There are three critical views regarding the virginal conception, the most frequent argument comprises of parallels brought forth from Greek mythology. “According to this view, the accounts in Matthew and Luke arose among Greek Christians who were acquainted with the many myths in paganism that spoke of the virgin births of various Greek gods and superheroes” (Stein 1996, 65). Subsequently it is said that Christians created a similar story to explain their Messiah. Two of the their strongest arguments derive from the stories of Perseus and Hercules. Mythology states that Zeus had some form of sexual relations with two different human women Danae and Alcmene. Theses two mortal women gave birth to sons that were demigods. When comparing mythology with
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“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14, NIV). “Since this is a prophecy concerning a future virgin birth, it is claimed that church “created” the virgin birth in order for the prophecy fulfillment to take place. (Cords of His Love: Three Critical Views Regarding the Virginal Conception, 2010). The problem that we run into with this account is that Isaiah 7:14 was not interpreted in the first century referring to the virginal conception. “The predominant interpretation was that it referred to a young women (the Hebrew term ‘almah refers primarily to “young women” who may or may not be virgin), and it was interpreted as referring to the birth of Hezekiah, the son and successor to King Ahaz” (Stein 1996, 66). There is no evidence that this verse was construed to have a messianic meaning in Judaism. “It is difficult to believe that the reading of Isaiah 7:14; apart from an already existing tradition of the virgin birth, would give rise to the biblical accounts in Matthew and
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14, NIV). “Since this is a prophecy concerning a future virgin birth, it is claimed that church “created” the virgin birth in order for the prophecy fulfillment to take place. (Cords of His Love: Three Critical Views Regarding the Virginal Conception, 2010). The problem that we run into with this account is that Isaiah 7:14 was not interpreted in the first century referring to the virginal conception. “The predominant interpretation was that it referred to a young women (the Hebrew term ‘almah refers primarily to “young women” who may or may not be virgin), and it was interpreted as referring to the birth of Hezekiah, the son and successor to King Ahaz” (Stein 1996, 66). There is no evidence that this verse was construed to have a messianic meaning in Judaism. “It is difficult to believe that the reading of Isaiah 7:14; apart from an already existing tradition of the virgin birth, would give rise to the biblical accounts in Matthew and