Complete Works, Vol. XX

IN CAPUT I MATTHÆI

ENNARRATIO.

« The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham 1. »

« The book. »

Here the Evangelist gives his book its title, because it is about the generation of Jesus Christ: turning the face of a man toward us at the beginning of the book.

This entire book is divided into the title and the treatise.

In the title, mention is made of four things: the form, the matter, the one to whom the generation (which is the matter of the book) is attributed, and the origin from which he sprang, namely from Abraham and David. The sentence in the title is elliptical and should be completed as follows: This is the book of the generation, etc.

tion. But then a question arises: since the title is derived from the Greek titan 2, which means a ray, because it irradiates the whole work to which it is applied, this title seems inappropriate because the whole book is not about the generation, nor is the greater part of it.

Furthermore, since Luke more explicitly states the manner of the generation and the annunciation, and the events following the generation, such as the Circumcision and the Hypapante 3, his Gospel should rather have been entitled: Concerning the Generation.

Moreover, John writes about both generations of the Word. But this one writes about only one. Therefore, the Gospel of John should rather be entitled concerning the generation.

If you say that Matthew wrote to the Jews, who had the custom of titling books from their beginnings, and for that reason he complied with their custom by titling the book from the first part: this solution seems invalid because it is based on a falsehood. For when the Hebrews titled books from their beginnings, they pursued the same subject throughout: as is clear in Genesis, in which the entire subject is the generation of creatures and the patriarchs; and Exodus, which entirely contains the departure from Egypt and the things that were done during the departure, and so on with others. Thus, he does not title the book of Kings in this way, nor Isaiah, nor many others. Therefore, he would not title this book from the beginning of the book unless it pursued the subject of the generation of Jesus Christ in some way throughout.

However, if someone says it is stated materially, so that it is the book of the generation, that is, of the begotten Jesus Christ: this seems to be nothing, because in this way the same title would apply to all the Evangelists.

Furthermore, the eternal generation is more worthy than the temporal: and thus the Gospel of John, speaking of the eternal generation, should have been entitled Concerning the Generation.

RESPONSE to the first: this title is appropriate and refers to the whole book. Because regeneration is caused by and draws its reason from generation, in that by the touch of the most pure begotten flesh, he conferred regenerative power upon the waters: for the sacraments of Christ are not received passively as things merely done, but they are made to this end, that they might act within us. And therefore, the generation of Christ is touched upon as a completed act, so that it might perfect generation otherwise: regeneration in us. And therefore, after the generation of Christ, the book immediately touches upon regeneration. But because regeneration does not operate except in those called and enlightened, and draws its power of efficacy from the Passion and the Resurrection, those things which pertain to doctrine, which forms those to be regenerated, and those things which pertain to the passion and resurrection, which perfect them, are therefore added beneath. And for this reason, the book is entirely concluded in the exercise of regenera-

1 Gospel Synopsis: Matt. I, 1-17; Luke III, 23-38.
2 Or better from titaino to extend, to stretch out (Ten, r.); or even the Greek name titlos comes from the Latin titulus.
3 Namely, the Presentation in the Temple.