[b-greek] RE:Matt 15:22-28

From: clayton stirling bartholomew (c.s.bartholomew@worldnet.att.net)
Date: Mon Dec 18 2000 - 16:28:38 EST


It has been suggested by some that the imperfect in Matt 15:25 may indicate
that the woman was already right there (close enough to hear) when Jesus
made his statement to the disciples* in v24.

Matthew has some predictable narrative patterns which seem to undermine this
thesis. When Matthew moves the narrative forward a notch he often does this
with a verb of movement (e.g., ERCOMAI) in the form of a participle followed
by a finite verb**.

ERCOMAI (participle form) -> finite verb (aor, imp.)

It is evident that Matthew almost always uses this pattern to indicate a
linear event in the narrative. In other words, an event where he presents
the sequence in a linear narrative chronology. One exception to this pattern
is in reported speech, e.g. Matt. 28:13 where we have a nested narrative.
However, within the nested narrative the rule still applies.

(I am speaking here of the chronology of Matthew's narrative and not even
addressing the question of the historical chronology. Synoptic and
historical questions are not in view here. )

The difference between finite verb in the aorist vs. the imperfect has no
impact on this question. The imperfect when used after a participle of
movement encodes an action that is part of the main narrative time line***,
or what I would call a linear narrative event.

To illustrate this point look at Matt. 9:18 were a linear narrative event is
encoded in almost the exact same wording as Matt. 15:25.

Conclusion:

In Matt. 15:25 the sequence hH DE ELQOUSA PROSEKUNEI AUTWi indicates a
physical change of position on the part of the woman after (linear narrative
sequence) Jesus comment to the disciples in v24. This casts some significant
doubt (not conclusive by any means) on the notion that Jesus was addressing
the woman in v24.


--
Clayton Stirling Bartholomew
Three Tree Point
P.O. Box 255 Seahurst WA 98062


***The main narrative time line will include both foreground and background
material. To say that something is in the narrative background is not to say
that is out of sequence or a-temporal in relationship to the authors
presentation of the event sequence. To say that it is background is to make
a comment about its relative prominence in the narrative which is unrelated
to issues of narrative chronology.

*William Hendricksen (Matthew) discusses this question, if you have him
handy take a look. H.A.W. Meyer, L. Morris, A. Plummer all agree that the
statement in v24 was addressed to the disciples.

**ERCOMAI (participle) -> finite verb aorist

Matt. 2:9 Matt. 2:22 Matt. 2:23 Matt. 4:13 Matt. 4:14 Matt. 4:15 Matt. 4:16
Matt. 13:4 Matt. 14:12 Matt. 18:31 Matt. 20:10 Matt. 25:27 Matt. 26:43 Matt.
28:12 Matt. 28:13

**ERCOMAI (participle) -> finite verb Imperfect

Matt. 9:10 Matt. 9:18 Matt. 15:25

Post Post script

An aside on relevance theory. See Alfred Plummer (Matthew 15:24) and his use
of " relevance theory" to argue that the disciples are the addressees of
Jesus in v24.


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