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I Affirm The Virgin Birth

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  • I Affirm The Virgin Birth

    Does Paul's silence on the virgin birth (Which I do affirm) mean anything?

    The link can be found here.

    -----

    Why is it that we affirm the virgin birth, which I do affirm? Let's plunge into the Deeper Waters and find out.

    If you follow me at all on Facebook, you know one of the running themes on my page and wherever I go on there is to have people state that they affirm the virgin birth, which I do affirm. A lot of people wonder how this all got started and why we do it. While it is humorous, there is actually a point to the regular affirmation of the virgin birth, which I do affirm.

    Over a year ago, a friend of mine and I were engaging with a skeptic on the Unbelievable? Facebook page. He kept using the same kind of argument that if Paul believed in the virgin birth (Which I do affirm) surely he would have mentioned it. We tried to point out that this was a high-context society and the oral tradition would cover that and it would be assumed that the listeners had a background where they were already familiar with the message of the Gospel and the letters of Paul were to clarify matters of debate and unless there was no debate on the virgin birth (Which I do affirm) there was no need to mention it.

    To give a contrast, we pointed out that our churches, our pastors believe in the virgin birth (Which I do affirm), but they don't have a need to mention it constantly. Then, in a bit of humor, it started becoming something that in every post we made, we stated we affirm the virgin birth. (Which I do affirm) The humor moved on from that post and now there is even a Facebook page called "I affirm the virgin birth." (Which I do affirm.)

    While humorous, it's important to note that if it looks ridiculous to you, that's to make the point. Christ mythers for instance are the worst in this category stating that everything had to be explicitly stated, unless of course it's in the Gospels which just don't count. (And they do affirm the virgin birth, which I also affirm) The argument from silence just really doesn't cut it for historians. It's meanwhile one of the favorite arguments of Christ mythers.

    When you go to a church service, it's normally assumed a sort of background beliefs so they don't need to be explained every sermon. Now of course, a pastor could teach to someone assuming they have no background knowledge, but that does not mean he'll give an exhaustive account of everything that he believes. After all, at most churches I've been to, I've rarely heard the pastor state explicitly that he affirms the virgin birth. (Which I do affirm)

    Of course, there are times the argument from silence has some validity. For instance, Muslims like to point to the Gospel of Barnabas as a testament of Jesus. Unfortunately, we have no manuscripts or mentions of the Gospel of Barnabas and strangely enough, it seems to coincide well with Islamic doctrines. Where silence is expected though, the argument from silence is weak. Thus, we are not surprised when we have no explicit statements from Paul that he affirms the virgin birth. (Which I do affirm)

    Humor is a great teacher and I prefer to use it whenever I can. This has been going on for a year and I see no sign of it stopping and hopefully, the point will be made to Christ mythers and others that Paul doesn't have to explicitly mention something like the virgin birth (Which I do affirm). Silence does not mean as much as it is thought to mean.

    And by the way, just in case you don't know, I affirm the virgin birth.

    In Christ,
    Nick Peters

  • #2
    Nick, first could you let us know, "Do you affirm the virgin birth?"

    I have always been curious about that.

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    • #3
      I affirm the virgin birth.

      Comment


      • #4
        Most liturgical churches mention the Virgin Birth at least once every liturgy (during the Creed). The Orthodox Church mentions it at least once in every service, liturgy or not.
        Enter the Church and wash away your sins. For here there is a hospital and not a court of law. Do not be ashamed to enter the Church; be ashamed when you sin, but not when you repent. – St. John Chrysostom

        Veritas vos Liberabit<>< Learn Greek <>< Look here for an Orthodox Church in America<><Ancient Faith Radio
        sigpic
        I recommend you do not try too hard and ...research as little as possible. Such weighty things give me a headache. - Shunyadragon, Baha'i apologist

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        • #5
          Yep. The critics think EVERYTHING Paul wrote should have been a liturgy.

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by Apologiaphoenix View Post
            I affirm the virgin birth.
            Yeah but do you believe in it?

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            • #7
              Originally posted by jpholding View Post
              Yep. The critics think EVERYTHING Paul wrote should have been a liturgy.
              yeah like Rhinestone Cowboy who's entire argument is that Paul didn't spell everything out in complete detail. Why would they mention things that people already took for granted as common knowledge, like the virgin birth, or the empty tomb, unless they were speaking directly to that subject?

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              • #8
                Should Paul have also noted that the Sun rises in the east and sets in the west? Or that the shy is usually blue in the daytime? Or discuss every meal that he ate so we know that he did in fact eat?
                If it weren't for the Resurrection of Jesus, we'd all be in DEEP TROUBLE!

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                • #9
                  I would actually go further- the exclusion of the virgin birth narrative in Mark doesn't mean anything, and John replaces it with the logos hymn.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    I affirm the Virgin Birth, but I will not post it here.
                    Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

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                    • #11
                      I think Paul implied it when he stated Jesus was born of a woman. Everyone knows what gender people are born from, which seems to indicate he was making a subtle reference to a type of birth that was unique to Jesus. I think Mark also implied it when he stated Jesus was the son of Mary instead of the son of Josephus.

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