DIKAIOS

Steven Craig Miller scmiller at www.plantnet.com
Sun Oct 17 08:46:50 EDT 1999


To: Carl W. Conrad,

<< As for DIKAIOS, the word must be understood in the context of Matthew's 
gospel as a recurrent and important theme word to be considered in all of 
its applications ... >>

Perhaps,  but I would note that a number of scholars disagree with you 
here. Father Brown [1977/1993:125] writes:

<< Although DIKAIOS, "upright, just" is a favorite Matthean word ... The 
most likely meaning of "upright" here [at Mt 1:19], namely, observant of 
the Law, is not the usual meaning of DIKAIOS for Matthew ... >>

And Davies and Allison [1988:203] write:

<< ... DIKAIOS should not be understood as Matthew's preferred technical 
term for true Christian disciples; and in 1.19 the word simply indicates 
obedience to the Torah. >>

Of course, these things are always a judgment call, and I wouldn't want to 
suggest that your interpretation has no merit. On the other hand, it seems 
to me that it would be a mistake to assume than any author always uses each 
term consistently in the same way throughout one's writing.

-Steven Craig Miller
Alton, Illinois (USA)
scmiller at www.plantnet.com



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