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Matthew introduces his genealogy with a phrase drawn from Gen 2:4 and 5:1: the "book of the genesis." It looks as if Jesus is the end point of the genealogy, as if it begins with Abraham and ends with Joseph/Jesus. That's clearly true. But when we examine the allusion to Gen 2:4 and 5:1 another aspect comes into focus. In Gen, the "generations" statement introduce those who are generated. The book of heaven and earth describes the "offspring" of heaven and earth; the book of Adam the offspring of Adam; Gen 10, the "generations of Shem, Ham, Japheth, the offspring of those sons of Noah.
This is, perhaps, in Matthew's mind in 1:1: The genealogy from Abraham to Joseph leads to Jesus; but it also flows from Him. All the men and women listed in Matthew 1 are the "offspring" of the Son of David. Jesus is the omega of the genealogy; but perhaps Matthew wants also to show that He is the alpha.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Thursday, July 13, 2006 at 02:44 PM
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