Page:The four Gospels - translated from the Latin Vulgate, and diligently compared with the original Greek text, being a revision of the Rhemish translation (IA TheFourGospelsTranslated).pdf/41

 THE

HOLY GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

ACCORDING TO MATTHEW.

CHAPTER I.

The ancestors of Christ according to the flesh: Joseph learns from the angel the miraculous conception.

1. Book of the generation of, son of David, son of Abraham.

2. Abraham begat Isaac: and Isaac begat Jacob: and Jacob begat Judas, and his brethren.

3. And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar: and Phares begat Esron: and Esron begat Aram.

4. And Aram begat Aminadab: and Aminadab begat Naasson: and Naasson begat Salmon.

' The Greek term, as also the corresponding Hebrew word, may here mean descent, genealogy. birth, or history. It seems to be the title of the table of deseents, which follows, and is equivalent to “ genealogy of Jesus Christ,” or, if referred to the entire gospel, “ history of Jesus Christ.”

I have retained the word “ generation,” because its meaning here is not

altogether beyond question. ' Descendant. The Hebrews often use the term “ son” for one who is remotely descended. ‘ Luc. iii. 31. The promises made to David that his son should rule all nations, were celebrated among the people, on which account the evangelist designates Christ as his son, in whom they were fulﬁlled.

‘ To this patriarch God promised that all the nations of the earth should be blessed in his seed. ' Gen. xxi. 3. ‘ Gen. xxv. 25. " Gen. xxix. 35. ‘ Gen. xxxviii. 29. This birth was the fruit of incest ; yet our Lord's descent is traced through it to show us, as St. Chrysostom remarks, that the crimes of our ancestors should not cause us shame, if we do not imi

tate them, and that Christ came to take away our guilt and shame. ' 1 Par. ii. 5; Ruth iv. 18.

3

’‘ Numb. vii. 12