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Conceived by the Holy Spirit: The Virgin Birth in Scripture and Theology
The New Testament clearly teaches that Jesus was miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of a Jewish virgin named Mary.
This doctrine is often dismissed by modern scholars, who, at best, see it is a misunderstood parable, and at worst see it as a fabrication on the part of the biblical evangelists. However, for orthodox Christians around the world, this doctrine is integrally linked to our understanding of God, his Word, and the incarnation of Jesus.
In Conceived by the Holy The Virgin Birth in Scripture and Theology , Rhyne Putman defends the authenticity and significance of the virgin birth of Christ through a meticulous examination of biblical texts and historical context. He addresses both traditional and contemporary objections to the doctrine of the virgin birth, providing robust answers rooted in Scripture and reason.
The virgin birth transcends mere parable; it stands as a testament to the profound union of God and humanity. In this work, Rhyne Putnam demonstrates not only the truth of the virgin birth, but also its necessity for orthodox theology and its implications for Christian life.
This doctrine is often dismissed by modern scholars, who, at best, see it is a misunderstood parable, and at worst see it as a fabrication on the part of the biblical evangelists. However, for orthodox Christians around the world, this doctrine is integrally linked to our understanding of God, his Word, and the incarnation of Jesus.
In Conceived by the Holy The Virgin Birth in Scripture and Theology , Rhyne Putman defends the authenticity and significance of the virgin birth of Christ through a meticulous examination of biblical texts and historical context. He addresses both traditional and contemporary objections to the doctrine of the virgin birth, providing robust answers rooted in Scripture and reason.
The virgin birth transcends mere parable; it stands as a testament to the profound union of God and humanity. In this work, Rhyne Putnam demonstrates not only the truth of the virgin birth, but also its necessity for orthodox theology and its implications for Christian life.
432 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 25, 2024
Rhyne Putman has given us a true gift in this book. It’s certainly academic, but incredibly accessible even for laymen. It’s not a high-brow approach, but rather one that seeks to lead its readers to worship the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Highly recommended.
October 28, 2024
This is a superb book. It is straightforward enough for the lay reader but rich enough for the theologian.
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December 1, 2025Good overview of the topic of the virgin birth.
Organized as the subtitle suggests. The first section works as a commentary on the birth narrative passages from Matthew and Luke. The second section tries to chard the theological development of the doctrine and its theological significance.
I found the first section more useful than the second. Putman does a great job of interacting with the relevant passages, putting them into both literary and historical context. I will probably use these sections for reference every Christmas season so long as I work in pastoral ministry. I found myself a little frustrated with the second section. First, I would have liked to see more on the development of the doctrine. This element struck me as rushed and a little short-changed. On theological significance, I found Putman delivers too many platitudes. I know they are hard to avoid, because this subject is a little shopworn, but still.
Overall, this serves as a nice overview of the topic with helpful commentary.
Organized as the subtitle suggests. The first section works as a commentary on the birth narrative passages from Matthew and Luke. The second section tries to chard the theological development of the doctrine and its theological significance.
I found the first section more useful than the second. Putman does a great job of interacting with the relevant passages, putting them into both literary and historical context. I will probably use these sections for reference every Christmas season so long as I work in pastoral ministry. I found myself a little frustrated with the second section. First, I would have liked to see more on the development of the doctrine. This element struck me as rushed and a little short-changed. On theological significance, I found Putman delivers too many platitudes. I know they are hard to avoid, because this subject is a little shopworn, but still.
Overall, this serves as a nice overview of the topic with helpful commentary.
February 14, 2025
Summary: A study of the nativity narratives offering a defense of the virgin birth and considering its significance.
“Conceived by the Holy Spirit.” Some of us speak this phrase every week, or even every day. It is part of the Apostles Creed, one of the early creeds of the church. It is a confession to the supernatural conception of Jesus in the womb of Mary apart from sexual relations with a man. There has always been skepticism surrounding this idea. Babies just don’t happen that way. Yet Christians regularly confess that it did happen this way on one occasion.
Rhyne R. Putnam has given a wonderful gift to pastors preaching the nativity passages and to all of us who wonder about these things. This book explores the nativity passages in Matthew and Luke, defending the doctrine of the virgin birth, conceived by the Holy Spirit and considers the importance and significance of this doctrine. In the book, he takes small portions of the narratives and draws out the significance of the textual material.
