Protestants and the Virgin Mary

[minkymurph]

I decided to post this question in this thread rather than start another one as it is relevent to the topic. I have talked to many of my Protestant friends regarding their view of the Holy Trinity and I have never understood their view. I was hoping someone here may enlighten me. Do Protestants believe Jesus was God, the Incarnate Word? Do they believe he was subordinate to the Father or equal? What is their view of the hypostatic union? ie; do they believe he had both a divine and human will and a divine and human nature united in the body of Christ? I have a friend who insists Mary was the mother of Jesus, God’s son, yet believes Christ was God Incarnate which I don’t understand. Do Protestants believe Jesus ceased to be equal to God when he became man?

 

[felapton]

Hello, few questions in discussing Mary’s virginity, if someone could give me an answer…

Protestants usually argue that this verse:

‘‘Then said Mary unto the angel; "How can this be since I have no relations with a man?’’ (Luke 1:34)

…doesn’t actually include Mary’s vow of lifelong virginity, but a fact that she was espoused with Joseph, and they weren’t married. They had to be married later and Mary’s question came out because they weren’t a married couple who could make an ordinary relation:

‘‘And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.’’ (Luke 1:26-27)

How should I argue this?