www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Scripture and Patristic Writings Christ's Davidic Lineage

Dear Doctor John the Deacon,

Yes, indeed - Muslims often attend Marian feasts with the Copts and Ethiopians in Africa, and in other places where there are her miraculous shrines.

And they experience miracles through her intercession as well.

When Our Lady appeared at Zeitoun in Egypt in the late sixties, Muslims rolled out their expensive prayer rugs onto the sandy streets of Cairo and greeted the apparitions very devoutly (at least this is what I've read and heard from one of our parish priests who interviewed people there for a booklet he wrote on the apparitions - I have to be careful about sourcing things, Neil could be reading you know ).

And Muhammad did defend the Virgin Mary against the calumnies of the Jews of his day etc.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen once commented on this in a book of his that I read during a retreat with the Trappists of Oka in Quebec.

He said that he believed the Muslim devotion to Mary will eventually lead them to reassess their views of Christian doctrine.

All things are possible with God!

Alex

Apparently I didn't look at this more closely. Interestingly though, the grandfather of St Joseph is given as Matthan in St Matthew, and in St Luke as Matthat, just one letter different, so I wonder if it's the same guy. Here's what the Catholic Encyclopedia has on the subject http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07204b.htm

Some of the differences in the lineage can also be attributed to the fact that it was not at all uncommon for a man to marry his brother's widow and to beget children with her, but for the child to be given the name of his mother's first husband. It's possible that in some of the records a child is given his (bio) father's name, while in other records is given his legal father's name.

Justin

Alex;

I am now even more fascinated.

Why were the Jewish students first and foremost interested in Christ's Davidic lineage? Can you provide any insight?

John

Dear Doctor John the Deacon,

I think those students basically wanted to test us and also to offer a critique of Christianity's claims to fulfill the OT prophecies concerning the Messiah.

There was a strong "Jews for Jesus" movement there in my day and our Jewish student body was a bit defensive etc.

When I once stopped by the Jews for Jesus table to speak to someone I was taking a course with, a fellow in a yarmulke walking by put his hand on my shoulder and said, "Hey, you shouldn't be standing at this table!"

I told him I wasn't Jewish and he said, "Oh, well that's all right then!"

Alex

Yes, Davidic descent came through both Mary and Joseph.
Stephanos I

Dear Stephanos,

Would either have been valid according to Jewish law?

Alex

Alex,

I think your last question is a very good one. I'm almost certain (from online conversations with a Hasidic acquiantance) that Christ's lineage isn't legit in the eyes of Jewish Law. This is because descent is only traced through the father (so there goes Mary), and that father had to be the biological father of the child, legal adoption or not (so there goes Joseph).

I'm hoping I've made a mistake or there is some way around this. I just haven't found it (actually, I think I did find it out a few months ago, but I've forgotten it).

Logos Teen

Dear Teen;

Now I know nothing of Jewish custom, but I thought that one was considered truly Jewish only if his or her mother was Jewish. Perhaps this has no bearing on anything.

John