The Immaculate Conception is a Catholic dogma that many Protestants have a hard time accepting. They claim it shouldn’t be believed because it’s not found in Scripture. But is this true? Karlo Broussard gives the answer.
Transcript:
The Immaculate Conception is a Catholic dogma that many Protestants have a hard time accepting. They claim it shouldn’t be believed because it’s not found in Scripture.
Even though we as Catholics don’t believe every Christian belief must be found explicitly in Scripture, I do think we can provide a biblical basis for the dogma, which can be helpful for our Protestant friends.
Recall how in Genesis 3:15, after the fall, God promised to set enmity (total opposition or separation) between “the woman” and Satan, between the woman’s seed and Satan’s seed. Now, if the woman is separated from Satan and is not of his seed, then that means she’s free from Satan’s dominion—that’s to say, she’s not tainted by sin in any way.
Moreover, “woman” seems to be a title for Eve in her pre-fall state, as is the case in Genesis 2:23. She isn’t called Eve until after the fall in Genesis 3:20. The “woman” God speaks of is a new Eve like the first Eve before the fall—without the stain of original sin.
Now, “Who’s this woman?” Well, God tells us the seed of this new woman, which is a hint to the woman being a virgin, is going to crush the head of Satan and that Satan would bruise his heel.
So, we have a virgin, giving birth to a male child who will defeat Satan but will suffer in the process. My friends, this new woman (or New Eve) is Mary.
Just like the first woman was created without original sin, so to the new woman, Mary, was created without original sin—that is to say, immaculately conceived.
If you want to learn more about this topic and others like it, visit our website at catholic.com.
For Catholic Answers, I’m Karlo Broussard. Thanks for watching.