The Genealogy Of Jesus Christ

 

 

The Gospels are very specific regarding the genealogy of Jesus Christ.  Each of the four Gospels relates the life of Jesus Christ from a different perspective. 

 

a. The Gospel of Matthew tells the story of Jesus Christ the King.  The genealogy in Matthew shows Jesus Christ’s royal lineage from Abraham and David (the King) through his mother Mary. 

 

b. The Gospel of Mark tells the story of Jesus Christ the servant.  Neither the genealogy nor the birth of a servant is recorded or mentioned in the Gospel of Mark.  The record of Mark begins with Jesus Christ as a grown man. 

 

c. The Gospel of Luke tells the story of Jesus Christ as a human being.  The genealogy recorded in Luke is through Joseph’s side - his adoptive father.

 

d. The Gospel of John tells the story of Jesus Christ as the son of God.  Again, there is no human genealogy or childhood recorded in John.

 

In conclusion, there are two (2) Gospels that discuss the human genealogy of Jesus Christ:  Matthew and Luke.

 

 

The Gospel According to Matthew:

 

The first chapter of Matthew outlines Jesus Christ’s royal lineage via the House of David, who was the King.  Mary had to be a direct descendant of David, or Jesus Christ’s claim to the throne of Israel would be void as far as legalities are concerned.  Matthew 1: 16 of the King James version, and many other versions, contain a serious mistranslation that deceive many readers into thinking that it records the genealogy through Joseph, the husband of Mary.  Biblical research will clearly show that this is incorrect.  The major problem here was that it was not the husband of Mary, BUT IT WAS THE FATHER OF MARY!  That is the gist of this whole teaching and you must never forget it.  The following scripture shows this major error where the Greek word for husband in this verse is actually “andra”  which clearly means FATHER and not husband. 

 

Matthew 1: 16 -- And Jacob begat Joseph the husband [“andra” -- which is father] of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

 

In Matthew 1: 17 it becomes rather clear that God has placed a safeguard to help us to avoid such a misunderstanding and mistranslation which has caused no end of confusion when the Word of God is not rightly divided.

 

Matthew 1: 17 -- So all the generations from Abraham to David are  fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are  fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are  fourteen generations.

 

By carefully counting in the record of the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 1, verses 2 to 16, we must keep in mind the number 14 which represents the number of generations.  Each of three groups should have 14 generations.  However, the third group will only have 13 generations if Joseph were the husband of Mary.  [See below]  By counting the generations listed in Matthew 1: 2 - 16, we see that it doesn't add up.

 

 

 

                 Abraham to David

                (14 generations)

 

1. Abraham

 8.  Aminadab

2. Isaac

 9.  Naasson

3. Jacob

10. Salmon

4. Judas

11. Booz

5. Phares

12. Obed

6. Esrom

13. Jesse

7. Aram

14. David

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

                          David to Carrying away to Babylon

                     (14 generations)

 

1. Solomon

 8.  Joatham

2. Roboam

 9.  Achaz

3. Abia

10. Ezekias

4. Asa

11. Manasses

5. Josaphat

12. Amon

6. Joram

13. Josias

7. Ozias

14. Jechonias

 

                                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                       

                           Carrying away to Babylon until Christ

                      (13 generations)

 

1. Salathiel

 8.  Eliud

2. Zorobabel

 9.  Eleazar

3. Abiud

10. Matthan

4. Eliakim

11. Jacob

5. Azor

12. Joseph

6. Sadoc

13. Jesus

7. Achim

14. ???????

 

 

 

Most theologians throughout the years have maintained that Matthew is giving the genealogy of Joseph the husband of Mary.  But Joseph, Mary’s husband, is not the father of Jesus Christ.  Matthew clearly states that Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit.  Matthew sheds more light on the subject.

 

Matthew 1: 20 -- But while he [Mary’s husband] thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife:  for that which is conceived in her is of [by] the Holy Ghost.

 

That which is conceived in Mary is conceived by the Holy Spirit.  Now let's take a look at the correct translation of Matthew 1: 16.

 

Matthew 1: 16 -- And Jacob begat Joseph the father [andra] of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. [emphasis added]

 

Another indication that this is not the genealogy through Joseph, the husband of Mary, is in Luke 3: 23.

 

Luke 3: 23 -- And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son  of Heli, [emphasis added]

 

We have taught you time and time again that words in italics are added by the translators.  In this situation, the King James Version places the words "the son" before 'of Heli' in italics.  In the Stephens Greek Text, the two words 'the son' (huios) are not supposed to be in italics.  They were erroneously put in italics by the translators.  Joseph the husband of Mary was the son of Heli.  Heli is not listed as the father of Joseph in Matthew 1: 16, as would have been the case if the Joseph listed was the husband of Mary.

 

A closer look at the Greek text of Matthew 1: 16 reveals the mistranslation of the word 'husband'.

 

In Greek texts, again, the word for 'husband' in this verse is 'andra'.  The root of this word is 'aner', and is generally used for a male person of full age and stature such as a ‘father’.  The translation of the word must be based on the context of the verse.  Other examples include:

 

Acts 7: 26 -- And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs [aner], ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?

