Names

In an article from New Testament Studies on the names in Matthew’s genealogy, Karl-Heinrich Ostmeyer suggests that the names in the last section of the genealogy are predominately priestly names. Thus, the genealogy divides into a patriarchal section, a royal section, and a priestly section, which culminates with Jesus.

Further, he notes the function of the number 40 in the genealogy: Jeconiah has to be counted both times he’s named to make the total come to 42 (vv. 11-12). If you exclude Jesus also from the end of the genealogy, there are 40 generations from Abraham to Jesus, between the Abrahamic promise and its fulfillment. Jesus is the new Joshua, coming at the end of a long period in the wilderness, to take His people into the promised land.

Next
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

Undercover in Canada’s Lawless Abortion Industry

Jonathon Van Maren

On November 27, 2023, thirty-six-year-old Alissa Golob walked through the doors of the Cabbagetown Women’s Clinic in…

The Return of Blasphemy Laws?

Carl R. Trueman

Over my many years in the U.S., I have resisted the temptation to buy into the catastrophism…

The Fourth Watch

James F. Keating

The following is an excerpt from the first edition of The Fourth Watch, a newsletter about Catholicism from First…