Thread by @AdamRutherford

I said something stupid on the @bbcbigquestions this morning. When I mentioned that Mary’s virginity was a medieval invention, I was actually thinking of the Immaculate Conception. Mary’s perpetual virginity was much earlier, 3rdC onwards (though not Biblical). @NickyAACampbell

I was trying to be clever and as a result was actually stoopid and wrong. Mary’s virginity is stated in Matthew and Luke, but it is later that the doctrine emerges that she is a virgin before during and after the birth of Christ.

The Immaculate Conception of course is a totally different idea, that Mary herself was conceived free from Original Sin. That is a medieval dogma, but totally distinct from her perpetual virginity. Thanks to @Cal_Thinks for calling me out.

I blame Satan, who made me say it. Or Black Philip, who was on my t-shirt
#iWillGuideThyHand

I did btw actually write about the translation that rendered Mary a virgin in my earlier book A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived, as a metaphor for genetic translation.