Sambodhi 1989 Vol 16

Author(s): Ramesh S Betai, Yajneshwar S Shastri
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 68

59
Christians believe and accept that Christ was conceived in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit, without the means of man. This emphasizes the fact that the birth of Christ was not at all an ordinary but a supernatural birth, in virtue of which he was called, "the son of God". The most important element in connection with the birth of Jesus was the supernatural operation of the Holy Spirit, for it was only through this that the birth by virgin becomes possible. The doctrine of the virgin-birth is based on the following passages of Scriptures : "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign, Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his Dame Immanuel." Isaiah. 7.14;" Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his inother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost ...... Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife : for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost." St. Matthew 1 : 18, 20.
The Question is sometimes asked, whether the virgin - birth is a matter of doctrinal importance. Brunner rejects the doctrine of the miraculous birth of Christ and holds that it was purely natural. Karl Barth recognizes the miracle of the virgin - birth, and sees in it a token of the fact that God has creatively established a new beginning by consenscending to become man. The wonderful birth of Jesus, the Messiah is supported by the Bible and he was a Son of God. And being a Son of God, his brith was altogether different.
The birth of Jesus Christ is predicted in Old Testament. Enoch, the Saint of antiquity mentioned in Genesis (V. 23), preaches the coming world judgement, and proclaims 'the son of Man who was to appear in order to rulc with righteous as their lead in the time of the new age. The four titles attributed to Jesus 'the Christ', 'the Righteous one', 'the Elect one and the 'Son of God' are all found in the Now Testament.
The name Jesus Christ :
The name Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew Joshoshu, Joshua or Jeshu5. The generally accepted opinion is that it is derived from the root 'Yasha' hiph; hoshia, to save, but it is not easy to explain how Johoshua became Jeshua. Probably Hoshea, derived from the infinitive, was the original form, cxpressing merely the idea of redemption. The Yod, which is the sign of the imperfect, may have been added to express the certainty of redemption. This would best agree with the interpretation of the name given in New Testament. For another derivation form Jeho (Jehovah) and Shuq, that is helf (Gotthilf).