Posted by blue on June 04, 1998 at 00:40:14:
The gospels of Luke and Matthew give two genealogies for Jesus. The reason for this, and an argument from an rpcman link against this reason, is:
A) Luke records the lineage of Mary, and Matthew that of Joseph.
Answer: The problem is that both geneaologies explicitly end with Joseph. Further, Jewish genealogies were always traced via the paternal line. There is nothing in either text to warrant such a conclusion.
Blue's response to "Answer:"
Luke inserts Joseph's name into Luke 3:23 because Joseph was the legal father of Jesus. The precedent for this is in Numbers 27:1-11 and Numbers 36:1-12. Such a substitution was prescribed by Jewish law.
While it is true that Jewish genealogies were traced via the paternal line, Luke takes great pains to point out that Joseph was the "supposed" father of Jesus. Luke gave us his blood-line as a physical descendant of David. As a doctor Luke paid particular attention to details of Jesus' birth.
Another complaint is Luke 1:36, which says that Elisabeth, a decendant of Aaron, is Mary's "cousin" in the KJV. While it may be that Elisabeth was Mary's cousin on Mary's mother's side, the word "cousin" is translated "relative" by the newer texts, and can mean aunt, cousin, or even a relation by marriage, not genetic.
Another complaint is the repetition of the father-son pair Shealtiel, Zerubbabel in both lists. These must refer to four individuals. It is likely that the later Shealtiel new of the first, and named his son to match, akin to the popularity of names of various celebrities in our day. The name Zechariah refers to two separate men in the O.T. causing confusion to some as well. Many names were, of course, repeated throughout history, especially the history of a people so infatuated with genealogy.
Have I missed anything?
Incidentally:
Theologians have long noted that, according to Jeremiah 22:28-30, no descendent in Solomon's line could again be king. Jesus avoided this curse by getting the legal right to the throne from Joseph, not a blood relative, and the blood right as son of David from Mary. While no other combination could have worked, this amazing solution is never mentioned within scripture. Little details like this make the Bible a treasure to study.
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