Pharisees, Jesus and The KIngdom

This electronic version of
the PhD thesis by Roderick R. Letchford

has some formatting errors due to technical difficulties
in the conversion of the original to PDF
Formatting variations include
o Pagination varies slightly. The first page number for each chapter is as
recorded in the Table of Contents.
o The following footnote is missing from p.32 (beginning of Section 1.5)

135a Justification for placing Sections 1.5 and 1.6 in the Introduction may be
found in the concluding paragraph to Section 1.2.1
Fonts
The text contains characters in a variety of ancient fonts.
o Some diacritical marks are missing from Athenian Greek characters. In such
instances the omission is indicated by a faint rectangle, eg.
o A Super Greek character is missing from page 303:

Footnote 6 should read: The best manuscripts read as given: [Super Greek
character for ] 75, , B, L, 1241.
PHARISEES, JESUS
AND THE KINGDOM
Divine Royal Presence

as Exegetical Key to
Luke 17:20-21
A thesis submitted by Roderick R. Letchford, B.Sc., Th.L., M.A.
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Department of History (Classics), School of Humanities
Faculty of Arts
Australian National University
June 2001
Except where specific acknowledgement is made to quoted sources this work is the result
of my own research carried out under the supervision of Mr Robert Barnes of the History
Department in the Australian National University.
..........................................................
Roderick R. Letchford
June 2001
Acknowledgments
Numerous people are to be thanked for their support which enabled me to complete this
project.
First and most of all to my long-suffering and loving wife Heather (Much hardship has
she endured with me for the sake of the Gospel, with due apologies to rabbi Natan) and
my six children, Adrian, Justin, Benjamin, Teresa, Monica and Catherine, the last of
whom was born a month after I started. Their support and patience during my regular
absences in Canberra meant that I could continue with the minimum of guilt.
Mr Robert Barnes, my supervisor, who has guided me over the last six and a half years
through the M.A. and Ph.D. His scholarship, encouragement and guidance have been of
the highest calibre (to say nothing of his extraordinarily generous donations to the ANU
libraries) and will not be forgotten.
Prof. Graeme Clarke, who read through an earlier draft of this thesis and offered many
valuable suggestions, all of which were taken on board. He was also on my Academic
Panel and came to my Mid-Term Review Seminar.
Prof. John Painter of Charles Sturt University - St. Marks College, who was also on my
Academic Panel and attended my Mid-Term Review Seminar. His challenging
questions prompted me to tighten some aspects of the argument.
The members of the Graduate Degrees Committee, who again allowed me to pursue
post-graduate work at ANU even though I resided outside the A.C.T.
The Research and Scholarships Office of the ANU who granted me an APA. This thesis
would have remained a dream were it not for the scholarship.
Drs Elizabeth Minchin, Douglas Kelly and Ann Moffatt, the other faculty members of
the Classics Program, who treated my work with enthusiasm and respect, despite it
being centred a little further east than theirs.
Mrs Zita Denholm for her meticulous proofreading.
Finally, to my fellow post-graduate students, Nan Mackey, Janet Quartermaine, Joan

Stivala, Colleen Chaston, and Chris Elliott. Thankyou for making me part of the place. I
shall miss our monthly Friday lunches.
I hope and pray that the words of m. Abot 3:6 in some degree may have been applicable
to me as I worked on this thesis:
Among one who sits and works hard on Torah, the Presence comes to rest.
Abstract
The quest for the historical Jesus can be advanced by a consideration of
disagreement scenarios recorded in the gospels. Such conflicts afford the opportunity
not only to analyse the positions of the protagonists, but by comparing them, to better
appreciate their relative stances.
One area of disagreement that has remained largely unexplored is that between
Jesus and the Pharisees over the kingdom of God. Indeed, kingdom of God formed
the very foundation of Jesus preaching and thus ought to be the place where fundamental
disagreements are to be found. As Luke 17:20-21 represents the only passage in the
Gospels where the Pharisees show any interest in the kingdom of God, it forms the central
hub of the thesis around which an account of the disparate beliefs of Jesus and the
Pharisees on the kingdom of God is constructed.
The main thesis is this. Luke 17:20-21 can best be explained, at the level of the
Pharisees and Jesus, as betraying a fundamental disagreement, not in the identity of the
kingdom of God, which they both regarded as primarily the Divine Royal Presence, i.e.
God himself as king, but in the location of that kingdom. The Pharisees located the
kingdom in the here-and-now, Jesus located it in heaven. Conversely, at later stages in the
formation of the pericope, the pre-Lukan community identified the kingdom as the Holy
Spirit located in individuals with faith in Jesus and the redactor identified the kingdom as
Jesus, located both in the Historical Jesus and the Jesus now in heaven.
Chapter 1, after the usual preliminary remarks, presents an analysis of Luke 17:20-
21 as a chreia, a literary form ideally suited as the basis on which to compare the beliefs of
the Pharisees and Jesus. The work of three scholars vital to the development of the main
thesis is then reviewed and evaluated. By way of background, a portrait of the Pharisees is
then presented, highlighting in particular, issues that will be of importance in later chapters.
Finally, a section on the Aramaic Targums suggests that some targum traditions may be
traced back prior to AD 70 and that these reflect the influence and beliefs of first century
Palestinian Pharisees.
Chapters 2 and 3 are a consideration of every instance of the explicit mention of
God as king (or his kingship) and the Divine Kingdom respectively, in contemporary and
earlier Jewish Palestinian literature and in Luke-Acts. A model of the kingdom of God is
developed in these chapters that will be applied to Luke 17:20-21 in the next chapter.
Chapter 4 presents a detailed exegesis of Luke 17:20-21, taking into account
scholarship on the pericope since the last monograph (an unpublished dissertation of
1962) on the chreia. It offers a composition history of the pericope and measures previous
exegesis against the view of the kingdom of God as developed in chapters 2 and 3.
Chapter 5 presents a summary of the work that relates directly to Luke 17:20-21,
some implications arising from the findings and, several possible avenues for future
research.
CONTENTS : IN BRIEF
CONTENTS : IN DETAIL........................................................................................... ii
ABBREVIATIONS....................................................................................................... xi
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 PREFACE...............................................................................................................1
1.2 AIM, METHOD AND SOURCES.........................................................................3
1.3 LUKE 17:20-21 AND ITS LITERARY FORM .....................................................11
1.4 THREE IMPORTANT SCHOLARS .....................................................................18
1.5 THE PHARISEES ..................................................................................................32
1.6 THE TARGUMS....................................................................................................65
1.7 SYNTHESIS........................................................................................................... 82
2 THE PRESENCE OF THE DIVINE KING

