How Did Mary Give Birth To Jesus

Was There a Midwife at the Manger? Here’s What the History of Childbirth Says About the First Christmas

It will be common to see images of Jesus’ birth in the manger as the Christmas season approaches. These images will include images of Mary and Joseph bending over the child and the three wise men, an angel, and the animals all gazing on. However, further investigation revealed that there was most likely another person there in the background. A midwife is a woman who cares for other people. There is little information concerning Jesus’ actual birth in the Bible; Luke just states that Mary gave birth to him, while Matthew provides even less information.

This ancient translation provides far more detail regarding Mary’s delivery, including the presence of two midwives, one of whom plays a crucial role in attesting to Mary’s virginity, than the modern version.

Other scholars refer to earlier chapters of the Bible, such as Exodus, in which midwives are mentioned as being a vital component of the health-care system and the culture of the Hebrew people.

Labor would have taken between 12 and 36 hours for a first-time mother, and it was a potentially perilous venture.

  1. If there had been enough time, Joseph would almost certainly have asked for a midwife, and a midwife would almost certainly have come, despite the fact that the couple was strangers in Bethlehem and might not have been able to pay.
  2. More recently, Queen Elizabeth II was aided by midwives in the comfortable surroundings of Buckingham Palace; Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, was also aided by midwives.
  3. However, there is evidence to suggest that the midwife has played an essential societal function from ancient times as well.
  4. Women themselves were frequently unable to read or write, making it impossible for them to recount their own tale.
  5. Socrates’ mother worked as a midwife at the time of his birth, and he wrote on midwifery practices at the time.

Roman paintings carved into the walls of ancient birthing chambers are likewise a glimpse into the past.

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We’ve sent you a confirmation email to the address you provided as a precautionary measure. To confirm your subscription and begin getting our newsletters, please click on the link provided. You should receive a confirmation email within 10 minutes. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please check your spam folder. A local lady who was called upon to assist with delivery would have been found in every community throughout the European Middle Ages. Typically, she was grown, had her own children, and possessed wisdom and calmness.

  • She was present at both the birth and the deathbed of her child.
  • They were well-versed in female anatomy and physiology, herbal remedies, and the birthing process — all of which were topics from which males were traditionally banned.
  • Then, in the seventeenth century, the public perception of midwives began to shift once more.
  • And because many of them could read and write, they were able to read and study whatever scientific material was available at the time, which was little.
  • There were no schools or licenses available this time around.
  • Throughout Europe, immigrant midwives passed on their knowledge and abilities from one woman to another.
  • In contrast to midwifery laws in Europe, which are national in scope, midwifery regulations in the United States are either regional or non-existent.

They were not in a position of authority; they earned a modest income; and they did not consider themselves to be experts in their fields.

An experimental birthing medicine known as Twilight Sleep was introduced at this time; although it promised women a “painless” birth, it could only be administered in hospitals at the time.

Some women considered that giving birth at home was a relic of the past, and physicians advised them to give birth in hospitals instead.

However, around the same time period, Mary Breckinridge, a British-trained nurse-midwife, was instrumental in bringing modern midwifery to the United States in 1925.

Her pupils were nurses who had had formal training.

Who could possibly disagree with that?

They desired to have a greater voice in the events that occurred to them.

Since then, midwifery has slowly but steadily made its way back into the mainstream in the United States.

It should come as no surprise that there are around 27 million midwives in the world.

Even though we frequently fail to include them when we relate the story of how prominent individuals came into the world, they were unavoidably present.

Women nowadays can find midwives in any town who will assist them in their labor choices, whether they want to give birth in a hospital, a birth center, their homes, or, who knows, maybe even in a stable.as long as it’s clean and warm.

She is a member of the American College of Midwives.

She is the author of the Hope River Midwife series of novels, which has been published in several languages. The most current book in the series, Once a Midwife, is now available through William Morrow Publishing. More TIME Magazine’s Must-Read Stories

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Why Did God Choose Mary to Give Birth to Jesus?

Crosswalk.com is a website that provides information on crossing streets. Author who contributes to the work God picked Mary to do what many consider to be the most significant work in human history: bringing the Messiah into the world through the virgin birth. Her life would take a sudden turn away from planning her wedding and toward preparing for the Messiah who would be born in her womb. The tale of Mary is intertwined with God’s purpose to send His Son to earth to be the Savior of the world (1 John 4:14).

Was there anything particularly distinctive or remarkable about this young lady?

Why Did God Choose Mary?

