Jesus and the Gospels

Chapter 17

How does the virgin birth of Jesus compare with ancient accounts of virgin birth?

The notion of a divine conception of a remarkable individual can take one of two basic forms, First it can be said that a god can impregnate a woman by means of a nonhuman form. It can also be said that a deity in the form of a human being impregnates a woman. Jesus birth was what was heard but never witnessed.

Genealogy- A line of descent traced continuously from an ancestor: "combing through the birth records and genealogies". The study and tracing of lines of descent or development.

Virgin birth- Two basic forms, First it can be said that a god can impregnate a woman by means of a nonhuman form. It can also be said that a deity in the form of a human being impregnates a woman.

Plato and Apollo- Apollo was the father of the philosopher Plato. Apollo appeared in a dream to Plato’s father and bid him not to have sexual intercourse with his wife.

Isaiah 7:14- “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call him Emmanuel, which means, “God is with us”

Magi- wise men from the east being led by a star to a place where Jesus was born.

The “star”- Enormous star observed in the sky the sighting was interpreted by certain soothsayers to mean that a conqueror was about to be born.

7 BCE- The year that Jesus was born.

Bethlehem- Place of Jesus’ Birth

Nazareth- Jesus family settled in Nazareth which is in Galilee.