Purkey’s

B i b l e   S t u d y

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Rev. Ronald C. Purkey claims no originality for this Bible study outline.

However, every outline posted on this website has been taught by Rev. Purkey.

To see more Bible study outlines go to page two: More Bible Study Outlines.

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THE VIRGIN BIRTH

TEXT: Isaiah 7:14

 

INTRODUCTION: Isaiah 7:14 has become one of the most controversial verses in Scripture because of the prophecy concerning the virgin birth. Unbelievers have quite naturally discounted it and have sought desperately, but in vain, for a loophole to reject the virgin birth. The battle has been waged about the meaning of the Hebrew word almah, which is translated “virgin.”

 

The fact that the angel quotes this prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 to Joseph as an explanation for Mary’s being with child before her marriage to him is satisfactory evidence that the prophecy referred to an unmarried woman who had a son without physical contact with any man. The word used by Matthew (see Matt. 1:23) is the Greek word parthenos, which definitely means “virgin.” The same Greek word was used for the Parthenon, the Greek temple to the goddess Athena, which the Greeks characterized as being a virgin.

 

When the Revised Standard Version of the Bible was first published, the Hebrew word almah was translated “young woman,” with “virgin” in the footnotes -- of course, it should have been reversed. Their argument was that almah meant only a young woman. While it is true that there are places in the Scriptures where it is translated “young woman,” it is evident that it means “virgin.”

 

For example, when Abraham’s servant went to Haran in search of a bride for Isaac and he prayed that God would direct him to the right girl, this is how Rebekah was described: “And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her …” (Gen. 24:16). The word damsel is the Hebrew word naarah, meaning “young woman,” but that she was a virgin was made clear also. Then when the servant was rehearsing this experience of praying for God’s guidance, he said, “Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water …” (Gen. 24:43), the Hebrew word almah is translated “virgin.” I don’t think that anyone could misunderstand what is being said here. When the word almah was used, it referred to a virgin young woman, that is, one who had had no sexual relationship with a man.

 

When the liberal theologian says that the Bible does not teach the virgin birth of Jesus, I feel like asking him if his papa had talked to him when he was a boy about the birds and the bees. He can deny that he believes in the virgin birth of Jesus, but he cannot deny that Isaiah and Matthew are talking about the virgin birth of Jesus.

 

Notice again Isaiah’s prophecy: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah said that His name would be Immanuel, but you cannot find any place in the Gospels where He is called by that name. Immanuel means “God with us.” They called Him “Jesus” because He would save His people from their sins. But, friend, He cannot save the people from their sins unless He is Immanuel, “God with us.” Everytime you call Him Jesus, you are saying, “God with us.” He is God. He is God with us and God for us. He is our Savior, born of a virgin. Have you put your trust in Him? – J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee

 

I. THE PREDICTION OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH.

 

A. Old Testament Prophecies.

 

1. Some Old Testament prophecies that have been fulfilled.

 

a. Gen. 12:1-3 - God's promise to make a great nation.

 

b. Gen. 17:19-21 God's promise that Sarah would bear Isaac.

 

c. 2 Sam. 7:12-16 God's promise that Solomon would build the Temple.

 

2. What would it mean to us as Christians if God had failed to fulfill these prophecies?

 

a. Our beliefs as Christians would be meaningless.

 

b. The very foundation of our faith would crumble.

           

c. The Word of God would not be reliable at all.

 

3. Note some Old Testament prophecies about the virgin birth.

 

a. Gen. 3:15 - the "seed of the woman"

 

b. Isaiah 7:14 - "Born of a virgin"

 

B. The rejection of it's significance.

 

1. Modernists and liberals reject the doctrine of the virgin birth.

 

2. They want to reduce Jesus Christ to little more than a great teacher.

 

3. For them to accept the virgin birth would require them to accept that Jesus is God.

 

4. They are particularly critical of Isaiah 7:14.

 

a. RSV, "Behold a young woman shall conceive and bear a son..."

 

b. The Revised Standard Version was completed by the educational division of the National Council of Churches.

 

c. How does this verse accomplish their goal?

 

5. Their basis for this change is translating the Hebrew word "Almah"

 

6. The men who translated for the RSV were religious liberals and modernists.

 

7. Like cults who choose to revise God's Word, they render it how they want it to read.

 

C. Our reasons for accepting the Virgin Birth.

 

1. Many outstanding Hebrew scholars support it.

 

2. The Septuagint, Old Testament in Greek, translates it as virgin.

 

3. But are these good enough reasons? NO

 

4. NOTE: Matt. 1:23: there is no question about the word used for virgin here - it can only mean a woman who has never had relations with a man.