He begins with Luke’s introduction and notes the Marian perspective of the early narratives evident in the following:
Only Mary would know whether she had never been sexually involved with a man.
Only Mary would have knowledge of a private visitation from Gabriel.
If Mary spent three months with her cousin Elizabeth, she would have been very familiar with the circumstances surrounding John’s birth.
Although Mary was not present with the shepherds when the angels visited them, Luke explicitly tells us that the shepherds “reported the message they were told about this child” to Mary and Joseph (Luke 2:17).
She was present when Simeon and Anna blessed the child in the temple.
Like any other parent, Mary would remember the time when her son went missing in a large city (p. 22)).
While these don’t “prove” the virgin birth, the likelihood that Luke’s account was based on the witness of the one in the best position to know about these things is not to be lightly disregarded. Along the way, Putnam also offers sidebar discussions of objections posed such as the origins of the virgin birth in pagan theology. He shows how the miraculous conceptions in the Old Testament (and that of Elizabeth) anticipate this event.
Not only does he defend the virgin birth, he unpacks the theological significance of this event. God keeps his covenant promises. We listen to Mary’s glorious Magnificat and realize we are even more blessed. The accounts reveal the babe as Savior, King, God with us, God’s Anointed One. He was born under the law, and from his circumcision and dedication onward, met all its requirements for all of us who don’t. And he is the King manifested to the nations in the visit of the Magi. For example, Putnam writes:
“In the case of the magi, something wonderful and unusual was happening. These men of a higher station–potentially emissaries from an eastern king–were lying prostrate in a humble Jewish home before a small child, revering him as a king unlike any other. More remarkable still, God had called these pagan men from a faraway land to worship at the feet of his Son. What Matthew depicts in this humble, earthly scene mimics the future heavenly scene where ‘a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number’ stand around the throne and sing praises to God and to the Lamb (Rev 7:9) (p.181).
Putnam’s writing is at once theologically and devotionally rich. This extends to the second part of the work which considers “The Virgin-Born King in Christian Theology and Practice.” Putnam discusses briefly and concisely the Christological debates of the early church. In concluding, he argues that they “saved Christmas.” Then he discusses how Jesus is both God and Man in One Person, and how it is fitting to call Mary theotokos (the God bearer). Appendices offer a harmonization of the accounts and an irenic discussion of the author’s differences with Marian dogma in the Catholic Church.
I especially liked the chapter on the “fittingness” of the virgin birth. Firstly, it is a sign we are saved by God’s grace alone. Secondly, it demonstrates that divine revelation is solely God’s initiative. Thirdly, it is a sign of Jesus uniqueness as the natural, only begotten Son of God. Fourthly, it is a sign of Christ’s supremacy. Finally, it is a fitting sign of Christ’s pre-existence. Rich stuff!
I wish I could have read this during Advent! As I’ve noted, Putnam does more then defend and expound the virgin birth. He leads us into the blessedness of these truths. Thus, our response becomes “O Come Let Us Adore Him!” I’d encourage you to pick up a copy to have it on hand for Advent reading next year. And pastors, get a copy to enrich your thought and preparation for next Advent and Christmastide. Apologists will benefit from the defense of the virgin birth. I’m glad to add this to my library!
_____________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
“Conceived by the Holy Spirit.” Some of us speak this phrase every week, or even every day. It is part of the Apostles Creed, one of the early creeds of the church. It is a confession to the supernatural conception of Jesus in the womb of Mary apart from sexual relations with a man. There has always been skepticism surrounding this idea. Babies just don’t happen that way. Yet Christians regularly confess that it did happen this way on one occasion.
Rhyne R. Putnam has given a wonderful gift to pastors preaching the nativity passages and to all of us who wonder about these things. This book explores the nativity passages in Matthew and Luke, defending the doctrine of the virgin birth, conceived by the Holy Spirit and considers the importance and significance of this doctrine. In the book, he takes small portions of the narratives and draws out the significance of the textual material.
He begins with Luke’s introduction and notes the Marian perspective of the early narratives evident in the following:
Only Mary would know whether she had never been sexually involved with a man.
