however, to the Jewish audience towards whom the Gospel was directed. Lineage and descent were of great importance in Jewish society of the time, and a descent from David and Abraham was crucial to accepting Jesus as the Messiah. The names, at least in the first part of the genealogy, would have been well known to the readers. Some feminist scholars have posited that the prominent position of the genealogy is also an implicit reinforcement of the patriarchal nature of society. They argue that beginning the Gospel with a long string of "X father of Y" clearly exemplifies the masculine domination. Harold Fowler argues that the genealogy also serves to immediately humanize Jesus, by placing him clearly in the family of men. Commentary from Church Fathers Irenaeus: "Now the Gospels, in which Christ is enthroned, are like these. ..... Matthew proclaims his human birth, saying, 'The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham,' and, 'The birth of Jesus Christ was in this manner' . for this Gospel is manlike, and so through the whole Gospel [Christ] appears as a man of a humble mind, and gentle." Rabanus: "[Matthew] says, The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, because he knew it was written, The book of the generation of Adam. He begins thus then, that he may oppose book to book, the new Adam to the old Adam, for by the one were all things restored... By saying, of Jesus Christ. he expresses both the kingly and priestly office to be in Him, for Jesus (here referring to Joshua), who first bore this name, was after Moses, the first who was leader of the children of Israel; and Aaron, anointed by the mystical ointment, was the first priest under the Law." Chrysostom: "And do not consider this genealogy a small thing to hear: for truly it is a marvellous thing that God should descend to be born of a woman, and to have as His ancestors David and Abraham." Remigius; "Though any affirm that the prophet (Isaiah) does speak of His human generation, we need not answer to his enquiry Who shall declare it? "No man;" but, "Very few; because Matthew and Luke have." References External links Matthew 1:1 Compilation of bible manuscripts and versions. 01:01 Matthew 01:01