J Gresham Machen Virgin Birth of Christ

Annotation

In what remains a widely discussed issue in contemporarytheology, J. Gresham MachensThe Virgin Birth of Christactsas both an introduction to the subject, and a window into American Princetontheology in the early twentieth century. Machen undertakes an encyclopaedicstudy of the different perspectives on the virgin birth. He begins with a closereading of the scriptural accounts, comparing and contrasting the stories ofJesus birth told in Luke and Matthew. Secular historical accounts are thenconsidered, as well as possible alternative theories, including the likelihoodof the story being of early Jewish or Pagan origin.Machens study was the definitive work on the virgin birth forthe majority of the twentieth century, and remains an invaluable resource, bothas an apologetic work and as a time capsule of theological progress.