Matthew 1:18 brain teaser.

[OldWiseGuy]

What information can this verse reveal about the birth of Jesus, or, what is "The rest of the story"?

Matt 1:18

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost

 

[plmarquette]

the fulfilment of prophecy of Isaiah 9.6
proof to you , born of a virgin , named Jesus , wonderful counselor , mighty God ..

 

[stranger]

Adam too was created by the spirit [breath of God] animating the body created from the dust ... that is no less remarkable than Jesus' as manifestation of the spirit of God :-

Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

1 Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

 

[GregoryTurner]

Mary was pregnant before her and Joseph had "relations" and they were already married and after Jesus was born, they knew each other. (Had sexual relations)

Matthew 1:18-19 are interesting verses.

Mat 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Mat 1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

I like the way Chris Rock put in Dogma(which I watched long ago) but I remember some of the things that were said. Like when Chris Rock said, "to believe that two married people never got down, that's just plain gullability".

g

 

[dcyates]

Mary was pregnant before her and Joseph had "relations" and they were already married and after Jesus was born, they knew each other. (Had sexual relations)

Just one quick correction, Gregory. Mary and Joseph were not officially married to each other at the time Jesus was conceived by the Spirit. Rather they were 'betrothed' to each other; kind of like our engagement period, but far more serious. So serious that a 'divorce' was required if it was broken. Such betrothals were extensively negotiated and binding contracts signed by the village elder, which were then sealed and witnessed by the whole community. A brideprice would be paid by the family of the prospective groom with the expectation that the prospective bride's family will then eventually give her in return at the agreed upon time.

Merry Christmas!

 

[OldWiseGuy]

I was really fishing for understanding of the last part of the verse: ",she was found with child of the holy ghost."
Keyword being 'found'. What does this mean/imply?

 

[Athaliamum]

It could mean that they did an internal examine to see if she was "intact", in other words that the tokens of her virginity were still there. Or it could just be that they found out she was pregnant.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

It could mean that they did an internal examine to see if she was "intact", in other words that the tokens of her virginity were still there. Or it could just be that they found out she was pregnant.

Bullseye! The word 'found' means determination by examination. Mary was, undoubtably, examined by her parents, and perhaps Elizabeth, as well as the wife(s) of a certain priest(s) as well.

As there is no scrlptural evidence that she was still 'found' to be a virgin after the birth, I assume that she had a normal childbirth during which her hymen would have been destroyed. This alone would have ended her virginity, even though she had never had intercourse.

Regarding the holy ghost: Based on prophecy, Mary's account of the angelic visit, and the physical evidence, miraculous conception is the
logical conclusion reached by all.