2.1 PREFACE...............................................................................................................83
2.2 ANCIENT PALESTINIAN LITERATURE ...........................................................85
2.3 THE PHARISEES AND JESUS............................................................................153
2.4 THE PRE-LUKAN COMMUNITY.......................................................................164
2.5 THE YAVNEAN RABBIS, THE SYNAGOGUE AND LUKE .............................165
2.6 SYNTHESIS...........................................................................................................184
3 THE PRESENCE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

3.1 PREFACE............................................................................................................... 191
3.2 ANCIENT PALESTINIAN LITERATURE ........................................................... 194
3.3 THE PHARISEES AND JESUS............................................................................ 212
3.4 THE PRE-LUKAN COMMUNITY....................................................................... 241
3.5 THE YAVNEAN RABBIS, THE SYNAGOGUE AND LUKE ............................. 249
3.6 SYNTHESIS........................................................................................................... 277
3.7 EXCURSUS : REVEAL AS CONVERSE OF COME................................ 288
4 AN EXEGESIS OF LUKE 17:20-21

4.1 PREFACE...............................................................................................................301
4.2 THE THIRD (REDACTION) STAGE...................................................................303
4.3 THE SECOND (TRANSMISSION) STAGE........................................................351
4.4 THE FIRST (ORAL) STAGE.................................................................................370
4.5 SYNTHESIS...........................................................................................................380
5 CONCLUSION
5.1 SUMMARY OF RESULTS ...................................................................................385
5.2 SOME IMPLICATIONS........................................................................................389
5.3 SOME DIRECTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH.............................................392
BIBLIOGRAPHY
ANCIENT TEXTS AND INSCRIPTIONS AND THEIR TRANSLATIONS ............395
LEXICONS, CONCORDANCES AND DICTIONARIES .........................................402
SECONDARY LITERATURE .....................................................................................404
CONTENTS : IN DETAIL
CONTENTS : IN BRIEF............................................................................................. i
ABBREVIATIONS...................................................................................................... xi
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 PREFACE.............................................................................................................. 1
1.2 AIM, METHOD AND SOURCES........................................................................ 3
1.2.1 Aim.......................................................................................................... 3
1.2.2 Method.................................................................................................... 4
1.2.3 Sources.................................................................................................... 8
1.3 LUKE 17:20-21 AND ITS LITERARY FORM .................................................... 11
1.3.1 The Chreia............................................................................................... 12
Theon, Progymnasmata lines 2-4............................................. 12
1.3.2 A Responsive Sayings Chreia.................................................................. 14
1.3.3 Expressed as a Change of Subject........................................................... 15
1.3.4 Manipulated by Expansion...................................................................... 16
1.4 THREE IMPORTANT SCHOLARS .................................................................... 18
1.4.1 Samuel L. Terrien on Divine Presence..................................................... 18
1.4.1.1 Terrien: No Definition of Divine Presence ............................... 20
1.4.1.2 Terrien: A Single Post-Exilic View of Divine Presence ............ 23
1.4.2 Bruce D. Chilton on the Kingdom of God .............................................. 23
1.4.2.1 Chilton: Kingdom Targumim Reflect Position of Jesus ........... 25
1.4.2.2 Chilton: Reveal and Come are Synonyms...................... 27
1.4.2.3 Chilton: A Confused Picture of the Kingdom........................... 27
1.4.3 Richard J. Sneed on Luke 17:20-21 ........................................................ 28
1.4.3.1 Sneed: Uncritical Use of Secondary Sources ........................... 30
1.4.3.2 Sneed: Minimised Importance of Kingdom of God............ 31
1.4.3.3 Sneed: Unbalanced Consideration of other Elements ............... 31
1.5 THE PHARISEES ................................................................................................. 32
1.5.1 The Pharisees before A.D. 70................................................................... 33
1.5.2 Pharisees in the Pre-Lukan Community .................................................. 37
1.5.3 The Pharisees and the Yavnean Rabbis.................................................... 39
1.5.4 The Pharisees in Luke-Acts..................................................................... 40
1.5.5 Fate, Torah and the Kingdom of God...................................................... 44
1.5.5.1 What Josephus meant by Fate............................................. 45
Ant. 16:397-98.......................................................................... 45
1.5.5.2 Fate and Torah.......................................................................... 47
1.5.5.3 Pharisees, Fate and Torah......................................................... 50
m. Abot 3:15A .......................................................................... 51
1.5.5.4 Torah and the Kingdom of God ............................................... 52
1.5.6 The Influence of the Pharisees in Pre-70 Synagogues............................. 53
Contents : In Detail iii
1.6 THE TARGUMIM.................................................................................................65

1.6.1 What are the Targumim?..........................................................................65
1.6.2 Translation Techniques............................................................................67
1.6.3 Dating the Targumic Kingdom Traditions ...............................................69
1.6.4 The Targumim and the First Century Pre-70 Synagogue.........................76
1.6.5 Pharisees and the Targumim....................................................................79
1.6.6 The Influence of the Yavnean Rabbis in Post-70 Synagogues .................80
1.7 SYNTHESIS ...........................................................................................................82
2 THE PRESENCE OF THE DIVINE KING
2.1 PREFACE ..............................................................................................................83

2.2 ANCIENT PALESTINIAN LITERATURE...........................................................85
2.2.1 The Old Testament...................................................................................87
2.2.1.1 Probably Pre-Exilic...................................................................88
Exod 15:18 ...............................................................................88
Num 23:21................................................................................92
Deut 33:5..................................................................................93
1 Sam 8:7..................................................................................96
1 Sam 12:12..............................................................................97
Ps 5:2........................................................................................98
Ps 22:28....................................................................................99
Ps 24:7-10 ................................................................................101
Ps 29:10....................................................................................102
Ps 47:2,6,7,8..............................................................................105
Ps 48:2......................................................................................106
Ps 68:24....................................................................................107
Ps 84:3......................................................................................108
Ps 93:1......................................................................................109
Ps 95:3......................................................................................110
Ps 96:10....................................................................................110
Ps 99:1,4...................................................................................111
Isa 6:5.......................................................................................112
Jer 8:19.....................................................................................113
Jer 46:18...................................................................................113
Zeph 3:15..................................................................................114
2.2.1.2 Probably Exilic .........................................................................114
Ps 10:16....................................................................................114
Ps 44:4......................................................................................115
Ps 74:12....................................................................................116
Isa 24:23...................................................................................117
Isa 33:17,22 ..............................................................................118
Isa 41:21, 43:15, 44:6, 52:7.......................................................119
Jer 10:7,10 ................................................................................120
Jer 48:15...................................................................................121
Jer 51:57...................................................................................121
Ezek 20:33................................................................................122
iv Contents : In Detail
Obad 21.................................................................................... 124

