The op identifies Calvinism as the gospel and quotes extensively from Prof. David J. Engelsma. The professor does not believe
that the lineage regarding Christ is as defined in scripture and has gone to great lengths to prove his beliefs.
I have absolutely not one single iota of hope that the recognizing of such an error by any Calvinist adherent or parrallel belief systen, will in any way move those persuaded to question how this 'expert' could decide differently than scholars far advanced in understanding than is he. Still, I think it's a little more than interesting that this great man of Calvinism could be found to be so
far removed from what is actually the record as found in scripture.
In plain English, the guy is off in a world of his own which probably results from believing Calvinism is the gospel.
With reference to my post 4486
Sadly, in a post to follow this one, Prof. Engelsma has provided a unique observance of the lineage of Jesus which I have not been able to identify with Calvinism but it's always good to see a more rounded understanding of the personality of an individual rather than simply summing up character by even major error, such as Calvinism.
In an article in the Standard Bearer of December 15, 1991, Prof. Engelsma called attention to the genealogy of Jesus (or, Jesus the Son of Nathan). In this article the writer contends that Jesus and Mary were not in the royal line of David but that Joseph was a physical descendant of Solomon, Rehoboam, Hezekiah, Josiah, and Jehoiachin.
bear in mind that it is Prof. Engelsma’s contention that Mary was not of David’s royal line but that Joseph did belong to that line. If this be true, then we cannot escape the conclusion that David’s royal line runs dead in Joseph without bringing forth the Christ, inasmuch as Mary was not of David’s royal line but Joseph was. However, Joseph was not the father of Jesus; hence, David’s line comes to an end in Joseph without bringing forth the Christ. Now Prof. Engelsma attributes this failure of David’s royal line to bring forth the Christ to the, sins of Jehoiachin, to the fact, that David’s royal line had become unfaithful, disobedient and apostate, that the judgment of God upon it was that it would not produce the everlasting King who establishes the kingdom of God.
source