 

5. The Holy Spirit inspired both Old Testament and New Testament writers and He affirms that Jesus Christ was virgin-born.

 

II. THE FULFILLMENT OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH.

 

A. Jesus Christ was born without a human father.

 

1. NOTE: Matt. 1:16, 1 ... of whom was born Jesus" refers to Mary alone.

 

2. NOTE: Matt. 1:18, "...before they come together ...

 

3. NOTE: Matt. 1:25, "...knew her not..."

 

4. All of these verses point to nothing but the virgin birth.

 

5. Galatians 4:4 is the partial fulfillment of Gen. 3:15.

 

a. Gen. 3:15, "the seed of the woman"

 

b. Galatians. 4:4, "made of a woman"

 

B. Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit.

 

1. Consider the Jewish custom of marriage. Matt. 1:18-20

 

a. The betrothal would compare with our engagement period only a stronger commitment.

 

b. Then an interval existed before the marriage was actually physically consummated.

 

c. It was during this interval that Mary became pregnant.

 

d. Joseph had two options,

 

1) He could make a public example of her for her obvious infidelity.

 

2) Or he could privately put her away by a bill of divorcement.

 

e. The Lord supplied Joseph with an explanation and a third option...to marry her.

 

2. Both Mary and Joseph received the same message.

 

a . NOTE: Luke 1:26-38

 

b. Mary couldn't understand how that she, a virgin having never known (sexually) a man, could conceive and bear a child. Vs. 34

 

c. The angel Gabriel told her that the Holy Ghost would bring this to be.

 

d. He further assured her that "with God nothing shall be impossible'',

 

3. Neither Mary or Joseph question the message from God,

 

a. Joseph "...did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him ..."

 

b. Mary said, "...be it according to thy Word ..."

 

III. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH.

 

A. Is the virgin birth an essential doctrine to the Christian faith?

 

1. In other words, can a person be a true believer in Christ and yet deny that He was born of a virgin?

 

2. The answer is NO.

 

a. To deny that Christ was virgin born is to deny:

 

b. That the Word of God is true.

 

c. That Jesus was the Son of God.

 

d. That He could die a sacrificial death.

 

B. The doctrine of the virgin birth is vitally connected to many other Important doctrines. NOTE: John 10:31-38

 

1. The authenticity of the Scriptures

 

a. Liberals see the virgin birth as a "symbol" of Christ's uniqueness and they deny that it happened literally,

 

b. If the Scripture is not reliable in this area - how can it be trusted at all?

 

c. Mary accepted God's Word through the angelic messenger, we also need to accept God's Word.

 

2. The actuality of the miraculous.

 

a. Humanism sees man as the center of the universe and magnify him rather than God.

 

b. They are also evolutionary in their concept of nature and therefore they refuse to accept the miraculous.

 

c. However, we cannot view the virgin birth of Christ as a normal development.

 

d. Luke 1:37, "For with God nothing shall be impossible."

 

3. The appropriateness of His person.

 

a. Heb. 2:9-18 -- In order to redeem man, Jesus Christ had to become a man,

 

b. The virgin birth was a vital part of God's plan of redemption

 

c. The Saviour was born into this world without sin.

 

d. 2 Cor. 5:21 says that He knew no sin.

 

e. 1 Peter 2:22 says that He did no sin.

 

f. He was God's Lamb without blemish and without sport. 1 Pet. 1:19

 

g. By the miracle of the virgin birth, the eternal Son of God was united with human nature and only through this union could redemption be accomplished.

 

CONCLUSION: Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost, in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of woman. He is both the Son of God and God the Son. Reason and science would tell us that this is a biological impossibility, but the Word of God makes it clear that it had to be in order for us to have a Savior who could redeem us from Sin. Once again, I challenge you :Where is your faith?” -- in men or in God? (Luke 1:37) "For with God nothing shall be impossible."

 

REFERENCES: References used in this Bible study are the Scofield Reference Bible, the Believer’s Bible Commentary, David C. Cook Publishers Bible-in-Life, Dr. Cliff Robinson Bible Outlines, Dr. Lee Roberson’s Sermons, KJV Bible Commentary, Our Daily Bread, The Bible Reader’s Companion Ed. 3, The Nelson Study Bible: New King James Version, Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee, (Warren) Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines of the New Testament Ed. 4, (Warren) Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines of the Old Testament, With the Word Bible Commentary, and selected illustrations.

 

REV. RONALD C. PURKEY’S OFFICE

E-Mail: Ronald Purkey

 

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