A frequent misinterpretation of Luke 3:36 focuses on the inclusion of Cainan between Arphaxad and Shelah, which is absent from the Hebrew Masoretic Text of Genesis 11 but present in the Septuagint; critics wrongly claim this proves Luke erred or fabricated the genealogy, ignoring that Luke followed the Greek translation common in his time, that ancient genealogies often omitted names or used variant traditions for theological emphasis rather than strict chronology, and that such differences do not undermine the passage's purpose of affirming Jesus' human descent.
Luke 3:36
King James Version (1769)
36 Which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech,
Luke 3:36 continues the genealogy of Jesus in Luke's Gospel, tracing his lineage backward through Cainan to Arphaxad, Shem, Noah, and Lamech, ultimately connecting him to Adam as the first man. This detailed ancestry underscores Jesus' full humanity, his solidarity with all people, and his role as the promised Messiah whose obedience reverses Adam's fall, fulfilling Old Testament promises and establishing his credentials for redemption.