Conceived by the Holy Spirit (Geneva Catechism)

Catechism of the Church of Geneva (1545)
Being a form of instruction for children in the doctrine of Christ

Conceived by the Holy Spirit

M.—What is meant by what follows?

S.—It shows the manner in which the Son was anointed by the Father to be our Saviour-namely, that having assumed our nature, he performed all things necessary to our salvation as here enumerated.

M.—What mean you by the two sentences-"Conceived of the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary ?"

S.—That he was formed in the womb of the virgin, of her substance, to be the true seed of David, as had been foretold by the Prophets, and that this was effected by the miraculous and secret agency of the Spirit without human connection. (Ps. cxxxii. 11 ; Matt. i. I ; Luke i. 32.)

M.—Was it of consequence then that he should assume our nature?

S.—Very much so; because it was necessary that the disobedience committed by man against God should be expiated also in human nature. Nor could he in any other way be our Mediator to make reconciliation between God and man. (Rom. iii. 24; 1 Tim. ii. 5; Heb. iv. 15; v. 7.)

M.—You say that Christ behoved to become man, that he might, as it were, in our person accomplish the work of salvation?

S.—So I think. For we must borrow of him whatever is wanting in ourselves: and this cannot be done in any other way.

M.—But why was that effected by the Holy Spirit, and not by the common and usual form of generation?

S.—As the seed of man is entirely corrupt, it was necessary that the operation of the Holy Spirit should interfere in the generation of the Son of God, that he might not be affected by this contagion, but endued with the most perfect purity.

M.—Hence then we learn that he who sanctifies us is free from every stain, and was possessed of purity, so to speak, from the original womb, so that he was wholly sacred to God, being unpolluted by any taint of the human race?

S.—That is my understanding.

M.—How is he our Lord?

S.—He was appointed by the Father to rule us, and having obtained the empire and dominion of God both in heaven and on earth, to be recognised as the head of angels and good men.
(Eph. i. 21 ; Col. i. 18.)