Many interesting information about Mary may be gleaned from the message delivered by the angel, as well as from her response to the messenger. However, by studying Old Testament predictions, as well as the history and circumstances surrounding Mary’s life at the time, we can gain a better understanding of why God picked Mary. God orchestrated every detail — the people, the locations, and the periods — in order to bring about His plan of salvation via Jesus Christ. He still need a willing vessel, a surrendered servant, to complete His mission.

She came from a decent family and was from Nazareth.

She was a virgin, and she was a young lady with a good reputation.

What Were the Angel’s Words Concerning Mary?

In God’s presence, Gabriel, one of the holy angels, was entrusted with the responsibility of delivering crucial messages on God’s behalf. Initially, Mary was “greatly worried” when Gabriel appeared to her; nevertheless, the angel then delivered a joyful surprise with her. According to Luke 1:26-33, the angel Gabriel informed Mary that she would become pregnant and give birth to a son. The baby’s name would be Jesus, which comes from the Hebrew root meaning “the Lord is Salvation,” and would signify “Savior.” According to Gabriel, this child, the Son of God, would reign in an eternal kingdom with the Father.

  • “How would this work, given that I am a virgin?” Mary inquired.
  • 34).
  • According to Jewish tradition at the time, young girls might enter into a marriage contract as early as the age of twelve.
  • Gabriel sent excellent news concerning Mary’s barren cousin, Elizabeth, in order to further assist Mary in comprehending the impending miracle.

She was in her sixth month of pregnancy, and she was carrying a boy “in her old age” (Luke 1:5-25, 36). The angel encouraged Mary to put her faith in God’s revelation concerning her own son, telling her that “no word from God would ever be false.” Photograph courtesy of Getty Images/rudall30

How Did Mary Respond to the Angel?

Even though she was most likely unaware of how this extraordinary conception would take place, Mary’s hymn of praise demonstrates that she was aware of Messianic prophesies and promises (Luke 1:54-55); and Gabriel informed her that she would be carrying the Messiah in her womb. Saying “yes” to this opportunity would be a significant decision. Despite the fact that her response was brief, it was profound: “I am the Lord’s servant. “I pray that your promise to me will be realized.” Karen Swallow Prior said in “‘Let It Be’: Mary’s Radical Declaration of Assent” that the angel presented “an opportunity to Mary to give a very contemporary turn to a very pre-modern event: vocal consent,” and that the angel offered “a radical declaration of consent.” Because women were not treated fairly in ancient Middle Eastern civilizations, this verbal permission was “very unusual,” according to Prior.

As a result of her reaction, Mary recognized God’s authority.

What Was Mary’s Lineage, and Why Is That Important?

In contrast to Joseph’s genealogy, which is found in Matthew 1:1-16 and demonstrates Jesus’ relationship to the regal Davidic throne, Mary’s genealogy is found inLuke 3:23-38. Despite the fact that her name does not appear there, it was customary for genealogists to exclude women’s names. Mary was the daughter of Heli, who was a direct descendant of Judah, and Joseph was described as the “son” of Heli as a result of his marriage to Mary, which was recorded in the Bible. (Joseph’s original father’s given name was Jacob.) Mary belonged to the tribe of Judah, which was the line of the Messiah.

Other passages of Scripture also indicate that Jesus belonged to the tribe of Judah (Hebrews 7:14;Revelation 5:5).

Mary’s mother may have been a Levite, but her father was a member of the tribe of Judah, not the tribe of Levi.

Why Did It Matter that Mary Came from Nazareth?

Why would a nondescript place like Nazareth make a difference in Mary’s decision to follow her calling? Being from Nazareth was considered a source of contempt. Because the Romans maintained a garrison in Nazareth, the Jews regarded the city as impure. After Jesus’ birthplace was first ridiculed by Nathanael, the disciple retorted: “Nazareth! Can anything good ever come from there?” When the Messiah is mocked, humiliated, despised, and rejected, as described in Psalm 22:6-7 and Isaiah 53:3, it is possible that He was doing so in part because He was labeled as a “Nazarene.” On the Galilean plain, there was a prosperous and magnificent trade city called Sepphoris, which had an influx of Greek culture and was renowned as “The pearl of the Galilee.” Gabriel, on the other hand, was dispatched to Mary’s birthplace of Nazareth, where he was delivered to a peasant lady living in squalor.

There would be nothing in Nazareth that would elevate Jesus beyond his modest roots; nonetheless, it would be through these humble beginnings that He would be able to empathize with those whom He came to redeem (Luke 19:10).

What Part Did Joseph Play in God’s Choice?

