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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>

==Luke 1:26-38==

==Luke 1:26-38==

==History==

==History==

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>

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, due to the wording of Matthew 1:25, and the basic description of marriage, (Mt. 19:4,5; 1Cor. 7:2-5) and the absence of any discussion of Mary's perpetual virginity in the canonical gospels, and references indicating Mary had children. (Ps. 69:8; Mt. 12:46; 13:55; Jn. 2:12; 7:3,5,10; Acts 1:14; 1Cor. 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>  

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 (Mt. 19:4,5; 1 Cor. 7:2-5), the absence of any discussion of Mary's perpetual virginity in the canonical gospels, and references indicating Mary had children (i.e. plural). (Ps. 69:8; Mt. 12:46; 13:55; Jn. 2:12; 7:3,5,10; Acts 1:14; 1Cor. 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 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>

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

Many Protestants identify Catholics as worshippers of Mary. Catholics vigorously deny that they worship any being but God.

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}}  

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 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==