Mic 2:13, 4:7 ............................................................................ 125
2.2.1.3 Probably Post-exilic ................................................................. 126
1 Chr 16:31 .............................................................................. 126
Ps 97:1 ..................................................................................... 127
Ps 98:6 ..................................................................................... 128
Ps 145:1 ................................................................................... 129
Ps 146:10 ................................................................................. 130
Ps 149:2 ................................................................................... 130
Zech 14:9,16,17 ........................................................................ 131
Mal 1:14................................................................................... 133
2.2.2 The Deuterocanonicals ............................................................................ 134
Sir 50:15................................................................................... 135
Sir 51:1..................................................................................... 136
Sir 51:12.n................................................................................ 137
Jdt 9:12..................................................................................... 137
2.2.3 The Pseudepigrapha (and Daniel)............................................................ 139
Dan 4:37................................................................................... 140
1 Enoch 9:4, 12:3, 25:3,5,7, 27:3............................................... 142
1 Enoch 81:3 ............................................................................ 145
1 Enoch 84:2,3,5....................................................................... 145
Jub. 1:28................................................................................... 146
Pss. Sol. 2:30,32....................................................................... 147
Pss. Sol. 5:19............................................................................ 149
Pss. Sol. 17:1,34,46 .................................................................. 149
As. Mos. 4:2, 10:3..................................................................... 150
L.A.E. (Apoc.) 29:4 .................................................................. 151
2.3 THE PHARISEES AND JESUS........................................................................... 153
2.3.1 The Pharisees .......................................................................................... 153
2.3.1.1 A Synagogue Prayer................................................................. 153
The hdyme Amidah ........................................................... 154
2.3.1.2 The Targumim.......................................................................... 155
Tg. Neb. Jer 46:18.................................................................... 156
Tg. Neb. Jer 48:15.................................................................... 157
Tg. Neb. Jer 51:57.................................................................... 157
Tg. Neb. Zech 14:9,16,17.......................................................... 158
Tg. Neb. Mal 1:14 .................................................................... 159
2.3.2 Jesus........................................................................................................ 160
Matt 5:35.................................................................................. 161
Matt 18:23................................................................................ 163
2.4 THE PRE-LUKAN COMMUNITY...................................................................... 164
2.5 THE YAVNEAN RABBIS, THE SYNAGOGUE AND LUKE ............................ 165
2.5.1 The Yavnean Rabbis and the Early Post-70 Synagogue........................... 165
2.5.1.1 The Mishnah ............................................................................ 165
m. Sanh. 4:5N .......................................................................... 167
m. Abot 3:1E............................................................................. 168
m. Abot 4:22O.......................................................................... 169
Contents : In Detail v
m. Tam. 7:4G ...........................................................................169

2.5.1.2 Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum.................................................170
L.A.B. 22:5................................................................................171
2.5.1.3 The Targumim ..........................................................................171
Tg. Neb. Isa 6:5 ........................................................................174
Tg. Neb. Isa 33:17,22................................................................176
Tg. Neb. Isa 41:21 ....................................................................177
2.5.1.4 A Synagogue Prayer.................................................................177
The wnyle Aleinu.................................................................178
2.5.1.5 Josephus...................................................................................178
Ant. 6:38,60-61 .........................................................................179
Ant. 14:24 .................................................................................180
2.5.2 Luke.........................................................................................................181
Luke 14:16,21...........................................................................181
Luke 19:14,27...........................................................................182
2.6 SYNTHESIS ..........................................................................................................184
2.6.1 Ancient Palestinian Literature...................................................................185
2.6.2 The Pharisees and Jesus ..........................................................................187
2.6.3 The Pre-Lukan Community .....................................................................188
2.6.4 The Yavnean Rabbis, the Early Post-70 Synagogue and Luke .................188
3 THE PRESENCE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD
3.1 PREFACE ..............................................................................................................191

3.2 ANCIENT PALESTINIAN LITERATURE...........................................................194
3.2.1 The Old Testament...................................................................................194
1 Chr 17:14...............................................................................195
1 Chr 28:5.................................................................................196
1 Chr 29:11...............................................................................197
2 Chr 13:8.................................................................................198
Ps 103:19..................................................................................199
Ps 145:11-13 ............................................................................200
3.2.2 The Deuterocanonicals.............................................................................201
3.2.3 The Pseudepigrapha (and Daniel)............................................................202
Sg Three 33 ..............................................................................203
Dan 2:44...................................................................................204
Dan 4:3,34 ................................................................................205
Dan 6:26...................................................................................205
Dan 7:27...................................................................................206
1 Enoch 84:2.............................................................................207
Jub. 12:19, 50:9b ......................................................................208
Pss. Sol. 5:18............................................................................209
Pss. Sol. 17:3............................................................................209
As. Mos. 10:1............................................................................210
vi Contents : In Detail
3.3 THE PHARISEES AND JESUS........................................................................... 212

