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...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
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Published: |
Cambridge Univ. Press
2003
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In: |
New Testament studies
Year: 2003, Volume: 49, Issue: 4, Pages: 476-488 |
Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
Parallel Edition: | Electronic
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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) |
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ISSN: | 1469-8145 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: New Testament studies
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1017/S0028688503000250 |