So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations;
from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the
deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.
--Matthew 1.17
|
Abraham
|
David
|
Jeconiah
|
|
Isaac
|
Solomon
|
Shealtiel
|
|
Jacob
|
Rehoboam
|
Zerubbabel
|
|
Judah
|
Abijah
|
Abihud
|
|
Perez
|
Asa
|
Eliakim
|
|
Hezron
|
Jehoshaphat
|
Azor
|
|
Ram
|
Joram
|
Zadok
|
|
Amminidab
|
Uzziah
|
Achim
|
|
Nahshon
|
Jotham
|
Eliud
|
|
Salmon
|
Ahaz
|
Eleazar
|
|
Boaz
|
Hezekiah
|
Matthan
|
|
Obed
|
Manasseh
|
Jacob
|
|
Jesse
|
Amon
|
Joseph
|
|
David
|
Josiah
|
Jesus
|
NOTES:
·
Matthew is presenting a stylized genealogy. Not everyone in the line is mentioned.
·
“David” is counted twice because he is shown
special prominence in genealogy.
o Mentioned
in 1.1.
o Verse
6—“David the king.”
o Mentioned
2x’s in v. 17.
o The
numerical value of David’s name in Hebrew equals 14.
o One
of Matthew’s favorite titles for the Messiah is “the Son of David” (1.1; 9.27;
12.23; 15.22; 20.30-31; 21.9, 15; 22.42-45)
___________________________________________
Proposed Solutions to
Alleged Contradictions in Genealogies
1.
Matthew gives Joseph’s line of descent and Luke
gives Mary’s line of descent.
a.
First proposed by Annius of Viterbo (c. AD 1490)
b.
Martin Luther
c.
R. Larry Overstreet (GTJ, 1981)
2.
Matthew gives Mary’s line of descent and Luke
gives Joseph’s line of descent.
a.
Tertullian
3.
Matthew gives Joseph’s natural descent through
actual father (Jacob) and Luke gives Joseph’s legal descent through Heli after
a levirate marriage.
a.
Julius Africanus (d. AD 240)
4.
Matthew gives legal line and Luke gives Joseph’s
actual, physical descendants.
a.
Lord A. Hervey
b.
J. Gresham Machen
5.
Matthew gives line through Joseph’s mother
(maternal grandfather = Jacob) and Luke gives line through Joseph’s father.
a.
R. P. Nettelhorst (JETS, 1988)
For Further Research:
Glenn Miller’s page: http://christianthinktank.com/fabprof4.html
R. P. Nettelhorst, “The Genealogy of Jesus” JETS 31
(1988).
Available
online: http://www.etsjets.org/files/JETS- PDFs/31/31-2/31-2-pp169-172_JETS.pdf
R. Larry Overstreet, “Difficulties of New Testament
Genealogies”
(GTJ, 1981). Available online:
