Jesse C. Jones
Virgin Birth

 -=> Quoting MOSHE SHULMAN to STEVE BEDARD <=-

 SB>If this is true why would the Apostles claim that Jesus was born of
Virgin
 SB>Birth and quote Isaiah also?  Surely they and the people they were
 SB>preaching to would know the true meaning of that verse.

 MS> Because they were telling it to stupid pagan gentiles who believed in
 MS> such things and didn't know one word aof Hebrew, just like you don't.

     My understanding -- and this is supported by reference to the Oxford
Annotation and Peake's Commentary -- is that the Septuagint -- the Greek
translation of the scripture in use at the time of Jesus -- mistranslated
Isaiah 7:14 as 'virgin' -- so the author of Matthew matched the infancy
narrative to a mistaken translation.  The Jews of the Diaspora would have
labored under the same misperception.  Are you familiar with the Septuagint,
and do you have an opinion on this?

     Interestingly, Peake's also says that any Jewish expectation that the
Messiah would be born to a virgin meant only that the Messiah would be the
first born.

     In any event, the gospel infancy stories build upon OT stories of births
brought about by divine intervention -- such as Sarah, Gen. 18:11-14,
Rebekah, Gen. 25:21, and Hannah, 1 Samuel 1:4-20.

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