3.3.1 The Pharisees .......................................................................................... 212
3.3.1.1 Josephus................................................................................... 212
3.3.1.2 Synagogue Prayers................................................................... 212
The vydq Kaddish.............................................................. 213
3.3.1.3 The Targumim.......................................................................... 214
Tgs. Neof., C.G., Frg. P Exod 15:18........................................ 215
Tg. Neb. Jer 10:7,10 ................................................................. 217
Tg. Neb. Jer 49:38.................................................................... 218
Tg. Neb. Obad 21..................................................................... 219
Tg. Neb. Zech 14:9................................................................... 220
3.3.2 Jesus........................................................................................................ 221
Luke 6:20b ............................................................................... 225
Luke 7:28 ................................................................................. 226
Luke 8:10 ................................................................................. 228
Luke 10:9,11b........................................................................... 228
Luke 11:2 ................................................................................. 230
Luke 11:20 ............................................................................... 232
Luke 13:18,20........................................................................... 235
Luke 13:28,29........................................................................... 237
Luke 14:15,16........................................................................... 238
Luke 18:16,17........................................................................... 239
Luke 18:24,25,29...................................................................... 240
3.4 THE PRE-LUKAN COMMUNITY...................................................................... 241
Luke 4:15 ................................................................................. 241
Luke 9:60,62............................................................................. 242
Luke 12:31,32........................................................................... 244
Acts 1:3,6.................................................................................. 246
Acts 14:22 ................................................................................ 248
3.5 THE YAVNEAN RABBIS, THE SYNAGOGUE AND LUKE ............................ 249
3.5.1 The Yavnean Rabbis and the Early Post-70 Synagogue........................... 249
3.5.1.1 The Mishnah ............................................................................ 249
m. Ber. 2:2I, 5E ........................................................................ 250
m. Yoma 3:8H, 4:1H, 4:2G, 6:2D............................................. 252
m. Rosh HaSh. 4:5B,E,F, 6A,C................................................. 253
3.5.1.2 4 Ezra and 2 Baruch (Syriac Apocalypse) ............................... 254
3.5.1.3 The Targumim.......................................................................... 256
Tg. Neb. Isa 24:23.................................................................... 258
Tg. Neb. Isa 31:4,5 ................................................................... 259
Tg. Neb. Isa 40:9,10 ................................................................. 260
Tg. Neb. Ezek 7:7,10 ................................................................ 261
3.5.1.4 A Synagogue Prayer................................................................. 262
The wnyle Aleinu................................................................. 262
3.5.2 Luke ........................................................................................................ 263
Luke 4:43 ................................................................................. 263
Luke 8:1 ................................................................................... 264
Luke 9:2 ................................................................................... 265
Contents : In Detail vii
Luke 9:11..................................................................................265
Luke 9:27..................................................................................266
Luke 16:16................................................................................268
Luke 19:11................................................................................270
Luke 21:31................................................................................272
Luke 22:16,18...........................................................................273
Luke 23:51................................................................................274
Acts 8:12, 19:8, 20:25, 28:23,31................................................276
3.6 SYNTHESIS ..........................................................................................................277
3.6.1 Ancient Palestinian Literature...................................................................277
3.6.2 The Pharisees and Jesus ..........................................................................278
3.6.3 The Pre-Lukan Community .....................................................................282
3.6.4 The Yavnean Rabbis, the Early Post-70 Synagogue and Luke .................284
3.7 EXCURSUS : REVEAL AS CONVERSE OF COME...............................288
3.7.1 awb (qal) to come...............................................................................288
3.7.2 hlg, ylg (niphal and ithpeel) to reveal, uncover ...................................291
3.7.3 In the Targumim ......................................................................................293
3.7.4 Arguments against Converse Translation.................................................294
Isa 56:1.....................................................................................295
1 Enoch 1:3-4 ...........................................................................296
Jub. 1:26,28 ..............................................................................297
As. Mos. 10:3,7,12 ....................................................................297
3.7.5 Parallel Examples Supporting Converse Translation................................298
Messiah ....................................................................................298
Luke 19:11................................................................................299
3.7.6 Synthesis .................................................................................................300
4 AN EXEGESIS OF LUKE 17:20-21
4.1 PREFACE ..............................................................................................................301

4.2 THE THIRD (REDACTION) STAGE ..................................................................303
Luke 17:20-21 at the end of Stage III .......................................303
4.2.1 The Narrative Introduction.......................................................................303
4.2.1.1 ~Cmbosqevbt a (20a^)........................................................303
Redactional Considerations.......................................................303
Recent Exegetical Comment......................................................305
Proposed Exegesis....................................................................310
4.2.1.2 m qk Dôfp^sk (20a_)................................................311
4.2.1.3 mqb oubq^f (20ad)..............................................................314
viii Contents : In Detail
4.2.1.3 _^pfib^ ql vbl (20aa).................................................. 315

Redactional Considerations ...................................................... 315
Recent Exegetical Comment ..................................................... 315
Proposed Exegesis ................................................................... 316
4.2.1.4 mbhove ^qlt h^ bmbk (20ab)........................................ 316
4.2.2 The First Negative Reply......................................................................... 318
4.2.2.1 lh oubq^f (20b^)................................................................ 318
4.2.2.2 _^pfib^ ql vbl (20b_) ................................................. 319
4.2.2.3 jbq mô^qeopbst (20bd).............................................. 320
Redactional Comments............................................................. 320
4.2.3 The Second Negative Reply..................................................................... 326
4.2.3.1 la olpfk (21a^)............................................................... 326
4.2.3.2 al ab hb (21a_) ........................................................... 329
4.2.4 The Positive Reply................................................................................... 332
4.2.4.1 al do (21b^)..................................................................... 333
4.2.4.2 _^pfib^ ql vbl (21b_) ................................................. 334
Recent Exegetical Comments.................................................... 334
4.2.4.3 kqt jk pqfk (21bd)...................................................... 335
kqt ........................................................................... 336
jk ........................................................................... 347
pqfk............................................................................ 347
Contents : In Detail ix
4.3 THE SECOND (TRANSMISSION) STAGE .......................................................351

Luke 17:20-21 at the end of Stage II.........................................351
4.3.1 The Narrative Introduction.......................................................................351
4.3.1.1 ~Cmbosqevbt m qk Dôfp^sk (20a^ - 20a_) ..........352
Source-Critical Considerations .................................................352
Gos. Thom. 113............................................................352
4.3.1.2 mqb oubq^f _^pfib^ ql vbl (20ad - 20aa)..............354
4.3.1.3 mbhove ~Geplt (20ab)........................................................355
4.3.2 The First Negative Reply .........................................................................356
4.3.2.1 lh oubq^f _^pfib^ ql vbl (20b^ - 20b_) ...............356
4.3.2.2 jbq mô^qeopbst (20bd) ..............................................357
4.3.3 The Second Negative Reply.....................................................................363
4.3.3.1 la olpfk al ab hb (21a) ......................................363
4.3.4 The Positive Reply...................................................................................364
4.3.4.1 oubq^f _^pfib^ ql vbl kqt jk (21b)...............364
Gos. Thom. 3................................................................365
P.Oxy. IV.654.9-16......................................................365
4.4 THE FIRST (ORAL) STAGE................................................................................370
Luke 17:20-21 at the end of Stage I..........................................370
4.4.1 mqb oubq^f _^pfib^ ql vbl (20ad -20aa)..............................372
Aramaic Retranslation...............................................................372
4.4.2 oubq^f _^pfib^ ql vbl l jbq mô^qeopbst (20b).......373
Aramaic Retranslation...............................................................373
x Contents : In Detail
4.4.3 oubq^f _^pfib^ ql vbl kqt jk (21b).............................. 378

Aramaic Retranslation............................................................... 378
4.5 SYNTHESIS.......................................................................................................... 380
4.5.1 The Third (Redaction) Stage.................................................................... 380
4.5.2 The Second (Transmission) Stage........................................................... 382
4.5.3 The First (Oral) Stage.............................................................................. 383
5 CONCLUSION
5.1 SUMMARY OF RESULTS .................................................................................. 385

