Christmas A Defense of 1

1 Pet. 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 2

Why a Virgin Birth? Is Unique to ChristianityIs Unique to Christianity –Mohammed, Confucius, Buddha all conceived by natural means. –Luke 1:30-35 and Matthew 1:18-25 both describe a very unique entrance into the world. 3

Why a Unique Entrance? Jesus was not a newly created individual but has pre-existed. – “Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM’” (John 8:58). –“ For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth...” (Col. 1:16). 4

Why a Unique Entrance? Jesus was pure (sinless in nature). – “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). –“was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). 5

Why a Unique Entrance? Descendants of Adam can only beget sinners. –“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). 6

Why a Unique Entrance? It was prophesized: And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel 7 Gen. 3:15

Why a Unique Entrance? It was prophesized: Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel 8 Isaiah 7:14

Criticism to the Virgin Birth Story The gospels of Matthew and Luke were written too late after the birth of Jesus to be considered historical. Luke was a bad historian. The Virgin Birth was adopted from pagan stories. The Virgin Birth breaks the laws of nature. 9

Claim: The Gospels of Matthew and Luke were written too late to be considered historically accurate. An early date of only a couple of decades after Christ’s death can be arrived at by considering the book of Acts. 10

Was Luke a bad historian? 11 1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. Luke 2:1-3

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Was Luke a bad historian? Critics Argue: –There is no record outside the Gospels that Caesar ordered a tax at the time of Christ’s birth. –Judea did not become a Roman Province until 6 A.D. –There was no need for subjects of Rome to go “into his own city” to be taxed. 13

No Tax? “While I was administering my thirteenth consulship the senate and the equestrian order and the entire Roman people gave me the title Father of my Country” (italics mine). [Augustus Res Gestae 35] 14

Did Judea take part in the census? 15 The Roman Historian Tacitus reported that there was a precedence for vassal kingdoms to submit to Roman Censuses [Tacitus Annals 6.41].

Did Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem for the Census? 16 Papyrus of census taken in 104 AD, which indicates that the subjects needed to return to the place of their origin.

Did Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem for the Census? 17 Papyrus from A.D. 48 indicating that the entire family was involved in the census.

When was Cyrenius Governor? Josephus Indicates Cyrenius became Governor of Syria in A.D

“Cyrenius the duumvir” Stone found in Antioch Syria. Dated between 11 and 1 BC. Indicates that Cyrenius was jointly holding power. 19

Tivoli Stone Fragment Found in 1764 in Tivoli (Near Rome) Honors a Roman official who was twice governor of Syria and Phoenicia during the reign of Augustus. 20

Luke’s Source 1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, 2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; 21 Luke 1:1-2

Luke’ s Sources “But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). “And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart” (Luke 2:51). 22

Claim: The Virgin Birth story was stolen from a pagan myth. No Egyptian, Babylonian, Greek, or Roman myth remotely corresponds with the literal incarnation of a monotheistic God in human form by way of a literal virgin birth. 23

Claim: The Virgin Birth is impossible according to the course of nature. So is the existence of the Universe. 24

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Luke 2:11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 26