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The '''Virgin birth''' of [[Jesus Christ]] is a miracle recorded in the Bible, revealing that Jesus was born of a virgin, [[Mary]]. She is believed to have conceived her son through the power of the [[Holy Spirit]] rather than 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>

==Luke 1:26-38==

==Luke 1:26-38==

The Angel Gabriel went to Mary and said,  

The Angel Gabriel went to Mary and said,  

==History==

==History==

The doctrine was well established by the 2nd century, but theologians were always puzzled that Paul never mentioned it, although some commentators believe the wording of Galatians 4:4 alludes to the virgin birth.<ref>Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible; John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible; Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown; Robertson's word pictures in the New Testament</ref>

The doctrine was well established by the 2nd century, but theologians were always puzzled that Paul never mentioned it, though some commentators believe the wording of Galatians 4:4 alludes to the virgin birth.<ref>Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible; John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible; Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown; Robertson's word pictures in the New Testament</ref>

 

Roman Catholicism also holds that Mary remained a virgin even after her marriage to Joseph, which doctrine most [[Evangelical]] Protestants disagree with because of the wording of Matthew 1:25 and the basic description of marriage given in Mt. 19:4,5 and 1 Cor. 7:2-5. It is also argued that there is an absence of any discussion in the canonical gospels of Mary's supposed perpetual virginity and that there is an indication of Mary having had other children (Ps. 69:8; Mt. 12:46; 13:55; Jn. 2:12; 7:3,5,10; Acts 1:14; 1 Cor. 9:5; Gal. 1:19). <ref>[http://www.bible-history.com/isbe/M/MARY International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, ''Mary'']</ref><ref>http://www.letusreason.org/RC8.htm</ref> Roman Catholic apologists believe these texts refer to close kin outside the immediate family, and otherwise dispute the Protestant conclusions. <ref>Dwight Longenecker, David Gustafson, ''Mary: A Catholic Evangelical Debate'', p. 93-78</ref>  

In 21st century mainstream Protestant denominations, belief in the Virgin Mary is generally considered to be optional, the Bible's word for "virgin" being understood as "young girl" rather than a female who has not had sexual intercourse.<ref>See for example Donald K. McKim, ''Presbyterian questions, Presbyterian answers: exploring Christian faith'' (2003) [http://books.google.com/books?id=54f0oX23u5EC&pg=PA32&lpg=PA32&dq=presbyterian+%22virgin+birth%22&source=bl&ots=4ACahhqEHy&sig=5fDWvz5HKAHiFC4peLscgZp4UmE&hl=en&ei=fiGYSv-dFJOesgPl_9W1Ag&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7#v=onepage&q=&f=false  online pp. 31-2 ]</ref>

In 21st century mainstream Protestant denominations, belief in the Virgin Mary is considered optional.<ref>See for example Donald K. McKim, ''Presbyterian questions, Presbyterian answers: exploring Christian faith'' (2003) [http://books.google.com/books?id=54f0oX23u5EC&pg=PA32&lpg=PA32&dq=presbyterian+%22virgin+birth%22&source=bl&ots=4ACahhqEHy&sig=5fDWvz5HKAHiFC4peLscgZp4UmE&hl=en&ei=fiGYSv-dFJOesgPl_9W1Ag&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7#v=onepage&q=&f=false  online pp. 31-2 ]</ref>

==Worldview==

==Worldview==

Many Protestants are critical of Catholics for allegedly worshipping Mary. Although the word (worship) is used in the Bible to mean veneration or special regard, often accompanied by special acts of devotion, we normally reserve it these days for the ultimate honor that is given to God alone. Taken in that sense, Catholics worship only God.  

Many Protestants mistakenly identify Catholics as worshippers of Mary. In fact, Catholics only worship God.  

The Islamic [[Koran]] contains references to Jesus and Mary, but this much later work by [[Muhammad]] is critically different from the Bible. While Jesus is presented as a perfect man, and Mary is portrayed as an extraordinary mother of a great prophet, Muhammad denied the Divinity of Jesus and that He was born of a virgin mother. In addition, he mistakenly understood the Christian Trinity to consist of the Father God, Jesus, and Mary. (Sura 5:116-117) <ref>http://answering-islam.org/Why-not/13trinity.html</ref> None of the thousands of extant biblical manuscripts support the Islamic departures from the Bible, although the Koran depends upon the Bible for support. {{Main|Qur'an}}  

The Islamic [[Koran]] contains references to Jesus and Mary, but this much later work by [[Muhammad]] is critically different. While Jesus is presented as a perfect man, and Mary is portrayed as an extraordinary mother of a great prophet, Muhammad denied the Divinity of Jesus, and that He was conceived from a virgin mother. In addition, he mistakenly understood that the Christian Trinity consisted of God, Jesus and Mary. (Sura 5:116-117) <ref>http://answering-islam.org/Why-not/13trinity.html</ref> None of the thousands of extant biblical manuscripts support the Islamic contradictions of the Bible, though it requires its support. {{Main|Qur'an}}  

==Further reading==

==Further reading==