One of the reasons God picked Mary was because of her husband, Joseph! Their participation was critical in ensuring that they arrived at the correct location at the appropriate time. Despite the fact that many young virgins were likely descended from King David’s line, it seems unlikely that many of them would be in the small town of Bethlehem at the precise moment when Messiah would appear. When Caesar Augustus declared that “a census should be conducted of the whole Roman world,” everyone in the Roman realm was forced to return to their ancestors’ places of origin.

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Bethlehem had become congested as a result of the census.

Jesus may have been born in northern Bethlehem, in the Migdol Eder, a watchtower with a place beneath it that was utilized during the lambing season, according to one account.

It doesn’t matter where Mary was when she arrived in Bethlehem; Joseph was helpful in bringing her there.

Why Was It Crucial that Mary Be a Virgin?

The fact that Mary was virgin was one of the most important considerations in God’s decision to choose her. The prophesy of Isaiah 7:14 was fulfilled in this way. Matthew further pointed out that the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophesy served as confirmation of the Lord’s true nature. Mary and Joseph were engaged to be married, but they did not have any sexual contact until after the birth of Jesus. In light of the fact that Jesus did not have an earthly biological father, the sin nature would not be passed down from Joseph.

Knowing that Mary’s pregnancy would bring public shame onto the family, Joseph pondered a discreet divorce; however, an angel persuaded him not to be afraid of marrying her, explaining that the conception was “from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:19-23).

Was Mary Particularly Special?

The message from Gabriel, without a doubt, altered young Mary. Her joyful expectation of marriage had been supplanted by thoughts of parenthood. Her life would never be the same again, nor would it be easy or peaceful. She would come to realize how expensive her surrender to God’s calling would be as time went on. Mary was referred to be “very favored” by Gabriel. This phrase is derived from a Greek term that means “a great deal of grace.” Rather of being selected by God because she was better or more religious than others, Mary was “graced” by him with a special opportunity.

  1. “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior,” she expressed her gratitude (Luke 1:28).
  2. In her Magnificat, Mary exalted God and His Word from beginning to end.
  3. ‘Mary was favored by God for a mission that would eventually allow everyone of us to be favored,’ stated Dr.
  4. God sent the ultimate Christmas present not only to Mary, but to all of us, according to the prophet, “and it was Mary who brought the parcel to us.” Mary was dutiful and morally clean, and she served as a role model for strong faith in God and others.

These characteristics, Jeremiah observed, “are frequently disregarded or even belittled by society, yet they prepared Mary for God’s ministry.” Photograph courtesy of Getty Images

What Do We Know about Mary as a Mother to Jesus?

In the cradle and on the cross, Mary was the only human being who was there with Jesus at His birth and death on earth—she was the only one who witnessed His birth and death. Jesus developed and matured as a result of his earthly parents’ guidance (Luke 2:52). According to the Bible, following the birth of her firstborn, Mary had four more boys and several girls (Mark 6:3), indicating that she was not a perpetual virgin. She most certainly assisted all of her children in becoming good Jews as well.

When Jesus left behind in the Temple at the age of 12, his worried parents went on a search for him, and Mary discovered the nature of her son’s connection with God.

The day of Cana’s wedding, Mary first challenged her son, but then placed her trust in what He had instructed her to do.

When Jesus reminded everyone in the audience, he said, “Those who do the will of God are [His] brother, sister, and mother.” Mary, as a sinner, was unable to act as a mediator in the case of others’ sins, despite the fact that she may have prayed for her family and others throughout her time on earth.

At the cross, Mary experienced the agony of the ” sword ” that Simeon had said would pierce her soul, but she was also soothed by Jesus’ request that John look after her needs.

According to the Bible, there is no record of when or where Mary died.

As Jesus stated in Luke 11:27-28, Mary is not to be revered; yet, Christ-followers continue to remember her as a lady of remarkable faith and courage.

How Does Mary Encourage Us in Our Own Lives?

In the cradle and on the cross, Mary was the only human being who was there with Jesus throughout His birth and death on earth—she was the only one who was present at both. His earthly parents’ guidance helped Jesus to develop and grow (Luke 2:52). It is recorded in the Bible that Mary had four more boys and several daughters following the birth of her firstborn (Mark 6:3), indicating that she was not a perpetual virgin. In addition, she is likely to have assisted all of her children in developing into decent Jews.

