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[[Image:Gerard van Honthorst Nativity.jpg|thumbnail|700px|center|Adoration of the Shepherds by Gerard van Honthorst]]

[[Image:Gerard van Honthorst Nativity.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|Adoration of the Shepherds by Gerard van Honthorst]]

The '''virgin birth''' of [[Jesus Christ]] is a miracle recorded in the Bible, revealing that Jesus was born of the [[Virgin Mary]], having been conceived by the [[Holy Spirit]] and not by relations with any man. This belief has been a traditional tenet of Christianity and continues to be held by most Catholics and Protestants.<ref>[http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/12-faithspirituality/88-americans-express-their-views-of-the-virgin-birth-of-christ Americans Express Their Views of the Virgin Birth of Christ] Barna research, December 17, 2007</ref>  However, this doctrine is not considered essential by many within [[liberal Christianity]].<ref>Roger E. Olson, ''The Westminster handbook to evangelical theology'', p. 281</ref><ref>Robert Paul Lightner, ''Handbook of evangelical theology: a historical, Biblical, and contemporary'', pp. 79,80</ref>

The '''virgin birth''' of [[Jesus Christ]] is a miracle recorded in the Bible, revealing that Jesus was born of the [[Virgin Mary]], having been conceived by the [[Holy Spirit]] and not by relations with any man. This belief has been a traditional tenet of Christianity and continues to be held by most Catholics and Protestants.<ref>[http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/12-faithspirituality/88-americans-express-their-views-of-the-virgin-birth-of-christ Americans Express Their Views of the Virgin Birth of Christ] Barna research, December 17, 2007</ref>  However, this doctrine is not considered essential by many within [[liberal Christianity]].<ref>Roger E. Olson, ''The Westminster handbook to evangelical theology'', p. 281</ref><ref>Robert Paul Lightner, ''Handbook of evangelical theology: a historical, Biblical, and contemporary'', pp. 79,80</ref>