Who Says Mary Was a Virgin?

[@carolynsilvers9999]

I was raised in the same kind of upbringing, and I find this man's discoveries and courage to share them is refreshing

[@ruth4019]

The New Testament says that Jesus was born of a virgin which is impossible and the Old Testament says that Sarah gave birth to Issac in 90 yrs of age. If Christianity is not true then Judaism is not true as well.

[@CharlesEllis-ph6ge]

The Gospels were written in Greek which means Good News Of Military Victory and Mary means rebellious female who was at odds with Rome !!! 🦉

[@thegrunbeld6876]

​@@CharlesEllis-ph6geJesus was barely a rebel, he was killed like any other criminal

[@Airic]

@ 37:22 ... Matthew 1:19 says:"Because Joseph, her husband to be, was a righteous man, and because he did not want to disgrace her, he intended to divorce her privately." - so if Matthew describes Joseph wanting to divorce Mary quietly to protect her from disgrace of infidelity, how can anyone imply that Matthew thought Joseph was the father?? 🤔

[@of9490]

Lil hussy running around the village with roman soldiers.

[@tomr2007]

That's a huge problem since the Messiah is supposed to be a descendant of David. Without Joseph being the father there is no line back to David.

[@BennyJay3]

It never mentions infidelity, implying she could be pregnant by Joseph himself

[@Airic]

@@BennyJay3 Incorrect. It says, "and because he did not want to disgrace her, he intended to divorce her privately." - this is implying that he wanted to divorce her for infidelity, hence the concern to "disgrace her"...until the next verse (Matt. 1:20) which says he got the message from a messenger angel to trust her so he was reassured and stayed. Read Matthew 1:18-25 for the full context.

[@Airic]

@@tomr2007 1. Mary and Joseph had other kids, namely James. If James and Jesus share DNA, then the lineage is still connected to David within that family tree. 2. God can (and did) incarnate Jesus from a virgin birth, you really think He can't have all the DNA genetics he needed to extend from David's line? 😅 You can't limit what God can do.

[@tabularasa0606]

Next you're going to tell me she didn't have a little lamb too.

[@mobilephoneuser-pr8cj]

That's right she didn't have a Little Lamb she had the big lamb the Lamb of her God as the mythology dictates

[@Heroball299]

Well that's just pure blasphemy now

[@slik00silk84]

@@Heroball299 No god so no foul !!!

[@emmazoryonmoore3840]

Not even a chicken

[@slik00silk84]

@@emmazoryonmoore3840 LOL Nice pun!

[@erikt1713]

In mammals, a virgin birth would always produce a female because of how our sex genes work. In bees on the other hand, males are routinely produced via parthenogenesis from eggs not fertilized by sperm.

[@2Hot2]

So what is the Jesus pronoun? (just kidding)

[@camilleespinas2898]

Interesting

[@anushkasekkingstad1300]

Both our babies from virgin births are female but we made that choice before conception. If what you claim is correct, our geneticist would be surprised to hear it.

[@erikt1713]

@@anushkasekkingstad1300 You used sperm in the process, didn't you? Is this what the Christians meant, that Maryam impregnated herself by self-insemination with sperm, but without sex? That would not be the sort of miracle it is often presented as. I was talking about actual parthenogenesis which occurs in vertebrates, for example fish and reptiles, but has as yet not been observed to occur in mammals or birds (except potentially the biblical case, and artificially via cloning of cattle).

[@erikt1713]

​@@anushkasekkingstad1300I meant without using sperm.

[@ArleonBee]

This was intriguing. As being a son and grandson of pastors and knowing how women were classified during the Bible days, why didn’t anybody or any of his disciples asked for Mary’s account on her conception?

[@Irishpenguinirish]

They may have done so. Especially John, because he was given the responsibility to look after Jesus' mother after the crucifixion. John probably talked to her a lot, and considered her perspective. But as he would want people to read what he had to say, he would not have overtly quoted a "mere" woman.

[@Dave01Rhodes]

@@Irishpenguinirishif the Gospel of John is based on the testimony of John, then its failure to report a virgin birth is some pretty damning silence, huh?

[@mzmscoyote]

Listening about saintliness = sexual abstinence I again wonder why sex became the thing obsessed about and not one of the other sins. I still find it puzzling that lying, stealing, and killing never reach these heights of obsession in Christianity.

[@herminepursch2470]

The Bible was translated by monks I don't think they liked women just my opinion

[@herminepursch2470]

@user-ci6oj2ih8s back then there weren't as many people as now the Bible said be fruitful and multiply

[@GarySpryJr]

Calling it "obsession" is quite a bit over the top but every one of those things are extremely important to every core doctrine of every church I've ever been to so I don't know why you would say that. Sexual immorality is the most prolific sin that is constantly and openly shoved in everyone's face. It only appears to be the most "obsessed" over.

[@HeatherAngus-vj2jq]

Those things a true Christian would never commit. Although EVERYBODY lies and hardly anybody saves themselves for marriage.

[@rosevan7845]

@@GarySpryJr The phrase shoved in everyone's face is actually an admission of obsession. Most people are careful where they put their face. Those who put their face where it doesn't belong tend to have shoving incidences that most people avoid by minding their own business.

[@brotherbob5923]

What an interesting and an insightful podcast.Thanks to Megan and Professor Bart.If I had a chance to ask Prof. a question,I would like to ask why does he think most English translation of Isaiah 7:14 translated that bit about almah as "..SHALL/WILL concieve and bear a son.." instead of "..IS WITH child, and she shall bear a son.."? Is there anything ambiguous in the original Hebrew text? If indeed Hebrew has no future tense as some may want to argue,then why not interprete the verse as "IS WITH child, and she BEARS a son,"? Another question I would like to ask is if it is 'a' almah as with indefinite article or 'the' almah as definite?

[@benny-yj7pq]

It is the alma, the only one, descendant from King David through the root of Jesse, namely Nathan, a branch out of dry ground, betrothed to the kingly line of King David, a virgin, to bring forth the Messiah in His given time, before the destruction of the 2nd temple, 483 years after the decree of Artaxerxes in Neh 2 in his 20th year (445 BC), converted to our time 365,25 days of the year, we come to 32 AD, when Yeshua was crucified Dan 9:26.

[@remaeburney832]

Was Joseph a virgin, also? Nobody ever commented on this. Male partiarchy doesn't require Joseph to be pure. Only the woman. In answer to the question. She had a full pelvic exam by God and the Holy Spirit or whoever the OB/GYN was back in that time. 😊

[@ArchDragon888]

An unmarried woman declared "virtuous" under Davidic Law in the eyes of God= Virgin

[@gavinmickwee8853]

Except there is a specific word Betulah and that simply wasnt used. Almah the word used means young woman.

[@johnandmarylouwilde7882]

Years ago when I was a theological seminary librarian the newsletter of the National Association of Evangelicals published an interview with someone who had been on the team that translated the New International Version of the New Testament. Among other things he stated that all members of the team had to sign a pledge that they subscribed to the inerrency of the Bible. I couldn't find that stipulation in the preface to the translation. The interviewer then asked what they would do if some passage in the sources contradicted accepted dogma, for instance, "what if the word usually translated as "virgin" actually meant "young woman"? He replied that in that case they would have to translate it virgin since the virgin birth was a fundamental doctrine. I asked a seminary professor, a New Testament scholar, to comment. Right away he stated, "They are putting creed before scripture". I wrote the editor of the NAE newsletter and asked for his comment. His reply was, "That's an interesting question".

[@susanrhodes9079]

In the early 1970s one of my professors told us young woman was mistranslated as virgin and that the miracle was not in the birth but in what he did during the 3 years of his ministry.

[@Jehucurliss2kings]

@@susanrhodes9079 and the greek word for sabbath ( sabbaton) was replaced with " first day of the week " several times. See interlinear and strongs exhaustive concordance

[@PazPinhasRahamim9220]