  • After leaving the Temple at the age of 12, Jesus’ worried parents went on a search for him, and Mary discovered the nature of his connection with God.
  • When Mary addressed her son at the wedding of Cana, she put her trust in God and did what He instructed her to.
  • Everybody in the audience was reminded by Jesus that people who do God’s will are His “brother, sister, mother.” Mary, as a sinner, was unable to act as a mediator in the case of others’ transgressions, even if she may have prayed for her family and others throughout her time on earth.
  • The sorrow of the “sword,” which Simeon had said would pierce Mary’s soul, was palpable at the cross, but she was soothed by Jesus’ request that John look after her.
  • A biblical account does not specify when or where Mary passed away.

However, there is no scriptural evidence to support the claim that she “assumed” (was elevated) toheaven in an exalted function. As Jesus stated in Luke 11:27-28, Mary is not to be revered; rather, Christ-followers continue to remember her as a lady of remarkable faith and courage.

Mary and Joseph Go to Bethlehem and Jesus Is Born

1, 2. Describe Mary’s journey and explain why she found it difficult at several points along the way. In an awkwardly twisted position, MARY sat atop the little beast of burden. She’d been biking for several hours. Just ahead, Joseph continued to walk steadily forward, pointing the way along the road toward the distant town of Bethlehem. Mary was awakened once more by the stirring of life inside her. 2 Mary was far into her pregnancy at this point, and the Bible depicts her as “heavy with child” at this point in the narrative.

  1. Is it possible that anything had dragged Mary away from her hometown of Nazareth?
  2. 3 This whole ordeal began months earlier when this young Jewish woman was given a task that was unlike any other in all of human history.
  3. (See also Luke 1:35) As the moment for giving birth drew closer, the need of embarking on this trip became apparent.
  4. Let’s have a look at what she did to maintain her spiritual strength.

The Trip to Bethlehem

four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten (a) What was the reason for Joseph and Mary’s journey to Bethlehem? (a) Which of the following prophecies was fulfilled as a result of Caesar’s decree? 4 Joseph and Mary were not the only ones who were on the move at that time. People were required to travel to their place of origin in order to comply with a recent decree issued by Caesar Augustus requiring that a register be carried out in the country. What was Joseph’s response? This is how the story goes: “Of course, Joseph also traveled up from Galilee and out of the city of Nazareth into Judea and to David’s city, which is known as Bethlehem, since he was a member of David’s house and family.” — Luke 2:14-23.

  1. The Messiah would be born at Bethlehem, according to a prophesy that was written down some seven centuries ago.
  2. The prophesy, on the other hand, said that it would be “Bethlehem Ephrathah” that would give birth to the Messiah.
  3. In that Bethlehem, Joseph was summoned, since it was the ancestral house of King David’s family, which included both Joseph and his wife, and it was the Bethlehem to which Joseph had been summoned.
  4. Mary’s actions were influenced in what way by the fact that she was Joseph’s wife?
  5. After all, she would be under a lot of stress on the journey.
  6. Furthermore, the term “went up from Galilee” is suitable since Bethlehem was positioned at a height altitude of over 2,500 feet (760 m), which required a strenuous ascent at the end of a journey that had lasted many days.
  7. She may require many periods of rest.

Without a question, she needed to summon the necessary fortitude in order to go on this journey.

Despite this, Luke states that Joseph went “to become enrolled with Mary” (to register with Mary).

(Luke 2:4; Luke 2:5) The fact that Mary was Joseph’s wife made a significant impact in her judgments.

As a result, she responded to this possible test of her faith with straightforward obedience.

(b) How does Mary’s example serve as a light for those who are faithful?

Did she have any knowledge of the prophesy that Bethlehem would be the birthplace of the Savior?

We cannot discount out the possibility, because the truth was apparently well known among religious leaders and even the broader public at the time of the incident.

2:1-7; John 7:40-42) When it came to the Scriptures, Mary was far from being a naive young lady of her time.

Both men and women who have a modest and submissive heart are highly regarded by Jehovah. In our day and age, when submitting appears to be among the most neglected of virtues, Mary’s example serves as a light for those who are committed to God.

The Birth of Christ

nine, ten (a) What do you think Mary and Joseph were thinking about as they were making their way towards Bethlehem? (a) Why did Joseph and Mary choose to stay in the location that they did? 9 When Mary first saw the town of Bethlehem, she had to have breathed a sigh of relief in her heart. It’s possible that Mary and Joseph were thinking about the history of this small community as they ascended the slopes, passing past olive orchards, which were among the last crops to be gathered at the time of their journey.

  • 10 Mary and Joseph discovered that the hamlet was quite crowded.
  • They had no choice but to spend the night in a barn since they had no other option.
  • Her contractions had started right here, of all places.
  • (a) In what ways did Jesus fulfill the role of “firstborn”?
  • A little more than 4,000 years previously, Jehovah had forewarned that it would be the common lot of women to experience anguish during childbirth as a result of hereditary sin.
  • v.
  • v.
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v.

v.

