Skip to content

F5 reasoning: Virgin birth and incarnation

Reasoning steps: Virgin birth and incarnation

Verdicts: F5 · Virgin birth and incarnation. Method: conventions, scoring and proximity eras. Scripture is the primary measure; fathers are weighed by era (Era I to c. 150 = 1.0, II = 0.8, III = 0.6, IV = 0.4).

F05.1: Conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary

Step F05.1.1: Scripture

Matt 1:18–25 (‘before they came together … from the Holy Spirit’); Luke 1:34–35 (‘How will this be, since I am a virgin?’); Isa 7:14 as cited by Matthew.

Step F05.1.2: Patristic evidence

Ignatius (Era I): conceived ‘by Mary … but by the Holy Ghost’; ’the virginity of Mary’ a mystery; ’truly born of a virgin’. Justin (Era II) expounds Isa 7:14. Sources: ignatius-f05-s1 · ignatius-f05-s2 · ignatius-f05-s3 · justin-martyr-f05-s1.

Step F05.1.3: Weighing decision

Unanimous from Era I. Verdict: consensus.

  • Confidence: High.

Step F05.1.4: Source-proximity weighing

  • Scripture (benchmark): Matthew and Luke both narrate a virginal conception by the Holy Spirit. (Scripture confidence: high)
  • Assessment: Scripture and Era I agree; all nine confess it.

F05.2: Did Christ take his flesh from Mary’s own substance?

Step F05.2.1: Scripture

Gal 4:4 (‘born of woman’); Rom 1:3 (‘descended from David according to the flesh’); Heb 2:14 (‘partook of the same things’); Luke 1:42 (’the fruit of your womb’).

Step F05.2.2: Patristic evidence

Ignatius (Era I): ‘of the seed of David according to the flesh’. Irenaeus (Era II): ’those who allege that He took nothing from the Virgin do greatly err’. Sources: ignatius-f05-s3 · irenaeus-f05-s1.

Step F05.2.3: Weighing decision

Unanimous from Era I; Valentinian ‘passing through Mary’ was rejected. Verdict: consensus. Menno’s celestial flesh (‘generated … in Mary’) revives a view Irenaeus rejected, though Menno affirms true humanity.

  • Confidence: High.

Step F05.2.4: Source-proximity weighing

  • Scripture (benchmark): Christ is ‘born of woman’ and ‘from David according to the flesh’ (Gal 4:4; Rom 1:3). (Scripture confidence: high)
  • Assessment: Scripture and Era I–II agree; the Mennonite celestial flesh departs from both on this point.

Post-750 development by tradition

Catholic

Confesses the virgin birth.

  • F05.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds.
  • F05.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Creeds; Chalcedon ‘of Mary the Virgin’.

Orthodox

Confesses the virgin birth.

  • F05.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Nicene Creed.
  • F05.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Chalcedon.

Oriental Orthodox

Confesses the virgin birth.

  • F05.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Nerses Shnorhali; Gregory of Tatev: ‘descended into the Mother of God, the Virgin Mary’ (verified, St Nersess ordination service).
  • F05.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Ephesus; Cyril.

Lutheran

Confesses the virgin birth.

  • F05.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): AC III: ‘born of the blessed Virgin Mary’.
  • F05.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): AC III: ‘born of the Virgin Mary’ (verified).

Anglican

Confesses the virgin birth.

  • F05.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Art. II: ‘in the womb of the blessed Virgin’.
  • F05.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Art. II: ‘in the womb of the blessed Virgin, of her substance’ (verified).

Presbyterian

Confesses the virgin birth.

  • F05.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): WCF VIII.2: ‘conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the Virgin Mary’.
  • F05.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): WCF VIII.2: ‘in the womb of the virgin Mary, of her substance’ (verified).

Reformed Baptist

Confesses the virgin birth.

  • F05.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): 1689 8.2.
  • F05.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): 1689 8.2: ‘made of a woman of the tribe of Judah, of the seed of Abraham and David’ (verified).

General Baptist

Confesses the virgin birth.

  • F05.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Orthodox Creed; the three creeds (art. 38).
  • F05.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Orthodox Creed 6 (heading verified).

Anabaptist

Confesses the virgin birth.

  • F05.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Menno: ‘generated and nourished in Mary’ (verified); Dordrecht IV.
  • F05.2 (fathers 1/4; Scripture 2/4): Menno: Christ ‘generated and nourished in Mary’ (verified), not of her substance.