Is Mary the 'Mother of God?'

In this video Gavin Ortlund articulates that calling Mary the Mother of God need not be a concern for Protestant Christians, and then clarifies what the Protestant concern actually is.

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Gavin Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) serves as senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Ojai.

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00:00 - Introduction
00:58 - Theotokos
02:38 - Karl Barth
05:43 - A "Both-And?"
08:00 - Martin Luther

Karl Barth
Martin Luther's Concern:

[TheUnknownCountry]

Any Protestants in the comment section 🙋‍♂️

[johngeverett]

As a 'catholic' of the Anglican perduasion, i find your videos refreshingly honest, well researched, and showing a compassion for Christians who may not agree with you on every detail.
God’s peace to you and your house!

[joelancon]

As a Catholic you're the only protestant I watch fairly regularly because I feel like most protestants on youtube are either not very well throught through or are total jerks, I won't name any names but you are a breath of fresh air

[SahihChristian]

She was called theotokos because of Jesus. God bless your family and ministry ❤🙏

[j.athanasius]

A fascinating fact of history is that Nestorius did not deny "Theotokos" per se, but had many of the same concerns as the Reformers:
"If any of you or any one else be simple and has a preference for the term Theotokos, then I have nothing to say against it—only do not make a goddess of the Virgin." – Nestorius of Constantinople (Loofs 1914, 32; cf. Sellers 1940, 172–3)

What Nestorius seemed to have been concerned about was implying Mary to be the source of the divine nature, but he granted that she was the mother of the human-divine person of Christ.

[notnotandrew]

I’m glad that I was far from the only one to immediately wonder as to what German word was translated as “twaddle.” I guess there’s a certain type of person that watches these videos, and I’m definitely of that type 😂

[redeemedzoomer]

I know pastor Ortlund is a fellow mainliner when he quotes Karl Barth 2:40

[pitAlexx]

"Christ is diminished by those who place their hearts more upon Mary..." I have noticed this a lot around where I am (in an Orthodox Christian country). If I were a Muslim claiming Jesus is not the Son of God, or an atheist mocking and insulting God, they would be less offended by that than me coming as a Christian and saying that we should not pray to her. It is amazing how this doctrine produces that kind of zeal for Mary when it should be for God (You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart...). Especially older women, you should see them, "Pray to the Virgin Mary, pray to her", they say to my wife as we recently had our second child. "Pray she watches over your child, pray she guards you" and all that, that simply stirs up the Spirit in me hearing such blasphemy. And when I try to argue, I need to make sure stones are not around because it doesn't matter how I put it, it always fires them up.

[geomicpri]

“Dragging Mary by the hair”. That’s a great term for some of these Marian dogmas.

[Taterstiltskin]

the problem with using that label is that there's absolutely no value in it, unless you are trying to elevate her as somehow being worthy of worship, or someone to pray to, which is of course contrary to God's word and used by the enemy to lead people astray, and if it were possible, even the elect.

so while you might make a technical case for using the label, which is purely one of semantics and has no substance, this seems a fairly harmful thing to acknowledge without a strong disclaimer, or a 12 minute explanation of why that doesn't include any of the accompanying heresies that are asserted along with it, like you've tried to do here. that's just not practical for meaningful conversations.

[lukasbeier]

As a Lutheran, thank you defending the historical catholic faith. Keep up the good work brother!

[shawnc.madden]

Nicely and well done. But, I will disagree with you, having seen the errors in person. The problem lies in even bringing Mary into the discussion. Such was not done in Scripture and it as led to far too many grievous errors, especially within Catholic circles where there the focus is Mary and not Jesus. The theological truth of the Christological discussion need not ever to include Mary, especially as such was not done in the NT.

[jordand]

Really good point about john the baptist. Really good.

[chriscarter]

Really great thoughts, Gavin! I appreciate your efforts to help navigate the tension between giving biblical figures the proper honor warranted by Scripture without straying into questionable devotions. I considered catholicism once upon a time, but as I learned the provenance of several Marian doctrines, I questioned the epistemology behind RCC teaching.

[JesusProtects]

Mother of Jesus, who is God in the flesh. But God is a spirit, spirits are not born.

No matter where people are in this subject, one thing is very clear. Mary didn't die for our sins, she can't forgive sins, she is no co redemptrix, she is not a goddess, she deserves no worship at all, only respect.

[dawsonwhite]

Gavin, I know I’ve said it before but it continues to strike me how helpful these videos are. From an inquirer into EO, constantly wrought with church anxiety, to being sure of my Protestant convictions and a newfound appreciation for church history and patristics. The Lord works through these videos, I know firsthand! 😅 thank you and praying for your ministry

[Joel-bgcf]

I don’t like the statement because it smacks of pagan thought. Anything to avoid the potential error down the road is worth disagreeing about.

[tommyapocalypse]

Mariolotry is idolotry. Plain and simple. Calling her the “mother of God” is blasphemous. Jesus never told anyone to pray to her for anything, ever. All glory goes to our God, and not to any vessel who carried His physical form for nine months. We can show respect for her, of course - but not worship, as so many misguided people do. Roman Catholicism is a false religious cult. Read your Bibles, people, and learn the truth.

[soteriology]

Doesn’t this passage disprove what you are saying?

“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭32‬-‭33‬

[clayw]

Mary was the earthly mother of Jesus. Likewise, Joseph would have been Jesus' earthly father. Mary was not the mother of Jesus the same way that our mothers are to all of us. The same would be said of Joseph as the "father." This is why the phrase "the mother of God" is misleading and inaccurate. Jesus is eternal and descended from heaven.

No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.
John 3:13

The term "God bearer" for Mary is more accurate. An uncreated God cannot have a "mother" in the normal use of the word.