From: jay@oclc.org (Young Jeff)
Subject: Re: An open question...
Organization: OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc.
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL3
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 07:12:41 GMT

tom@tredysvr.Tredydev.Unisys.COM (Tom Albrecht) writes:
: In article <1992Aug26.202508.2666@oclc.org> jay@oclc.org (Young Jeff) writes:
: >
: >Another example:
: >From my reading of Matthew, it is obvious that he took OT quotes
: >out of context to establish the messiahhood.  If the authors
: >are capable of misquoting to gain converts, how authoritative
: >should we believe them to be?
: 
: Well, it not obvious that Matthew took quotes "out of context."  The
: traditional Christian perspective is that the apostles, under the divine
: guidance of the Holy Spirit, were ESTABLISHING the proper context for the
: OT prophecies concerning Messiah.  

Are you saying their original contexts were in error?

Mat 1:22-23.  This refers to Is. 7:14.  It is clear in Is. that
it is Isaiah's own son that was being referred to by this "prophesy".

Mat 2:5-6.  This refers to Micah 5:2.  It is clear here that King
David is being referred to.

Mat 2:15.  This refers to Hosea 11:1.  It is clear here that the
nation of Israel is being referred to.

Mat 2:23.  This "prophesy" isn't to be found in the OT.

Mat 3:3.  This "prophesy" refers to Is. 40:3.  It is clear here that
what is being referred to was the Lord going before the Israelites
as they make their 900 mile journey from Babylon to Palestine.

Mat 21:5.  This prophesy refers to Zechariah 9:9.  Although it isn't
made clear, the passage may refer to Alexander the Great.  The most
interesting part of it is that in Zec., the conquerer enters "riding
upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass."  The other gospel
writers understand that a single animal is being referred to here and
have Jesus entering Jerusalem on a single ass.  Mat. however, 
misunderstands the quote and has Jesus riding into Jerusalem on
two animals at the same time!

Mat 27:9.  This prophesy isn't to be found in Jeremiah as it claims.
It appears to come from Zech. 11:12-13.  These two passages are not
parallel and was apparently included by Mat. in his zeal to include
OT connections.

The author of Matthew is an evangelist and just like many today, isn't
afraid to take verses out of context to support his agenda. I know
many Christians, especially fundamentalists, claim that these are
also archetypes for the coming of the messiah.  I see no reason to
doubt this is anything but apologetic contortionism.  I won't deny
that the concept of the messiah appears in the OT.  Matthew should
have stuck to them instead of grasping at straws.

: Remember, Christians believe that the
: gospel of Matthew is just as much "Torah" or teaching, as Leviticus or
: Isaiah.  The OT and NT stand on equal footing as far as divine law is
: concerned, and one cannot be comprehended without the other.
: 
: If this is the case, then they were obviously not misquoting the OT.  No
: doubt they were engaging in much the same activity as Jesus engaged in with
: clashes with the Pharisees and scribes.  They had developed an intricate
: system of interpretation for various OT laws and prophecies.  Jesus came
: and exposed the real problem with all this tradition.  He righted the
: wrongs of generations of neglect.  The apostles were simple carrying on the
: pattern established by Jesus.

I am sure there are Christians who understand the problems with these
prophesies.  I am curious how they deal with them.
-- 
Jeff Young

Opinions expressed are mine alone.