5.1.1 The Presence of the Divine King............................................................. 385
5.1.2 The Presence of the Kingdom of God..................................................... 386
5.1.3 An Exegesis of Luke 17:20-21................................................................ 386
5.2 SOME IMPLICATIONS....................................................................................... 389
5.2.1 Jesus Maintained a Consistently Future Eschatology.............................. 389
5.2.2 The Pharisees Observed Ritual Purity for the Kingdom of God.............. 390
5.3 SOME DIRECTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH............................................ 392
5.3.1 Luke 17:20-21 and Subsequent Christian Writers................................... 392
5.3.2 The Holy Spirit as the Divine King ......................................................... 392
5.3.3 Paul, Divine Royal Presence and the Kingdom of God ........................... 393
5.3.4 The Gospels and the Zechariah Tradition ................................................ 393
5.3.5 The Uniqueness of Luke 17:20-21.......................................................... 393
BIBLIOGRAPHY
ANCIENT TEXTS AND INSCRIPTIONS AND THEIR TRANSLATIONS ........... 395

LEXICONS, CONCORDANCES AND DICTIONARIES ........................................ 402
SECONDARY LITERATURE .................................................................................... 404
xi
Abbreviations
Every effort has been made to conform all abbreviations and other issues of style to the
following:
Alexander, Patrick H., John F. Kutsko, James D. Ernst, and Shirley A. Decker-Lucke, eds.
The SBL Handbook of Style : for Ancient Near Eastern, Biblical and Early Christian
Studies. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1999.
Where discrepencies exist, it is hoped that ambiguity will not.
Two exceptions to the above should be noted.
Where the use of a captial letter for a proper noun is either not given or is ambiguous, the
lower case has been preferred, e.g. tent (of meeting), rather than Tent (of Meeting).
The second exception to the above is the inclusion, in footnote citations, of the date of
publication and, where relevant, edition details (in superscript). Such information in the
footnotes proves useful in noting over time the persistence of an idea or the progress of a
debate. It is also of some benefit in looking up the details of the particular citation in the
Bibliography, especially when a scholar is represented by several or more works.
1 INTRODUCTION
Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was
coming, and he answered, The kingdom of God is not coming with things
that can be observed; nor will they say, Look, here it is! or There it is!
For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.
(Luke 17:20-21, NRSV)
1.1 PREFACE
The third quest for the historical Jesus is distinguished by two major scholarly
endeavours: to understand the Jewish milieu in which Jesus of Nazareth lived and of
which he was a part; and to peel away the layers of redaction and tradition that have
contributed to the extant canonical Gospels, in an attempt to get as close as possible to the
actual words and deeds of Jesus.1
Both enterprises feature scholars who are either sceptics or fundamentalists, but many
today seek to take a mediating position.2 This third group, while fully taking account of
the fact that the extant gospels do not necessarily contain the ipsissima verba of Jesus, but
rather betray also stages of formation subsequent to the events described, nevertheless
acknowledge their essential reliability. Its members accept too that Jesus was a Jew who
lived and preached in the predominantly Jewish sections (Galilee, and Judaea) of the
Roman province of Syria in the first century A.D., with all that that implies as regards
beliefs, culture, language, etc.
This work seeks to understand Jesus of Nazareth by comparison and contrast with the
pre-70 Pharisees, while fully taking into account the possibility of manipulation of the
1 For example: N. T. Wright, (1992), Who was Jesus?, 12; N. T. Wright, (19922), History and
Theology, 379; Telford, (1994), Major Trends and Interpretive Issues in the Study of Jesus, 57-
58; Borg, (1994), Jesus in Contemporary Scholarship, 397-403; Boring, (1996), The Third
Quest, 343-44. For an overview of the various quests, see: N. T. Wright, (1992), Who was
Jesus?, 2-18; Kee, (1995), A Century of Quests for the Culturally Compatible Jesus, 17-28.
For a thorough analysis of positions taken, see: Witherington, (19972), The Jesus Quest, passim;
Theissen and Merz, (1998ET), The Historical Jesus, 1-15; Martin, (1999), Elusive Messiah,
passim. But see the cautionary remark in Meier, (1999), The Quest for the Historical Pharisee,
714.
2 The view today seems to be that we can know pretty well what Jesus was out to accomplish, that
we can know a lot about what he said, and that these two things make sense within the world of
first century Judaism, E. P. Sanders, (1985), Jesus and Judaism, 2. Cf. N. T. Wright, (19922),
History and Theology, 379.
2 1.1 Introduction : Preface
Gospel text up to its final redaction, since it is often in disagreements that the protagonists
and a third party can better understand, if not appreciate, the positions taken. Jesus and the
Pharisees disputed over many points and so it is not unreasonable to suppose that a
careful analysis of these disputes will lead to a better comprehension of the beliefs and
assumptions of both Jesus and the Pharisees.
Jacob Neusner identified three main areas of halakot of primary concern to pre-70
Pharisees: ritual purity (mostly to do with food and hand-washing), Sabbath observance
and tithing.3 It is precisely these areas that form the topics of the majority of disputes
between Jesus and the Pharisees as depicted in the Gospels. To a non-Jewish reader of the
twenty-first century, these disagreements may seen trivial to the point of absurdity. The
fact that they argued at all about these issues demonstrates that they had some common
basis from which to argue. Surprisingly enough for us, it was not the existence of these
areas that was the cause of friction, but how they were to be observed, in short, their
respective halakot.4 In that, Jesus and the Pharisees were no different from any other
group in the multi-faceted world that was first-century Judaism.
This work then is directed not to one of the three issues identified above, but to the
common basis, the foundational belief, that probably lies behind the disagreements
between Jesus and at least some of the Pharisees. To that end we need look no further than
the overriding theme of Jesus teaching, namely the kingdom of God.
3 m. Hag. 2:7A,B, Sot. 3:4I,J,K, Yad. 4:6-8. Neusner, (1970), Traditions III, 5, gave a good
working definition of hklh halakah (often translated, e.g. in Josephus, as kjfjlk): A legal,
or halakic tradition, is a saying or story about the way something is to be done, a statement
intended to have practical effect and carry normative authority, or an inquiry into the logic or legal
principle behind such a rule. See also: Neusner, (1973), From Politics to Piety, 67-80, 86;
Neusner, (1973), Rabbinic Perspectives, 297, 313; Neusner, (1982), Two Pictures of the
Pharisees, 534; Neusner, (1982), The Pharisees in the Light of the Historical Sources of
Judaism, 75; Neusner, (1983), Formative Judaism: Third Series, 123-24; S. Safrai, (1987),
Halakha, 121-210; Theissen and Merz, (1998ET), The Historical Jesus, 229-30; Borg, (1984),
Conflict, Holiness and Politics, 154. Other concerns included marriage laws: Neusner, (1973),
Rabbinic Perspectives, 304. Earlier opinion suggested that the Pharisees were interested in
applying Law to all aspects of life, e.g. W. D. Davies, (1954), Introduction to Pharisaism, 25;
A. Guttmann, (1970), Rabbinic Judaism, 129.
4 Fredriksen, (2000), Jesus of Nazareth, 52, made the significant observation that concern with
sacrifice and purity was inherent in the religious ritual of the ancient world, both eastern and
western. Dunn, (1988), Pharisees, Sinners, and Jesus, 273, noted that no one in ancient Judaism
argued the necessity of observing the Sabbath.
1.2 Introduction : Aim, Method and Sources 3
1.2 AIM, METHOD AND SOURCES
It is an extraordinary fact that while the kingdom of God was the predominant theme of
Jesus teaching, there is only one place in all the Gospels in which the Pharisees are said
to have expressed any curiosity themselves in the kingdom of God. Certainly, Jesus had a
great deal to say about what he thought of the Pharisees attitude to the kingdom of God,
if the Gospel records are to believed on this point, especially as recorded in Matt 23. Yet, it
is only in Luke 17:20-21 that we find the Pharisees themselves - or rather a group of them
- mentioning anything at all about the kingdom of God.
A thorough understanding of Luke 17:20-21, therefore, will encourage comparison

