{"id":10136,"date":"2020-06-22T14:56:19","date_gmt":"2020-06-22T19:56:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/e-gen.info\/?page_id=10136"},"modified":"2020-09-01T13:54:28","modified_gmt":"2020-09-01T18:54:28","slug":"the-inspiration-of-scripture-in-personal-genealogy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/e-gen.info\/?page_id=10136","title":{"rendered":"The Inspiration of Scripture in Personal Genealogy"},"content":{"rendered":"

by<\/span>
\nLarry Pearce<\/span>
\n6\/22\/20<\/span><\/p>\n

(Click on charts to enlarge\/ Hit backspace to return)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

So often we Christians and Jews take for granted what the Bible and Torah teach concerning the family histories of their characters. I don\u2019t know that I\u2019ve ever heard a sermon based on just lists of ancestors or descendants. I\u2019m certain that I\u2019ve never attended a Bible Study or Sunday School Class devoted to the subject of scriptural genealogy. In beginning my research on this subject, I Googled \u201cGenealogy and Scripture\u201d<\/a> and was lead to a list of 100 passages from the English Standard Version (ESV). For the purpose of this brief article, I eliminated much of the duplication and overlap included in the original list in the interest of simplicity. I\u2019ll explain as I go along, but my general thesis is that Scripture can be an inspiration for doing personal family genealogy. The idea is that references to individuals and families can be found from the first chapter of Genesis to the last words of Revelation. The very word \u201cInspiration\u201d alludes to the Holy Spirit, part of the Christian Trinity. In keeping with the Hebrew word \u201cRuach,\u201d or \u201cbreath of life,\u201d<\/a> found over 400 times in the Old Testament alone, our ancestors in the Faith believed the Spirit of God “hovered over the waters” to make a place for the dry land and then, having created man literally from the dirt, \u201cbreathed into\u201d the nostrils of Adam and Eve. They, in keeping with the two-directionalism of the concept, could therefore\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cbreathe out\u201d what God had said and done through the Holy Scriptures and His people. Before I wrote this particular piece, I expressed over the years what I believed to have been my own religious experiences through various\u00a0 articles inspired by Ruach. Some of these stories stretch back as far as the ancestors of my Great-great Pearces and Austens, the first having been followers of St. Peter and the second were adherents to the teachings of St. Augustine. Look below for links to these and other writings. I’ve also listed ideas for forthcoming articles such as my Pearce family’s non-conformist connections to English evangelists John and Charles Wesley.\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

What follows is a simple outline of genealogical references to family histories. Each part is appropriate for sermons and\/or small group studies. Let\u2019s begin at the beginning. We all probably know from the creation story that God made man and mate on the sixth day, but later the Bible specifically records this accounting:<\/span><\/p>\n

This is the book of the generations of Adam. . . <\/i>(Genesis <\/i>5:1-32)\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

And just five chapters beyond that, after the story of Noah and the flood, this list is given:<\/span><\/p>\n

These are the generations of the sons of Noah . . . (Genesis 10: 1-32)\"\"<\/a><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Fifteen chapters beyond that is the story of Abraham, the patriarch of three of the world\u2019s great religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. If you recall, Abraham was not given an heir despite his great migration from Ur to Canaan<\/a>. As his wife Sarah\u2019s age progressed beyond child-bearing years, Abraham sensed the need to procreate with Hagar, Sarah\u2019s servant, which was not unusual in those days. Thus son Ishmael was born, and scripture says:<\/span><\/p>\n

These are the generations of Ishmael . . . (Genesis 25: 12-16)\"\"<\/a><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

When God re-visited Abraham and announced that Sarah would then have a son, his wife laughed in her heart, saying, \u201cAfter I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?\u201c (Genesis 18: 12).<\/i> As promised, Isaac was born to them, but Abraham’s twin grandsons, Jacob, later called “Israel,” and Esau, couldn\u2019t have been more different. Esau was the hairy, hungry outdoorsman, where as Jacob<\/a>, whom we might call the more civilized, became known as the deceiver, or “Jake the snake” for stealing Esau’s birthright. Both eventually found themselves in exile. We read the list of Esau\u2019s descendants:<\/span><\/p>\n

These are the generations of Esau . . . (Genesis 36: 1-43)\"\"<\/a><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Likewise, Jacob\u2019s patience in waiting for his beloved Rachel, while already married to Leah and in servitude to their father, generates this accounting in the previous chapter:<\/span><\/p>\n

The sons of Leah: . . .<\/i>(Genesis <\/i>35: 23-26)\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Eleven chapters beyond is a short record of their son Dan\u2019s descendants (Genesis <\/i>46: 23-24), but in the next book of scripture, Exodus<\/em>, is a wonderful, more complete list of that generation’s descendants, including Moses and Aaron:<\/span><\/p>\n

These are the heads of their fathers\u2019 houses: . . . <\/i>(Exodus <\/i>6: 14-15)\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

