The Virgin Birth.
Perhaps greater than the supernatural phenomena surrounding the birth of Jesus (the way the Magi were led, the chorus of angels praising, etc.) was the miracle in the way that Jesus was conceived. We often hear the phrase "the virgin birth." While a virgin did give birth to the Messiah, the real miracle was in the conception. We are in full agreement with the ancient Christians that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin (Matt. 1:18-22; Luke 1:34). For details on this question, see Donald A. Hagner, Matthew 1-13 (WBC; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1993), 21; Craig Keener, A Commentary on Matthew (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999), 81-95; Craig Blomberg, Matthew (NAC; Nashville: Broadman, 1992), 56-61; Ben Witherington, "The Birth of Jesus," Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels (Downer's Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 1992). Frank Viola. Christian Post.
