This is a serious topic of discussion. As believers we know how important the truth is. For this reason, I've actually been studying on my own the clear facts surrounding the virgin birth doctrine. I do not intend to deny the divinity of Christ. Neither do I think it is a cause of denying His divine nature. It's just that I can see where there are some big questions, and many unfounded answers.
1. Why didn't any of the other NT books apart from Matthew & Luke record that Jesus was born of a virgin? On the contrary, many of Paul's writings affirm the humanity of Jesus.
1 Tim 2:5
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
(KJV)
Rom 1:3
Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
(KJV)
2. Why is the geneology of Joseph recorded in the book of Matthew? The bloodline cannot be passed to a son by an adoptive father. It's an impossibility.
Matt 1:1-16
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
(KJV)
3. Why did Jesus call himself son of man?
Son 5207 huios (hwee-os');
apparently a primary word; a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship:
of 3588 ho (ho);
including the feminine he (hay); and the neuter to (to); in all their inflections; the def. article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):
Man 444 anthropos (anth'-ro-pos);
from 435 and ops (the countenance; from 3700); man-faced, i.e. a human being:
Mtt 8:20, Mtt 9:6, Mtt 10:26, Mtt 11:19, Mtt 12:8, Mtt 12:32, Mtt 13:37, Mtt 16:13, Mrk 2:18, Mrk 8:31, Mrk 9:9, Mrk 10:33, Lk 7:34, Lk 9:22, Joh 1:51, Joh 6:53, Acts 7:56, Rev 1:13, etc.
4. If Jesus' birth was a fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14, why wasn't Jesus named Immanuel?
Isa 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
(KJV)
Matt 1:21
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
(KJV)
5. Did Jesus eat butter and honey?
Isa 7:15
Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.
(KJV)
Matt 11:19
The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
(KJV)
6. Before Jesus learned to refuse evil and choose the good was the land forsaken of both her kings?
Isa 7:16
For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.
(KJV)
7. If there was dual-fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14, wouldn't this mean a virgin has conceived before?
It is interesting to note that many scholars propose Immanuel is actually the name of Isaiah's son.
If the Hebrews of Jesus' time knew that Isaiah had prophesied the Messiah would be born of virgin conception, Jesus' miraculous birth would have been publicly known and acknowledged.
John 1:45
Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
(KJV)
(01-08-2009 01:37 PM)sheep wrecked Wrote: [ -> ] (01-08-2009 11:59 AM)strefanash Wrote: [ -> ]I think the onus is on them who claim that the texts are corrupted. Let them produce documentary evidence that this is so. If they appeal to the truth of their own doctrine so assert that they MUST be corrupted, they are arguing in a circle, the fallacy of petittio principii, or begging the question.
I also imagine that they would claim that the original texts were not corrupted, but that the ones we have are corrupted, (is that what you mean?) with doctrines as to the divinity of christ being the corrupted additions. Again I say let them prove this by documentary evidence. Let them produce the incorrupt original and even if they can let them prove that it is either incorrupt or an original without arguing in a logical circle
They have definitely tried to obfuscate the translation issues. As we no longer have the "originals" then on what do they base an "incorrect" translation? Seems circular reasoning to me as well :excited:
We also have the issue of the preserved Word. Either God failed or lied .......
Psa 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Psa 12:7 You shall keep them, O LORD, you shall preserve them from this generation for ever
What we have with the "virgin" issue is a disagreement with the word used in Isaiah 7:14. So, either those who want to debunk the virgin birth say that almah does not mean virgin or that the text was corrupted. There is all kinds of trashing of the Scriptures these days ........ 
Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin [H5959 - alma] shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Then ....... to compound the error, they attack Matthew who stated through the angel that Mary was fulfilling that prophecy. This is why the NT is slashed and dashed by many, and in the Hebrew Roots movement as well, making Jesus Christ, "just a man". 
Amazing how one little word can cause a dominio effect, huh? 