[B-Greek] EKBALLEI in Mt 13:52
Iver Larsen
iver_larsen at sil.org
Mon Jul 14 07:27:22 EDT 2008
----- Original Message -----
From: "Wieland Willker" <wie at uni-bremen.de>
To: "B-Greek" <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: 14. juli 2008 09:28
Subject: [B-Greek] EKBALLEI in Mt 13:52
>A new article:
>
> "Casting out the Treasure: A New Reading of Matthew 13.52"
> by Peter Phillips
> Journal for the Study of the New Testament 31 (2008) 3-24
>
> Abstract:
> "Matthew 13.52c has been translated, since the time of the Church fathers, as though referring to a householder selecting items from a storehouse to share—a `metaphor of display'. However, this translation does not deal adequately with the verb EKBALLEI. This article explores an alternative reading which maintains the normative semantic domain for the verb in terms of `disposal' or `expulsion'. The use of the verb elsewhere in Greek and biblical literature in general and in the Gospel of Matthew in particular is studied and the results of this study applied to apparent exceptions within Matthew's Gospel. The article argues that these exceptions are unnecessary and that the verb is used consistently in terms of `disposal' or `expulsion'. This thesis is then applied to Mt. 13.52 to provide a new reading. The article finally offers a possible reconstruction of why Patristic writers chose to re-interpret the original text."
>
> The translation is here: "to bring (out)"
> "He said to them, ‘Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old’ (NIV)."
>
> Philips suggests:
> "He said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who casts out from his treasury new and old’."
>
> Best wishes
> Wieland
The theory does not stand up to scrutiny, and it makes no sense. It is not correct that the normative semantic domain for this verb is "expulsion" and certainly not "disposal".
The verb means "to cause something or someone to move or be removed from a certain place".
What happens after removal is outside the scope of the verb. In this verse the owner of the treasure may remove both new and old things out of his storeroom. What he does with them after that depends on context. The focus is on the fact that the treasure contains both old and new things, and both kinds can be taken out and used when appropriate.
Maybe the closest in sense is from Matt 12:20 where "justice" is finally taken out from its hiding pace and brought forth to become victorious.
Iver Larsen
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