According to Luke’s narrative, the scene is obscured by a subtle curtain of seclusion, which states simply: “She gave birth to her son, the firstborn.” (Luke 2:7).

Yes, Mary’s “firstborn” had arrived – the first of at least seven children who would come to be known as her family.

But he was also Jehovah’s own “firstborn of all creation,” the only-begotten Son of God, who was not only the firstborn of all creation, but also the firstborn of all time!

12.How did Mary lay the infant, and how did the truth differ from the nativity plays, paintings, and scenarios that have been shown in the media?

(Luke 2:7).

Take into consideration, however, the facts of the situation.

Remember that the family was staying in a stable, which was not known for having clean air or cleanliness at the time, or even now.

The majority of parents want nothing but the best for their children.

What ways did Mary and Joseph make the most of what they had?

(b) How can wise parents nurture priorities that are comparable to those of Joseph and Mary in the modern world?

Take, for example, the fact that Mary herself looked after the child, wrapping him tightly in fabric bands and placing him gently in the manger to sleep, assuring that he would be warm and safe.

She and Joseph were also aware that the most essential thing they could do for this kid would be to provide him with spiritual guidance and support.

(See Deuteronomy 6:6-8 for further information.) As they raise their children in this spiritually impoverished environment, sensible parents create priorities that are comparable to those of their forefathers.

A Visit Brings Encouragement

14 and 15 are the digits of the number 14. (a) What was it about the infant that made the shepherds so excited? (a) What action did the shepherds take in response to what they had witnessed in the stable? 14 A disturbance erupted out of nowhere, disrupting the tranquil environment. Shepherds raced into the stable, anxious to see the family and, in especially, the youngster who had been left behind. These men were giddy with excitement, and their smiles were beaming from their faces. Their flocks had been herded into the valley from the mountains where they had been camped for the night.

  1. An angel had come to them on the mountainside during their night vigil while they were on the watch.
  2. They would discover the kid lying in a manger, swaddled in cotton bands, and they would take him home.
  3. — Luke 2:8–14, emphasis added.
  4. A newborn child, laying there exactly as the angel had described, must have filled them with delight.
  5. As the adage goes, “They made the saying known.
  6. Jehovah, on the other hand, evidently regarded these persons as valuable.
  7. Shepherds who were modest and obedient were plainly favored by Jehovah.

How did Mary demonstrate that she was genuinely attentive, while also expressing what was at the heart of her faith?

And she went even further: “Mary began to store all of these sayings, making inferences in her heart as she did so.” (See also Luke 2:19) This young lady exhibited genuine thoughtfulness.

Her God, Jehovah, want for her to be aware of and recognize the identity and significance of her son.

She tucked the words away in her heart, knowing that she would come back to them again and again in the months and years to come to consider them.

​— Take a look at Hebrews 11:1.

So, how can we follow in Mary’s footsteps when it comes to spiritual truths and principles?

Jehovah has crammed the pages of his Word with essential spiritual truths that can’t be found anywhere else.

As a means of accomplishing this, we should routinely read the Bible—not only as a piece of fiction, but as the divinely inspired Word of God.

If we ponder on what we read in the Bible, considering ways in which we may implement Jehovah’s wisdom more thoroughly, we will provide our faith with the nutrients it requires to flourish and expand.

More Sayings to Preserve

When it came to following the Mosaic Law in Jesus’ early years, what did Mary and Joseph do? The donation that Joseph and Mary made at the temple revealed a lot about their financial status, didn’t it? 18 On the eighth day of the baby’s life, Mary and Joseph had him circumcised, as required by the Mosaic Law, and named him Jesus, as ordered. (See also Luke 1:31) And on the 40th day, they transported him from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, a distance of six miles (approximately ten kilometers), where they delivered the purifying sacrifices that the Law permitted for poorer people — two turtledoves (turtlebird offerings) or two pigeon offerings (pigeon offerings).

  • However, they received a tremendous amount of support while they were there.
  • (a) What was Anna’s initial emotion when she first saw Jesus?
  • In the days leading up to his death, he had been promised that he would see the Messiah, and Jehovah’s holy spirit revealed to him that little Jesus was the long-awaited Savior.
  • He claimed that she would have the sensation of having a long sword run through her.
  • Following Simeon’s death, a prophetess by the name of Anna witnessed the birth of Jesus and began preaching about him to everyone who held out hope for the rescue of Jerusalem.
  • At the Temple of Jehovah in Jerusalem, Mary and Joseph received a great deal of encouragement.
  • What evidence did the disciples have that taking Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem was a wise decision?
  • As a result, they set their kid on a lifelong path of faithful attendance at the temple of Jehovah.
  • Mary undoubtedly left the temple that day more steadfast in her faith, her heart overflowing with spiritual sayings to ponder and share with others around her.
  • How can we ensure that our faith continues to develop in strength, just as Mary’s has?
  • Parents of Jehovah’s Witnesses are expected to bring their children to Christian meetings on a regular basis.

