Many Mennonites today seem to have not considered that Menno Simons had unorthodox views of Christ. Christians confess that Christ was “born of the virgin Mary.” This means, in part, that Jesus took on the human flesh from Mary his birth mother. Menno rejected this teaching. Consider the following post by Dr. R. Scott Clark:
Why is this important? Consider Heidelberg Catechism 35-36:
Q. 35. What do you confess when you say “He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary”?
A. The eternal Son of God, who is and remains true and eternal God,1 took upon Himself a true human nature from the flesh and blood of the virgin Mary2 through the working of the Holy Spirit.3 Thus He is also the true seed of David4 and like his brothers in every respect,5 yet without sin.6
1 John 1:1; 10:30-36; Rom. 1:3; 9:5; Col. 1:15-17; 1 John 5:20 2 Matt. 1:18-23; John 1:14; Gal. 4:4; Heb. 2:14 3 Luke 1:35 4 2 Sam. 7:12-16; Ps. 132:11; Matt. 1:1; Luke 1:32; Rom. 1:3 5 Phil. 2:7; Heb. 2:17 6 Heb. 4:15; 7:26-27
Q. 36. What benefit do you receive from the holy conception and birth of Christ?
A. He is our Mediator,1 and with his innocence and perfect holiness covers, in the sight of God, my sin, in which I was conceived and born.2
1 1 Tim. 2:5-6; Heb. 9:13-15 2 Rom. 8:3-4; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 4:4-5; 1 Pet. 1:18-19
Quotes from the Heidelberg Catechism are taken from Zacharias Ursinus & Jonathan Shirk, The Heidelberg Catechism (Manheim: Small Town Theologian, 2021).
