Introduction

Having investigated the Jewish tradition steming from the Table of Nations in Genesis 10, especially that reflected in Jubilees 8–9, we are now in a position to consider the Christian reception of that tradition. There is, of course, no firm dividing line between “Jewish” and “Christian” in the first century, and what eventually came to be known as “Christianity” developed originally within a Jewish matrix. Hence, we turn now to the NT with the expectation of an essential continuity of tradition, without assuming complete correspondence at every point. Since the Jubilees 8–9 tradition was obviously in circulation during the Second-Temple period, we shall not be surprised if it influenced the NT as well. This is at least a possibility that can be tested. The two-volume work of Luke-Acts provides an excellent test case because of its strongly geographic and ethnic orientation – the two foci of the Jubilees tradition. In the following, we shall examine in turn both Luke's Gospel and the Book of Acts, being careful in the process also to note some of their overarching themes.

The Gospel of Luke

Jesus' Genealogy and the Table of Nations (Luke 3:23–38)

Our investigation of the possible reception of Genesis 10 tradition in Luke begins with the genealogy of Jesus (Lk. 3:23–38). There has been much discussion about the possible source(s) of the Lukan genealogy. Some scholars have traced it back to the Septuagint version of either Genesis 5 and 11, or 1 Chronicles 1ff.