They return stronger, happier, and full of positive things to share with their friends and colleagues. What a delight it has been to finally meet them! As we do so, we will discover that our faith, like Mary’s, will continue to grow stronger and stronger.

Did Jesus Have a Miraculous Birth? – Jimmy Akin

You could believe that the answer to the issue we are posing is self-evident, given that Jesus was conceived without the involvement of a human father. To put it another way, his birth itself is remarkable, don’t you think? It does, however we are actually looking for something completely different: Is it possible that the procedure of giving birth itself—which took place nine months after conception—was a miracle? Although the New Testament does not directly address this issue, as we will see, it has been debated from remarkably early periods in history.

  1. Mary did not suffer any labor pangs, and Jesus did not pass through Mary’s birth canal as a result of this. As an alternative, he traveled through her womb in the same manner as he passed through the walls of his sealed tomb.

What is the rationale behind these proposals? An Argument Based on the Book of Genesis In Genesis 3:16, God informs Eve—and, by extension, all future women: “I will much double your agony in childbearing; in pain you shall bring out children.” This is one of the foundations for Mary’s being exempt from labor pangs. The idea goes that because Mary was immaculately created, she was not subjected to this curse and, as a result, would not have to go through childbirth pangs. Although the argument has some merit, the biblical text does not imply that Eve would have been free of discomfort at all.

  • Some theologians have claimed that an unfallen Adam and Eve would have experienced no agony, although this is just hypothetical speculation on the part of the theologians.
  • Gen.
  • Jesus’ sufferings while in an unfallen condition, as well as the book of Revelation).
  • And a great portent came in heaven, a woman dressed in the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head; she was pregnant, and she cried out in pain for delivery as she went through the pangs of birth.
  • 12.5), i.e., to Jesus, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron.
  • The following reading of the text is obvious, yet it is also subject to disagreement.
  • Given the major role of symbolism in the book of Revelation, it is possible that the sufferings of Mary after her birth as the mother of the Messiah are described here rather than her real labor pains.

Rev.

As a result, the emblem also alluded to Israel and the Church.

An Argument Based on Physiology Another possible explanation for the absence of delivery pangs is based on physiological considerations: If Jesus had not passed through Mary’s birth canal, there would have been no need for her to go through the pangs of childbirth.

This theory has some merit as well, but it is contingent on the date of Jesus’ exit from the womb of Mary.

However, if it had been discovered sooner, it would have resulted in such suffering.

Virginity In the case of Partu According to church theology, Mary was a perpetual virgin, which means that she remained a virgin before, during, and after the birth of Christ.

This is supported by a teaching of the Second Vatican Council that “with the birth of our Lord,” Jesus “did not decrease his mother’s virginal purity, but rather sanctified it” (Lumen Gentium 57).

Deut.

Do you think it would be accurate to say that Jesus did not pass through Mary’s birth canal on the assumption that he did not damage her hymen?

This has undoubtedly been the usual historical belief, however.

According to Ludwig Ott, a German theologian who wrote Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, the teaching that “Mary bore her Son without any violation of her virginal integrity” should be defined as a matter of faith “on the basis of the general promulgation of doctrine” rather than as a matter of belief (p.

Instead of a papal or council decree, he claims that the doctrine is dogma (something that has been infallibly defined as a matter of divine revelation) as defined by the ordinary and universal magisterium rather than by the ordinary and universal magisterium.

Th.

To the contrary, according to modern natural scientific knowledge, the purely physical aspect of virginity consists in the non-accomplishment of the sexual act (referred to as “sex-act virginity”) as well as in non-contact between the female egg and the male seed (referred to as “seed-act virginity”) (A.

  1. As a result, harm to the hymen during delivery does not result in the loss of virginity, but rupture of the hymen appears to be associated with full natural motherhood.
  2. Mary’s active participation in the act of birth is documented in Scripture (Matt.
  3. This does not appear to suggest the occurrence of a miracle process.
  4. As a result, even though Jesus was miraculously conceived, he did not have a miraculous birth—either in terms of Mary not experiencing labor contractions or in terms of Jesus not going through her birth canal—as some have suggested.
  5. Even though Jesus was born in a completely natural way, Mary maintained her virginity in perpetuity.
  6. It’s still early in the morning.
  7. The Protoevangelium of James is a manuscript written in the first century AD.
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It was most likely composed about the middle of the second century (c.