between the Pharisees and Jesus on the kingdom of God and contribute to our
understanding both of the historical Jesus and of first century Pharisees.
1.2.1 Aim
The aim of this thesis is three-fold.
The ultimate aim is to present an exegesis of Luke 17:20-21 based on a particular

understanding of the kingdom of God developed in the preceding chapters. Given its
enigmatic nature, the pericope will form both an ideal test case and sufficient reason for
developing such an understanding.
While attempts at the exegesis of Luke 17:20-21 abound, this one will, one hopes, be
different on at least three counts.
Firstly, whereas most commentaries have concentrated almost exclusively on the meaning
of the words mô^qeopbst and kqt, the emphasis here will be on the subject of the
conversation, namely the kingdom of God. The exegesis of the pericope will be the subject
of special study in chapter 4.
Secondly, it will be an exegesis that pays particular attention to the generally accepted three
stages of gospel formation and will note the influences that resulted in modification of the
pericope during its transmission and final redaction.5
Thirdly, much effort will be devoted to ascertaining the attitude of the Pharisees to the
kingdom of God. The reason for this is that the literary form of Luke 17:20-21 provides a
unique opportunity to compare and contrast the views of the Pharisees and those of Jesus
5 More will be said on this in the next Section, 1.2.2 and in Section 4.1.
4 1.2 Introduction : Aim, Method and Sources
(and subsequent stages in formation) on this matter.6 By doing so, a better understanding
of their relative positions should be possible. Though the primary interest will be on
establishing the likely understanding held by the historical Jesus and the Pharisees
themselves, this will of necessity entail discerning the particular contributions of the pre-
Lukan community and of the redactor himself so that these can be distinguished from
those held originally by Jesus and the Pharisees.7
The intermediate aim then, will be to arrive at an understanding of the kingdom of God that
can be considered contemporary to each of the three stages of the formation of the
pericope. This will properly be the subject of chapter 3.
The proximate aim, the subject of chapter 2, will be an investigation of certain

consequences stemming from the metaphor of God as king. Since it will be determined in
chapter 3 that kingdom of God meant both for Jesus and the Pharisees primarily God
Himself as king, a thorough appreciation of the metaphor of God as king with particular
emphasis on the Divine Royal Presence will first need to be established.
Various preliminary issues, the resolution of which will aid the attainment of the aims, will
be considered in this Introduction chapter, after discussion of method and sources.
1.2.2 Method
The method will be largely determined by the aim as outlined above. Indeed, a variety of
methods will be employed and to avoid reinventing the wheel on every page, many will, of
necessity, go unacknowledged.
However, two assumptions underlying the approach are of such importance that they
ought to be mentioned here. They result in two methodological considerations which will
then be outlined.
The first assumption will be that both the Pharisees and Jesus (and for that matter their
followers) were each inheritors of and contributed to the theological stream of which they
were a part. In other words, for any given text there is both continuity and discontinuity
with intellectual antecedents.8
6 See Section 1.3.

7 This is something like the so-called criterion of dissimilarity or discontinuity. However, its use
here will be to discern the contribution of each stage - not the complete understanding at each
stage. For more on this criterion, see Section 4.4.
8 With different terminology, this might also explained by acknowledging that the sources,
especially the Torah and Prophets, were normative for first century Jews. Even though the major
emphasis is on the diachronic approach (i.e. looking for streams of tradition), it should not be
There is continuity because both Jesus and the Pharisees and, for that matter, the pre-
Lukan community and the redactor are inheritors of theological streams of tradition or
prior notions (Vorstellungen). Indeed, it is impossible for it to be otherwise, since it is
impossible for a text (or conversation based on mutually agreed terms) to originate utterly
divorced from its intellectual world.9
On the other hand, there is discontinuity whenever a new nuance of that tradition is
attempted or whenever that tradition is interpreted and preserved for current and future
generations. Luke 17:20-21 can be no exception.
To trace therefore the development of the foundational understanding of kingdom of

