1. Matthew 1:1 vs 1 Timothy 1:4 , Titus 3:9
Matthew 1:1
The book of the generation of
Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Skeptic's Annotated Bible : The gospel of Matthew begins with a boring genealogy like that we are told to avoid in 1 Tim.1:4 ("Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies") and Titus 3:9 ("Avoid foolish questions and genealogies").
1 Timothy 1
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith.
Here Paul advises Timothy to address a problem in the Church. He is concerned about people teaching wrong doctrines , myths , endless geneologies . So he is asking Timothy to command the church under his care not to go into all these false teachings and 'endless' geneologies. It is not a question of avoiding all sorts of geneologies always. It about not wasting time on 'endless geneologies'.
The geneology of Jesus is not an endless geneology .
But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Titus 3:9
"Avoid foolish questions, and genealogies" - In these the Jews particularly delighted; they abounded in the most frivolous questions; and, as they had little piety themselves, they were solicitous to show that they had descended from godly ancestors. - Adam Clarke's commentary
Here Paul is advising Titus , to whom it is written not to focus his ministry and work on foolish questions and geneologies. This instruction was given particularly to titus , to help him in focus on the right areas so that he can fulfill his call. It is not an absolute command to all Christians everywhere to avoid geneologies always and at all costs, as the skeptics (mis)understand.
"Avoid geneologies" is not an absolute command like "Do not commit adultery" or "Do not have any other Gods before me". "Avoid geneologies" is a timely instruction given to particular people so that they can fulfill their ministry and calling .
The Apostle and Evangelist Matthew is using the geneology of Jesus to show the Jews, to whom it is written, that Jesus is the Messiah , promised in the old testament. He is using it as an evangelistic tool to present Jesus as the Messiah , their Messiah , who is also the saviour of the whole world.
So the skeptics attack on the first verse of the new testament demonstrates their ignorance and misunderstandings about Scripture.
Skeptic's Annotated Bible : The gospel of Matthew begins with a boring genealogy like that we are told to avoid in 1 Tim.1:4 ("Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies") and Titus 3:9 ("Avoid foolish questions and genealogies").
Answer : The skeptic here charges that Matthew 1:1 contradicts 1 Timothy 1:4 and Titus 3:9
1 Timothy 1
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith.
Here Paul advises Timothy to address a problem in the Church. He is concerned about people teaching wrong doctrines , myths , endless geneologies . So he is asking Timothy to command the church under his care not to go into all these false teachings and 'endless' geneologies. It is not a question of avoiding all sorts of geneologies always. It about not wasting time on 'endless geneologies'.
The geneology of Jesus is not an endless geneology .
But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Titus 3:9
"Avoid foolish questions, and genealogies" - In these the Jews particularly delighted; they abounded in the most frivolous questions; and, as they had little piety themselves, they were solicitous to show that they had descended from godly ancestors. - Adam Clarke's commentary
Here Paul is advising Titus , to whom it is written not to focus his ministry and work on foolish questions and geneologies. This instruction was given particularly to titus , to help him in focus on the right areas so that he can fulfill his call. It is not an absolute command to all Christians everywhere to avoid geneologies always and at all costs, as the skeptics (mis)understand.
"Avoid geneologies" is not an absolute command like "Do not commit adultery" or "Do not have any other Gods before me". "Avoid geneologies" is a timely instruction given to particular people so that they can fulfill their ministry and calling .
The Apostle and Evangelist Matthew is using the geneology of Jesus to show the Jews, to whom it is written, that Jesus is the Messiah , promised in the old testament. He is using it as an evangelistic tool to present Jesus as the Messiah , their Messiah , who is also the saviour of the whole world.
So the skeptics attack on the first verse of the new testament demonstrates their ignorance and misunderstandings about Scripture.
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