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Lineage

The lineage of Jesus

Matthew begins with Abraham and moves forward to Jesus through Solomon. Luke begins with Jesus and moves back through Nathan to Adam. They are two lists with two purposes, and FaithGraph keeps them separate so that neither is misread.

How the two lists relate (Joseph's legal line versus Mary's, levirate marriage, or another explanation) is a question with several responsible answers. We describe the views on each relationship record rather than choosing one silently. The full name-by-name rivers arrive with the Phase 2 content release.

Matthew's genealogy

Matthew 1:1-17: forward from Abraham, in three sets of fourteen.

Recorded links (Matthew 1)

  1. Jesus is descended from Abraham

    Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceLineage: Matthew 1

    Matthew's opening line calls Jesus the son of Abraham and begins the genealogy with him.

    Evidence:

    Follow Abraham in the graph

  2. Jesus is descended from David

    Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceLineage: Matthew 1

    Matthew's genealogy traces Jesus's legal descent through Joseph to David. Luke's genealogy also reaches David by a different line; FaithGraph records the two lists separately and never merges them.

    Evidence:
    Other responsible views
    • Luke's genealogy: Luke 3:23-38 traces descent from David through Nathan rather than Solomon. The relationship between the two lists is discussed in the Lineage section.

    Follow David in the graph

  3. Jesus is descended from Judah

    Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceLineage: Matthew 1

    Matthew's genealogy names Judah in its second line, and Hebrews says it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah.

    Evidence:

    Follow Judah in the graph

  4. Jesus is descended from Solomon

    Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceLineage: Matthew 1

    Matthew's genealogy runs from David through Solomon and the kings of Judah to Joseph. Luke's list runs through Nathan instead; FaithGraph keeps the two separate.

    Evidence:
    Other responsible views
    • Luke's genealogy: Luke 3:31 traces the line from David through Nathan, not Solomon.

    Follow Solomon in the graph

Luke's genealogy

Luke 3:23-38: backward from Jesus to Adam, "the son of God".

Recorded links (Luke 3)

  1. Jesus is descended from David

    Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceLineage: Luke 3

    Luke's genealogy traces Jesus's descent to David through Nathan, and on to Adam.

    Evidence:

    Follow David in the graph

David and Abraham appear in both lists.