Was Jesus born of a virgin? Why do the infancy narratives of Matthew and Luke contradict one another? Is there historical evidence that the first two chapters of Matthew and Luke were added after the original Gospels were written? Why did the early Jewish Christians reject the virgin birth narrative and say that Jesus was born of natural union between a man and a woman? There is a record indicating that Jesus’ own relatives described him as the son of Joseph’s brother, according to Levirate marriage. Is it reliable? Why did early Christians, like Clement of Alexandria, say that Luke wrote the adoptionist text Jason and Papiscus? Is the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 accurately applied to Jesus’ birth in Matthew 1:23? These issues and more are addressed in this small book, bringing the reader to the undeniable conclusion that Jesus was not born of a virgin. Contradictory Infancy Narratives. 7 The Genealogies Pertain to Joseph. 11 Julius Africanus. 15 Son of Man. 25 Symmachus, the Expert Witness. 31
The Authentic Gospel of Matthew . 35 Trypho’s Gospel, Justin’s Memoirs. 39 Origin of the Matthew Infancy. 55 Basilides’ Claim to Matthias/Matthew 65 Luke, Without an Infancy Narrative. 69 Luke’s First Infancy Narrative. 73
Luke, that Ebionite Adoptionist? . 77 The Adoptionists Lose. 85 Aristides of Athens. 91 Misapplied Prophecy. 95 Concluding Remarks. 103