On the Harmony of Matthew and Luke in the Genealogy of Christ

Ambrose of Milan (340–397)

Latin Text from public domain Migne Editors, Patrologiae Cursus Completus.

Translated into English using ChatGPT.

Table of Contents

On the Harmony of Matthew and Luke in the Genealogy of Christ.

On the Harmony of Matthew and Luke in the Genealogy of Christ.

In the genealogy of Christ, Matthew and Luke seem to differ, because while one, that is, Matthew, traces the lineage downwards, the other, that is, Luke, traces it upwards, forming the sequence of the same genealogy. Indeed, Matthew begins the narrative from Abraham and descends to David, then through Solomon to Joseph, tracing the line. But Luke, starting from Joseph, goes through Nathan to David, and from David to Abraham, and finally, by retracing the order of the genealogy, goes from Abraham to Adam. Hence it happens that from David downwards, when he traces the line through Nathan and this [Luke] through Solomon, the entire order of the computation is almost inconsistent. But because Holy Scripture sometimes presents different things, but never accepts what is contrary, since we are not permitted to believe inconsistency, we are compelled to seek the truth that is hidden. Therefore, Matthew computes the descent of the genealogy…

See also

• More works by Ambrose of Milan

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