Patristic views on genealogies
The Church Fathers, or patristic writers, understood genealogies not merely as historical records but as theological tools to establish Jesus’ humanity and messianic lineage. They engaged in detailed exegesis to reconcile apparent discrepancies between the genealogies in Matthew and Luke, emphasizing both the historical and allegorical meanings.
Interpretation of Jesus’ genealogies
The two genealogies of Jesus—Matthew’s from Abraham forward and Luke’s from Jesus back to Adam—prompted significant patristic commentary. Early Christian writers, like Julius Africanus (cited by Eusebius), developed solutions based on Jewish legal customs to harmonize the conflicting lines of descent for Jesus’ earthly father, Joseph.
Julius Africanus and Eusebius
The Problem: Matthew lists Joseph’s father as Jacob, while Luke lists him as Heli. Critics of Christianity in the early centuries viewed this as a contradiction.
The Solution: Africanus proposed, and Eusebius later repeated, an explanation based on the levirate marriage law (Deuteronomy 25:5–10). This law required a man to marry his deceased brother’s childless widow to “raise up seed for his brother”.
Reconciliation: The explanation suggests that Joseph was the biological son of Jacob but the legal son of Heli, having been born to Heli’s widow through a levirate marriage with Jacob. This harmonized the two lines of descent, showing Joseph’s legal and natural lineage.
St. Augustine of Hippo
Adoption Theory: Augustine initially considered the possibility that Joseph was adopted by Heli, explaining his dual lineage. However, he later adopted the levirate marriage explanation offered by Africanus.
Theological Symbolism: Augustine interpreted the number of generations in Luke’s genealogy (77) in a theological light. He connected it to Jesus’ teaching on unlimited forgiveness (Matthew 18:21–22), suggesting the genealogy shows that baptism offers the forgiveness of all sins to all people.
Emphasis on Incarnation: He also highlighted the genealogies to affirm Jesus’ full humanity and his role as the “new Adam,” contrasting him with fallen humanity.
Other patristic themes
Historical and Spiritual Meaning: The Fathers believed that genealogies held both a literal, historical meaning and a deeper, spiritual significance. For example, some saw the inclusion of women and repentant sinners in Matthew’s genealogy as a sign of God’s redemptive plan being open to all.
Rejection of “Endless Genealogies”: While affirming the scriptural genealogies of Jesus, the Fathers also echoed St. Paul’s rejection of “endless genealogies” (1 Timothy 1:4 and Titus 3:9). They saw these as pointless speculative debates associated with Gnostic sects or an overemphasis on earthly descent for establishing priesthood, in contrast to faith in Christ.
Jesus as the New Adam: Both genealogies were used to demonstrate Jesus’ historical position as the fulfillment of biblical prophecy and to trace his lineage as a human being, with Luke’s genealogy connecting Jesus back to Adam. This emphasized Jesus’ role as the restorer of humanity, rectifying the fall of the first man.