 

Luke 24: 19 -- And he said unto them, What things?  And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet [aner] mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

 

I Corinthians 13: 11 -- When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child:  but when I became a man [aner], I put away childish things.

 

Acts 3: 14 -- But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer [aner] to be granted unto you;

 

In the above four verses, 'aner' has been translated as 'sirs', 'prophet', 'man', and 'murderer'.  Seeing the various ways in which 'aner' is used in the bible, we must look closely at the preceding verses to find it's true meaning.  In the context of Matthew 1: 16,  we see how it should have been translated as 'father'.  This Joseph was the father of Mary.  In Luke 3: 23 the Joseph being referred to is not the same person as in Matthew 1: 16.  That Joseph is the husband of Mary.  You should reread and study this point until it becomes clear to you.  Now, the math pertaining to the (14) fourteen generations is also correct:

 

 

                      Carrying away to Babylon until Christ

                  (14 generations)

 

1. Salathiel

  8. Eliud

 

2. Zorobabel

  9. Eleazar

 

3. Abiud

10. Matthan

 

4. Eliakim

11. Jacob

 

5. Azor

12. Joseph    (father of Mary)

6. Sadoc

13. Mary

 

7. Achim

14. Jesus

 

 

 

Aramaic versions of the Bible also indicate that the Joseph in Matthew 1: 16 is the father of Mary.  'Aner' in Aramaic is the word 'gbra', which means 'mighty man'.  A man who is head of a household (a father) is referred to as the 'mighty man'.  'Bala' is the Aramaic word for husband, and is used a few verses later.  Let’s review Matthew 1: 16 one more time.

 

Matthew 1: 16 -- And Jacob begat Joseph the husband [FATHER - ‘gbra’ -- mighty man or father] of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

 

Now we see the word ‘bala’ in the next verse which is used for ‘husband’.

 

Matthew 1: 19 -- Then Joseph her husband [bala], being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

 

Matthew 1: 16 is referring to the FATHER of Mary while Matthew 1: 19 is referring to the HUSBAND of Mary.  There are clearly two (2) different Josephs mentioned in these two verses.  Without rightly dividing God's Word, this point has caused much confusion regarding the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

 

In conclusion, we can clearly trace the royal lineage of Jesus Christ through his mother Mary.  This proves he has the legal right to be King of Kings.

 

    

The Gospel According to Luke:

 

The Gospel of Luke recounts the genealogy of Jesus Christ’s adoptive father Joseph.  In Eastern culture the male side of the family is considered the legal side.  Since it was supposed that Joseph was Jesus Christ’s father, this genealogy would have been considered more important.

 

Luke relates Jesus Christ’s life as a man, a mortal human just like the rest of us.  The genealogy is listed like that of the common man, which goes in reverse of royal lineage.  It begins with Jesus, and works back through the generations.  We see that these verses go all the way back to Adam.  Here are the generations listed in order starting with Adam:

 

                                                GOD

1. Adam

16. Phalee

31. Booz

46. Jorim

61. Semei

2. Seth

17. Ragau

32. Obed

47. Eliezer

62. Mattathias

3. Enos

18. Saruch

33. Jesse

48. Jose

63. Maath

4. Cainan

19. Nachor

34. David

49. Er

64. Nagge

5. Maleleel

20. Thara

35. Nathan

50. Elmodam

65. Esli

6. Jared

21. Abraham

36. Mattatha

51. Cosam

66. Naum

7. Enoch

22. Isaac

37. Menan

52. Addi

67. Amos

8. Mathusala

23. Jacob

38. Melea

53. Melchi

68. Mattathias

9. Lamech

24. Juda

39. Eliakim

54. Neri

69. Joseph

10. Noe(Noah)

25. Phares

40. Jonan

55. Salathiel

70. Janna

11. Sem

26. Esrom

41. Joseph

56. Zorobabel

71. Melchi

12. Arphaxad

27. Aram

42. Juda

57. Rhesa

72. Levi

13. Cainan

28. Aminadab

43. Simeon

58. Joanna

73. Matthat

14. Sala

29. Naasson

44. Levi

59. Juda

74. Heli

15. Heber

30. Salmon

45. Matthat

60. Joseph

75. Joseph

 

 

 

 

76. Jesus

 

 

In each Gospel, we see a different perspective of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.  The book of Matthew is the record of Jesus Christ the King, and the genealogy recorded in chapter one reflects the royal human lineage of Jesus Christ.  The book of Luke relates the life of Jesus Christ as a human, and the genealogy recorded in chapter three is written as that of a common man.  The Gospels of Mark and John contain no human genealogy.  As a servant in Mark, Jesus Christ’s lineage would not be considered important.  In the Gospel of John, Jesus Christ is the son of God, which is the only genealogy that is necessary.  The final work of Jesus Christ, of course, was to provide us with the opportunity to become children of God and part of God’s family.

 

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