### 35. Q. What does it mean that he “was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary”?

**A**. That the eternal Son of God, who is and remains true and eternal God,<sup>1</sup> took to himself, through the working of the Holy Spirit,<sup>2</sup> from the flesh and blood of the virgin Mary,<sup>3</sup> a true human nature so that he might also become David’s true descendant,<sup>4</sup> like his brothers in all things<sup>5</sup> except for sin.<sup>6</sup>

<sup>1</sup> [John 1:1](/get-passage/John+1); [10:30-36](/get-passage/John+10:30-36); [Acts 13:33](/get-passage/Acts+13:33) ([Ps. 2:7](/get-passage/Psalms+2:7)); [Col. 1:15-17](/get-passage/Colossians+1:15-17); [1 John 5:20](/get-passage/1+John+5:20)
<sup>2</sup> [Luke 1:35](/get-passage/Luke+1:35)
<sup>3</sup> [Matt. 1:18-23](/get-passage/Matthew+1:18-23); [John 1:14](/get-passage/John+1:14); [Gal. 4:4](/get-passage/Galatians+4:4); [Heb. 2:14](/get-passage/Hebrews+2:14)
<sup>4</sup> [2 Sam. 7:12-16](/get-passage/2+Samuel+7:12-16); [Ps. 132:11](/get-passage/Psalms+132:11); [Matt. 1:1](/get-passage/Matthew+1:1); [Rom. 1:3](/get-passage/Romans+1:3)
<sup>5</sup> [Phil. 2:7](/get-passage/Philippians+2:7); [Heb. 2:17](/get-passage/Hebrews+2:17)
<sup>6</sup> [Heb. 4:15](/get-passage/Hebrews+4:15); [7:26-27](/get-passage/Hebrews+7:26-27)