Two Virgin Births

I got in trouble about 3 years ago with the school Board. I was teaching the freshman Bible class. I told the students that Isaiah 7-11 describes another virgin birth, one that happened in Isaiah's time about 750 BC. This was the prototype, a prophecy that would have a greater fulfillment in Jesus' birth, but a virgin birth nonetheless.

They were scandalized. None of them pursued it with me. No parents called me. Not a sound until I heard from the Headmaster that the Board was getting inquiries about me.

I wasn't making it up. I got it from Dr. C. John Collins when I was a student at Covenant Seminary. Israel was being attacked by Arameans. In Isaiah 7, the prophet is giving the king encouragement. He promises a sign, a visible proof that God will protect them from the Arameans. "The virgin shall be with child and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel...but before the boy knows right from wrong the Arameans will be laid waste."

See, in order for it to be a meaningful sign to the king, it would have to be demonstrable. Isaiah couldn't tell the king, "Here's your sign! In 750 years a virgin shall give birth!" What kind of encouragement is that?

In Chapter 8, the boy is born to a "prophetess", and the promise is repeated. "Before the child knows how to say 'mama' or 'daddy' the Arameans will be crushed by Assyria.

So Jesus was not the first child born of a virgin. But that is not a problem theologically. It just possibly disturbs a cherished belief. It was important for Jesus to be born of a virgin so that the sinful nature of Adam would not be passed on to him (commonly understood to be transferred by the father). But it is not necessary that he be the one and only ever virgin-born person.

The Board and Headmaster told me to lay off smashing icons, and some grumbled that I was playing with theological fire. I was just teaching students how to interpret the Bible.