The so-called Johannine thunderbolt.
Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2017 8:22 pm
On page 9 of his article, "Johannine Thunderbolt or Synoptic Seed," Mark Goodacre argues, in the course of trying to demonstrate that Matthew 11.25-27 = Luke 10.21-22 (which has been called "a Johannine thunderbolt from a clear synoptic sky") is actually the inspiration for Johannine christology and not a tapping into it by Matthew, that Matthew 11.27b follows the same pattern or rhythm as other sayings in the gospel of Matthew:
Goodacre footnotes page 298 of Goulder's Midrash and Lection in Matthew, but Goulder does not list Matthew 11.27b as an example of his "repetitive converse logion" — though of course he is not trying to be exhaustive, either. Goulder does offer another example, which Goodacre does not list above:
Taking all of these sayings together (except for the Thunderbolt, just for a moment), we notice a distinctive pattern of contradictions or opposites. Each saying contrasts two opposite introductory clauses (whoever breaks a commandment versus whoever does them; if you forgive versus if you do not forgive; whatever you bind versus whatever you loose; and not storing treasures on earth versus storing them in heaven) and two opposite concluding clauses (called least in the kingdom versus called greatest in the kingdom; your father forgiving you versus your father not forgiving you; something being bound in heaven versus something being loosed in heaven; and moth and rust corroding versus moth and rust not corroding). The pattern is +X, +Y; -X, -Y.
It is obvious, once we lay out this pattern, that Matthew 11.27b does not exactly fit it: "No one knows the son except the father and no one knows the father except the son." This is -X, +Y; -Y, +X. Also, all the other sayings had two complete clauses, each with its own verb(s), in each half of the saying; this one contains only one verb per half (though perhaps we could imagine "except the father" being filled out as "except that the father does," an ungainly construction which Matthew wisely avoids).
I cannot say that I have convinced myself in either direction on this issue, but I think that the form of the saying is not quite as clearly Matthean as Goodacre seems to think it is.
Worthy insights welcome, of course.
Ben.
PS: May as well give the texts themselves:
Some relevant Johannine material:
No one knows the son except the father and no one knows the father except the son and those to whom the son chooses to reveal him: It is worth noting that this kind of construction is found elsewhere in Matthew. Michael Goulder calls it a "repetitive converse logion":
5.19: "Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
6.14-15: "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
16.18: "Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
5.19: "Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
6.14-15: "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
16.18: "Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
Goodacre footnotes page 298 of Goulder's Midrash and Lection in Matthew, but Goulder does not list Matthew 11.27b as an example of his "repetitive converse logion" — though of course he is not trying to be exhaustive, either. Goulder does offer another example, which Goodacre does not list above:
Matthew 6.19-21: 19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Taking all of these sayings together (except for the Thunderbolt, just for a moment), we notice a distinctive pattern of contradictions or opposites. Each saying contrasts two opposite introductory clauses (whoever breaks a commandment versus whoever does them; if you forgive versus if you do not forgive; whatever you bind versus whatever you loose; and not storing treasures on earth versus storing them in heaven) and two opposite concluding clauses (called least in the kingdom versus called greatest in the kingdom; your father forgiving you versus your father not forgiving you; something being bound in heaven versus something being loosed in heaven; and moth and rust corroding versus moth and rust not corroding). The pattern is +X, +Y; -X, -Y.
It is obvious, once we lay out this pattern, that Matthew 11.27b does not exactly fit it: "No one knows the son except the father and no one knows the father except the son." This is -X, +Y; -Y, +X. Also, all the other sayings had two complete clauses, each with its own verb(s), in each half of the saying; this one contains only one verb per half (though perhaps we could imagine "except the father" being filled out as "except that the father does," an ungainly construction which Matthew wisely avoids).
I cannot say that I have convinced myself in either direction on this issue, but I think that the form of the saying is not quite as clearly Matthean as Goodacre seems to think it is.
Worthy insights welcome, of course.
Ben.
PS: May as well give the texts themselves:
Matthew 11.25-27: 25 At that time Jesus said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. 26 Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. 27 All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."
Luke 10.21-22: 21 At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, "I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. 22 All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."
Luke 10.21-22: 21 At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, "I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. 22 All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."
Some relevant Johannine material:
John 3.35: 35 "The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand."
John 5.19-23, 26-27: 19 Jesus therefore answered and was saying to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and greater works than these will He show Him, that you may marvel. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. 22 For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, 23 in order that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. .... 26 For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; 27 and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.
John 8.28: 28 Jesus therefore said, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me."
John 14.13: 13 "And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."
John 17.1-2: 1 These things Jesus spoke; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify Thy Son, that the Son may glorify Thee, 2 even as Thou gavest Him authority over all mankind, that to all whom Thou hast given Him, He may give eternal life."
John 5.19-23, 26-27: 19 Jesus therefore answered and was saying to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and greater works than these will He show Him, that you may marvel. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. 22 For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, 23 in order that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. .... 26 For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; 27 and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.
John 8.28: 28 Jesus therefore said, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me."
John 14.13: 13 "And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."
John 17.1-2: 1 These things Jesus spoke; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify Thy Son, that the Son may glorify Thee, 2 even as Thou gavest Him authority over all mankind, that to all whom Thou hast given Him, He may give eternal life."