Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site umcp-cs.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!umcp-cs!mangoe
From: mangoe@umcp-cs.UUCP (Charley Wingate)
Newsgroups: net.religion.christian
Subject: Re: Why Jesus' genealogy is important
Message-ID: <1033@umcp-cs.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 29-Jul-85 22:13:37 EDT
Article-I.D.: umcp-cs.1033
Posted: Mon Jul 29 22:13:37 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 31-Jul-85 22:49:23 EDT
References: <940@umcp-cs.UUCP> <951@ihlpg.UUCP>
Organization: U of Maryland, Computer Science Dept., College Park, MD
Lines: 28

In article <951@ihlpg.UUCP> jeand@ihlpg.UUCP (AMBAR) writes:

>> It's also not at all clear why it's
>> really very important to establish that both lineages are correct (or
>> indeed, that either is correct).

>The biblical point is that Jesus is indeed a descendant of David, and
>therefore legally entitled to David's throne. (Cf. many OT prophecies
>about a descendant of David with an eternal throne.)
>As I understand it, Joseph's (Jesus' "legal" father) genealogy is given to
>show Jesus' legal claim to the throne (as succession was, natch, through the
>father.)  Mary's genealogy (*I think I'm gonna get it!*) is included to
>show his true, physical claim through her.

One more time: no genealogy is given for Mary!  What we have are two 
contradictory lineages for Joseph.  No more than one of them is correct, 
unless you apply some heavy rationalization.  Now my point is NOT to denegrate
Jesus' descent (through Joseph) from David; my point is that we are presented
with an unresolvable dilemma whose resolution ought not to have much effect
upon one's faith.  Is there really anyone out there who is going to believe
or not believe because Luke has the wrong lineage?  (I would also point out 
that Luke asserts Joseph's descent elsewhere.)  If one accepts that these
lineages are indicative of the real one, and doesn't quibble over the exact
details, I think the relative importance of the passages is better served.

Charley Wingate  umcp-cs!mangoe

  "By this rose we may well see, there is one God in persons three."