*Proof that isiah **7:14** speaks of a woman that is already pregnant.* It seems that everyone is fixated with the word almah being young woman or a virgin (young woman, and I have plenty of proof for that from the OT), when there's another word in that same verse (!!), that makes it clear that this woman is *already pregnant* - e.g. couldn't even be thought of as virgin! *This is the original text from Isaiah 7:14:* לָכֵן יִתֵּן אֲדֹנָי הוּא, לָכֶם--אוֹת: הִנֵּה הָעַלְמָה, *הָרָה hara* וְיֹלֶדֶת בֵּן, וְקָרָאת שְׁמוֹ, עִמָּנוּ אֵל. *See the correct translation (chabad):* 14Therefore, the Lord, of His own, shall give you a sign; behold, *the young woman is with child,* and she shall bear a son, and she shall call his name Immanuel. *Hara - present tense examples: (KJV + NIV)* ___________________________________________________ *Genesis 16:11* וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהּ֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֔ה הִנָּ֥ךְ *הָרָ֖ה hara* וְיֹלַ֣דְתְּ בֵּ֑ן וְקָרָ֤את שְׁמוֹ֙ יִשְׁמָעֵ֔אל כִּֽי־שָׁמַ֥ע יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־עָנְיֵֽךְ׃ And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, *thou art with child* and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction. ___________________________________________________ *Genesis 38:24* וַיְהִ֣י ׀ כְּמִשְׁלֹ֣שׁ חֳדָשִׁ֗ים וַיֻּגַּ֨ד לִֽיהוּדָ֤ה לֵֽאמֹר֙ זָֽנְתָה֙ תָּמָ֣ר כַּלָּתֶ֔ךָ וְגַ֛ם הִנֵּ֥ה *הָרָ֖ה hara* לִזְנוּנִ֑ים וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוּדָ֔ה הוֹצִיא֖וּהָ וְתִשָּׂרֵֽף׃ And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, *she is with child* by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt. ___________________________________________________ *Genesis 38:25* הִ֣וא מוּצֵ֗את וְהִ֨יא שָׁלְחָ֤ה אֶל־חָמִ֙יהָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לְאִישׁ֙ אֲשֶׁר־אֵ֣לֶּה לּ֔וֹ אָנֹכִ֖י *הָרָ֑ה hara* וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַכֶּר־נָ֔א לְמִ֞י הַחֹתֶ֧מֶת וְהַפְּתִילִ֛ים וְהַמַּטֶּ֖ה הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ When she was brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these are, *am I with child:* and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff ___________________________________________________ *1st Samuel **4:19* וְכַלָּת֣וֹ אֵֽשֶׁת־פִּינְחָס֮ *הָרָ֣ה hara* לָלַת֒ וַתִּשְׁמַ֣ע אֶת־הַשְּׁמֻעָ֔ה אֶל־הִלָּקַח֙ אֲר֣וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וּמֵ֥ת חָמִ֖יהָ וְאִישָׁ֑הּ וַתִּכְרַ֣ע וַתֵּ֔לֶד כִּֽי־נֶהֶפְכ֥וּ עָלֶ֖יהָ צִרֶֽיהָ׃שמואל א', ד', יט' And his daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, *was with child, near to be delivered:* and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her. ___________________________________________________ *2 Samuel 11:5* וַתַּ֖הַר הָֽאִשָּׁ֑ה וַתִּשְׁלַח֙ וַתַּגֵּ֣ד לְדָוִ֔ד וַתֹּ֖אמֶר *הָרָ֥ה hara* אָנֹֽכִי׃ And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, *I am with child.* ___________________________________________________ *Jeremiah 31:8 NIV* הִנְנִי֩ מֵבִ֨יא אוֹתָ֜ם מֵאֶ֣רֶץ צָפ֗וֹן וְקִבַּצְתִּים֮ מִיַּרְכְּתֵי־אָרֶץ֒ בָּ֚ם עִוֵּ֣ר וּפִסֵּ֔חַ *הָרָ֥ה hara* וְיֹלֶ֖דֶת יַחְדָּ֑ו קָהָ֥ל גָּד֖וֹל יָשׁ֥וּבוּ הֵֽנָּה׃ See, I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the ends of the earth. Among them will be the blind and the lame, *expectant mothers* and women in labor; a great throng will return. ___________________________________________________ *Isaiah 26:17* כְּמ֤וֹ *הָרָ֥ה hara* תַּקְרִ֣יב לָלֶ֔דֶת תָּחִ֥יל תִּזְעַ֖ק בַּחֲבָלֶ֑יהָ כֵּ֛ן הָיִ֥ינוּ מִפָּנֶ֖יךָ יְהוָֽה׃ As *a pregnant woman* about to give birth writhes and cries out in her pain, so were we in your presence, Lord. ___________________________________________________ *Exodus 21:22* וְכִֽי־יִנָּצ֣וּ אֲנָשִׁ֗ים וְנָ֨גְפ֜וּ אִשּׁה *הָרָה֙ hara* וְיָצְא֣וּ יְלָדֶ֔יהָ וְלֹ֥א יִהְיֶ֖ה אָס֑וֹן עָנ֣וֹשׁ יֵעָנֵ֗שׁ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר יָשִׁ֤ית עָלָיו֙ בַּ֣עַל הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה וְנָתַ֖ן בִּפְלִלִֽים׃ 22 “If people are fighting and hit *a pregnant woman* and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. ___________________________________________________ Hebrew is my mother's tongue 🙏🏼

[@benny-yj7pq]

@@PazPinhasRahamim9220 The text in Isa 7:14 does not say, the alma is already pregnant. No translation says that, it is your own interpretation, even the JPS Tanakh 1917 says "behold, the (not a) young woman SHALL conceive and bear a son. The word alma we find also in Gen 24:43 for Rebecka, she is a virgin (24:16), and the sister of Moses is called alma, a young girl or maiden (Exo 2:8). All of them are virgins. Your scriptures are not virgins, but married women, or playing the harlot, or Hagar, being with child from Abraham. The young woman (virgin) will be with child and that is a sign, a miracle from God for Israel to see the birth of their Messiah, who is EL immanu, God with us, born of a virgin (Luke 1:26-38), the seed of the woman (Gen 3:15), the only God (EL), who was ever formed (Isa 43:10), the only Savior (Isa 43:11); the Word that became flesh (John 1:1-4+14). The sign (oth) here is a prophetic promise of a certain predicted event, as in 1.Sam 10:7+9 (Strong's), which is thrown into the text of Isa 7:14 and therefore belongs to the hidden God (EL, Isa 45:15), you do not know. He is the I AM HE of the burning bush (Exo 3:2), the Angel of the LORD; the Word (1.Sam3:1+7), The one that let the Israelites out of Egypt into the promised land and made HIS covenant with Israel on Mt. Sinai (Judges 2:1; Deut 4:20). Seek Him and you will find Him, He is the only way to the Father (John 14:6+9), the truth and the Lord from Heaven, the 2nd Adam without sin (1.Cor 15:47), a life giving Spirit (eternal life), a gift from the Father of lights.

[@PazPinhasRahamim9220]

@@benny-yj7pq The translations was taken from the Chabad site, and as Hebrew is my mother's tongue I can tell you IT IS CORRECT - I gave more than enough examples FROM CHRISTIAN TRANSLATIONS (!!) how that same word means the same thing !! Pregnant - present tense. You can take your excuses somewhere else - time to get acquainted with Hebrew. This is just one example. There are plenty more. The woman Isaiah spoke of was already pregnant - Matthew lied - knowingly!! He also changed what the verse said that SHE will call him imanu-el to fit with the Christian narrative, as Mary was told to call him Jesus - not Imanu-el. And here is proof regarding*Almah*: *Proof that Alma in Isiah **7:14** means a young woman:* Alma (young woman) cannot be translated as Virgin and the proof of that is that the woman in question is already pregnant (!) and the text is clear about that as I already showed you in the previous response. Here are other citations from the OT that Alma or the derivative of said word can be found, and the way they were translated. Words in hebrew that derive from youth and young age - examples from the OT עלמה - alma - young woman; עלם - elem - young man עלמות - alamot - young women עלומיו - alumav - his youth עלומיך - alumecha - your youth __________________________________________________ *Genesis 24:43* הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי נִצָּב, עַל-עֵין הַמָּיִם; וְהָיָה *הָעַלְמָה,* הַיֹּצֵאת לִשְׁאֹב See, I am standing beside this spring. If a *young woman* comes out to draw water __________________________________________________ *1 Sam. **17:56* יֹּאמֶר, הַמֶּלֶךְ: שְׁאַל אַתָּה, בֶּן-מִי-זֶה *הָעָלֶם* The king said, “Find out whose son this *young man* is.” __________________________________________________ *1 Sam. **20:22* אִם-כֹּה אֹמַר *לָעֶלֶם,* הִנֵּה הַחִצִּים מִמְּךָ וָהָלְאָה--לֵךְ, כִּי שִׁלַּחֲךָ יְהוָה But if I say to *the boy,* ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then you must go, because the Lord has sent you away __________________________________________________ *Isiah 54:4* כִּי בֹשֶׁת *עֲלוּמַיִךְ* תִּשְׁכָּחִי, וְחֶרְפַּת אַלְמְנוּתַיִךְ לֹא תִזְכְּרִי-עוֹד You will forget the shame of *your youth* and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood __________________________________________________ *Psalms 68:25* קִדְּמוּ שָׁרִים, אַחַר נֹגְנִים; בְּתוֹךְ *עֲלָמוֹת,* תּוֹפֵפוֹת In front are the singers, after them the musicians; with them are *the young women* playing the timbrels. __________________________________________________ *Psalms 89:46* הִקְצַרְתָּ, יְמֵי *עֲלוּמָיו;* הֶעֱטִיתָ עָלָיו בּוּשָׁה סֶלָה You have shortened the days of *his youth;* You have enwrapped him with shame forever. (Chabad) __________________________________________________ *Job **20:11* עַצְמוֹתָיו, מָלְאוּ *עֲלוּמָו;* וְעִמּוֹ, עַל-עָפָר תִּשְׁכָּב The *youthful* vigor that fills his bones will lie with him in the dust. __________________________________________________ *Job **33:25* רֻטְפַשׁ בְּשָׂרוֹ מִנֹּעַר; יָשׁוּב, לִימֵי *עֲלוּמָיו* let their flesh be renewed like a child’s; let them be restored as in the days of *their youth’* __________________________________________________ *Proverbs 30:19* וְדֶרֶךְ גֶּבֶר *בְּעַלְמָה* and the way of a man with *a young woman.* __________________________________________________ *Song of songs 1:3* רֵיחַ שְׁמָנֶיךָ טוֹבִים, שֶׁמֶן תּוּרַק שְׁמֶךָ; עַל-כֵּן, *עֲלָמוֹת* אֲהֵבוּךָ⁠ Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder *the young women* love you! __________________________________________________ *If you'll read Isaiah 7 in context you will see that there was an imminent threat - that boy eating the curds and the honey (products you can't find in the city in a time of siege) is a sign for king Ahaz that the two kings that invaded his country will not succeed in taking him down and Jerusalem along with it, they would die within a few years - its in verse 16.* *That is the sign ! Not a virgin birth!*

[@scottythetrex5197]

I don't get why Ehrman is so convinced Jesus existed given all the inconsistences in the gospels and all the material that seems to have been added later or flat out made up.

[@tyronecox5976]

Yes, Jesus just means saviour in Greek, Titus called all rebellious leaders Jesus, satire, why all the Gospels contradict each other, different Jesus's, Titus was Jacob, Israel, Enoch before that, Titus wrote All biblical scripture,read Isaiah 63 and you'll see Titus's satire and proof that he's the author,Titus was Dionysus God of wine fertility and the underworld,why wine's mentioned so often,satire.

[@strongtools.sigfrido]

"Who Says Mary Was a Virgin?" - The promotion department of THE BUSINESS MODEL CHRISTIANITY says so.

[@kevonkenna989]

Working in Bangladesh in the late 1980s I read a newspaper story headined "Virgin mother and her undesirable child killed". An English speaking Bengali explained that this just meant 'unmarried mother and her bastard killed'. Even in English "Virgin" needn't mean Virgin.

[@Airic]

quick input @ 15:55 ... but Matthew is also implying Jesus' divinity as well by alluding to Micah 5:2 which says "out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, *whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”* - Keywords: *from ancient times,* therefore this is not only predicting Yeshua as a divine being who already existed in ancient times, but also the fact that he's born as a human in Bethleham ...

[@richardredmond1463]

Basically, the Bible does 😃 Mary was only betrothed to Joseph when the Holy Spirit caused Her to become pregnant (Matthew 1:18, Luke 1:27, Luke 2:5). The idea that Mary became pregnant by fornicating with Joseph before marrying him is not in keeping with the nature of the Holy Spirit or consistent with the moral direction of the New Testament (1 Cor 7:37, 1 Peter 1:15-16, Heb 12:14 etc).

