Geneology: From Adam to Isaac
God's relationship with mankind throughout history is the main theme in the bible. Stories of fascinating characters good and bad, the blessings and cursings that they received and the detailed glimpses into history that the bible brings forth can be both striking and humbling. Sometimes we see how brutally honest some characters were, such as David when he wrote the Psalms and the emotions that he expressed in his joy and in his sadness and depression. In other instances, there is at first glance- mundane details that emerge, like in Leviticus where the Israelites are told step by step and in detail what to do and what not to do when following God's law. In addition, there are numerous geneological records that are written down throughout the old and new testaments. Some records focus on tribes and their locations as well as census numbers of nations and tribes. Other records focus on the names of bloodlines that are traced back hundreds or thousands of years. In the book of Matthew we see the geneology of the Messiah's ancestors from Abraham all the way to Jesus. Forty-two generations in all! Thus is the case of Adam and his line of descendants all the way to his grandson Isaac. This particular geneological record, "From Adam to Isaac" is different from the others though, in that it gives vital information that is key to figuring out who lived when, at what time, and who was alive during each persons life and when they died. As you look at the chart notice how long some of these biblical figures lived and imagine the number of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and so on, each would have. For example, look at Lamech and notice how he was born 874 years from the time Adam was kicked out of Eden. Now imagine, since he had 7 grandfathers and one father,the stories he was told by this huge number of eyewitnesses who were his relatives. Imagine being told firsthand what the Garden of Eden was like by Adam and Eve. Or how Enoch was taken by God into heaven and given revelations by the same people who witnessed it. Also, notice the dramatic shift in life span after the time of the flood during whch time Noah lived. For God said, "My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years." -Genesis 6:3
The green arrows pass through 9 generations, starting from the original progenitor -Adam and ending with Lamech. The green arrows indicate how Lamech may have been present at his G.G.G.G.G.G. Grandfather's funeral. Lamech would have been 56 years old as he witnessed the firstborn human of all creation on earth finally give up his spirit. It's interesting that Lamech- being the last to see God's first perfect created human (before the fall) lived for 777 years, which numerically represents perfection. It's interesting to point out that the number 777 can be formulated to equal the age of Lamech at the time of Adam's death: 777 or 7x7+7= 56.
The black arrows pass through 11 generations, starting from Noah and ending with Abraham. Notice how Noah, who was the chosen 2nd progenitor of the new human race after the flood (40 days and nights) had destroyed mankind, died 40 years after Abraham was born. This means that Abraham was alive at the same time as his G.G.G.G.G.G.G.GG. Grandfather was alive. This is significant because Abraham was chosen by God as the father of a great nation and was promised by God to have offspring as numerous as the dust of the earth and the stars of heaven. Christians, Jews, and Muslims all lay claim to Abraham as the father of nations. Therefore Abraham is the third progenitor.
Adam: 1st Progenitor
Noah: 2nd Progenitor
Abraham: 3rd Progenitor
The black arrows pass through 11 generations, starting from Noah and ending with Abraham. Notice how Noah, who was the chosen 2nd progenitor of the new human race after the flood (40 days and nights) had destroyed mankind, died 40 years after Abraham was born. This means that Abraham was alive at the same time as his G.G.G.G.G.G.G.GG. Grandfather was alive. This is significant because Abraham was chosen by God as the father of a great nation and was promised by God to have offspring as numerous as the dust of the earth and the stars of heaven. Christians, Jews, and Muslims all lay claim to Abraham as the father of nations. Therefore Abraham is the third progenitor.
Adam: 1st Progenitor
Noah: 2nd Progenitor
Abraham: 3rd Progenitor
Geneology of Jesus Christ
According to Matthew (Abraham to Jesus)1 Abraham
2 Isaac 3 Jacob 4 Judah 5 Perez 6 Hezron 7 Ram 8 Amminadab 9 Nahshon 10 Salmon 11 Boaz 12 Obed 13 Jesse 14 King David 15 Solomon 16 Rehoboam 17 Abijah 18 Asa 19 Jehoshaphat 20 Jehoram 21 Uzziah 22 Jotham 23 Ahaz 24 Hezekiah 25 Manasseh 26 Amon 27 Josiah 28 Jeconiah 29 Shealtiel 30 Zerubbabel 31 Abihud 32 Eliakim 33 Azor 34 Zadok 35 Akim 36 Elihud 37 Eleazar 38 Matthan 39 Jacob 40 Joseph 41 Jesus Christ |
According to Luke (God to Jesus)
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Why Are the Messiah's Geneologies So Different
The Jews were meticulous record keepers and geneologies were given the utmost care. It's highly unlikely that these lineages
were inaccurate. Most conservative bible scholars assume Luke is recording Mary's geneology and Matthew is recording Joseph's geneology. Mary's geneology is the spiritual lineage and Joseph's geneology is the human lineage.
Matthew is following the line of Joseph (Jesus' legal father), through David's son Solomon, while Luke is following the line of Mary (Jesus' blood relative) through David's son, Nathan. There was no Greek word for "son-in-law" and Joseph would have been considered a son of Heli through marrying Heli's daughter, Mary. Through either line, Jesus is a descendant of David and therefore eligible to be the Messiah. Tracing a geneology through the mother's side is highly unusual, but so was the virgin birth.
The Jews were meticulous record keepers and geneologies were given the utmost care. It's highly unlikely that these lineages
were inaccurate. Most conservative bible scholars assume Luke is recording Mary's geneology and Matthew is recording Joseph's geneology. Mary's geneology is the spiritual lineage and Joseph's geneology is the human lineage.
Matthew is following the line of Joseph (Jesus' legal father), through David's son Solomon, while Luke is following the line of Mary (Jesus' blood relative) through David's son, Nathan. There was no Greek word for "son-in-law" and Joseph would have been considered a son of Heli through marrying Heli's daughter, Mary. Through either line, Jesus is a descendant of David and therefore eligible to be the Messiah. Tracing a geneology through the mother's side is highly unusual, but so was the virgin birth.