Only Mary would have knowledge of a private visitation from Gabriel.
If Mary spent three months with her cousin Elizabeth, she would have been very familiar with the circumstances surrounding John’s birth.
Although Mary was not present with the shepherds when the angels visited them, Luke explicitly tells us that the shepherds “reported the message they were told about this child” to Mary and Joseph (Luke 2:17).
She was present when Simeon and Anna blessed the child in the temple.
Like any other parent, Mary would remember the time when her son went missing in a large city (p. 22)).
While these don’t “prove” the virgin birth, the likelihood that Luke’s account was based on the witness of the one in the best position to know about these things is not to be lightly disregarded. Along the way, Putnam also offers sidebar discussions of objections posed such as the origins of the virgin birth in pagan theology. He shows how the miraculous conceptions in the Old Testament (and that of Elizabeth) anticipate this event.
Not only does he defend the virgin birth, he unpacks the theological significance of this event. God keeps his covenant promises. We listen to Mary’s glorious Magnificat and realize we are even more blessed. The accounts reveal the babe as Savior, King, God with us, God’s Anointed One. He was born under the law, and from his circumcision and dedication onward, met all its requirements for all of us who don’t. And he is the King manifested to the nations in the visit of the Magi. For example, Putnam writes:
“In the case of the magi, something wonderful and unusual was happening. These men of a higher station–potentially emissaries from an eastern king–were lying prostrate in a humble Jewish home before a small child, revering him as a king unlike any other. More remarkable still, God had called these pagan men from a faraway land to worship at the feet of his Son. What Matthew depicts in this humble, earthly scene mimics the future heavenly scene where ‘a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number’ stand around the throne and sing praises to God and to the Lamb (Rev 7:9) (p.181).
Putnam’s writing is at once theologically and devotionally rich. This extends to the second part of the work which considers “The Virgin-Born King in Christian Theology and Practice.” Putnam discusses briefly and concisely the Christological debates of the early church. In concluding, he argues that they “saved Christmas.” Then he discusses how Jesus is both God and Man in One Person, and how it is fitting to call Mary theotokos (the God bearer). Appendices offer a harmonization of the accounts and an irenic discussion of the author’s differences with Marian dogma in the Catholic Church.
I especially liked the chapter on the “fittingness” of the virgin birth. Firstly, it is a sign we are saved by God’s grace alone. Secondly, it demonstrates that divine revelation is solely God’s initiative. Thirdly, it is a sign of Jesus uniqueness as the natural, only begotten Son of God. Fourthly, it is a sign of Christ’s supremacy. Finally, it is a fitting sign of Christ’s pre-existence. Rich stuff!
I wish I could have read this during Advent! As I’ve noted, Putnam does more then defend and expound the virgin birth. He leads us into the blessedness of these truths. Thus, our response becomes “O Come Let Us Adore Him!” I’d encourage you to pick up a copy to have it on hand for Advent reading next year. And pastors, get a copy to enrich your thought and preparation for next Advent and Christmastide. Apologists will benefit from the defense of the virgin birth. I’m glad to add this to my library!
_____________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
December 11, 2024
In Conceived by the Holy Spirit, Rhyne R. Putman offers a thoughtful and thorough study of the virgin conception as both a theological concept and a biblical event. This book explores the significance of the virgin birth in Scripture, presenting it not as a theological abstraction but as a vital part of the narrative of Christ’s coming.
Family and Honor
One of the most memorable sections of the book focuses on the genealogy of Jesus, where Putman highlights the unexpected women in his lineage. This chapter left me in awe as I saw how the Son brings honor to his chosen family. It serves as a poignant reminder of God’s redemptive plan throughout history, one that involves the most unexpected and marginalized people.
Putman presents Jesus as not just a son, but as a superior son and savior, the King and the serpent-crusher foretold in Scripture. His exploration of Mary and Joseph’s roles is both faithful and refreshing, providing a deeper understanding of their story and their obedience to God’s plan. The book also explores the significance of the shepherds, the humble birthplace of Jesus, and the theological meaning embedded in these details. Despite its deep theological nature, Putman writes in a way that is engaging and exciting.
