The Significance of the Virgin Birth in the Christmas Story

The virgin birth marks the beginning of the Christmas story with the announcement to Mary that she will be the mother of the son of God. It is a fulfillment of a prophecy in the book of Isaiah which states a virgin shall conceive. Both Matthew and Luke offer explanations for why Jesus had to be born of a virgin, with Matthew traditionally believed to be earlier. These accounts were written around 85-90 years after the event by individuals who did not witness it directly.