Footnote 3 – The Favored One

To be sure, Mary’s designation as a virgin, parthenos (Matthew 1:23, citing Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:27), contributed to her characterization. But see J. Edward Barrett, “Can Scholars Take the Virgin Birth Seriously?” BR 04:05; and James E. Crouch, “How Early Christians Viewed the Birth of Jesus,” BR 07:05.