Matthew 1:1-17 Study in Observation on the Paragraph level and the exegetical questions which arise

Matthew 1:1-17

Paragraphs Par. 1 (1:1) -Book of Genealogy Par. 2 (1:2-6a) -Abraham to David Par. 3 (1:6b-11) -David to Babylon Par. 4 (1:12-16) -Babylon to Christ Par. 5 (1:17) -3 x General Heading Genealogical List Summary Christ A David B Abraham C Abraham David (1:2-6a) David Deportation to Babylon (1:6b- 11) Deportation to Babylon Christ (1:12-16) C’C’C’C’ B’B’B’B’ A’A’A’A’

General Statement-Book of Genealogy Jesus Christ a (1:1) General Son of David b (1:1) General Son of David b Designation Son of Abraham c Designation Son of Abraham c Particular -Genealogical List Abraham c (1:2-17) Specific David b (1:2-17) Specific David b List Christ a List Christ a Particularization (by Chiasm)

Questions: 1. What is the meaning of “Book of Genealogy,” and how does this general designation illumine the genealogical list that follows? How do the specifics of the genealogy spell out the meaning of Jesus as Christ, son of David and son of Abraham? How do these specifics support or substantiate the threefold claim regarding Jesus in 1:1? How does the chiasm clarify and illumine the meaning of these three designations and their relationship to one another? 2. Why did Matthew spell out (particularize) and support “The Book of Genealogy” and the threefold claim about Jesus as he did? 3. Implications?

Climax 1:16 - Birth of Jesus as the high point of culmination of this genealogical list 1:2-15 Generations leading up to Jesus 1:2-15 Generations leading up to JesusQuestions: 1. Precisely how does this genealogical list reach its climax in the Birth of Jesus? How does this climactic development illumine the preceding generations? How does it illumine the person of Jesus? 2. Why did the writer include and emphasize this climactic progression through the several generations from Abraham? 3. Implications?

Summarization by Causation –The Genealogical List Summary of the Genealogy ( 1:2-16) “so” ( oun ) (1:17) Writer both summarizes the genealogical list and draws inferences from it. Questions: 1. What summary inferences does the writer draw and emphasize in v. 17? How do these major elements as presented in v. 17 illumine the genealogy? 2. Why did the writer emphasize these major elements in his concluding summary and deal with them there as he did? 3. Implications?

Recurrence of Contrast –At several points the writer interrupts or alters the otherwise consistent-even monotonous- pattern, thus highlighting these interruptions by way of contrast:  vv.2,11 - addition - “and his brothers”  v. 3 - addition - “and Zerah”  v. 6 - addition - “the King”  vv Sole reference to an event, “the deportation to Babylon ”

Recurrence of Contrast –At several points the writer interrupts or alters the otherwise consistent-even monotonous-pattern, thus highlighting these interruptions by way of contrast:  v Alteration of form: “Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.”  At four points women are introduced into the genealogy: Tamar(v.3); Rahab(v.5); Ruth(v.5); wife of Uriah(v.6). In each case the name of the woman is preceded by the preposition ek. To this number might be added Mary(v16).

Questions: 1. What is the meaning of each of these interruptions/alterations? How does their distinctiveness vis-a-vis the consistent pattern upon which they are placed illumine their meaning and significance? How are they related to each other, and illumine each other? 2. Why did the writer wish thus to highlight these interruptions/alterations? Why did the writer wish to relate these interruptions/alterations to each other as he did? 3. Implications?

Other major impressions A.Although v.17 declares there are 14 generations in each of the three groups, there are only 13 generations in vv2-6a (although 14 names are mentioned) and one can locate 14 generations in the second and third groups only by counting Jeconiah twice. B.The genealogy ends with something of a conundrum, since Jesus’ Abrahamic and Davidic sonship is traced through Joseph, but Jesus is not said to be the son of Joseph according to v. 16.