The Exodus and Deliverance
I was particularly moved by how Putman connects the birth of Jesus with the Exodus story, illustrating how his coming embodies God’s deliverance for his people. Additionally, Putman explores how Jesus’ growth as a child reveals the path of spiritual maturation for all believers. The entire book is insightful and interesting.
The book also includes helpful sections addressing common objections. Putman deals with challenges such as reconciling the genealogies in Matthew and Luke, as well as the argument that the virgin conception is merely a metaphor. His answers are strong and direct.
Supernatural and Miraculous
As I read this book just before Christmas, I found myself wanting to revisit it year after year. The theological truths within are not only beautiful and profound, but they also deepen my worship of Christ. In a world where many are deconstructing their faith, Conceived by the Holy Spirit offers a courageous and compelling defense of a cornerstone of Christian belief. It is helpful and hopeful.
By the end of the book, I found myself marveling not only at the supernatural birth of Christ, but also at the miracle of my own spiritual rebirth. This book has reignited my excitement for the wonder of the Christmas season and has deepened my anticipation to celebrate the birth of my Savior.
I received a media copy of Conceived by the Holy Spirit and this is my honest review.
Family and Honor
One of the most memorable sections of the book focuses on the genealogy of Jesus, where Putman highlights the unexpected women in his lineage. This chapter left me in awe as I saw how the Son brings honor to his chosen family. It serves as a poignant reminder of God’s redemptive plan throughout history, one that involves the most unexpected and marginalized people.
Putman presents Jesus as not just a son, but as a superior son and savior, the King and the serpent-crusher foretold in Scripture. His exploration of Mary and Joseph’s roles is both faithful and refreshing, providing a deeper understanding of their story and their obedience to God’s plan. The book also explores the significance of the shepherds, the humble birthplace of Jesus, and the theological meaning embedded in these details. Despite its deep theological nature, Putman writes in a way that is engaging and exciting.
The Exodus and Deliverance
I was particularly moved by how Putman connects the birth of Jesus with the Exodus story, illustrating how his coming embodies God’s deliverance for his people. Additionally, Putman explores how Jesus’ growth as a child reveals the path of spiritual maturation for all believers. The entire book is insightful and interesting.
The book also includes helpful sections addressing common objections. Putman deals with challenges such as reconciling the genealogies in Matthew and Luke, as well as the argument that the virgin conception is merely a metaphor. His answers are strong and direct.
Supernatural and Miraculous
As I read this book just before Christmas, I found myself wanting to revisit it year after year. The theological truths within are not only beautiful and profound, but they also deepen my worship of Christ. In a world where many are deconstructing their faith, Conceived by the Holy Spirit offers a courageous and compelling defense of a cornerstone of Christian belief. It is helpful and hopeful.
By the end of the book, I found myself marveling not only at the supernatural birth of Christ, but also at the miracle of my own spiritual rebirth. This book has reignited my excitement for the wonder of the Christmas season and has deepened my anticipation to celebrate the birth of my Savior.
I received a media copy of Conceived by the Holy Spirit and this is my honest review.
December 9, 2024
Conceived by the Holy Spirit is a great work on the importance of the virgin birth of Jesus. The first half of the book is walking through the biblical witness to this theological fact and connecting all the dots with the Old Testament. That walk through is alone worth reading the book. The second half is the theological debates that the virgin birth plays into, such as the hypostatcic union and the natures of Jesus Christ. I read this book in preparation for a Christmas sermon series and it was well worth it.
December 6, 2025
This book offers an exceptionally thorough examination of the doctrine of the Virgin Birth, carefully tracing its development and addressing the vast majority of questions and objections raised on the topic. The second part, which delves into theological and historical material, is quite dense; nevertheless, the author makes a commendable effort to remain accessible to ordinary readers. Overall, it is a perfect companion for reading during the Christmas season.
December 26, 2025
This is a phenomenal advent reading that takes the Incarnation and looks at it from its various angles. Not only in explanation, implication, but also in application for us as believers, this book opens our eyes to see the glory of newborn King, Christ, the Lord. If you want to take a deeper and devotional look at the Incarnation, I would encourage you to add this to your reading list.
January 8, 2026
Overall, disappointed with this book. The appendix addressing Marian dogmas was poorly argued.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews