Genealogy of Jesus Christ (Luke 3)

"And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,"

"Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David,"

"Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God."

"Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come."

"And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit."

Why does Luke go through Nathan instead of Solomon?

The historic understanding is that Luke records Mary's biological line through Nathan, while Matthew records Joseph's legal/royal line through Solomon. Both descend from David, fulfilling 2 Samuel 7 from two complementary angles.

Why does Luke trace Jesus all the way back to Adam?

Luke writes to a Gentile audience and presents Jesus as the Second Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45). The genealogy frames the gospel as good news for the whole human race, not for Israel alone.

What does 'as was supposed' mean in Luke 3:23?

It is Luke's careful guard of the virgin birth. Joseph was assumed to be Jesus' father, but the line that follows is biological through Mary — preserving the Davidic descent without breaking the conception by the Holy Ghost (Luke 1:35).