The phrase book of the genealogy
is the heading for the accounts of the creation, fall, the mother promise about the seed of the woman, and the continuing sin leading to the Flood. This shows the need for the coming of Christ. The term biblos shows the solemn and sacred importance of Matthew’s gospel, and the term geneseos hints at how the birth of Jesus is a new beginning for all who acknowledge him as their King.
The earliest history of heaven and earth (Genesis 2:4–4:26), as well as the earliest history of humanity is recorded under this same heading (Genesis 5:1–6:8, the Septuagint translates Adam
in Genesis 5:1 as people) is also found under the same heading. The word biblos would therefore have sounded solemn and official to the readers. The word genesis leads them back to a twofold account of the earliest history of creation. How did heaven and earth become what they are now? It was all because of the fall, the mother promise, and the separation between belief and unbelief. How did humanity become what it is now? By virtue of Adam’s sin and the birth of his descendants under the wrath of God over their sins. Matthew is able to employ these ancient expressions because he is speaking of an abiding reality. Jesus is the Christ and he is with us always (Matthew 28:20). How did this come to be? Matthew’s Gospel provides the answer.1
This title provided at the start of the gospel also contains an ineluctable reference to the divinely inspired records of the earliest history of heaven and earth, and of humanity. Matthew indicates up front that his book is a sacred book demanding reverence and respect. At the same time he indicates that it does not speak of a bygone past, but about the beginning of a living present. Matthew writes the Record of Jesus’ Origins
for a community that lives daily under the gracious government of King Jesus in heaven.2
1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.