The virgin birth of Jesus Christ is one of the most foundational doctrines of the Christian faith. Though not explicitly stated in the earliest creeds, it has been an essential tenet affirmed by the vast majority of Christians throughout history. Why is the virgin birth so important to Christian theology and practice?
First, the virgin birth is important because it shows that salvation comes from the Lord (Jonah 2:9). The birth of Jesus was a miraculous work of God, not dependent on any human effort or will. Mary was a virgin when she conceived Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:34-35). Jesus was conceived by God the Father, not by any man. This demonstrates that salvation is entirely an act of God’s grace, not reliant on any human merit or works. Just as God brought forth Jesus supernaturally, so too does God supernaturally bring forth new spiritual life in those who trust in Christ.
Second, the virgin birth is significant because it attests to the sinlessness of Christ. Jesus was able to be the perfect sacrifice for sin because he was born without inherited sin and lived a sinless life (2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 4:15). By being conceived in Mary’s womb through the Holy Spirit rather than through sexual relations, Jesus did not inherit the sinful nature passed down to all other human beings from Adam (Romans 5:12-19). Christ’s virgin birth allowed him to be the sinless Lamb of God who could die for the sins of the world (John 1:29).
Third, the virgin birth indicates that Jesus is the incarnation of God. By being born of a virgin, Jesus was not just another human descendant of Adam. Rather, he was uniquely God in the flesh, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). The miraculous virgin conception of Christ in Mary’s womb was the moment when the divine Second Person of the Trinity became incarnate as fully man and fully God (John 1:1, 14). Without ceasing to be God, the Son took on human flesh through the virgin birth.
Fourth, the virgin birth demonstrates that Jesus is the promised Messiah. The Old Testament prophets predicted the Messiah would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14). This seemingly impossible prophecy was fulfilled centuries later in the virgin birth of Jesus, confirming him as the long-awaited Messiah. Matthew 1:22-23 and Luke 1:31-33 connect the dots between the ancient prophecy and its fulfillment in Christ.
Fifth, the virgin birth shows God’s power and glory. For a virgin to conceive and bear a child is humanly impossible. But nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37). The virgin birth displayed God’s omnipotence. It was a miracle that witnessed to God’s glory and caused people to wonder at his marvelous works (Luke 1:43, 2:14). The same power that brought about Christ’s virgin conception brings salvation to all who believe (Ephesians 1:19-20).
Some people wrongly claim the virgin birth is unimportant, or that it could be removed from Christian doctrine without impacting the Faith. But in reality, the virgin birth is intricately intertwined with key tenets of Christianity. It testifies to God’s gracious initiative in salvation, Christ’s deity and sinlessness, the fulfilment of prophecy, and God’s miraculous power. Though mysterious, the virgin birth is a non-negotiable biblical truth at the very heart of the gospel message.
The accounts of Jesus’ virgin birth are found in Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-38. These passages teach the doctrinal importance of the virgin birth outlined above. Matthew demonstrates that Jesus’ miraculous conception fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy about the coming Messiah (Isaiah 7:14). Luke provides more detailed narrative of the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary that she would conceive Jesus by the Holy Spirit despite being a virgin.
Matthew’s account includes Joseph’s initial decision to quietly divorce Mary upon finding she was pregnant, before an angel told him in a dream that her child was “from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18-24). Joseph obeyed and kept Mary as his wife but refrained from intimate relations with her until after Jesus was born (Matthew 1:25). Matthew confirms Mary remained a “virgin” until after giving birth to Jesus. Luke also affirms Mary’s virginity at the time Gabriel announced she would conceive (Luke 1:34).
Some critics claim the Isaiah 7:14 prophecy quoted by Matthew does not really predict a virgin birth of the Messiah. However, the Septuagint Greek translation of Isaiah uses the word parthenos which clearly means “virgin”, showing this verse was interpretated messianically by pre-Christian Jews. Matthew builds on this messianic understanding of Isaiah 7:14 to demonstrate Jesus’ virgin birth fulfilled prophecy.
The virgin birth is also alluded to indirectly in other passages like John 1:13, which specifies believers become children of God not by human means but by divine birth. This contrasts human birth through sexual means with spiritual birth from above through God’s power. The same divine power that spiritually regenerates believers was at work in the physical conception of Christ (Galatians 4:4).
Some argue that because the virgin birth is only referenced in the birth narratives of Matthew and Luke, it is not essential. But this objection does not hold weight. Just because a doctrine is not mentioned frequently does not reduce its importance. Core Christian beliefs like the deity of Christ or the Trinity are also only discussed explicitly in certain passages, but are indispensable nonetheless. The infrequent direct references to the virgin birth itself simply reflect its unquestioned and assumed status in the New Testament.
In addition to direct references in the birth narratives, indirect allusions to the virgin birth elsewhere confirm its accepted place (John 1:13, Galatians 4:4). And the theological implications of the virgin birth permeate the New Testament understanding of salvation, Christology, prophecy, and God’s supernatural power. Attempts to dismiss the virgin birth as unimportant or optional fail to contend with its intimate scriptural and theological connections to the gospel message.
Throughout church history, belief in the virgin birth has been the orthodox position and considered essential Christian doctrine by Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern churches. Though celibacy came to be valued by some, virginity at the time of Jesus’ conception has been upheld as historically factual. This unanimity confirms the virgin birth’s status as an uncompromisable biblical truth, not merely a peripheral optional extra.
In addition to broad historical consensus, individual church fathers and theologians have articulated specific reasons for the importance of the virgin birth. Early church father Ignatius (35-108 AD) called the virgin birth “a mystery of our religion.” Irenaeus (130-202 AD) said the virgin birth was fundamental to God’s redemptive plan starting with a new Adam born through Mary. And Augustine (354-430 AD) argued the virgin birth was necessary to show Jesus was “sent into the world, not indebted to it.”
Medieval theologians like Thomas Aquinas continued to uphold the vital theological importance of the virgin birth. The Reformers like John Calvin insisted on retaining the literal fact of the virgin conception against more skeptical interpreters. And John Wesley, founder of Methodism, called the virgin birth a “fundamental article” and “pillar” of the Christian Faith. Across denominational divides, this doctrine has been regarded as foundational, not optional.
In recent times, some liberal theologians have questioned the virgin birth as mythical rather than historical. Rudolf Bultmann claimed New Testament references to the virgin birth conveyed powerful mythological truth without needing to be literally factual. But most scholars recognize this subjective approach as foreign to the New Testament authors, who clearly intended to report historical fact regarding the circumstances of Christ’s conception.
While the virgin birth is mysterious and miraculous, there is no good textual or historical reason to reject the literal reality of this event as described in Matthew and Luke. Given its crucial theological implications and unanimous affirmation by Christian churches throughout history, the virgin birth should be upheld as a core doctrine revealed in and essential to Scripture.
In conclusion, the virgin birth of Jesus Christ is of central importance to Christian doctrine for multiple reasons. It testifies to God’s initiative in salvation, Christ’s sinlessness, the fulfilment of messianic prophecy, the incarnation of God in Christ, and the miraculous power of God. Direct biblical references plus indirect allusions and theological connections confirm the foundational status of the virgin birth. Attempts to deny or downplay this miracle contradict Scripture and historic Christian orthodoxy. The virgin birth is not an optional extra but an essential tenet intertwined with the heart of the gospel message.