God forms no mere background to Luke 17:20-21, but constitutes an integral part of its
exegesis. Recognising the theological baggage that each person or group brought to the
incident or pericope enables an appreciation of its intended meaning more in tune with the
period of its formation.
The second assumption will be that despite the fact that Luke 17:20-21 is from the so-
called L source, it nevertheless underwent three stages of formation typical of much gospel
material. These stages can be delineated in the following way.10
a) The (final) redaction, which resulted, practically speaking, in the text as we have
it and in the location in which he/they placed it. For convenience sake we shall call this
redactor(s) Luke and use masculine singular pronouns.11
b) The oral or written form which underwent incorporation and alteration by the
(final) redactor. For our purposes, it is generally considered to have been the form that
circulated and developed in the early pre-Lukan (Christian) community.
forgotten that each text considered (no matter how far removed in time from the first century) was
approached synchronically by first century Jews. Nevertheless, different texts would have resonated
more strongly depending on the tradition within ancient Judaism to which one belonged. James H.
Charlesworth has recently revived the possibility of movements in conceptions, following Gerhard
von Rad: Charlesworth, (1998), The OT Pseudepigrapha and the NT, 64, and von Rad, (1972ET),
Wisdom in Israel, 276. Charlesworth is wrong, however, to suggest that such movements resulted
in the complete loss of earlier or other perceptions. Different perceptions co-existed and continue to
co-exist in the one religion of Judaism (and Christianity). See Section 1.4.1.2.
9 Steck, (1977ET), Theological Streams, 183-214, esp. 190.
10 Perrin, (1967), Rediscovering, 256; Perrin, (1969), What is Redaction Criticism?, 256; Stein,
(1969), What is Redaktionsgeschichte?, 48-50; Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke I-IX, viii; Fitzmyer,
(1989), Luke the Theologian, 64; Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 167, 185 n. 1. A modified
form of the Two-Source theory will be assumed also. That is, that the final redactor used: Mk
(canonical Mark), Q (the tradition shared by Matthew and Luke), and L (Lukes special source
either written or oral). From these, Luke wove his Gospel through redaction and composition.
Luke 17-20-21 is from the L source, but with redaction.
11 Luke is used without presupposing anything further regarding his identity, e.g. his relationship
to Paul, cf. Tuckett, (1999), Christology of Luke-Acts, 134 n. 3.
c) The oral stage prior to any serious or discernible influence by the second stage.
This may or may not represent the ipsissima verba of Jesus, but is more likely to do so
than the final redaction.
Each chapter, and particularly chapter 4, will be arranged in such a way that issues
affecting each stage of formation will be dealt with separately.
Reiteration of these now well-known stages is important because exegesis of Luke 17:20-
21 has in the past largely proceeded as if one or more of these stages did not exist. In
other words, scholars have generally simply assumed either that what Luke meant by the
words, particularly the actual words of Jesus, is what Jesus also meant by them, or that the
words of Jesus as recorded by the redactor are the actual words spoken by him (allowing
of course for translation from Aramaic into Greek). The result has been that no serious
effort has been made to date to offer an explanation of the meaning of the passage within
the context of each of the three stages of formation.12
With these assumptions in mind, two methods employed in this present thesis deserve
mention and justification.
The first is that the so-called case study approach will be used. Individual passages (or,
in the case of Luke 17:20-21, individual clauses) will be examined one-by-one, largely in
isolation from one another, so that the particular concept of Divine Royal Presence they
carry may be considered objectively and independently. Only with the synthesis will a
reconstruction of trajectories of tradition and an articulation of fundamental connecting
ideas be made.13 The case study approach offers one of the best ways of limiting the
inevitable imposition of preconceived ideas in any examination of history.
The second method to be employed, already hinted at, will be to ask of each passage how
the writer understood the Divine Royal Presence, particularly its location and identity.
It may be objected that the use of the notion of Divine Royal Presence or indeed of taking
for granted three stages in gospel formation is nothing more than eisegesis, that is, looking
for something that one has already decided is there.14
12 To be fair, several scholars have remarked that what Jesus meant by the words may not be what
Luke meant by them, but they have made nothing of it. E.g. Creed, (1930), Luke, 219b; P. M. S.
Allen, (1938), Luke xvii. 21, 476b. To his credit, Sneed, (1962), Dissertation, chapter 5, made
such an attempt. It was however, far from balanced, see Section 1.4.3.3.
13 Cf. McLaren, (1998), Turbulent Times?, 293. Sievers, (2000), Review of Turbulent Times? by
James S. McLaren, 587, is right however. There is nothing automatic or unequivocal about the
case study approach.
14 On the danger of eisegesis, see Renwick, (1991), Paul, the Temple, and the Presence of God, 44.
In response, one may say the following. There is a fine line between what is preconceived
and therefore perhaps prejudiced and what is carefully considered. Circular arguments can
be minimised: by not wanting to say more than the evidence allows, that is, by being
deliberately cautious in drawing conclusions and accepting data; by allowing some
expected evidence to say nothing at all; and, when positive evidence is found, by placing it
up against similar observations made by other scholars for different purposes and in
different contexts. Each of these will be firmly in mind as the ancient texts are considered.
Two other short comments are necessary.
Philosophical reflection has been carefully avoided. Often it would have been easy to place
certain conclusions into metaphysical or existential categories, but this would have been
anachronistic if not simply inaccurate. None of the sources consulted made any pretence
to philosophical forms.15 This meant that they were interested, not in the existence or
otherwise of God nor of his nature per se, nor indeed how that god was to be experienced
in himself, but in how they perceived the God of the covenant to be working in history and
as we shall see, where he was present in relation to their world.16 It will become clear too
that Wolfhart Pannenbergs17 work on the philosophy of the kingdom of God, adopted by
numerous other scholars, in which he claimed that Gods [active] rule and his being are
inseparable, is patently not subscribed to by the writers of the texts. Apart from being
unrepresented, it ignores the desire to explain evil or misfortune (theodicy) as being
allowed by Gods inactivity (hiddenness) while at the same time desiring to maintain a
belief in Gods abiding presence and kingship. Again, only an analysis of the relevant data
from the perspective of Divine Royal Presence can demonstrate this.
It would be equally tempting is to succumb to mysticism. Yet, there is no hint of a desire

for a spiritual unity of the individual with the Divine King in any of the texts studied, even
in the visions.18 Certainly later theologians, both Jewish and Christian, exploited the
potential of the Divine King or kingdom of God motif for mysticism, but their reflections
frequently bore little exegetical relationship to the originally-intended meaning.19
15 Cf. G. F. Moore, (1927), Judaism I, 421.

