Now that's my point exactly. Even if the exact phrase "Mother of God" (or more probably "Theotokos") was not used until 250 AD as far as we know, it's a restating, and a logical corollary, of what was already stated by Elizabeth, and even by the Angel Gabriel.
One can use a phrase that isn't ever used in the Holy Bible. "The Holy Bible", for instance is not found in the Bible. "My personal Savior" is never found in the Bible. "The Blessed Trinity" is never found in the Bible. These are certainly, however, Biblically based truths. Same as "Mother of God."
< The real point here is that one is a mother of a person, not of a nature. Jesus has two natures (Divine and human) but is only one Person --- a Divine Person, who existed from before all ages of ages, co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. His mother --- which is to say, the one who gave him birth --- not "gave Him existence," but "gave Him birth"--- in that stable in Bethlehem--- was Mary.
Hence she is the Theotokos, the Birth-giver, of Him who existed for all eternity before she did.
The problem isn’t so much the phrase “Mother of God,” since, even though it has no basis in the scripture, people saying it can understand it as meaning the mother of Jesus, and not of His divinity. However, the problem with the way the RCC uses it, is they, in practice, make her the mother of His deity too, and thus put the Mother on equal grounds with the son; nay, perhaps on a superior level, since she is able to save people from His wrath, who He Himself would not have saved unless she stepped in and placated His anger. Thus the RCC use the term to prop up their idolatry.
“it’s a restating, and a logical corollary, of what was already stated by Elizabeth, and even by the Angel Gabriel.”
No, it is not. E-beth called her mother of my Lord (messiah). Not Mother of God. Nor does God describe her that way. Only as Mary, mother of Jesus.
“One can use a phrase that isn’t ever used in the Holy Bible. “The Holy Bible”, for instance is not found in the Bible. “My personal Savior” is never found in the Bible. “The Blessed Trinity” is never found in the Bible.”
Each example is a phrase to describe a truth found in the Bible. Mother of God is not found in the bible.
If God Himself did not call her that title in any inspired writings. Two hundred and fifty years later, as additional non-Biblical teachings began to be accepted, this title found traction.