I think it\u2019s always fun to listen to lay readers of scripture to try and pronounce some of these names in a church service. It takes practice and consistency. I\u2019m sure I couldn\u2019t do much better on short notice. The Old Testament of the Christian Bible contains some interesting genealogical detail in the first two chapters of 1 Chronicles, beginning with a repetition from Genesis of the sons and grandsons of Abraham. Special attention is given to Abraham\u2019s concubine Keturah and their sons and grandsons (1 Chronicles <\/i>1: 28-33).<\/span><\/p>\n

Isaiah was Israel\u2019s great prophet and prognosticator for the coming of Jesus. In chapter 11 of his book he predicts: \u201cThere shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.\u201d \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Christians know from Matthew, the first book of the New Testament, that Jesse was the father of King David, surely the most powerful figure in the Bible after Jesus. David was the father of Solomon, the heir to the throne who built the first temple in Jerusalem, but the entire line is recorded: <\/span><\/p>\n

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse <\/i>(Matthew <\/i>1:1-25).\"\"<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Luke, writer of the third Gospel, follows with his own list:<\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri\u2026 (Luke 3:23-38)<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

These New Testament writers repeat some of these relationships to strengthen the readers\u2019 understanding of family histories. One point that Matthew makes that I thought was remarkable is the balance among the historical sections in the Bible:<\/span><\/p>\n

So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations. (Matthew 1: 17)<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Would that our personal genealogies be that symmetrical.\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

While steeped in family history for what is surely the understanding and credibility of the Faith, Scripture is not without its warnings and serious questions. Paul, in a letter to Timothy, on of the early church leaders, writes: <\/span><\/p>\n

Nor [should believers] devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. (1 Timothy 1:4)<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

And again, in an anonymous apostolic letter to Jewish followers of Jesus:<\/span><\/p>\n

For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. (Hebrews 7: 14)<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

To the Galatians, Paul warns the early church to be careful to use the exact genealogical phrases in preserving the meaning of Scripture:<\/span><\/p>\n

Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, \u201cAnd to offsprings,\u201d referring to many, but referring to one, \u201cAnd to your offspring,\u201d who is Christ. <\/i><\/span>(Galatians 3:16)<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Need we say more? We are admonished not to spend too much time in biblical genealogy, especially as it might tempt you to make unnecessary assertions. But, we believe that as you study Scripture, additional passages and phrases will jump out at you or older, more familiar lines with take on new meaning. Just as God and His Holy Spirit have breathed into the characters of both Old and New Testaments the precise words and meanings He wishes to convey, so too are you destined to understand and share those ideas. James 2:26<\/i> says that \u201cFaith without works is dead.\u201d<\/i> We know that Faith comes through Grace, so it follows that after Salvation, we must continue to work toward the understanding of Scripture. That\u2019s not to say that the harder we try, the more understanding we have, but without some effort, our comprehensions can be dead – having died of malnutrition. Best wishes on your efforts. Please share your comments below or write to me directly and we\u2019ll respect your privacy. <\/span><\/p>\n

Other posted articles related to religion in our families:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOriginal Family Narrative,\u201d<\/a> Robert Penhey’s interpretation of the Pearce-Austen story<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUpon this Rock, Pt. 3,\u201d<\/a> a list of some famous Pearces in history<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFaith of our Fathers (& Mothers),\u201d<\/a> a 2-part look at our families’ religious heritage<\/span><\/p>\n

“Exodus from Germany,”<\/a> the\u201cPush-Pull” theory of emigration by Matthew C. Pearce<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRev. William Jack,\u201d<\/a> the expulsion from Dublin of a Presbyterian great-grandfather<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cInvasion of the Millers,\u201d<\/a> some Amish-Mennonite ancestors in PA & OH<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cChristian \u2018Schmidt\u2019 Miller,\u201d<\/a> the first Amish Bishop in Northern Somerset County<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPreachers Among the Pearces & Associated Families,\u201d<\/a> a brief synopsis\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRev. Dr. McLeod M. Pearce,\u201d<\/a> President of Geneva College for a quarter century<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDavid B. Gray, Ph.D.,\u201d<\/a> a cousin who turned from preacher to professor<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cChristianity Comes Home,\u201d<\/a> a 4-part series on our personal faith journey<\/span><\/p>\n

Articles being written:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPearce Family Non-conformist Ties to Evangelists John & Charles Wesley\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Last revised 6\/22\/20<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Larry Pearce 6\/22\/20 (Click on charts to enlarge\/ Hit backspace to return) So often we Christians and Jews take for granted what the Bible and Torah teach concerning the family histories of their characters. I don\u2019t know that I\u2019ve … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":9075,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-10136","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/e-gen.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10136","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/e-gen.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/e-gen.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/e-gen.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/e-gen.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10136"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/e-gen.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10136\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10154,"href":"https:\/\/e-gen.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10136\/revisions\/10154"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/e-gen.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9075"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/e-gen.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10136"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}