Origin Story: The Genesis of Jesus

: The Gospel and History

Matthew was neither a historian, nor a biographer. Like the other gospels he is not seeking to write a “tell-all”. His purpose is to write a theological history

1:1 - The book of the genaeology of Jesus Christ—the son of David, the so. of Abraham

By these words and those which follow Jesus is thoroughly tied to the entirety of the Old Testament narrative.

Genealogy was not a stale recounting of names, but a reminder of events!

Βίβλος γενέσεως - see ,

Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ—Christ is neither Jesus’ last name nor a meaningless term.

In Hebrew, the term anointed referred to one covered with oil, from whence it developed into the idea of an individual anointed as king, eventually referring specifically to any rightful king of the Davidic line, and finally developing into the idea of a coming King, a Messiah! When we read about Jesus as the Christ, or Messiah, we are being told that he is the Davidic King of OT prophecy and the hope of Israel and ultimately the world.

“the son of David” Matthew wants his readers to know that Jesus Is the ultimate king of the line of David

“the son of Abraham” Not only so, but Jesus is the ultimate Jew. He personally fulfills all that was expected of Israel as a nation, and particularly their Gentile mission!

1:15