Bible Question: I would like to know why there are two different fathers for Joseph, the person taking care of the baby Jesus. The lists are in Matt and Luke. |
Bible Answer: Hi Penn, Welcome to the Forum. As has been explained one possibility is that the genealogy in Matthew is that of Joseph, and that in the genealogy in Luke we have the genealogy of Mary. An equal possibility is that the genealogy in Matthew is indicating the line of heirs to the throne, whilst the genealogy in Luke is Joseph's bloodline. Where a king died without a direct heir the throne right would pass to a brother or a nephew, and they would in Jewish terms then be described as being 'begotten' by the deceased. Even an adopted child was descrinbed in terms of being 'begotten' by his new father. Thus in Matth 1.16 Jacob as Joseph's uncle may have died without an heir, resulting in Joseph becoming his heir by right of inheritancve, and thus being 'begotten' by him. The whole question is dealt with in depth in The Virgin Birth of Christ by J Machen. Best wishes |