Genealogies Archives - Bible Authenticity

Should Christians Pay Attention to Genealogies?

September 28, 2019 BibleAuthenticity Comments 0 Comment

New Testament Canon — What does the Bible tell us about genealogies?

The genealogies leading to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, are vitally important as supportive proofs of his being qualified as God’s Messiah (Matthew 1:1-16; Luke 3:23-38). So we definitely do need them, and should pay attention to them.

Other Biblical genealogies are important for Biblical historical purposes, and we should be aware of them, but, these are not of great importance for Christians.

While there is nothing wrong with searching for one’s own family genealogy, there is also no requirement for a Christian to do so. This is one of those areas that is up to one’s own personal choice. read more

Differences in Hebrew & Greek Genealogies of Genesis 5 & 11

September 25, 2019 BibleAuthenticity Comments 45 comments

There are some significant differences between the Hebrew and Greek genealogies of Genesis 5 and 11. Do these differences really matter?

“I want you understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return”—Philippians 1:9 NLT

The Bibles that we use today are generally based on a Hebrew Refined Master Text, usually the Biblica Hebraica. A comparison of the genealogies in Genesis 5:1-32 and Genesis 11:10-26 in the Old Testament in our modern Bibles, which are translated from the Hebrew Text, with the Greek Septuagint Version (LXX), reveals that the Greek version has more years between the time of Adam’s creation and Abraham, because: (1) The listed mens’ ages when their son is born are generally higher, often by 100 years; and (2) Cainan is included in the Greek Septuagint text, but not in the Hebrew text. However, the overall length of their lives remains the same, in the both the Hebrew and the Greek texts. read more

HOW SHOULD WE VIEW BIBLE & OTHER GENEALOGIES?

September 23, 2019 BibleAuthenticity Comments 0 Comment

Is the Bible reliable? — How should we view Bible and other genealogies?

Some people today, including some who claim to be Christians, such as the Mormons, place much importance on genealogies. The Hebrew people recorded public genealogical records that document history, establish identity, and/or legitimate office. Family tradition, marriage, links to the past, inheritance and property rights were all important to them, as they are to people today (Deuteronomy 25:5-10; 1 Chronicles 1-9; Ezra 10:18-43). The key to legitimacy and identity is a direct irrefutable familial tie with the past. Bible and other genealogies may go backward in time from the present (1 Chronicles 6:31-33; Ezra 7:1-5; Luke 3:23-38), or forward in time from a certain point in the past (Genesis 5:1-32; 11:10-32; Ruth 4:18-23; Matthew 1:1-17). These two types of genealogies can be combined, as they are in Matthew 1:1-17. Additionally, genealogical rolls may either contain a simple succession of names or may be supplemented with expansive content pertaining to the activities of certain prominent individuals on the list. read more