I've "had doubts" (for lack of better terminology) the Virgin Conception of our Lord Jesus Christ...and haven't had the chance to talk about it much. For about five years I have studied this topic in-depth looking for answers.Christian Evidences/Challenges
Do you have intellectual challenges to the Bible or Christianity?
First, I must say that I believe Jesus is Divine and consider myself Trinitarian: I believe Christ is "the (pre-existing) Word made flesh" and the Agency of Creation.
Next, I can say that at this point for me there is nothing from the Bible that can disprove the Virgin Conception. So I suppose I am taking something like a "leap of faith" and acknowledge that this is a "Bible mystery" that I can't comprehend.
There are many angles that have been taken to this topic from the very-liberal to ultra-conservative. My approach hasn't been "liberal" in the sense that I don't think a miracle such as the Virgin Conception is possible. But a fundamental doubt I have had is: Why isn't Jesus just like me? in the sense of having a 'real' (human) mother and father. I'm aware that someone might answer, "He had to have God as his biological father so he wouldn't have Original Sin." But I don't believe in (Augustinian) Original Sin!
There is so much to talk about on this. I'll make a (non-exhaustive) list of some issues I have had re: The Virgin Conception:
1] Few verses about it. Which wouldn't be to say that a lack of more verses necessarily makes any difference.
2] Unique Greek word(s) that are never used any place else in Greek literature. I can't recall offhand how many there are but have it in my notes.
3] Mary and Joseph's and his siblings' seemingly "not knowing" that God was Jesus' 'real' (biological) father.
4] The Virgin Conception is not mentioned outside of Matthew and Luke in the NT...(which brings up other questions).
5] Luke and Matthew can be exegeted and understood (translated and interpreted) differently in a manner that takes into account first century Jewish Marriage customs and practises.
6] Very early manuscripts (in Syriac) which have Joseph as the biological father of Jesus...(and other related textual issues).
7] Matthew's quotation of Isaiah 7:14 can be interpreted differently than is "conventionally" done (and the same can be said for Luke's entire Narrative).
8] Emperors (Caesars) in the first century time frame being declared "a son of a god" (when it was known they also had two real human parents).
9] Lastly for now, the historical context of an "anti-Mary polemic" in Jewish circles in the first? and/or second centuries, ff. (Was the Virgin Conception (doctrine, in context) and other writings such as The Protoevangelion of James simply a reaction to this?).
I hope this time of year isn't a bad time to bring this up. I have the utmost respect for Mary, the Mother of Our Lord. And regardless of my doubts, I consider myself to be a "Bible-believing Christian"...but wonder if I, and the Church at large, have accurately interpreted the Scriptures!
Thanx,
Rick