{
  "id": "dict_000661",
  "term": "Birth of Christ",
  "slug": "birth-of-christ",
  "letter": "B",
  "entry_type": "theological_term",
  "entry_family": "theological_term",
  "depth_profile": "standard",
  "short_definition": "The birth of Christ is the historical coming of Jesus into the world through the virgin Mary, as recorded in the Gospels. It marks the incarnation of the eternal Son of God in true humanity.",
  "simple_one_line": "",
  "tooltip_text": "",
  "aliases": [],
  "scripture_references": [],
  "original_language_terms": [],
  "related_entries": [],
  "see_also": [],
  "lede_intro": "",
  "at_a_glance_definition": "",
  "at_a_glance_key_points": [],
  "description_academic_short": "The birth of Christ refers to Jesus’ human birth to the virgin Mary in fulfillment of God’s saving plan. Scripture presents this event as both historical and miraculous: Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born as a true man without ceasing to be the eternal Son of God. The church therefore treats Christ’s birth as a foundational part of the doctrine of the incarnation.",
  "description_academic_full": "The birth of Christ is the biblical event in which Jesus the Messiah was born to the virgin Mary, entering human history as the promised Savior. The Gospel accounts present His birth as a real historical birth and also as a unique act of God, since Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. In orthodox Christian belief, this means that the one born in Bethlehem is fully human and fully divine: He did not begin to exist at His birth, but the eternal Son took to Himself a true human nature. The birth narratives also connect His coming with Old Testament promise, Davidic kingship, and God’s purpose to save His people. While the Gospel writers emphasize different details, together they bear witness to the same central truth that in the birth of Jesus, God the Son came into the world in humility for our salvation.",
  "background_biblical_context": "",
  "background_historical_context": "",
  "background_jewish_ancient_context": "",
  "key_texts_primary": [],
  "key_texts_secondary": [],
  "original_language_note": "",
  "theological_significance": "",
  "philosophical_explanation": "",
  "interpretive_cautions": "",
  "major_views_note": "",
  "doctrinal_boundaries": "",
  "practical_significance": "",
  "meta_description": "The birth of Christ is the historical coming of Jesus into the world through the virgin Mary, as recorded in the Gospels. It marks the incarnation of the eternal Son of God in true humanity.",
  "public_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/birth-of-christ/",
  "json_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/data/dictionary/birth-of-christ.json",
  "final_disposition": "PUBLISH_CANONICAL"
}