The Genealogy of Christ
By Editor
IN reply to a question relative to the genealogy of Christ we would say that the lists of the ancestors of Jesus given by Matthew and Luke have been the ground of a great deal of controversy, and numerous theories have been advanced. According to one of these theories, both the lists are intended to present Jesus as the reputed or legal son of Joseph, that of Matthew being the royal and that of Luke the private genealogy of the heir to the crown and throne of David. With this theory is connected the supposition that Mary and Joseph were first cousins. Another and more widely accepted theory is that Matthew gives Joseph's genealogy, and Luke that of Mary. This view makes Joseph the son-in-law and Jesus the grandson of Heli, who, according to the Talmud, was Mary's father. This includes Christ in the royal line of David in two ways: Legally, through Mary's marriage with Joseph; and naturally, through Mary herself being a member of the royal family.