How does Dr. Thiering explain the virgin birth story in the Gospels?
Dr. Thiering explains the virgin birth story as written at the level of a miracle, for those for whom a virginal conception had symbolic power. She holds the Gospels have two levels: a miracle level for those who need such things to believe, and a hidden reality she pulls from the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Les explains that Dr. Thiering, a scholar at the University of Sydney committed to studying the Dead Sea Scrolls, believes the Gospels were written on two levels. One level is for ordinary people who do not know better and need miracles to enhance their belief. The other level is the reality that only she can pull out of the Dead Sea Scrolls. She also concludes that the Qumran teacher of righteousness is John the Baptist, and his opponent—the wicked priest conflated with the man of the lie—is Jesus. Regarding the virgin birth, she says it is written at the level of a miracle for those for whom the idea of a virginal conception had symbolic power. Les notes this is from a book review, not the view of Biblical Archaeology Review, which disagrees with it.