Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!apple!sun-barr!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: burt@sequent.uucp (Burton Keeble) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Descendents Message-ID: Date: 14 Apr 91 06:28:14 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Sequent Computer Systems, Inc Lines: 41 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article cadence!stevep@uunet.uu.net (Steve Peterson) writes: >In article burt@sequent.uucp ([Burton Keeble]) writes: > >>It would seem that since geneology was a major issue with the Jews, >>they would have continued the practice of keeping family records even after >>their conversion. Jesus had many relatives on his mother's side. Why wouldn't >>they have had even greater reason to feel proud of their blood relationship >>to him, and to pass that information down through the generations? > >It could have been out of humility, not wanting to draw attention to themselves >as if they were somehow better or more special because of the relationship.... > > >Best Regards...... > >Steve Peterson > >---- > stevep@cadence.com or ...!uunet!cadence!stevep Well, you might have a good point there. However, I would argue that such records would also serve for purposes of identification, and clarification for future generations. Obviously, it came in handy for establishing the link between David and Jesus. It was very important for Joseph to be able to trace his ancestry back to Abraham, and further, thereby giving him a legitimate family line and elegibility for betrothal to Mary, who was also of Davidic ancestry. Perhaps after the resurection, the christians didn't feel the need to keep such detailed records. And yet, it seems like such a simple thing for them to have done. So, two generations later, someone might say: " my greatuncle was John, who was the brother of Jesus." Not out of pride, but simply for accuracy of records (deeds, for ex.). But is there anyone living today, gentile or jew, who can trace his ancestry back to OT times? -burt