Biblical Criticism – Who Are the Ancestors of God- the Son of David- the Son of Abraham- as Mentioned in Matthew?
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains the meaning of Matthew’s words:
“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.” (Matthew 1:1)
How can God have ancestors?
Theological Clarification:
Christ is both fully God and fully man, possessing two united natures — divine and human — without confusion or separation.
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In His divinity, He is eternal, without beginning or ancestry — God Himself, existing before all creation.
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In His humanity, He was born of the lineage of David and Abraham, and thus called “the Son of David” and “the Son of Abraham.”
Distinction Between the Two Natures:
The genealogy in Matthew refers solely to Christ’s human nature, the body He took from the Virgin Mary.
It does not touch His divinity, for the divine nature has no beginning, no ancestry, and no time.
Illustrative Examples:
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God is the Creator of David and Abraham, yet in the Incarnation He took flesh from their descendants.
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He is called the Son of Man according to His humanity, and the Son of God according to His divinity.
Thus, the genealogy pertains only to His human body, not His divine essence.
Faith Message:
Therefore, when Scripture says “Son of David, Son of Abraham,” it means Christ’s human lineage, confirming that He is the Messiah foretold in prophecy.
As for His divinity, God has no ancestors, for He is eternal and self-existent, the Creator of all.
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