The birth of Jesus is one of the most important events in the history of Christianity. It is celebrated each year around the world as the Christmas holiday. But how old was Mary when she gave birth to Jesus? In this article, we will explore the Biblical narrative in order to answer this question.
Mary’s Age at the Birth of Jesus
The Bible does not provide a definitive answer to this question, but it does provide some clues. According to the Gospel of Luke, Mary was a young woman of approximately 14 or 15 years of age when she gave birth to Jesus. This is based on the account of Mary’s visit to the temple when she was betrothed to Joseph, where she was said to be "a virgin of the house of David, of the tribe of Judah."
Examining the Biblical Narrative
The Bible also provides some additional clues as to Mary’s age at the time of Jesus’ birth. For instance, it is widely believed that Mary was approximately three months pregnant when she visited the temple. This would mean that she was most likely around 15 at the time of her visit.
In addition, the Bible states that Mary and Joseph were both from Nazareth, a small town in Judea. According to Jewish custom, young women were typically married by the age of 14 or 15. This would mean that Mary was likely in her mid-teens when she gave birth to Jesus.
Finally, the Bible states that Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem for the census, which was most likely conducted when Mary was between three and four months pregnant. This would mean that she was likely around 15 or 16 years old at the time of Jesus’ birth.
In conclusion, while the Bible does not provide a definitive answer as to Mary’s age when she gave birth to Jesus, it does provide some clues. Based on the Biblical narrative, it is likely that Mary was approximately 14 or 15 years old when she gave birth to Jesus.
