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MATTHEW 1:18 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
Matt 1:17Matt 1:19
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.”
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. The genealogy announced the legal context; the narrative now explains the biological reality. Betrothal in first-century Judaism was legally binding — a betrothed couple were considered husband and wife for all legal purposes including inheritance, though they did not yet live together or consummate the marriage. Mary's pregnancy before the marriage's consummation would therefore appear, to any observer, as evidence of unfaithfulness. The from the Holy Spirit is Matthew's narrative explanation, not yet part of anyone's knowledge within the story except Mary's. Isaiah 7:14 promised a virgin-born child named Immanuel; the Spirit who brooded over the waters at creation now overshadows Mary for the new creation.

Church Fathers on Matthew 1:18

Having said above, 'And Jacob begat Joseph,' to whom Mary being espoused bare Jesus; that none who heard should suppose that His birth was as that of any of the forementioned fathers, he cuts off the thread of his narrative, saying, 'But Christ’s generation was thus.' As though he were to say, The generation of all these fathers was as I have related it; but Christ’s was not so, but as follows, 'His mother Mary being espoused.'

Pseudo-Chrysostom · 5th century

He announces that he is to relate the manner of the generation, shewing therein that he is about to speak some new thing; that you may not suppose when you hear mention of Mary’s husband, that Christ was born by the law of nature.

Chrysostom · 4th century

Yet it might be referred to the foregoing in this way, The generation of Christ was, as I have related, thus, 'Abraham begat Isaac.'

Remigius · 9th century
Read all 29 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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