In accordance with the Protoevangelium, the following events occurred while the holy family was on their route to Bethlehem: After that, they came to a halt in the middle of the road, and Mary said to him, “Take me down from off my ass, because that which is in me strains to come forth” (ch.

This would imply that Mary was in some discomfort, though not necessarily the intense pangs of childbirth, at some point during her pregnancy.

First and foremost, after securing a safe haven for Mary in a cave in Bethlehem and ensuring that she is well cared for, Joseph sets out in quest of a midwife.

18).

Second, after locating a midwife, Joseph brings her back to the cave, where the following events take place: And when they stood in the vicinity of the cave, they noticed that a dazzling cloud had encircled the cave.

And instantly, the mist vanished from the cave, and a brilliant light flashed into the cave, so bright that it was too much for the eyes to handle.

19).

Solomon’s Odes are a collection of eulogies.

Consequently, according to theOdes, the Virgin became a mother who showed immense mercy.

And she did not seek the services of a midwife since he let her to give birth.

And she conceived in accordance with the revelation; she was also endowed with enormous ability (Odes of Solomon19:7-10).

When it is said that Mary carried Jesus “with desire as a strong man,” some interpreters have understood this to suggest that she gave birth as a conscious act of will and that the delivery did not occur unexpectedly, with Mary acting passively like any other woman experiencing the beginning of labor.

  • As a result, we have first-century documentation of a painless birth.
  • This work appears to have been created around the year A.D.
  • According to the story, the birth of Jesus took place two months after Joseph welcomed Mary into his home: It happened that one day when they were alone, Mary right away peered with her eyes and saw a little infant, whom she was amazed to see; she was overwhelmed.
  • And the news of the baby’s birth spread like wildfire across Bethlehem.
  • In response, several people stated that “She has not given birth, nor has a midwife come up to her, nor have we heard the cries of (labor) pangs” (Ascension of Isaiah11:7-14).
  • We also have a specific declaration from her stating that she did not have any labor discomfort.
  • This is hardly unexpected considering that Luke was written only eight years earlier and Matthew was written much more recently, according to my estimates.

Conclusion The late Cardinal Avery Dulles pointed out that there is some wiggle room in Church doctrine when it comes to the particular manner in which Jesus was born and how Mary’s virginity should be interpreted during her pregnancy and childbirth: Because the Church, according to Cardinal Dulles, “has not committed itself to any specific physical explanation” of virginityin partu, it is possible that Mary “may have felt some pangs in delivery,” which is “consistent with Catholic theology.” As the cardinal further pointed out, additional theological growth and magisterial teaching might explain the issue in any direction (source).

In order to take advantage of this pragmatism and adopt a view of Jesus’ birth that is more convenient from a modern perspective (i.e., a non-miraculous interpretation), we must remember that we are already in the presence of a miracle (a virginal conception!) and that we have astonishingly early testimony regarding a miraculous birth.

67, alludes to both a lack of labor pangs and the fact that Jesus did not pass through the birth canal!

He began studying the Bible in depth because he hoped to become a professor at a Protestant seminary in the future.

In Surprised by Truth, he shares his conversion story, “A Triumph and a Tragedy,” which is available online.

Jimmy is also the Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a contributing editor to Catholic Answers Magazine, and a weekly guest on “Catholic Answers Live.” He is also the author of two books. View all of Jimmy Akin’s blog posts.

A Scientific Miracle: Theories of Mary’s Virgin Birth

Scientists, have a Merry Christmas! The time of year has come when all normal human beings shake their heads in laughter at those insane, miracle-believing individuals and their unbelievable claims. Reindeer that can fly? Is it possible to walk on water? Is it possible for St. Nicholas to consume large quantities of cookies without succumbing to diabetes and other obesity-related health concerns, as some believe? Surprise and amazement Google Images is a free image search engine. Recent scientific discoveries have caused us to pause and examine whether or not Mary was lying about the whole virgin birth thing, which has caused us to consider whether or not she was telling the truth about the most unbelievable of all biblical accounts.

The study, which was coauthored by an Episcopal deacon, raises a slew of questions about the reliability of self-reporting, but regardless of whether you believe in God or stardust, it’s a fun thought experiment to consider: could Jesus have been conceived without Mary and Joseph having a sexual encounter?

