Symbolic Meaning of the Generations
Matthew 1:17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.
You know I don't think I've read this bit of commentary anywhere. But one method of meaning from the scriptures comes from the symbolic meaning of various images, including numbers.
I will need to fact check here (will post later on this). But I recall Biblical "Higher Critics" have attacked the integrity of the scriptures because their are supposed to be "gaps" within the generations. Where some of Christ's ancestors got skipped, where the genealogy might actually skip a generation or two. (That part I need to fact check.) And they would claim this as "proof" that scriptures are not "inspired by God" (because they contain human errors etc.). Anyway as I stated I'm going to do a generational audit later. Such a thing breaks the usual integrity found in a genealogy.
Although there are some good reasons for this. Making it easier on the oral tradition caretaker who has to remember and pass this stuff. As well as the scribe who must dictate all this testimony.
Symbolism however I believe is the real reason behind. There are 14 sets of generations to each of the 3 great Ages leading to Christ. That is basically 7 sets of 6. In Biblical numerology "7" is the number of perfection and completeness, while "6" is the number of man, since Adam was created on that day. When you put it together you get the meaning that Christ's coming came during the perfect season/time for mankind. One Biblical term for this would be "The fullness of time". While still another would be the Greek term for time Kairon (for season), rather than Chronos (literal time, where we get words like "chronological" from.
Anyway my theory, if the Biblical Critics are right, is any ommision of ancestors of Christ made in the text was done deliberately. Either by the people righting the Gospel, of the God's hand of Providence. It would be comparable to such things as mentioning only 7 of Christ's miracles in the book of John, "The Gospel of All Ages". Or even how sacramental lists are drawn up by many of early churches. Where the gerrymander by making some sacraments defintions very very broad or narrow, etc. so they can come up with that magic number of seven at the end.
Anyway I'll see if I can find who if any got ommited from the official genealogy later.
Matthew 1:17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.
You know I don't think I've read this bit of commentary anywhere. But one method of meaning from the scriptures comes from the symbolic meaning of various images, including numbers.
I will need to fact check here (will post later on this). But I recall Biblical "Higher Critics" have attacked the integrity of the scriptures because their are supposed to be "gaps" within the generations. Where some of Christ's ancestors got skipped, where the genealogy might actually skip a generation or two. (That part I need to fact check.) And they would claim this as "proof" that scriptures are not "inspired by God" (because they contain human errors etc.). Anyway as I stated I'm going to do a generational audit later. Such a thing breaks the usual integrity found in a genealogy.
Although there are some good reasons for this. Making it easier on the oral tradition caretaker who has to remember and pass this stuff. As well as the scribe who must dictate all this testimony.
Symbolism however I believe is the real reason behind. There are 14 sets of generations to each of the 3 great Ages leading to Christ. That is basically 7 sets of 6. In Biblical numerology "7" is the number of perfection and completeness, while "6" is the number of man, since Adam was created on that day. When you put it together you get the meaning that Christ's coming came during the perfect season/time for mankind. One Biblical term for this would be "The fullness of time". While still another would be the Greek term for time Kairon (for season), rather than Chronos (literal time, where we get words like "chronological" from.
Anyway my theory, if the Biblical Critics are right, is any ommision of ancestors of Christ made in the text was done deliberately. Either by the people righting the Gospel, of the God's hand of Providence. It would be comparable to such things as mentioning only 7 of Christ's miracles in the book of John, "The Gospel of All Ages". Or even how sacramental lists are drawn up by many of early churches. Where the gerrymander by making some sacraments defintions very very broad or narrow, etc. so they can come up with that magic number of seven at the end.
Anyway I'll see if I can find who if any got ommited from the official genealogy later.
posted by Addai | 12:59 PM
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