“Born of a Woman”
It is one of those “duh” statements. Paul is writing to the churches in Galatia and reaching something of a crescendo, when suddenly, speaking about the advent of Christ into the world, he tells them that Christ was “born of a woman” (Galatians 4:4). Without meaning to be irreverent, I am tempted to ask, “How else would he come?” One answer is that he could have come in the manner of the “appearances” (theophanies is the technical word for them) of the “angel of the Lord” during the time of Patriarchs (e.g., Genesis 16:7-14; 22:11-15; Exodus 3:2-4). It is possible that he might have come (as some indeed suggested) as a specter (British spelling is “spectre”) or ghost-like figure (see John’s denouncement of such a view in 1 John 4:2-3). Indeed, a heresy ensued called “Docetism” in the second century insisting that Christ's body was not human but either a phantasm or a “celestial substance,” and that therefore his sufferings were only apparent.
So, why did Paul write, “born of a woman”? It is possible that this is a veiled reference to the Virgin birth, otherwise a doctrine that Paul never mentions. But my own opinion is that Paul is alluding to the promise made in Eden that the Messiah would be of the “seed of the woman” (Genesis 3:15). As we saw last week in this column, Jesus is the “Last Adam” or “Second Man” (1 Corinthians 15: 45, 47).
God’s promises are unbreakable. When he tells us that he intends to do something, he follows through. The path from Genesis to the stall in Bethlehem is strewn with difficulties threatening the promise at every level: wars, enemies, betrayal, disappointment, and so much more. All ominously suggesting the unravelling of God’s plan. But on that first Christmas evening, as angels appeared on Bethlehem’s hillside, Mary gave birth to a son. And they called his name “Jesus” (cf. Luke 1:31). He was, is, the world’s Savior—the one and only mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5). Trusting him alone for salvation is what Christmas beckons us to do. Have you?
Dr. Derek W.H. Thomas
Senior Minister
