Was Mary a teenager when Jesus was conceived? In the two Biblical accounts that deal with Jesus’ miraculous conception, Mary’s age is never mentioned (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-35). No clue is given as to her approximate age at that time. While some pastors, Bible teachers, and even “scholars”, claim that Mary was a teenager when Jesus was conceived, the Bible does not give Mary’s age.

“When the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law”—Galatians 4:4 NIV. Contrary to the claims that she was only teenager, the Bible says she was “a woman”. 

“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother . . . When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, ‘Woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home” (John 19:25-25 NIV). Jesus life on earth from birth to death was about 33 1/2 years. Mary obviously already widowed at the time of Jesus’ death, was likely in her 50’s, and an unlikely candidate for remarriage. That why Jesus entrusted her care to his apostle John. If Mary had only been a teenager when Jesus born, she likely would only be in her 40’s at Jesus death and would have been less likely to need  the care of the apostle John.

How much better it is to follow Bible principles, such as:

“You should learn from us not to go beyond what is written in Scripture”—1 Corinthians 4:6 GWT

Claiming that Mary was only a teenager when Jesus was conceived violates the principle to “not go beyond what is written in Scripture”.

The Bible also counsels Christians “not to teach . . . myths . . . Such things promote controversial speculations” (1 Timothy 1:3,4 NIV). 

Was Mary a teenager when Jesus was conceived? Claiming that Mary was only a teenager when Jesus was conceived, when the Bible says no such thing, is a ‘speculative myth’, and should be avoided.