Subject: HOW COULD JESUS BE A DESCENDANT OF DAVID |
Bible Note: Steve I did do some research on this. Of the more than twenty trusted commentators I reviewed not one eluded to this. I did find a reference to the idea in Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary, which totally surprised me. I’m a Pastor and carry a masters in theology (neither of which I speak about on the forum) and my wife a doctorate, we both teach at a bible college along with pastoring a church. I mention my wife’s and my training not to brag nor to say between us we know everything but rather to say we have taken more than a simple cursory view of this. I had never heard of this before and my wife vaguely recalls hearing something. While we both can see and understand the theory behind this we still doubt it’s validity. First if this did occur one would think there would be some mention of it in Scripture or Jewish tradition/folklore. Traditional Jewish teaching hold this to be a promise of the coming of the promised Messiah rather than event that actually occurred. From everything I have read/searched up to this point there is no other mention of this until we see the prophecy fulfilled by Jesus’ birth in Matthew. Secondly the biggest stumbling point many find in the belief of Jesus is his virgin birth, a scientific impossibility. To try and present a second virgin birth on the assumption that God had to fulfill this prophecy within the Ahaz’s lifetime is almost defenseless as it only based on assumption and therefore adds doubt to the Jesus’ virgin birth. Why would God add question to question? Thirdly secular mythology is void of any reference to this event. Usually secular history/mythology replicates valid Bible events in any attempt by the adversary to down play the actual occurrence. Whether this happened as you say or didn’t as I believe it should not effect how true Christians view Jesus’ birth, however I can see how it could be repugnant to some and may even add ammunition to non believers. I think that is the reason Lockman restricted the thread. I will continue to research this and see what information I come up with. I will let you know. Interesting! EdB |