The biblical genealogical record, contained in Luke 3:23-38, calculates a single generation from father to son and thus provides the exact number of generations that span from the beginning of time to Jesus’ public ministry.
- From Adam to Noah spans 10 generations (1500-1600 years).
- From Adam to Abraham spans 20 generations (1890-2000 years).
- From Adam to Jesus spans 76 generations (4000 years).
Since there is no biblical genealogical record from the time of Jesus to our modern day, we must identify a single generation by modern calculations. Therefore, according to modern calculations, every 25 years is a new generation.
- From Jesus to 2025 spans 81 generations (81×25 = 2025).
So now let’s take these two totals and add them up:
- 76 (Old Testament generations)
- + 81 (New Testament generations)
- = 157 generations
At the very least, Noah is everyone’s 147th great-grandfather!
Remember that this is not the total number of generations that have ever lived, as there have been many more than 157. Consider Deuteronomy 7:9, for example. This study is specifically tracking the shortest number of generations that it takes to trace from the beginning of time until the present day.