field,matthew_line,luke_line
Gospel,Matthew 1,Luke 3
Descent through (son of David),Solomon,Nathan
Generations from David to Joseph,26,41
Joseph's immediate father,Jacob,Heli
Structural pattern,14-14-14 generations (Matthew's explicit framing),Extended back through Adam
Divergence point,David (immediately after),David (immediately after)
Reconvergence point,Joseph (with contradictory father-name),Joseph (with contradictory father-name)
Key contradiction 1,Different immediate father for Joseph (Jacob),Different immediate father for Joseph (Heli)
Key contradiction 2,Through Solomon,Through Nathan (different son of David)
Key contradiction 3,26 generations,41 generations (15-generation gap)
Key contradiction 4,Different names at nearly every intermediate generation,Different names at nearly every intermediate generation
Harmonization 1 — Matthew is Joseph's line Luke is Mary's line,Luke explicitly names Joseph not Mary (Luke 3:23),Luke explicitly names Joseph not Mary (Luke 3:23)
Harmonization 2 — Levirate marriage (Julius Africanus),Requires unattested assumption repeated across generations,Requires unattested assumption repeated across generations
Harmonization 3 — Two descents through different Davidic sons,Does not explain 15-generation count difference,Does not explain 15-generation count difference