  1. Theory One: Bumping Uglies is a bad idea.
  2. When faced with these conditions, we might speculate that Mary and Joseph may have followed the lead of several other young ladies and indulged in some genital-to-genital rubbing, just like our bonobo brothers and sisters.
  3. atanman is a Flickr user.
  4. Anal sex and direct genital-to-genital rubbing have the potential to result in pregnancy.
  5. While Mary said she was a virgin, there is no way to verify that claim because hymens can rupture even when there is no sexual activity, and sexual contact does not necessarily cause them to break.
  6. In fact, even Joseph was skeptical of Mary’s virgin birth account, and at one time he so convinced she had slept with someone else that he was prepared to divorce her.
  7. Pre-cum is an alkaline fluid produced by the Cowper’s glands, which are positioned at the head of a man’s urethra, just below the prostate, and are responsible for the production of pre-cum.

Otherwise, sperm from a previous ejaculation might have remained in Joseph’s urethra, with the sperm being shielded from the acidity of the urethra by alkaline pre-cum, and then traveled to Mary’s vagina when Joseph became aroused, resulting in the birth of Mary.

Is it possible that Joseph and Mary had a sexual encounter before they “came together?” It doesn’t appear to be very promising, but the research behind it is really poor.

There is clearly a need for more investigation!

This involved investing parental resources on an offspring who was illegitimate, no matter how holy the child was.

This is where cloning comes in.

This would also explain why he doesn’t resemble Joseph in any way at all.

The Anglican church of St Matthew-in-the-City is located in Auckland.

It was Swiss scientist Charles Bonnet who made the first formal reference of parthenogenesis when he noticed that aphid eggs grow into aphids without the presence of sperm.

According to the BBC, the first instance of vertebrate cloning ever observed in nature (i.e., without the intervention of researchers fiddling with the animals’ reproductive organs) occurred in a captive boa constrictor, which gave birth to not one but two litters of clones from unfertilized eggs, each of which contained a recessive mutation that caused them to be caramel-colored, according to the BBC.

  • The most bizarre aspect of this was that mom herself was not caramel-colored, nor were any of the guys in the group.
  • This prompted experts to look into her infants’ DNA, and they discovered that they had not only been made by cloning, but that the process of cloning had also resulted in the creation of a new gender.
  • Despite this, all of the snakes in these litters were WW, further indicating that they were formed totally from two of mama’s chromosomes, as previously stated.
  • This was the first instance of vertebrate cloning ever witnessed in the wild, and it was fairly amazing to see it happen.
  • What does this entail for Jesus and his ministry?
  • The difficulty with this idea is that the parthenogenetic progeny of mammals would contain two X chromosomes, and as a result, would be female, much like the lab-cloned mice.
  • This idea is doomed unless the patriarchy lied about Jesus’ sexual orientation.
  • There is one last hypothesis that takes the greatest aspects of each of the other theories and blends them into a Christmas miracle of epic proportions.

Because the dominant genes are determined before fertilization, a virgin mama could end up giving her parthenogenetic offspring either two inactive development genes, ensuring that development is a non-starter, or two active development genes, causing overdevelopment and the formation of tumors known as benign ovarian teratomas in her offspring.

The resultant embryos, on the other hand, are not viable since the code necessary to allow for development through the embryonic stage requires paternal genomic imprinting.

Alternatively, in principle, a mother’s egg might be cloned, developed through the embryonic stage, and then fertilized by a male’s sperm may occur.

A real-life chimeric kitten has been discovered.

The procedure is as follows: According to a 2005 announcement by researchers from the University of Edinburgh, they had discovered “FD,” a healthy, alive 3-and-a-half-year-old boy who had been generated originally by parthenogenesis, but whose mother’s egg had been afterwards fertilized by her husband.

Even though all of the cells required for the development of key structures (such as the spine, skin, and organs) were derived from the fertilized egg’s X and Y chromosomes, as would be expected, FD’s blood was entirely composed of parthenogenetic cells derived from the unfertilized egg, leading all blood DNA tests to identify him as female.

), FD appeared to be not only healthy but also likely to father healthy offspring when the time came to father his own children.

Then, with the aid of his sperm’s genomic imprinting, Joseph may have assisted young Jesus in his development, so making Jesus both the son of God and the son of man in the holiest three-way in history.

Yes, by God, yes.

Everyone should have a Merry Christmas.

Khadijah Britton is a Christian who believes in the existence of starstuff and God. She writes on science, law, technology, and politics, frequently with a social justice perspective. German Christkindlmarkt Kahla Weihnachten Jesus Mary Joseph courtesy of fanfreluche designs

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