The inclusion of the women in the Matthean genealogy : universalism or particularism?

Abstract

The subject of this master's thesis entitled "the inclusion of pagan women in Matthew's genealogy, raises the question of whether it is a particularism or a universalism matter. The aim is to examine whether the Gospel of Matthew strengthens or weakens the thesis of particularism. In this sense, this notion of genealogy should be discussed in depth. It can already be described here as a literary genre that emerged from the narrative of the origin and reproduction of the human species. It is expressed in two forms; the linear form which defines a descent line from an ancestor who is at the origin of a filiation; and the second form which constitutes a segmented descent having several lines of descent which result of a common ancestor. It essentially allows the justification of family ties between individuals by way of descent or ancestry. Thereby, genealogy is a revealer to identify each individual by letting him know his place in the lineage of origin of his ancestors. Matthew draws up the genealogy of Jesus along these lines to contextualize him as a Jew and to legitimize him in his vocation as Messiah. He establishes the genealogy of Jesus to clarify the enigma of his origin but the juxtaposition of Jews and Gentiles and that of sinful women and Mary already constitutes the problem of the inclusion of Jews and pagans in the salvation of God. Through the dual designation of Jesus as "Son of David and Son of Abraham," we perceive a high dimension of the identity character of Jesus; that of a Messiah who had to come from the line of David to establish his Kingship. Though, as the son of Abraham, he joins the promise of the calling of the Nations, which constitutes the basis of universalism. It is the same for the inclusion of pagan women in his genealogy, which has no other function than to define the universal character of the person of Jesus of Nazareth. The research has therefore argued that inclusion opens the way for all men who believe in Christ to sonship in Him.