The Virgin Birth of Christ - Richard Shenk

Richard Shenk encourages us to understand the rich theological treasure that the virgin birth of Christ is for us, and to live out its significance in joy and practice.

In this book Richard Shenk takes a fresh look at the doctrine of the virgin birth.

So often this doctrine is used as a marker to divide or categorize Christians (do we believe in the virgin birth?) rather than being appreciated and understood for its own sake.

Building on the belief that the biblical authors wrote for a purpose and with the intention of producing effects in their readers (doctrine leads to action), Shenk surveys historic interpretations and understandings of the virgin birth, trying to find out what the biblical authors intended for us, as readers of the virgin-birth narratives today.

Dismissing two interpretations which he believes to be insufficiently grounded in Scripture, Shenk suggests eight other possible meanings of this doctrine, each of which has rich significance and can lead us to rejoice in our virgin-born Saviour.