[@777Rowen]

I’ve been raised Catholic, so Marty’s virgin birth and her being free of sin is heavily emphasized and given great importance. It’s really interesting seeing this from a historical and philosophical perspective

[@generallyuninterested4956]

Yes they always laid it on thick that the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION means without sin. Mary was without sin, her whole life, and that's why she was chosen.

[@sjo9292]

@@Bob94390 Dear Friend, An attack against Mary's perpetual virginity is an attack on Jesus' divinity. If Jesus is not God, then His teachings have no authority. No need to care for your neighbor as Jesus commnaded--we are back to a paganistic 'strength makes right.'

[@slik00silk84]

@@sjo9292 Now you got it! Religion is nonsense!

[@bavariancarenthusiast2722]

@@generallyuninterested4956 Almost, but the only human who wandered the earth without sin was Jesus. Mary was a mortal sinner too.

[@bavariancarenthusiast2722]

@@sjo9292 For me it would not make any difference whatsoever

[@ericbilodeau3897]

So hilarious that many Christians quote fulfillment of prophecies as their best evidence justifying their belief when very little of it is contained within Mark, but pretty much just seems like Matthew and John went fishing for as many prophecies as possible and found a way to write them all into their gospels as modifications to the story they copied from Mark

[@of9490]

I'm glad they used the septuagint, or many of these failures would not be so obvious when compared to Torah.

[@sjo9292]

Dear Friend, All the Gospels proclaim the virginity of the Mother of Jesus by pointing-out that Jesus is God: St. Mark by Jesus' Baptism: "This is My Beloved Son", and St. John's teaching on the Word being God. Today, 2000 years removed from Jesus’ earthly life, married deacons in the Catholic Church embrace celibacy for the sake of their consecration. The virgin Mother of God’s consecration is far greater: she who was immaculately conceived herself conceived the God-man through the power of the Holy Spirit, bore Him in her body for nine months, and lived closely with Him for 30 years before His public ministry. Mary and Jesus are intimately united; they cannot be separated! The no one can think of her for more than an instant before being led to thoughts of Jesus-she ‘magnifies the Lord.’ The teaching of Mary's perpetual virginity is one of the longest defined dogmas of the Church. It was taught by the earliest Church Fathers, including St. Turtullian. Meditating on the life of Jesus in the Gospel through the prayer of the rosary is the source of tremendous graces and blessings as the demons, unwillingly, testify: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6mVpJKFaLBkmZosi=tq5KfOg_woZBA3CU

[@slik00silk84]

Yup

[@sjo9292]

Friend, that is one way of looking at it. OR they recognized the fulfillment of the prophecies; they didn't have to look for it--Acts 15:21: the OT was proclaimed in every synagogue for generations. You appear to be agnostic; may I ask what caused that?

[@BlueLightningSky]

​@@sjo9292if they recognized it why didn't Mark write it down?

[@onlyme972]

A woman tells her husband shes pregnant but its not his, 😮instant stoning, even today in some countrys.

[@evanmalt1545]

At 30:40 Professor Ehrman says that the Greek word for cousin is anipsios as oppoed to adelfos (brother). But anipsios means nephew, not cousin. The Greek word for cousin i esadelfos which ounds very much like adelfos.

[@DavidHutchinson-c1k]

Mary was a virgin according to the Scriptures. After the birth of Jesus. She was no more a virgin. She had at least 3sons and 2 daughters.

[@johnheaton5058]

No, she didn't... the Greek translation of brothers and sisters doesn't differentiate between degrees of kinship...they were cousins.

[@robinharwood5044]

@@johnheaton5058 What is your reason for interpreting “brother” as “cousin”? Why do you think Mary had no other children?

[@Bluets023]

Because that,s what was thought to us , and now maybe the real truth will come to the surface .

[@glumet1]

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:00 🎶 *The Virgin Birth Introduction* - Exploring the origin and significance of the Virgin birth in the New Testament. - The prevalence of the Virgin birth story during the Christmas season. - Questioning the story's importance to early Christians and its subsequent central role in various denominations. 03:03 🤔 *Virgin Birth in Other Religions* - Clarifying the uniqueness of the Virgin birth of Jesus compared to Greek and Roman traditions. - Distinctions between miraculous births in Greek and Roman myths and the Virgin birth story in the New Testament. - Highlighting the absence of virgin birth narratives similar to Jesus in contemporary religions. 05:03 📚 *Differing Virgin Birth Accounts* - Addressing the contrasting narratives of the Virgin birth in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. - Noting the contradictions and differences between Matthew and Luke's accounts. - Emphasizing the absence of the Virgin birth story in Mark and John, the earliest and latest canonical gospels. 08:13 📖 *Matthew's Scriptural Fulfillment* - Analyzing Matthew's viewpoint on the Virgin birth's significance through the lens of fulfilling prophecy. - Explaining Matthew's use of Isaiah's prophecy to depict Jesus' birth as fulfilling scripture. - Discussing the linguistic discrepancy between the Hebrew text and the Greek translation in Isaiah 7:14. 15:22 🌟 *Luke's Divine Origin Narrative* - Contrasting Luke's perspective on the Virgin birth as portraying Jesus' divine origin. - Exploring Luke's focus on Jesus' divine heritage rather than fulfilling prophecy. - Highlighting the differences in theological emphasis between Matthew and Luke. 17:23 🔍 *Significance of Absence in Mark and John* - Significance of the absence of Virgin birth narratives in Mark and John and its theological implications. - Speculation on reasons behind Mark's omission and John's lack of reference to the Virgin birth. - Observing the combination of Virgin birth and Incarnation by later theologians in the Creed. 19:54 📜 *Virgin Birth Beyond Matthew and Luke* - Discussing the scarcity of references to Jesus' birth in the New Testament apart from Matthew and Luke. - Pointing out Paul's indirect mention of Jesus' birth without specifically mentioning the Virgin birth. - Highlighting Acts' omission of Jesus' Virgin birth despite being written by Luke, the author of one of the Virgin birth narratives. 22:09 📖 *Early Christian writings on Virgin birth* - Christian writings assume Jesus born of a virgin based on Matthew and Luke. - Non-canonical sources like the Proto Gospel of James elaborate on Jesus' birth details. - Traditions from non-Christian sources suggest Mary was impregnated by a Roman soldier. 24:40 🤰 *Perpetual virginity of Mary* - Clarifies terms: virginal conception, virginal birth, and Perpetual virginity. - Perpetual virginity arose in the 3rd-5th centuries, emphasizing a chaste life. - Joseph's supposed previous marriage or cousins presented as explanations for Jesus' siblings. 30:49 🌟 *Evolution of the importance of Virgin birth* - The Virgin birth was not initially crucial in early Christianity, absent in Mark and John. - Gradually gains significance in 2nd-3rd centuries, marking Jesus' uniqueness. - Heightened importance in 4th century: seen as proof fulfilling scripture, emphasizing spiritual life over bodily desires. 36:31 🎄 *Bart's upcoming Christmas course* - Bart's upcoming course challenges the notion of Jesus' virgin birth. - Focuses on New Testament evidence suggesting Joseph as Jesus' father. - Discusses contradictions between the accounts of Matthew and Luke regarding Jesus' birth. 39:52 📚 *Theological reflections in Gospel narratives* - Gospel stories seem shaped around Jesus' death and resurrection. - References in the text hinting at later events, such as Jesus' prediction of his death. - Narrative elements subtly hinting at a broader cosmic plan tied to Jesus' death and resurrection. 44:40 📜 *Interpretation of Old Testament references to Jesus* - Early Christians sought passages in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) to align with Jesus's life and suffering. - Passages like Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 were construed as references to Jesus' suffering for others. - Various Old Testament instances, such as the story of Adam and Eve, were interpreted to foreshadow Jesus's sacrifice. 46:27 📖 *Author's portrayal of Jesus in Mark's Gospel* - Mark's portrayal in his Gospel emphasizes Jesus facing death and its significance. - Mark's depiction shows Jesus in deep agony and despair, questioning why he must endure his fate. - The narrative aims to convey that even Jesus, facing death, didn't comprehend its necessity, but the readers would understand the divine purpose behind it. 50:31 📚 *Absence of scripture in early Christian creeds* - Early Christian creeds, like the Apostles' and Nicene Creed, do not mention belief in the Bible as a criterion for being Christian. - These creeds express theological views rooted in biblical interpretations rather than explicitly stating belief in the Bible. - The absence of a direct mention of the Bible in these creeds suggests that historical Christian identity wasn't based on belief in the Bible itself. Made with HARPA AI

[@jeffryphillipsburns]

Wow. You really put some effort into this.

[@knotlock]

@@jeffryphillipsburnsliterally says *made with AI* at the bottom

[@SineN0mine3]

​@@knotlockthey didn't say a lot of effort lol

[@ZsuzsannaBudapest]

All great heroes must be born from virgins.

[@newnoggin2]

Greatest word about religion on history which nobody read.

[@eurech]

Always a pleasure to listen to Bart and Megan

[@LewisLittle66]

My guess is a translation error. But I like to think of an alternative idea; Mary runs to Joseph in a panic; "Joseph! Joseph! I'm pregnant! But we're not married, they'll stone me to death! What will we do?" Joseph considers for a moment, then says, "Don't worry love, I've got a BRILLIANT idea..."

[@ilih5487]

Lol, I love that. Imagine if there was an after life and there's Joseph and Mary having to break the news to new comers about their premarital devils tango

[@johnheaton5058]

Puerile and cynical at the same time...

[@anushkasekkingstad1300]

Your alternative idea sounds eminently credible.

[@demonking86420]

​@@ilih5487 more common than one thinks(especially when you factor in the kind of couple who wants to make their marriage "special and unforgettable"... yknow the kind, the ones that go "No it cant be during the harvest!" "No, I want it to be on or near the new year!" and then they keep postponing)

[@cjjersey2455]

I grew up in a strict Protestant home. When I was 8 (reading at an 8th grade level) my parents decided that our family would read the Bible, cover-to-cover, one chapter before dinner every night, then start over. By the time I was 10, I started to consciously realize parts of it were silly (talking animals, a virgin birth, & the ressurection, for a few examples), violent, cruel, sexually explicit, misogynistic, and contradictory. By 8th grade (reading at a college level) I began to doubt. I couldn’t understand why my parents found the Bible to be both holy and true. Still feel that way at age 79.

[@jamesmulvey1386]

The term I recall is Immaculate Conception --- hope this little message is helpful.

[@dontheis5342]

If God and Jesus are one, how is the insemination of Mary by God/Jesus explained?

[@harper626]

Alexander the Greats mother told his father, on returning from battle, that she was raped and made pregnate by the god Zeus. That's her story and she's sticking to it.

[@jeffryphillipsburns]

Pregnant, not “pregnate”. Alternatively, you could say “WAS IMpregnated”.

[@bavariancarenthusiast2722]

Yes and it was true of course :) That was the best story for many young women who got pregnant and it would have been deadly for her otherwise.

[@RobertBee-fs8hv]

​@jeffryphillipsburnoh really?. So that is how ìt is spelled or pronounced

[@lawrenceehrbar8667]

Perhaps, but biographies of Alexander weren't written until at least five hundred years after his death. Lol

[@VJacquette]

Dr. Ehrman says that there are 4 terms that people get confused, but he only discusses 3 of them: virginal conception, virgin birth, and the perpetual virginity of Mary. The one he didn't get to was the immaculate conception, which is a totally different thing still.

[@scotthix2926]

Luckily 3 of the 4 topics are not biblical, virgin birth - Jesus teleported out of Mary, perpetual virgin - we have evidence Jesus biological brothers and sisters,

[@aussierob7177]

Jesus did not have biological brothers and sisters.@@scotthix2926

[@herminepursch2470]

Mary was a good Jewish woman and the old testament part in Bible says be fruitful and multiply and I believe she was

[@lucillebonds2196]

​@@scotthix2926 December 27, 2023 St. John the Beloved. Christus natus est nobis; venite, adoremus! In what book does it say that Our Lord Jesus Christ had biological brothers and sisters? If He had, why did Jesus gave His Mother to John when He was dying on the Cross. Would His brothers or sisters would not get mad that He gave His mother to another person not His biological brothers and sisters? We're in the 21st century I have never heard or known that Jesus or Mary's descendant step up that Mary or Jesus was their direct blood relatives and they are proud that God-Jesus was part of their BLOODLINE? Lol!!! Conclusion: You don't understand why God the Father sent His Only Begotten Son to be born to THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION (MARY, Most Holy The Virgin Mother of God). To save the human race from sin. To open heaven again because Adam and Eve's sin denied us heaven. PRAYER TO THE HOLY GHOST. "Come Holy Ghost, *fill the hearts of Thy faithful * and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love. *Send forth Thy Spirit, * and they shall be created, * and Thou shalt renew the face of the earth. * O God, Who by the light of the Holy Ghost, * didst instruct the hearts of the faithful, * grant that in the same Holy Spirit * we may be truly wise* and ever rejoice in His consolation. * Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

[@AgeOfNefarious_Deception]

Let's not trust anything this guy says shall we. Immaculate conception is Catholic and they say that Mary was sinless. Mary was in no way sinless but Jesus was and that is because sin is inherited from the father and not the mother. We have all inherited sin from Adam and not Eve.

[@stevearmstrong6758]

I'm glad Bart covers Isaiah 7:14 (again) but it will (again) fall on deaf ears.

[@herminepursch2470]

People believe what they want to believe. Everyone thinks they know the truth

[@chrisstathe9183]

The NT says she was a virgin until the birth of Jesus and I trust God over men who are sinful and will parish because of sin.His coming seems very close.

[@sciptick]

@@chrisstathe9183 They promised it would happen before the last Apostle died. The only possible conclusion is that it already happened, way back when. All the chosen went to heaven, back when; there were so few, nobody noticed. Everybody left behind were ... all our ancestors, sorry.

[@SeanusAurelius]

@@sciptick "Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

[@evanthomas8726]

@@chrisstathe9183the NT was written by men and then edited and mistranslated numerous times.

[@Airic]

the key question is, was Isaiah 7:14 actually "mistranslated" from Hebrew to Greek, or, was it *properly* translated since perhaps the Greek writers of that time knew the original Hebrew context that was implied? Matthew didn't translate the OT himself, others did before him, so is Bart implying that the writers before Matthew were also illiterate or inaccurate with their portrayal of the Hebrew scriptures?

[@michaeltelson9798]

There are several translation errors in the Septuagint. For example: Moses comes down with Sinai with horns (see Michelangelo’s statue of Moses), it was supposed to be a halo or glow surrounding him. As well parting the Red Sea and the Reed Sea. Where it doesn’t matter because it doesn’t change the meaning is the parable about “the camel through the eye of a needle”, it is discussed that the Greek word for hawser (thick ropes) was probably meant there. A camel or a hawser would either be too large to through a needle’s eye.

[@Airic]

@@michaeltelson9798 yeah I heard about the needle's eye error, but those aren't errors that change the meaning of the text, that's merely a "non-meaningful variant".

[@elisemiller13]

Thank you, this was very helpful in understanding some ( for lack of better word) fundamental things regarding controversial Christian beliefs

[@scottsimmons7897]

8:05 In order for Jesus to be Son of God, Mary would logically have to miraculously conceive via the Holy Spirit; otherwise, Jesus would be merely a man, albeit the wisest among humankind. His divinity is the whole point and key to the salvific mission of Yeshua. He is the God/Man who takes his human nature from his mother, hence the importance of the Virgin Birth.

[@tylerenglehart1914]

Even if Joseph was his biological father of the Messiah, the Messiah would have not lost his Divinity. The issue lies in the Doctrine of the Original Sin. Part of that doctrine is when Adam sinned our flesh became corrupted. I personally don’t believe that it’s the flesh but it’s our hearts.

[@bringingforthtruth]

More reason to make up the virgin birth to try and fulfill a lie that did not occur because obviously jesus did not fulfill any other Jewish messianic prophecies other then being a jew born of a virgin, matthew is the biggest liar when it comes to trying to prove jesus was a messiah or Divine which he definitely was not, people do the same placebo effect jesus taught to his apostles. There was no magical healing nor was there raising of the dead that is also claimed by many churches of today that is becoming mote and more commonplace which is causing death and further torment for the sick. Jesus was watched by the jews while doing these supposed healing and they saw that he was full of it. The people wouldn't be healed and the jews saw this and called out jesus for his blaspheme and lies against their god. No man should have to heal others when God is the one who can and could and would through prayer of him. Jesus was never a messiah and never fulfilled anything except for being used by the Roman empire and twisted and thwarted for control and power over their enemies. The muslims were the ones who eventually defeated the romans after war after war. The christians destroyed the Jewish temple and their homes and would crucify jews if they did not accept jesus. Christianity was never created by jesus nor did jesus want us to start this "new" religion. Jesus came to get rid of religion because he wanted a universal religion, a one world religion to worship the one and only true God of judaism and that he said himself he was sent by God as a "Prophet" and that's all he was according to himself. We humans who turned him into a "god" or "christ" which he himself explains he was not or is those things. There is no factual evidence to prove mary was a virgin and without anything other then spoken word by mistranslation of Greek text by a Roman scholar who clearly could care less about the mistakes they put into the bible is not enough to be trusted that something that can't happened did happen. That could also apply to the entire bible that isn't historically relevant, and even if it is, it does not mean God was doing anything and those people simply had "blind faith" and didn't see things as coincidences or doctors using human medicine or treatments to help you and save your life that people will say God answered their prayers but he didn't because there is no God above us, simple as that. Anyone can believe in whatever they want. I could believe in a spaghetti monster that no one else can see yet I could say I have faith it exists and you cannot deny my god just as you would say can't deny your God because there is no evidence or way to prove a supreme invisible being that rules everything exists nor ever has.

[@hankhouke]

The big confusion here, is that in that day, if a man was killed in battle, or abandoned his wife, or died, the "Temple" would hold a "service" that declared the woman a "virgin". This would serve to announce that she was socially and legally available to remarry. (not really what we perceive as a "virgin")

[@Demandroid]

I found this amusing: At 14:46 Bart uses the word 'maiden' to clearly just mean young woman in a neutral sense, contrasting it with 'parthenos' which meant young woman at one point in Ancient Greek but then more unambiguously came to mean 'virgin'. But 'maiden,' ironically, used to unambiguously mean virgin, but now is more neutral, the exact opposite semantic trajectory of 'parthenos'!

[@KaiHenningsen]

And as I always mention when this comes up, the German word for virgin, "Jungfrau", is literally "jung" (young) + "Frau" (woman). This really shows how, when these words formed, societies thought about women.

[@BenjWarrant]

Is the word _parthenos_ related to the Parthenon?

[@ronaldroell9244]

@@BenjWarrant "temple of the virgin goddess"

[@jnmincali]

how does the english word maiden have anything to do with the hebrew text he was speaking of

[@michaelodonnell824]

@@BenjWarrant Exactly. The Patron Goddess of Athens, to whom The Parthenon was dedicated was Pallas Athena also known as Athena Parthenos, because she was a Virgin Goddess.

[@kenlyneham4105]

What ever Jesus quote your use is of no consequence, especially when you consider nothing ever said by the man was written down at the time he spoke. The Gospels weren't written down until between 50 and 105 years after his death and the books were not put together until about 400AD. Matthew, Mark , Luke and John were not written by Matthew, Mark, Luke or John but by someone else, according to what those four may have said, or not. Who knows really? As to Mary (Miriam), best guess is, she was about 12 years of age. The reason being; It was the culture then and still is in many places, that once a young girl had experienced her menarche a month later she was married off. My daughter had her menarch at 10.

[@philipgregg7912]

I found this lecture very interesting. I'm not a Christian, but have been always been interested in how Christianity was formed and developed. Thank you

[@tasmarkou5681]

Listen to jay dyer for christian history, was born baptist then was catholic 10 years now orthodox

[@philipgregg7912]

@@tasmarkou5681 thank you

[@Cookie69697]

I don't know why this was explained to me by a Greek Orthodox Priest but in short a lot of the Bible was originally scribed in Greek and was converted to other languages which caused problems. One thing I remember that Mary was recorded as being pure which over time got translated to virgin which has stuck and is taken literally.... Now will watch the video and see what is revealed 😄 Edit: I should have explained I was 11 and had been told to leave conformation class in Dr Barnardos 😂 this is the short version....today I'm still an atheist

[@63grandsport11]

Is a absolutely chaste young woman pure ?

[@ryanshannon6963]

@@63grandsport11 you mean *young girl*, woman indicates above 18 years of age in modern linguistics. She was 12 to 15 years old when she was married off and impregnated. I guess the Ibrahamic god likes'em young.

[@idigamstudios7463]

@@ryanshannon6963 This was pretty common at the time and gets very disturbing when God commanded his children to slaughter everyone of a particular tribe/nation *except* the young girls. Those he commanded be made into sex slaves (so much for all loving.)

[@stephenwodz7593]

That final listener's question to Bart was mine. Thanks for asking it, Megan. I believe this is a fact that acts as a useful antidote to the Sola Scriptura fundamentalists.

[@coconoir6187]

Thank you for asking this question. I have had a problem with this Sola Scriptura doctrine.

[@letsomethingshine]

Yes, which scripture canon and why? Jesus and Paul contradict each on many important points and they both quote from the missing book of Enoch/Necho, no?

[@SeekingVirtueA]

I’d really love an episode on why to think that Luke 1 and 2 is an interpolation!

[@altonbrek]

She was - that's what the text says. But you would dispute it from a platform thousands of years in the future and thousands of miles away, with cultural and language barriers to boot. Yet you think you have evidence!? Where is it?

[@geraldbennett8703]

About Adam and Eve, God and the Bible is so amazing, Because no one has sex for Both of them, But God made them, so with Mary virgin Birth no sex was involved, but the creative power of the Holy Ghost she was conceived Now just like in Matthew days people still speaks all languages, Hebrew and all it funny that the stone Edition of Jewish English translation of the Bible has a lot of similarities, but it seems Edited, where it Disagree with some aspects of the king James version, so it points to Greek as what we have is Different really ? Now so much lexicon, much more in Matthew time, Jesus in the Gospel, spoken Hebrew words, even the leaders wrote about Jesus as king of the Jews in Hebrew and other languages, Paul contemporary with the Disciples spoken Hebrew, But a popular language doesn't cancel other languages Acts 2:8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 2:9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 2:10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. 2:12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? 2:13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: Shared via Bible KJV All the Disciples were assembled together at different meetings So much difference literatures and prolific writing ✍ in the Bible and the New Testament so writing about the same subject Jesus in different ways and different topics in different ways The Bible just needs 2 or 3 witnesses or one or Examples ,Example Cross culture about History and philosophy and all of things about the Bible are in a great plot as protagonists and antagonists so it's not surprising Jesus has Brothers and sisters no where about these strange ideas just a lot of lies, great reasoning, but the Truth is still standing Mark and John didn't have to write about the virgin's birth like Paul too, because each of them take turns preaching to the same audience In Acts they all were together at different times period

[@thelyrebird1310]

I have had standup arguments with priests, bishops and nuns about the crazy things that they throw out

[@letsomethingshine]

Like standup comedy? 🎭

[@Bluets023]

Blessing with a guitar ?

[@margaretlouise6200]

Rocco Errico, an ancient Aramaic scholar, said that "born of a virgin" was Aramaic idiom meaning an honest, good man. Like a lot of Aramaic idioms translated literally into Greek, they become incomprehensible or give a factual interpretation to a metaphorical meaning. If this is true, people talking in Aramaic may have given rise to a big misunderstanding in early Christianity. Another example Errico gave is the passage "...it's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle." The word for camel in Aramaic is also the word for rope. So the passage in Aramaic would have been "easier for a rope to pass through the eye of a needle."

[@nutricook1]

Bart D. Ehrman's teachings pushed me into the dark night of the soul and spiritual awakening. Been researching, learning, and growing spiritually ever since. Much respect for the person.

[@abdulrazarc532]

You shouldn't be in the dark for ever. Have you researched Islam ? It definitely will be your next destination

[@63grandsport11]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKSpfKqYjtWfaZosi=lW_v9_An-jaetxL_

[@nutricook1]

@@abdulrazarc532 I took a course in comparative religion. I understand the basic tenets of Islam. Very intrigued by the pilgrimage to Meca. I enjoyed Buddhism as well. My attention was captivated by the levels of consciousness and enlightenment. Next by Reiki and Kundalini awakening. This led me to New Age philosophy, unity consciousness, and ascension of the soul. Right now I am into co-creator through oneness with the One God/Devine Source.

[@paigerasmussen5212]

Check out any show on this channel with a Rabbi who can recite the New Testament for the absolute most comprehensive Biblical context (and correction) for all kinds of issues in it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXPMfKqLetSfhtksi=fEOqFns1Xqd2_hav

[@judyswiderski2682]

Jesus said, You must be born again. John 3:3-8. "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Why? "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter i to the kingdom of God. That whjch is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of Spirit is spirit." Verses 3:5-6. Born again is also called regeneration. Noah Webster 1828 Dictionary online. 'Regeneration means; Reproduction, the act of producing anew. In theology, New birth by the grace of God, that change by which the will and natural enmity of man to God and his law are subdued, and a principle of supreme love to God and his law, or holy affections, are implanted in the heart.' Humbling isn't it. We cannot do that on our own, even with tons and tons of repenting God. Jesus said, My words are spirit and life." John 6:63. We cannot walk by the Spirit when we walk by our own understanding, called sin. Ask God to send the Holy Ghost, Luke 11:13. He will bring your sins to mind. As he does ask Jesus to forgive you. This will be painful, pride hates it! When you see your desperate need, call out to Jesus to see save you. He came to save sinners. Then do as the risen Jesus commanded, be baptized. Matthew 28:18-20. Think on Mark 1:1-5, 16:16, John 3:3-8, 2 Peter 3:9, Romans 6:3-11, 1 Corinthians 12:13 and Colossians 2:6-15.

[@fredconnor9150]

When the Blessed Virgin appeared to St Bernadette in Lourdes , when asked who are you , “SHE SAID , I AM the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION 🙏

[@noahway13]

I want to know why the lineage of Jesus is documented thru the Old Testament, up to Joseph, but Joseph was not the father???

[@randelhodge3277]

These commentaries are fantastic. Much appreciated. Here's a question for Bart: Are there any indications, in the gospels or extant, that the gospel writers actually knew one another?

[@Spamlett]

He doesnt read comments, if you go on his website you can submit questions there

[@CelineRockIt]

That's a great question!

[@normative]

Knew personally or knew the work of? It’s basically universally agreed that Luke and Matthew both had (and extensively copied) Mark. Most scholars think John didn’t know the prior gospels, but there’s some debate. No indication that any of them personally knew each other, and various reasons to think it’s unlikely.

[@randelhodge3277]

@@normative Knew personally. I figured that was probably the case. Thanks for the response.

[@toddstevens9667]

If you accept the NT as true … then Luke, as a traveling partner of Paul, probably knew Matthew and John (since Paul met with the Judean Apostles at least a couple times) and Mark (who was also a sometimes traveling partner with Paul). Luke almost certainly knew Peter (who ministered with Paul in Galatia), who many scholars believe was the source of Mark’s Gospel. But who knows for sure?

[@rabokarabekian409]

Mother Angelica answered this on screen as she popped another piece of candy in her mouth, "She is an honorary virgin." Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Hebrews 1:11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Benjamin Franklin, "The way to see by Faith is to shut the Eye of Reason."

[@dthomas9230]

Faith has less efficacy than a lottery ticket.

[@sjo9292]

If Mother Angelica had candy in her mouth, then you cannot be sure what she said. The Immaculate Conception and Mary's Perpetual Virginity are dogmas of the Catholic Church, and Mother Angelica was publicly Catholic--she would never have disavowed these teachings. BF was not Catholic. Faith and reason go together: God is the source of both.

[@sjo9292]

Friend, If Mother Angelica had candy in her mouth, then you cannot be sure what she said. The Immaculate Conception and Mary's Perpetual Virginity are dogmas of the Catholic Church, and Mother Angelica was publicly Catholic--she would never have disavowed these teachings. BF was not Catholic. Faith and reason go together: God is the source of both. Scientific evidence of a soul: kzbin.info/www/bejne/moSmfKOmpZZni5osi=FZ_SdLJfF9s1zEDl

[@davidleckrone90]

It took 72 years of life and 48 years in music ministry to realize the "Church" has lied to us since 325 AD. There are good people going to "Church" but the only time Christ appears in 'christ'ianity is in the first six letters of the word. David Leckrone Appomattox, VA

[@mobilephoneuser-pr8cj]

Being an ex Catholic for 32 years when I question the church they basically kicked me out not officially but the way the priest handle the situation you're not welcome here so I quit going and the church that I attended back then does it covered they finally closed

[@mobilephoneuser-pr8cj]

The church closed because of covid and this voice typing isn't so accurate

[@Heroball299]

I don't think you should put your full name and where you're from in your comments. You're giving away too much personal information. It's not a good habit to give this information out so easily online.

[@davidleckrone90]

Thanks. Good advice. Social media is a world curse as good people cannot communicate honestly, but you are absolutely right. Thanks again.

[@sjo9292]

@@mobilephoneuser-pr8cj Dear Friend, I am sorry for the way you were treated. Whatever disagreement you had with Catholic Church teaching could have been handled more tactfully. Do not deprive yourself of the sacraments: Find a parish, go to confession and come home! Prayers for you.

[@cruelcarp5516]

You say that the angel doesn’t ask Mary for her permission and “the power of the most will overshadow her”. Sounds like the “R- word “ me. This once again shows that in christianity the man owns the woman.

[@Katnip452]

Better yet, who says “Mary” ever existed at all? A storybook a few thousand years old written by unknown authors we are just supposed to trust heard the story right or were sane or truthful.

[@huguesdepayens807]

Do you really need that much evidence to be convinced a person existed? That's not exactly a high bar.

[@Katnip452]

@ What is more likely: that the laws of nature be completely altered or that someone told a fib? A story about a person doesn’t make them real. A story about an extraordinary magical person requires extraordinary evidence. Mary’s got zippo and is zippo.

[@huguesdepayens807]

@@Katnip452 So you think the laws of nature need to be altered for a person to exist?

[@kubhlaikhan2015]

I read (I forget where) that the marriage customs in Palestine at that time often happened in two phases - first a firm betrothal ceremony, followed only many years later by a completion of the marriage rites. The delay between was often a decade or longer and if a child were conceived during this interval it was customary to refer to them as "virgin births". I still agree that Matthew's interpretation is motivated by the need to fulfill Isaiah's prophecies, it just lends itself to that reinterpretation.

[@jersmith1486]

Israel not "Palestine"

[@kubhlaikhan2015]

@@jersmith1486 The whole region was never called "Israel". This is a modern invention. The Romans called it Palaestina or Syria Palaestina. The word can be traced to the first Philistine state in 1200BC (if not earlier). Besides, this extended period of 'semi-marriage' was probably common to the whole region.

[@jersmith1486]

@kubhlaikhan2015 the Romans (Emperor Hadrian) started calling it Philistine to piss off the jews. It was the kingdoms of Israel and Judah for centuries. Fun fact: philistine means; invader, trespasser, occupier.

[@balafama2120]

@@kubhlaikhan2015 Stop being sly and disingenuous .there was no palestine when Jesus was born. it was Judea and Samaria.,along with other towns .

[@kubhlaikhan2015]

You need a history book @@balafama2120 . Fortunately Roman records are very extensive and reliable - it was always called Palestine.

[@alanhales6369]

Bart, the Bible, the Biblical Hebrew and the Greek translation says Mary was a virgin.

[@glumet1]

Genuinely interested to find out what are your credentials to contradict a New Testament scholar? Sincere question.

[@curious011]

sorry. the biblical Hebrew does NOT say virgin at all and in it's exact context it's talking about a woman at the time. Jesus name isnt. Emmanuel-ever. specifically, they were told to name Him Jesus, never Emmanuel, and no, emmanuel is not some "type" of Jesus. Not once in any gospel or in Paul's letters, is Jesus ever referred to as Emmanuel or God with us.

[@alanhales6369]

@@curious011 the Biblical Hebrew does say virgin. Are you going by the Alexandrian Hebrew texts. Because the true Hebrew text does say virgin.

[@user-xk8tt2rz3r]

@@alanhales6369 This is interesting. Why most people bring up the whole ´´it was a mistranslation from hebrew´´ argument then? Are they referring to a different hebrew source text?

[@alanhales6369]

@@user-xk8tt2rz3r The true Hebrew has Vigin.

[@ReboneMora]

Every time I come across information like this I ask myself, “How many misconceptions can I take but retain my faith?” Or also “Does this directly undermine my faith?” Because honestly, I’m not going going to just stand here with my blood over something I was taught…but also I’m not letting it go without having studied it rigorously..

[@jessknauftofsantaynezvalle4111]

You can argue over whether the original prophesy in Isaiah was meant to be taken as rectilinear. But at the end of the day it doesn’t matter. That’s because it could still be quoted in the sense of being a typological fulfillment in Jesus. As a typological fulfillment it works like this. Anyone can take a passage out its native habitat and describe it as being fulfilled. For example, a Christian could quote a passage out of its native context “I have plans for you to give you a future & a hope” and say that’s a passage that was fulfilled for them. The first order question is whether the reporting of Jesus promising the gift of recall and being guided into all truth (John 14:26; 16:13) was likely an accurate reflection. If so, then Jesus’ resurrection provides an epistemic routing for the acceptance of the rest of the Gospel accounts, such as the birth narratives, being totally accurate in its reporting.

[@robinhood20253]

The time to believe something is after it is supported by evidence.

[@indimist]

Faith is the lowest order of cognition

[@markantrobus8782]

See Wittgenstein's "Culture and Value".

[@markantrobus8782]

Also new translation of Tolstoy "Gospel in Brief."

[@dewbiewa]

Virgin births are the way organized religion makes the normal miraculous. None of you have this one, right. But instead of telling you the truth, which most of you would have difficulty with. Let me make a promise. Seek and ye shall find, knock, and it shall be opened and revealed. Stop depending on religions for your faith. You all have the divine presence within your own being. Yeshua would go off alone and spend time with the Father. Do the same. Communicate with his spirit, better yet, develop an intimate relationship with the Father within. Use the Spirit of Truth and the Holy Spirit to assist you. All your answers are found in your own sacred😮 place in stillness. Then again, who am I to instruct you. You hung the Eternal Son on a cross when he loved you enough to tell you the truth and reveal the Father's love.

[@satmat6566]

Mathew and Luke both affirm that Mary was a virgin! In Luke Mary replied to the Angel : I have not known any man ! In Mathew the prophecy From Isaiah 7:14 is quoted ! This is the sign otherwise the prophecy is a joke if the birth of a son were natural to all women! Mathew and Luke knew better than Bart Erhman!!!!

[@yakinyisrael8308]

I really appreciate these interviews. Mostly I enjoy the information. Meaning Bart simply gives info for us, the listener, to make our judgments. Better yet provokes us to study more not just to rely on what we are told.👍👍👍

[@ChristoverMarxfortheWin]

Um, Atheists and other anti-Christ's are relying on what Ehrman is telling them to believe. You know that right?

[@zapkvr]

How can you possibly make judgements when you dont know the history? Whom do you trust for your information, yourself?

[@RichardKipkiruirono]

I find Dr Bart very scholerly, that's why he bring mistakes in translation which I concur with him , but God tells us to abide in him that he might express his word to us. That's why at Pentecost, it was said ' this was that spoken by Joel.

[@RichardKipkiruirono]

David in psalms says God spoke once and I heard twice psalms 62:11. Meaning that if we approach the Bible reverently we'll know the truth.

[@jaclynrichmond1049]

​@user-tn8oe6eb7u bart has talks on how the spirit filled belief was added, some of the gospels don't focus on spirit at all, some do. They are fighting over the subject.

[@DrustZapat]

Great episode, guys! Are there any episodes planned involving the themes of the Great Schism, the Protestant Reformation, or the differences between evangelism and fundamentalism?

[@cecileroy557]

I believe Mr. Ehrman's area of interest is about the Bible.

[@herminepursch2470]

@@cecileroy557 The reformation was how and why the Bible was changed

[@judyswiderski2682]

Here is the difference between those who belong to God snd those who do not. Jesus said, You must be born again. John 3:3-8. "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Why? "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter i to the kingdom of God. That whjch is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of Spirit is spirit." Verses 3:5-6. Born again is also called regeneration. Noah Webster 1828 Dictionary online. 'Regeneration means; Reproduction, the act of producing anew. In theology, New birth by the grace of God, that change by which the will and natural enmity of man to God and his law are subdued, and a principle of supreme love to God and his law, or holy affections, are implanted in the heart.' Humbling isn't it. We cannot do that on our own, even with tons and tons of repenting God. Jesus said, My words are spirit and life." John 6:63. We cannot walk by the Spirit when we walk by our own understanding, called sin. Ask God to send the Holy Ghost, Luke 11:13. He will bring your sins to mind. As he does ask Jesus to forgive you. This will be painful, pride hates it! When you see your desperate need, call out to Jesus to see save you. He came to save sinners. Then do as the risen Jesus commanded, be baptized. Matthew 28:18-20. Think on Mark 1:1-5, 16:16, John 3:3-8, 2 Peter 3:9, Romans 6:3-11, 1 Corinthians 12:13 and Colossians 2:6-15.

[@EvilXtianity]

The Bible uses the word "overshadow", which is the Greek word, "επισκιάζω" (episkiazó). Some interpret "overshadow" to mean that some sort of mystical cloud or divine wind hovered over Mary and then she became preXXant. But the literal translation of the word is, "to overshadow, to use influence upon by a looming presence (skiá)" and figuratively means "to invest with preternatural (extraordinary, exceeding what is normal) influence". So, the "overshadowing" was God using what the Bible describes as the "extraordinary" coercion of his greater power and status to dominate and overpower Mary's desires and will by forcing his own desire to force unwanted se___Xal contact from frightened Mary with the intent of imXXXXXXX her.

[@HkFinn83]

Why are you ‘redacting’ the words pregnant and impregnate?

[@EvilXtianity]

The word Mary uses to accept the command to be impregnated is "ginomai", which means "let it not be, far be it from, God forbid". In Mary's praise and thanksgiving to God in Luke 1:48 she says, “God has lifted up his humble maidservant.” The Greek word for “humble” is the same one that the Septuagint (the old Greek version of the Hebrew Bible) uses to describe the rape of Dinah in Genesis and other incidents of sexual violation.

[@EvilXtianity]

God sent one of his representatives to tell Mary (who was between ages 12 and 14 at the time), that even though she was engaged to Joseph and frightened by the encounter, that God would impregnate her. A child cannot consent to pregnancy by an authority figure.

[@EvilXtianity]

God raped ("overshadowed") Mary while she was engaged to Joseph and while God was married to Asherah, Aholah and Aholibah (who were sisters). God's sons also "ravished" human females and impregnated them. God sent one of his representatives to tell Mary (who was between ages 12 and 14 at the time), that even though she was engaged to Joseph and frightened by the encounter, that God would impregnate her. A child cannot consent to pregnancy by an authority figure.

[@komicsreviewer8505]

I prefer Lord Summerisle's gust of wind.

[@stephenbouchelle7706]

Excellent interview from both of you. Very interesting and informative. Thanks.

[@alexh1524]

Let us suppose that Jesus was not born of a virgin. In that case, he could only have been born through sexual procreation between a man and a woman. If this is true, then what authority would justify him being labelled as the only begotten son of God? None. However, all the books mentioned here do present Jesus as having come from heaven and being the only begotten son of God. This incarnation of a heavenly being was, as the bible states, by workings of the Holy Spirit. It was asserted, accepted, and assumed in the books that came after the Gospels. Some books, like Acts and Paul's letters do not rehash Jesus' birth because they are aimed at either recounting the events of how the early disciples formed the Church or exhortations to maintain the faith and abstain from sin. The logical jumps Dr. Ehrman makes to claim that Paul or some other Gospel writer did not believe in the virgin birth is quite astounding. It may sell books and webinars but it is quite misleading.

[@Kyeudo]

_["However, all the books mentioned here do present Jesus as having come from heaven and being the only begotten son of God."]_ You may want to check some other translations. "Begotten" is an insertion by translators. The actual phrase is easily rendered "only son". The Gospel According to Mark is perfectly fine with Jesus being adopted as the Son of God, while John doesn't care who gave birth to his mortal form because his spirit is divine. _["The logical jumps Dr. Ehrman makes to claim that Paul or some other Gospel writer did not believe in the virgin birth is quite astounding."]_ Not astounding at all once you realize that the books of the New Testament aren't magical and are instead the writings of different people with different views and beliefs. Half of the New Testament consists of fraudulent books taken to be authentic, such as the epistles of Peter.

