Isaiah 7:14 — "Virgin or Young Woman"

Whether the Hebrew word 'almah' in Isaiah 7:14 should be translated as 'virgin' (as in the Septuagint and Matthew 1:23) or 'young woman,' and the implications for the doctrine of the virgin birth.

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Overall consensus83/100

Charismatic Movement

Charismatic Movement

Charismatic

Affirms

Affirms virgin birth; supernatural conception central to Messiah's identity

The Charismatic Movement affirms the virgin birth as presented in Isaiah 7:14 (read through the lens of Matthew's fulfillment narrative). Charismatic theology emphasizes the supernatural and miraculous character of God's work, and the virgin birth stands as a foundational miracle in the Charismatic understanding of redemptive history. The supernatural conception of Jesus is interpreted as a sign of His divine identity and the reality of God's redemptive intervention in history.

Charismatic preachers and teachers frequently cite the virgin birth alongside other miracles—healings, deliverances, and manifestations of the Spirit—as evidence of God's supernatural power and present activity. The virgin birth is understood not merely as a doctrine but as a sign of the incarnate Word's divinity and of God's willingness to act supernaturally for redemption. This emphasis aligns with Charismatic theology's stress on the Spirit's miraculous empowerment.

Key Distinctions

Almah translation:
virgin birth as sign of God's supernatural redemptive work
Prophecy fulfillment:
prediction and fulfillment framework
Marian doctrine:

Scripture References

Sources

  • Charismatic revival teachings
  • Oral Roberts University theology
  • Vineyard teaching on incarnation