> I've always heard that one traced the lineage
> of Yoseph(Joseph), and the other traced it
> through Miryam(Mary). Also, according to the
> footnotes of the NIV Life Application
> Bible, "Genealogies often compressed history,
> meaning that not every generation of ancestors
> was specifically listed. Thus the phrase 'the
> father of' can also be translated 'the ancestor
> of'." - NIV Life Application Bible, footnote on
> Matt. 1:17

OK. That makes more sense than the Joseph/Mary thing, because they both clearly trace the line through Joseph.

Matthew 1:16 - and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

Luke 3:23 Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli,

These are both through Joseph and not Mary.

So I guess the ancestor/father thing works better. I still don't know, though

-Eric Sleator
Mon 17 Sep A.D. 2001