[@SternDrive]

The virgin birth is a central tenant of Christians for a very good reason. As Matthew 1 & 2 say, she had to be a virgin to fulfill prophecy. Every one knew that Alma meant a young woman who had never had sex. Luke 1 & 2 looks at it from a different angle. Mary was a virgin because her son Jesus was to be the son of God. Both Matthew and Luke say the same thing, but look at it from different angles. The church has always known this, but I do understand that infidels and unbelievers take great delight in wresting the scripture to their own destruction. 2 Peter 3: 16 says that those people "...twist to their own destruction..." Nothing new here.

[@curious011]

Infidels? can we call you an idiot since that is what you are calling us?

[@ryanshannon6963]

The whole point is that if Jesus isn't born of some miraculous "Virgin" mother by a godly spirit, then Jesus just becomes a regular-ass guy that says he's the next big thing on campus. The entire foundation laid by thousands of years of religious organization is nearly destroyed. The entire story just becomes another day in ancient times of some guy thinking he's an enlightened one that's frustrated by modern (at that time) theocrats and political hierarchy. There's clearly nothing holy or special about that. It quickly descends into "some guy's philosophy" rather than "godly truth".

[@TboneWTF]

Exactly correct. And what you just described in your comment makes much more rational and reasonable sense than does some sort of "Immaculate Conception" mumbo jumbo.

[@susan5199]

Jesus was perfect only one to ever be perfect so he had to have immaculate conception otherwise sin would have come into Jesus like rest of us he preached went to the cross shedding his precious blood for all if you accept him

[@johnmarkbrailsford24]

Where did Luke get all the information about the conception and birth of Jesus? - Luke interviewed Mary, sometime around A.D.55, and asked her about what had happened.

[@curious011]

Show any ancient document where Mary is interviewed by Luke. We don't even know if Luke is the actual Author.

[@StephenMartinMusic]

The earliest mention of Mary is within Mark 6:3 Where her name is called out for the first time. But Mark is writing allegories, not histories. All other Gospels just copy Marks but add their own narratives in the euhemerising process, right? She was originally only a fictional character in an allegory. Used to sell a message. How a fictional characters attributes are later added to, speaks more about the intended message than the fictional character itself…

[@HalfB]

18:07 ‘….Mark is our first gospel…’ ? This confused me immediately! Mathew comes before Mark in the Bible so how can Mark be our first gospel? Help 🤦‍♀️

[@lettersandwordsandstuffs]

It was written before the others...the bible isnt the best put together book...Christians dont know cause they don't read it

[@donnyleeisfree]

Does it really matter in which order the fairy tales came into existence? Simply knowing the kind of awesome drugs they had back then should suffice, methinks.

[@RalphNoogle]

You can look up why scholars think mark comes first, it's interesting how it's dated

[@RalphNoogle]

@donny, hahahaha it's good to know they had awesome drugs back then

[@lettersandwordsandstuffs]

@@RalphNoogle the bible was slapped together over a long period of time as well

[@judithgockel1001]

In about 1972 a new translation of the Bible was released. The issuers had gone back to the earliest written texts, and found the descriptive adjective for the mother of Jesus was not ‘virgin’, but ‘young woman’. This was during the furor concerning Nixon’s VP. The publication knocked the VP off the news, the new Bible was rapidly withdrawn from sale. The suggestion concerningYahweh ‘passing over’ Mary rather sounds like Zeus’ stunts that made Hera so bad-tempered

[@SineN0mine3]

Obviously some parts of the Bible are open to interpretation, that's what the gospel writers intended. It's of the utmost importance though, that you only ever interpret them with the advanced permission and approval of the church. Gods words aren't just for anybody, after all.

[@Stantheman4444]

@@SineN0mine3something as fundamental as a virgin birth, was not to be left open for interpretations.

[@judithgockel1001]

@@SineN0mine3 - which church?

[@judithgockel1001]

At the Council of Nicaea, Jesus’s divinity came to a vote. He placed as ‘divine’ by two votes. Had The Church gone two human votes the other way, theology would be very different.

[@JB-jkhb1972]

Perfect Christmas intro.. love this series

[@timothymalone7067]

Thanks so much for this series!!!

[@AccidentalNinja]

I remember a gnostic priest I knew saying that it wasn't Mary, the mother of Jesus who gave the virgin birth, but Jesus's grandmother who was also Mary, & this ended up with Jesus being born without sin or free from original sin. I'm don't know if there's any support for this in the scholarship.

[@donaldrice5281]

How many times does the Bible have to say something for it to be true? Since the Bible plainly says that all Scripture is given by the inspiration of GOD

[@curious011]

you cant use the bible to prove the bible. i can find you all kinds of religious books that say they are also true. you need some hard evidence.

[@Kyeudo]

_["How many times does the Bible have to say something for it to be true?"]_ Only once, but only if it was true before the Bible made the claim. _["Since the Bible plainly says that all Scripture is given by the inspiration of GOD"]_ And so what? The Book of Mormon makes the same claim. Are you a Mormon?

[@paulsacramento5995]

The issue I have with Mary being a virgin isn't whether she was one when Jesus was born, there is at least some validity in that view, it is the "perpetual virgin" thing when the NT is clear that Jesus had other brothers and sisters from Mary.

[@cufflink44]

What exactly is the "validity" you're talking about? Can you think of any example in the history of humanity where a woman who was never impregnated with male sperm conceived a child? Isn't it much, much more probable that Mary claimed virginity (I mean, no one gave her a medical exam, right?) to avoid embarrassment?

[@paulsacramento5995]

I was referring to the textual critique.@@cufflink44

[@JackRT3]

Correction: Mark doesn't mention Joseph at all and only refers to him as "son of Mary", which is hugely significant, because even if Jesus' father was dead they would still refer to him as the son of his deceased father. Briefly, the villagers are insulting him by suggesting he is the illegitimate son of Mary. Lots to be said about that.

[@pdxcorgidad]

​@@lesliebuxtonmandurano2093That's...yeah that's an interesting theory.

[@pdxcorgidad]

Good catch. The only way anybody can find a reference to Joseph is by implication via Matthew. "The carpenter, son of Mary" from Mark becomes "The carpenter's son. Is his mother not called Mary?" The word, mentioned only twice, doesn't even mean strictly a carpenter but rather any kind of builder, and it's obvious, at least to me, the author of Matthew changed the wording to give Joseph a higher station, esp as the Gospel has him in the lineage of David. But again, you are absolutely correct.

[@cecileroy557]

@@lesliebuxtonmandurano2093 Well - that is quite a story....

[@cecileroy557]

The New Testament was written years after Jesus' death. There would be no way of knowing what "they" called Jesus... We can assume it was "ben Joseph" - son of Joseph. Joseph was relegated to a position of (almost) irrelevance because the gospel writers wanted to concentrate on Mary.

[@pdxcorgidad]

@cecileroy557 lol you and I had exactly the same response. 🤣

[@pyrkhatlangkshiar9180]

This person seems like the one whom Muslims like to listen to.... Muslims would say that how can Allah have a son without a girlfriend, but for Christian we know that God is almighty and can do anything....

[@AperioNortheast]

Well said, and thank you for saying it

[@Dblue-rhino]

The gospels were written in educated Greek, not by John, Matthew, Luke.

[@oml81mm]

Could there have been a requirement that Jesus should be free of original (or inherited) sin?

[@NikoAmeristar]

I'm not a religious guy, but I read the book three times a long time ago and no matter if he ever existed according to the book he was a decent human being.

[@Azizullah13579]

Yes, especially in revelations

[@taanielherberger-brown5198]

Well done! I Love all of your work Thank you guys!

[@perserverance333]

The Bible says... God says!

[@curious011]

So? Who would have know what God actually said years after the events? I can tell you God SAYS something to me today. Would you believe it?

[@ruth4019]

The New Testament says that Jesus was born of a virgin which is impossible and the Old Testament says that Sarah gave birth to Issac in 90 yrs of age. If Christianity is not true then Judaism is not true as well.

[@susan5199]

​@Michael-le5ph yes God still speaks always has

[@watchman2866]

Isa 7:12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD. Isa 7:13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Is Bart saying the text should say: 'a virgin has conceived' instead of 'a virgin shall conceive'? As it is the Lord is speaking future tense to King Ahaz. For the Gospel writer to quote it, it shows that the Jews didn't see the scriptures as fulfilled at the end in the days of Ahaz, but that these books of the prophets transcended the times of the Kings.

[@watchman2866]

@aRecluse The narrative shows what is meant and how the conception was achieved. Matthew and Luke's gospels are talking about the same thing but different time frames. The continuity of the scriptures shows who each character is and how they were received. It's clear Matthew and Luke read the Old Testament differently from Bart. This follows throughout the bible. There were many face to face with Jesus Christ who understood many texts the way Bart and the history of the higher critics do. This is recorded in the text. That's why they crucified him.

[@MathewThomasFET]

Erhman says that John, does NOT mention virgin birth. Should the apostle have done so❓Was it not sufficient to mention, "In the beginning was the Word ----"❓As a Bible"scholar" does he NOT know that different gospel authors give different perspectives ❓

[@JadedzUzi]

Great show! Thank you! I always wondered, if Jesus was born of Mary and god, then WHY was Joseph's lineage so important that they had to mention it twice(AND they contradict each other), and why did Mary and Joseph have to be related if god was the dad? Joseph wouldn't have given any DNA... *sometimes I struggle with thinking due to being raised in all this since birth, christianity did NOT help to develop my brain. For me, it made my thinking irrational. Still working on that, so I hope this made sense =)

[@ericbilodeau3897]

I wonder if the fact that the Church believed in a virgin birth lead to the idea that it was more holy to be abstinent leading to the Catholic rule that clergy, nuns and monks need to stay celibate for life. Like is thos entire tradition based on mistranslation by Matthew? That would be somewhat hilarious but also sad for all the men and women who never did have sex

[@redandblue323]

Bart's gonna get some hate mail for this one

[@herminepursch2470]

Seems to me that people are good at hate mail

[@keoncooper1568]

Wonderful program guys , and I love how you guys make it simple for understanding , please read the book , name The Holy Megillah for your listening Audience.

[@ΣΟΝΥΚΑΙΚΑΛΑ]

Hey Bart! love the podcast. Btw, the word for cousin is ξάδερφος, not ανηψιός which means nephew.

