A Christmas time contradiction.

[polonius]

I am always puzzled by the alternating scriptures for Christmas, the writings of Matthew and the writings of Luke.

Matthew tells us that Jesus was born while Herod was king (who died in 4 BC). Luke tells us that Jesus was born during the census of Syria conducted by Quirinus in 6 AD.

Luke tells us that John’s parents came from a priestly family of Aaron, not David, This is what is meant by ‘daughter of Aaron,’ (not a daughter of David).

So if Mary were the cousin of Elizabeth or any blood relative, she would also be of Aaron’s bloodline, not David’s.

And, of course, women lack a Y chromosome so they can’t transmit the DNA for maleness.

So if Jesus was of virgin birth he would not have been of Davidic ancestry and would be a woman.

Are we to consider both Matthew’s and Luke’s scripture to be inspired on these points?

[brianbbs67]

[Replying to post 10 by rikuoamero]

Yours is one possibility. It was all oral tradition for a long time. Except for the Priests, they wrote a lot down and it was lost also. In fact, the Hebrew Bible wa not published again after Jerusalem was sacked until after the Christian one was.(800-900AD).

The other possibility is that God is not limited and Made Jesus with the required DNA. We will probably never know. I do agree that Christ was very special as he fulfilled the law as no one else had.

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 3 by polonius]

Are you suggesting that the biblical tradtion held that a person's father AND mother be a decendant of a tribe for their child (of whatever sex) to be considered part of that tribe or lineage?

In constructing their genealogical tables, it is well known that the Jews reckoned wholly by males, .... - MClintock and Strongs Cyclopedia (1881, Vol. III, p. 774)

JW

[polonius]

[Replying to post 3 by polonius]

Are you suggesting that the biblical tradtion held that a person's father AND mother be a decendant of a tribe for their child (of whatever sex) to be considered part of that tribe or lineage?

“In constructing their genealogical tables, it is well known that the Jews reckoned wholly by males, ....� - M’Clintock and Strong’s Cyclopædia (1881, Vol. III, p. 774)

JW

RESPONSE: No, except in the case of Jesus, all human "seed" was entirely provide by a male. The female provided the nutrition if "fertile" or not if "barren."

So a "virgin birth" was not possible. However Jesus and some other famous people were supposed to have had one.

“The major problem with Christianity and many other religions is the absolute lack of independent confirmation of the stories, if independent accounts exists, believers are asked to disregard any story in conflict with the story presented within the holy book, so the holy book, becomes the source and proof of itself, an authority unto itself.�

That too is the fundamentalist position.

Did you ever notice Mark, from whom Matthew and Luke copied, says nothing about a virgin birth of Jesus. Neither does John. And except for the nativity narratives, neither Matthew nor Luke ever refer to Jesus' virgin birth again!

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 3 by polonius]

Are you suggesting that the biblical tradtion held that a person's father AND mother be a decendant of a tribe for their child (of whatever sex) to be considered part of that tribe or lineage?

“In constructing their genealogical tables, it is well known that the Jews reckoned wholly by males, ....� - M’Clintock and Strong’s Cyclopædia (1881, Vol. III, p. 774)

JW

RESPONSE: No, except in the case of Jesus, all human "seed" was entirely provide by a male.

Okay so we are agreed that if Mary's mother was a Levite, but she married a Judean, then all the children from that union would be considered Judean right?

[polonius]

[Replying to post 3 by polonius]

Are you suggesting that the biblical tradtion held that a person's father AND mother be a decendant of a tribe for their child (of whatever sex) to be considered part of that tribe or lineage?

“In constructing their genealogical tables, it is well known that the Jews reckoned wholly by males, ....� - M’Clintock and Strong’s Cyclopædia (1881, Vol. III, p. 774)

JW

RESPONSE: No, except in the case of Jesus, all human "seed" was entirely provide by a male.

Okay so we are agreed that if Mary's mother was a Levite, but she married a Judean, then all the children from that union would be considered Judean right?

RESPONSE: Yes, as long as the Judean father was the physical parent.

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 3 by polonius]

Are you suggesting that the biblical tradtion held that a person's father AND mother be a decendant of a tribe for their child (of whatever sex) to be considered part of that tribe or lineage?

“In constructing their genealogical tables, it is well known that the Jews reckoned wholly by males, ....� - M’Clintock and Strong’s Cyclopædia (1881, Vol. III, p. 774)

JW

RESPONSE: No, except in the case of Jesus, all human "seed" was entirely provide by a male.

Okay so we are agreed that if Mary's mother was a Levite, but she married a Judean, then all the children from that union would be considered Judean right?

RESPONSE: Yes, as long as the Judean father was the physical parent.

Okay so what were you on about here? ...

The issue is if Mary is of the same blood as Elizabeth, she is Aaronic in descent

[brianbbs67]

He's denying birthright by adoption or God's instruction. Which Isrealite tradition and law was opposed. IE, common law and tradtion held adoption is birthright. "As the father says, so it is"

[marco]

Are we to consider both Matthew’s and Luke’s scripture to be inspired on these points?

I think when we say Matthew and Luke were inspired, we are employing sarcasm. These two worthies managed to compose conflicting genealogies for Jesus, and couldn't even agree on who Joseph's father was, never mind what happened to his great, great, great, great grandfather. Matthew says Christ's paternal grandfather was Jacob, while Luke says he was Heli. Since we know next to zilch about Joseph himself, it is miraculous we can trace his ancestry back to Eve's spouse, the notorious apple eater and for all we know, sword swallower. Of course if inspiration means making things up, like Rowling's Harry Potter, then we can call the accounts inspired fiction.

[polonius]

[Replying to post 3 by polonius]

Are you suggesting that the biblical tradtion held that a person's father AND mother be a decendant of a tribe for their child (of whatever sex) to be considered part of that tribe or lineage?

“In constructing their genealogical tables, it is well known that the Jews reckoned wholly by males, ....� - M’Clintock and Strong’s Cyclopædia (1881, Vol. III, p. 774)

JW

RESPONSE: No, except in the case of Jesus, all human "seed" was entirely provide by a male.

Okay so we are agreed that if Mary's mother was a Levite, but she married a Judean, then all the children from that union would be considered Judean right?

RESPONSE: Yes. If you rule out any Virgin Birth teaching.

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 19 by polonius]

Ok so what did you mean by the statement below?

The issue is if Mary is of the same blood as Elizabeth, she is Aaronic in descent