of men would misunderstand the Word of God and be led astray. Why should we? The Wor d of God is a "lamp unto our feet a nd an light unto our path." (Ps 119:105) Its power to instruct and transform is without precedent, "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: The testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple…Moreover by them is your servant warned and in keeping of them is great reward." (Ps 19:7,11) It would be well for the membership of the Roman Catholic Church who truly love Jesus Christ to echo Isaiah’s words to their wayward leadersh ip and cry, "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not acc ording to this world it is because there is no light in them." (Isaiah 8:20)

The Roman Catholic Church is not an evil church for from it we all have received the canon of scripture and solid doctrines from the early church fathers. But over the centuries its leadership has become sick, errant and self-serving by exalting itself above the Word of God. Let it be known to every church be it Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, or Christian and Missionary Alliance, that the WORD OF GOD MUST BE CENTRAL to all the teaching of the church or it will beco me "anathema".

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ASSIGNMENT: Read the apocryphal book The Infancy Gospel of James. http://wesley.nnc.edu/noncanon/gospels/gosjames.htm

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What you should know

1. Be able to explain the difference between intellectual assent and real believing, saving faith. (saving faith believes with the heart not just the head.)
2. Know what the word "agnosticism" means. (a+gnosis - not know)
3. Know the two Greek words for "to know" mentioned in the lesson. ("ginosko" and "oida.")
4. Know the Greek word for begotten, "monogenes" and what it means when applied to Christ. (only begotten or mono-begotten)
5. How many times angels are mentioned in the O.T and N.T. (115 and 175)
6. List at least 3 Old Testament angelic appearances, and 3 New Testament appearances (beyond the nativity story).
7. Name three continuing ministries of angels for the saints at the will of the Father (provide, protect and proclaim)
8. Know at least 6 ministries of angels from the list in the lesson. (There are 14 listed)
9. Name the 6 angelic appearances in the nativity story of Christ. (Hint: Three are visions or dreams and three are actual appearances.)
10. Know why rejecting the virgin birth affects one’s salvation. (rejects sinlessness of Christ and the miraculous atonement and resurrection)
11. What is the verse of scripture that exhorts us to "earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints."
12. Where Mark and John allude to the virgin birth. (Mark 6:3, John 1-3 the word begotten or "monogenes")
13. Why is the virgin birth theologically necessary? (to provide one free from original sin)
14. What three things point to a miraculous virgin birth in Isaiah 7:14? (the word used "almah" virgin or veiled maiden, the "sign" spoken of, and the name "Immanuel")
15. Know the prophecy of Jeremiah which declares that there was a curse on the descendants of King Jeconiah. (Jeremiah 22:28-30)
16. Know what early church cult argued that the Isaiah 7:14 passage should be translated "a young woman," not a "virgin." (The Ebonites)
17. Know who Jesus ben Panthera was. (Rabbis accused of being Jesus’ father)
18. Who wrote "Contra Celsus"? (Origen)
19. Know the five errors of the R.C. Church regarding Mary.
20. Know the year and the Pope that declared Mary mediatrix. (1854, Pope Pius IX)

Sources and Recommended Reading:
(It is not necessary to buy these books.)

Hurbert Lockyer, All the Doctrines of the Bible, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 1964
L. Berkhof, Systematic Theology, Eerdmans Publishing Co. Grand Rapids, 1939
Josh McDowell, Evidence that Demands a Verdict, Campus Crusade for Christ, 1979
Josh McDowell, A Ready Defense, Compiled by Bill Wilson, Thomas Nelson Pub, 1993
Keathley, J. Hampton III, Angels, God’s Ministering Spirits Internet Article on Angels, < >