The Virgin Birth

Does Science Help Our Belief?

Most Bible scholars when asked, “Why do you believe in the virgin birth of Jesus?” will most likely respond, “I believe it because it’s in the Bible.” This is, of course, an important admission because most evangelical Christians believe in the absolute verbal plenary inspiration of the Word of God. The well-known scripture from Isaiah 7:14 is usually quoted for support of the virgin birth during the Christmas season:

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

But is there more that could be of help for our understanding? For example, The Nicene Creed of 325 A.D. says:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He arose again from the dead.

Christians down through the centuries have agreed with this important statement and even incorporated it into their liturgical services. The phrase “conceived by the Holy Spirit” is one of the keys of this declaration because it is in perfect agreement with the record in Luke’s Gospel describing Mary’s experience. We read:

“And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God’” (Luke 1:35).

So, according to this, Jesus was obviously going to be an extraordinary man, even related to God as “the Son of God.” It was the supernatural ministry of God the Holy Spirit coming upon Mary that produced the conception of Jesus in Mary’s womb.¹ Therefore we have the sacred record through the Apostle John which reads:

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

The combined activity of our Triune God worked in harmony together to position one of their members, Jesus, to begin His journey for the salvation of mankind. This beginning was in the womb of a humble young teenager who responded, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38).

This is the biblical record in part, but is there anything that can be added from our knowledge of today’s scientific discoveries? Interestingly, yes. We know that each human being has 46 chromosomes in the DNA of their cells to form a complete person. A female has XX chromosomes and a male has XY chromosomes. It is the twenty-third set of chromosomes in each individual that determines the sex, known as sex chromosomes.

Here is the fascinating thought: Mary would have naturally supplied the XX female chromosomes, but where did the XY chromosomes come from to ensure that Jesus was born as a man? From the scriptures already quoted, the answer is directly from God the Holy Spirit.

With this information in mind we can see more clearly how correct it is to claim that Jesus is fully man and fully God. This is why Jesus could make such statements as:

“You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world” (John 8:23).

And: “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30).

Yes, this Jesus we are privileged to serve was willing to suffer the humility of human flesh in order to identify with us completely. Yet, marvel of marvels, being without sin He surrendered His future to the Father in that moment of extreme agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, by praying: 

“…nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42).

Jesus also completed His journey for us by enabling us to boldly proclaim not only His virgin birth, but also His resurrection from the grave. He said:

“No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father” (John 10:18).

Let us rejoice in these truths and like the early disciples, boldly declare them to all who will listen.