Is there any evidence that Paul was a descendant of Jonathan?
score:0
If Church tradition, or other explicit sources, are silent, the underlying thought behind the question can surprisingly be answered mathematically. Paul, like everyone, had 2 parents, 4 grandparents, 8 great grandparents etc. A thousand years before his time he would have had around a billion ancestors, far more than the population of the whole world. This means that if Jonathan's line had not died out completely, then he would have been an ancestor, many times over, of every Jew then living.
Either no first century Jew was descended from Jonathan, or every first century Jew was descended from Jonathan. If this is so, then the direct saving of Paul, in particular, cannot have been a particular fulfilment of David and Jonathan's covenant, appealing as the idea seems.
This article from National Geographic looking at the European population over the 2nd millennium AD, rather than the much smaller Jewish population in the first millennium BC, concludes:
The most recent common ancestor of every European today (except for recent immigrants to the Continent) was someone who lived in Europe in the surprisingly recent past—only about 600 years ago. In other words, all Europeans alive today have among their ancestors the same man or woman who lived around 1400. Before that date, according to Chang’s model, the number of ancestors common to all Europeans today increased, until, about a thousand years ago, a peculiar situation prevailed: 20 per cent of the adult Europeans alive in 1000 would turn out to be the ancestors of no one living today (that is, they had no children or all their descendants eventually died childless); each of the remaining 80 per cent would turn out to be a direct ancestor of every European living today.
To misquote2 Corinthians 11 22; if Paul was descended from Jonathan so was everyone else.
Upvote:0
I'm not sure if this question has arisen in Christendom. As, most of Christendom is fascinated by Moses, King David, Jesus, Peter, and Paul. I'd say it's 'unlikely' but...there are billions who have gone before us. :) I'm sure it's come up before but I'm not sure that the question has been documented.
As to the question itself. My current understanding is no jew desired to keep a detailed tally of their heritage, with exception to the descendants of David (Luke 2:4) since they were ancient jews, it was their conviction that the Messiah would come through the line of David (2 Samuel 7:12-16). The only identification they, all Israelites, used are two fold. Whom was their parent and what tribe did they come from? As you can see this thread throughout scripture.
- The prophetess Anna, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (Luke 2:36)
- king Saul, son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin (Acts
13:21) - Bezalel, son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah
(Exodus 31:2) - Oholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan (Exodus 31:6)
If you want a lot of these examples, go here.
In conclusion, someone throughout the ages could've asked this same question but I haven't seen it yet. Also, the jews simply wouldn't ask this question because they were focused on the Davidic line to find the Messiah.
More post
- 📝 Who decides if a verse is literal and what parts of the Bible metaphorical?
- 📝 Relationship between Mary/Elizabeth or Jesus/John?
- 📝 Was Matthew's inclusion of the story of the Magi be a form of midrash influenced by events in 66 A.D.?
- 📝 What happens to people outside Earth on the second coming?
- 📝 According to Catholicism, does the last judgement include a last chance to reconcile?
- 📝 According to Catholicism, is it a gravely sinful act to give shelter to a criminal wanted by the State?
- 📝 In what sense is Jesus understood to be "the only begotten son of God" in LDS teaching?
- 📝 "You are dust and to dust you shall return" versus resurrection of the body (Catholic perspective)
- 📝 According to Catholicism, is the existence of God self-evident?
- 📝 Is Isaiah telling about the antichrist?
- 📝 Thomism, Natural Law and our Fallen Nature
- 📝 Regarding women participation in extraordinary ministry (Roman-Catholic Church)
- 📝 Did Genesis 2 occur all in one day?
- 📝 What is considered "The Word of the Lord" in the Episcopal Liturgy
- 📝 What is the purpose of Genesis 1-9 according to non-YEC Trinitarians?
- 📝 Why is the curse of original sin not specific to humans?
- 📝 Were the scriptural readings at Mass ever other than Vulgate read at mass pre-Vatican II?
- 📝 According to Protestant trinitarians, what is the significance of the father-son relationship between God and Christ?
- 📝 State of Grace and Demonic Possession
- 📝 Is it best not to mention a denomination or branch when talking to a person who belongs to a different one?
- 📝 What is the difference between "called" and "chosen"?
- 📝 Do You Remain a Human after Death?
- 📝 Calvinist perspective on Luke 18:18-30
- 📝 Why doesn't the Catholic Church kill heretics anymore?
- 📝 How do Trinitarians explain Titus 1:3 & 4 in light of Isaiah 43:11?
- 📝 In Genesis 18, does Jesus meet with Abraham?
- 📝 According to Catholicism, Can God annihilate the soul?
- 📝 What is the origin of praying hands folded?
- 📝 What is the Biblical Basis for Prima Scriptura?
- 📝 How would Catholics respond to the theory that Mary was a surrogate mother that had no DNA in common with Jesus?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 Is there any evidence that Paul was a descendant of Jonathan?
- 📝 Is there any evidence that in the middle ages (France and maybe Spain), there was a wafer/bread given to the priests as a gift for the priest?
- 📝 What evidence is there that Jesus was a carpenter?
- 📝 Is there evidence that Isaiah 53 was viewed as a Messianic prophecy within Judaism, or is it an exclusively Christian interpretation?
- 📝 What evidence is there that the Apostle Paul had been a member of the Sanhedrin?
- 📝 What is the evidence that suggests that the Apostle Paul was married?
- 📝 Is there any tradition that informs us of how old Mary was when she gave birth to Jesus?
- 📝 Is there any evidence for the claim that the Catholic church suppressed translation of Scripture?
- 📝 What evidence is there that Peter was a bishop in Rome?
- 📝 Is there any manuscript or historical evidence to support the final 13 verses of Genesis 50 that appear in the Joseph Smith Translation?
- 📝 Is there any evidence that Romans viewed Christian teachings on sexual restraint as a liberating influence?
- 📝 Is there any evidence in the Roman catacombs that the Early Church had a devotion to the Virgin Mary?
- 📝 Is there any evidence that Lent used to be a 3 day observance?
- 📝 What evidence is there that the Jews thought leprosy was due to sin?
- 📝 Is there any evidence that people of Jewish descent came to the Americas before the birth of Christ Jesus
- 📝 Is there any evidence that some Christian leaders discourage lay Christians from reading the whole OT or NT?
- 📝 Is there any historical evidence that the early church believed in the doctrine of intercession of saints during the 1st and 2nd centuries AD?
- 📝 Is there any extra-biblical evidence that shows the apostles were martyred?
- 📝 What evidence is there that God as father was a common concept for Jesus's first century Jewish audience?
- 📝 Is there any historical evidence that would indicate where exactly the ark of the covenant is now located?
- 📝 Are there any major / orthodox Christian leaders that taught that Paul didn't meet Jesus?
- 📝 What hard evidence is there that Charles Wesley was Arminian?
- 📝 Is there any evidence to support the claim that the Apostle St. Peter founded the Church in Antioch and, if so, what are the implications?
- 📝 What Biblical evidence is there that the Apostles feared for their lives after Jesus was crucified?
- 📝 What evidence is there that the thief on the cross was not baptized?
- 📝 What was the language that Enoch spoke and did the Book of Enoch get written 3000 years BC is there any proof or carbon dating of that?
- 📝 Are there any denominations that defend their doctrines by appealing to extra-biblical evidence from the 1st/2nd century of the early Church?
- 📝 Is there any historical evidence that the supernatural gifts of the Spirit were still in operation after the apostolic age?
- 📝 Is there any evidence that Jesus had no children?
- 📝 What evidence is there that the New Testament was originally written in Aramaic?