The Justification of Wisdom (Matt 11.19b/Luke 7.35)

This article challenges the conventional translation and interpretation of the perplexing aphorism in Matt 11.19/Luke 7.35. Linguistic evidence in particular indicates that the phrase should not be interpreted as defiant (‘but Wisdom is justified by her deeds/children’). The initial και should be re...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Gathercole, Simon J. 1974- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Cambridge Univ. Press 2003
In: New Testament studies
Year: 2003, Volume: 49, Issue: 4, Pages: 476-488
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Parallel Edition:Electronic
Description
Summary:This article challenges the conventional translation and interpretation of the perplexing aphorism in Matt 11.19/Luke 7.35. Linguistic evidence in particular indicates that the phrase should not be interpreted as defiant (‘but Wisdom is justified by her deeds/children’). The initial και should be read as a simple connective rather than an adversative. The εδικαιωθη … απο refers to the separation or dissociation of Wisdom from the ministries of John and Jesus according to this generation. Jesus' statement is a bitter complaint, then, of the lack of response by his contemporaries to the message of the kingdom. Matthew's version should be rendered: ‘And Wisdom has been absolved of her deeds.’ Luke 7.35, similarly, can be translated: ‘And Wisdom has been dissociated from her children.’και εδικαιωθη η σοϕια απο των εργων αυτης. (Matt 11.19b)και εδικαιωθη η σοϕια απο παντων των τεκνων αυτης. (Luke 7.35)
ISSN:1469-8145
Contains:Enthalten in: New Testament studies
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1017/S0028688503000250