[@gs8527]

Some lizards and worms have REAL virgin birth. The reason Christians WANTED a VERSION virgin birth, it was because PAGANS had their own version of virgin birth FIRST. In other words, "Christians" needed to manipulate pagans to convert to their religion - a "better" religion. EVERYTHING in Christianity IS plagiarized from several Pagan religions. The real issue here is faith. Do you find YOUR religion to fulfill your spiritual needs? GREAT!!! Carry on and STOP criticizing and judging other belief systems PERIOD FULL STOP

[@AgeOfNefarious_Deception]

Shut-up suck -up.

[@jeffmacdonald9863]

The idea from the proto-Gospel of Mary still having her hymen, not only after getting pregnant with Jesus, but after giving birth to him is pretty wild.

[@jeffryphillipsburns]

I can grasp how people loosely connected with.reality might believe in an immaculate conception, but I can’t get my head around an immaculate birth. How did Jesus emerge from Mary? If he just appeared, then why bother with the pregnancy at all? Why does Ehrman just skip over this huge difficulty?

[@realkarfixer8208]

Anatomy must not have been a strong point of the author.

[@raycaster4398]

The magical storytelling and wishful thinking of ignorant pre-science tribalist men desperate to fashion a moral narrative for times when life was nasty, brutal and short and nights were long, dark and scary -- the childhood of Man.

[@fwdbias9099]

Seriously I think wild isn't the right word....nonsensical is a better word.

[@realkarfixer8208]

@@jeffryphillipsburns I'd guess that the claim that Mary had an intact hymen was not from a canonical source, and it's so absurd that Professor Erhman didn't need to belabor the point.

[@TheSoteriologist]

Begins 3:07.

[@tentimesful]

In quran it states mary was virgin in the following verse 3:47: She(mary) said, "My Lord, how will I have a child when no man has touched me?" [The angel] said, "Such is Allāh; He creates what He wills. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, 'Be,' and it is.

[@vinnysing1324]

Quran is fake

[@auditormaingi3823]

Are you defining 'virginity' according to its interpretation according to the Septuagint? If so,you are reminded that the " incarnation" didn't take place in the European ecology!

[@YankeeWoodcraft]

"Who Says Mary Was a Virgin?" The Bible.

[@newnoggin2]

That was a mis-translation. The correct translation is maiden not necessarily a Virginia. Try to keep up.

[@YankeeWoodcraft]

@@newnoggin2 "Almah" (maiden) is not used to describe married women in Aramaic. Besides, she asked how could she be pregnant when she was a virgin so there's that and Mary's words are scripture.

[@davesteller6301]

​@@newnoggin2It's still the accurate answer to the question. It's clearly in the Bible in every English translation I'm aware of. If it's a mis translation as you say, then that's a whole other discussion. But it's plainly there.

[@curious011]

two of the 4 gospels say it and not once does Paul or Jesus mention it. There is no evidence anything like that ever happened. John says Jesus was born of a woman. that is very odd.

[@davesteller6301]

@@curious011 so we are now believing in 90% of the Bible? Not me. 100% or nothing!

[@nedkelley4810]

None of this disgusts me as much as the fact that Jesus got his own mom pregnant.

[@steveg1961]

Even cooler though is how he got his mom pregnant with himself. Five hundred years ago we would probably be burned at the stake for stating such biblical truths.

[@sifridbassoon]

In Orthodox churches, Mary is rarely (if ever) refered to as the Virgin Mary. Instead, she is called the Theotokas, meaning "God bearer." It's interesting to me that the virginity issue is not so important.

[@curiousjim]

She is referred as virgin in Orthodox Hymns.

[@sifridbassoon]

@@curiousjim ah, i didn't know that.

[@curiousjim]

​@@sifridbassoon Glad I contributed a small bit to your knowledge :). FYI there is a rather important hymn called "Τη Υπερμάχω Στρατηγώ" that is sung every Friday during lent where this is true.​ The virgin birth from what I know is considered very important dogma for the orthodox.

[@anushkasekkingstad1300]

Describe it however you wish, it remains deeply ignorant, superstitious, unproven nonsense.

[@curiousjim]

@@anushkasekkingstad1300 I think you are missing the point. Religious beliefs are based on faith and not proof. If there was indisputable proof about god's existence or Mary's virginity or Jesus' Resurrection then you are talking about facts. There is no need for faith and everyone would be a believer. God according to Orthodox theologians should not provide proof otherwise there is no value in faith. So you have to believe blindly that the laws of the universe were suspended for Christianity's benefit. 😀Yeah good luck with that..

[@Dragonsitter]

So why wasn’t he called “Emmanuel” as prophesied ?

[@happytofu5]

That is a very good question I haven't seen anyone asking before. I always assumed it was one of Jesus' many many names or titles.

[@midnightwatchman1]

why does Bert consider one gospel leaving out details that others have a contradiction? if they were exactly alike then having four gospels would be pointless. Further, the gospels are prospectives more than just eyewitness accounts. they have doctrinal and teaching values and each teacher is going to have a different emphasis. just like university courses taught by different teachers.

[@curious011]

If they are not alike and tell stories completely different, which version of the story happened. How many women came to the tomb and what were there names? was there an earthquake and roman soldiers or just the stone found rolled away? were there angels? how many? or was it just a young man in the tomb. all depends which gospel you read. they can not all be true. they contradict. Was Jairus' daughter dead or just sick when they told Jesus? all in what gospel you read.

[@Bobbychildree]

Mary herself said she was a virgin. If you question Mary, then I guess you have a very unique definition of what a virgin is, as in “there are no virgins, not even a newborn is a virgin, there never was a virgin and there can never be a virgin.” Now, let’s examine Mary’s impossible claim in a truly scholarly fashion, shall we?

[@AgeOfNefarious_Deception]

@Bobbychildree Thank you Bobby, a great rebuttal to all these utterly disgusting decenters, especially Bart.

[@beastshawnee]

In a college art history class the teacher was asking about immaculate conception and asked “who else was immaculately conceived?” and she got silence. And she says “oH for goodness sake’s class. THiS is YOUR own Religion!” Well she was in swMissouri so she was mostly correct. But I mumbled outloud “No. It’s not.” She looked my way in the dim darkened room. So I said it Louder. “I don’t have a clue. It’s NOT MY religion. at all.” then she proceeded to tell us Mary’s mother was granted the status of immaculate conception as well. Then she said “Well the Catholics made her one.” How can you expect us to know this if we aren’t Catholic or even Christian?” LOL! This was my first encounter with this professor but not even close to my last. I had read the Bible and the Book of mormon but hadn’t been to a church visit in years. Was not a member, not did I expect to be quizzed about religion in a college art class. Turned out that I knew the biblical stuff more than all but one person in that class. The old masters paintings were mostly religious subjects of course.

[@BenjWarrant]

Props to you for managing to slog through the Book of Mormon. I quite quickly got to the point where I was going to buy a gun and shoot myself if I had to read '...and it came to pass...' one more time. It's like someone who heard Bible readings in church but wasn't really paying attention tried to make a spoof of it for his own religion. Fancy that.

[@cwfutureboy]

@23:45 How the hell does a woman give birth and still have a hymen? That's the actual miracle! 😂

[@sciptick]

Nah, it's easy. See, in order to have a hymen, or even to *not* have a hymen, you have to exist, first. No Jesus, no birth, no Mother of Jesus, no lack of a hymen. It's as easy as that camel diving through a needle's eye.

[@MossyMozart]

@cwfutureboy - IF this story is true (and not the fairy tale it seems to be), perhaps, since Mary was so young a teenager, she had a difficult birth and there was scar tissue that was misdiagnosed.

[@stevevrana3922]

Or maybe it was a miracle.

[@shirleyac12]

I kept my knickers on . Conception and delivery 😂😂

[@MrLarryec]

Immanuel or Emmanuel (Hebrew: עִמָּנוּאֵל, romanized: ʿĪmmānūʾēl, meaning, "God with us" or "God is with us"; also romanized: Imanu'el; and Emmanouël or Ἐμμανουήλ in Koine Greek of the New Testament) is a Hebrew name that appears in the Book of Isaiah (7:14) as a sign that God will protect the House of David. Matthew and Luke's accounts are not contradictions of one another. The writer expounds on one area by distinction of accounts. You forgot the above prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 mentioned that HIS NAME shall be called Immanuel or Emmanuel. That's important because Isaiah gave comfort to the king during the moment they were surrounded by their enemies... implying HIS name will be called Immanuel/Emmanuel meaning "GOD with us..". Why did Isaiah mention that in the prophecy? It's was a prophetic projection of the CHRIST and the KINGDOM OF GOD being at hand or present in CHRIST. JESUS wasn't thinking that HE wasn't going to die. What lies are you trying to put out here? Totally disingenuous to your audience and your students all because to you it is just a "story fabrication". And to say that the virgin birth is not noted throughout the rest of the new testament is because it is basically understood. Mark and the other disciples communicated with each other. The idea that they're "misquoted" is from your own perception. PEACE

[@helengraham7472]

There's NO evidence in chapter 7 as a whole that '[it] was a prophetic projection of the CHRIST and the KINGDOM OF GOD being at hand or present in CHRIST.' The prophecy was in the context an immediate military threat- as you've already confirmed that by stating, 'That's important because Isaiah gave comfort to the king during the moment they were surrounded by their enemies... implying HIS name will be called Immanuel/Emmanuel meaning "GOD with us..' It wasn't uncommon at that time for names to incorporate God or include some sort of refence to God.

[@MrLarryec]

@@helengraham7472 We are talking specifics. Specifically..The WHO being referenced as IMMANUEL aka GOD being with us. And the GOVERNMENT being upon HIS SHOULDERS. What happened after the military threat? Which governmental reign? When was it ON HIS SHOULDERS?

[@CyberRabid.]

There was a time when "virgin" merely meant "without child." So by saying that Mary was a virgin only means that Jesus was her first. Later in the scriptures Jesus would heal a blind man. This blind man would be none other than Joseph of Arimathea. Healing Joseph's blindness might not necessarily mean in the literal sense. It could simply suggest that Jesus opened Joseph's eyes to the truth that he (Joseph) was not his father.

[@salamanca1954]

Whoa! Looking forward to the book on the ethics of Jesus, which I believe has been too long ignored in detail, at least in religion and tradition.

[@russellmiles2861]

That would be a sad episode: seems a nasty piece of work.