[B-Greek] "Talents" and PAREDWKEN in Matthew 25

Richard Greene richardgreene at insightbb.com
Wed Nov 9 10:26:14 EST 2005


I'm finding estimates value of the talent ranging from $237.00 to the 
astronomical amounts of 100 pounds of silver, all the way up to 200 
pounds of gold!

If one of the points of the parable is the generosity of the one 
traveling into a far country, then I'm thinking that one of the higher 
amounts would make the best sense, as well as being an example of 
hyperbole that's not unusual for Jesus. Is there any basis in the Greek 
text for choosing one value over another?

The Revised English Bible "translates" talent as "bag of gold." Again, 
is there anything in the text that supports the implicit assertion that 
these particular talents are gold, rather than silver?

* * * * *

About PAREDWKEN in 25.14: If I have it right, it literally means "hand 
over." People seem generally to take it to mean "entrusted," but that's 
surely not the only possibility. Especially since the two guys with the 
larger amounts seem to get to keep the money in the end.

Enlightenment greatly appreciated

Richard W. Greene
The (Episcopal) Church of the Holy Trinity
Geneseo, Illinois



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