16 Kelly, (1970), Israels Tabernacling God, 486.
17 Pannenberg, (1969ET), The Kingdom of God, 56.
18 E.g. Eichrodt, (1961ET), Theology of the OT I, 312 n. 4, 317-18, II, 48, 65, 80; Terrien, (1978),
Elusive Presence, 304-305. It will be proposed that even Luke 17:21b, The kingdom of God is
within you, is not to be interpreted mystically.
19 E.g. Sir 49:8. One also thinks immediately for example of the allegorical method of Origen (see
Section 4.3.4.1 under Recent Exegetical Comment) and especially of the Merkavah (chariot)
mysticism of some parts of medieval Judaism (see Section 2.2.1.2 under Ezek 20:33). See also E.
P. Sanders, (1977), Paul and Palestinian Judaism, 220 n. 50.
1.2.3 Sources
Various restrictions will be observed in the accumulation of data, specifically in the

material that will be addressed. These limitations are imposed to a great extent by the aim
of the present work and by considerations of space.
Chapter 4 will attempt, among other things, to present a comprehensive if not complete
picture of modern scholarship on Luke 17:20-21, especially since the work of Richard J.
Sneed in 1962.20 This will be weighed against the proposed exegesis based on the
understanding of kingdom of God developed in chapters 2 and 3.
Notions of Divine Royal Presence discussed in chapters 2 and 3 will be confined to their
association with the explicit mention of God as king or his kingship (chapter 2) and the
kingdom of God (chapter 3). In the Hebrew and Aramaic texts for example, this means
only considering those texts and their contexts that use the word Klm or its cognates in
relation to God (and _^pfi+ for the Greek texts).
The objection might be that such a limitation of the sources will necessarily ignore many
other relevant, albeit indirect, references.21 But if the thesis that will be presented here can
be sustained in the case of the most explicit cases, it augurs well for demonstrating it using
less direct anchor points. Indeed, conclusions based on less explicit cases must themselves
be weighed and measured against the more explicit.
This limitation also has positive advantages. It avoids the danger of imposing Divine King
or kingship or kingdom of God ideas where the implication is secondary and therefore
possibly less clear, or in reality non-existent.22 It provides the opportunity for clarity in
following the development and use of the metaphors and their relationship to the notion of
Divine Royal Presence, while at the same time offering the possibility for thoroughness.
In any case, it is not the primary intention of chapters 2 and 3, for example, to discuss
every nuance of meaning behind the metaphor of God as king and the kingdom of
God, but simply to gain some insight into the legacy the various documents bequeathed
to, and the light they shed on the concept of Divine Royal Presence.23
20 See Section 1.4.3.

21 E.g. N. T. Wright, (1996), Jesus, 224-25.
22 Cf. Charlesworth, (1979), The Messiah in the Pseudepigrapha, ANRW II.19.1, 195; Patrick,
(1987), The Kingdom of God in the OT, 67.
23 If this were the intention, then the comments of Brettler, (1989), God is King, 23, would be
pertinent here.
The assumption that the final redaction of the Gospel of Luke and Acts took place late in
the first century, namely after A.D. 70,24 provides a convenient terminus ante quem in
considering relevant documents. Their provenance is less certain, though it was probably
written outside Palestine (possibly in Antioch) for a largely, though not exclusively,
Gentile audience.
Consequently, the Palestinian Judaism of Lukes (the redactors) time is to be found in

the legacy of the Yavnean rabbis (A.D. 68 - 132)25 and the synagogues of the period.
With regard to rabbinic literature, therefore, account will only be taken of the Mishnah.
Although redacted ca. A.D. 200 in Palestine,26 it nevertheless is the document that has the
best chance of reflecting the thoughts of the Yavnean rabbis.27 The Tosefta and the
baraitoth of later literature will be ignored as being too far removed from the first century
to be trustworthy, even after critical evaluation.28
As for the teaching emanating from first century synagogues, the Targumim will be of
major importance in this study. It will be argued in Section 1.6 of this Introduction that the
traditions or substance lying behind some targumim may have the potential to be traced
back to the pre-70 and early post-70 synagogue.
24 Geldenhuys, (1946), Luke, 31, though see the subsequent pages for an argument in favour of a pre-
70 dating. Also: Marshall, (1978), Luke, 34-35; Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke I-IX, 57-59; Esler,
(1987), Community and Gospel, 87; L. T. Johnson, (1991), Luke, 2-3; Sterling, (1992),
Historiography and Self-Definition, 329-30; Theissen and Merz, (1998ET), The Historical Jesus,
32; Brown, (1997), Introduction, 226, 269-71, 273-74; Barrett, (1999), The Historicity of Acts,
530; Parsons, (2001), Who Wrote Luke?, 12-21, 54-55.
25 Prior to, during, and after the first Jewish revolt of A.D. 66-70, many of the leading Jews of
Jerusalem re-grouped in Yavneh (Jamnia) under Yohanan ben Zakkai. Yavneh was a coastal town
near Azotus (Ashdod) to which Vespasian had sent loyal Jews (J.W. 4:130,444). On the Yavnean
rabbis, see Gafni, (1987), Historical Background, 14-20.
26 Of the numerous books and articles on this, one of the clearest and most succinct is Neusner,
(1987), Parallel Histories, 42-55. See also A. Goldberg, (1987), Mishna, 215-18.
27 There are, of course, issues relating to the dating of mishnahs in rabbinic literature, particularly
when attempts are made to extrapolate traditions back earlier than A.D. 70. It should be noted that
the Mishnah is used in this study not as an indication of pre-70 Pharisaic ideas but to ascertain the
likely beliefs of the Yavnean rabbis around the time of the redaction of Lukes gospel. The
relationship between the post-70 rabbis and the pre-70 Pharisees will be discussed in Section
1.5.3. For critical evaluations of the use of rabbinic literature for the study of pre-70 Judaism and
Palestine, see especially: Sandmel, (1962), Parallelomania, 1-13; S. Zeitlin, (1974), Spurious
Interpretations of Rabbinic Sources, 122-35; Buchanan, (1977), The Use of Rabbinic Literature,
110-22; E. P. Sanders, (1977), Paul and Palestinian Judaism, 59-75; Alexander, (1983),
Rabbinic Judaism and the NT, 237-46; Verms, (1983), Jesus and the World of Judaism, 74-88;
Neusner, (1980), The Use of the Mishnah, 177-85; Parsons, (1985), Critical Use of the
Rabbinic Literature, 85-102; C. A. Evans, (1997), Early Rabbinic Sources and Jesus Research,
27-57.
28 On the relationship between the Mishnah and the Tosefta, see Neusner, (1985), Major trends in
formative Judaism, 126-29.
Since the aim of this present work is to discern the relative positions of the Pharisees and
Jesus regarding the kingdom of God, the Dead Sea Scrolls will not be considered. The
exception will be where they shed light on the original Hebrew of an otherwise relevant
translated document. The Qumran sect neither claimed to be nor were, as far as we know,
either Pharisaic or Christian.29
Diaspora documents such as the Septuagint and Philo will also be ignored because the
interest here is exclusively Palestinian. The two exceptions are those deuterocanonical
books for which an earlier Palestinian origin can be established (e.g. Sirach) and the
writings of Josephus, since he was based in Palestine for most of his life and was an
eyewitness to the Pharisees. A similar limitation will be placed on a consideration of books
normally assigned to the Pseudepigrapha.
It may be objected that the LXX can on occasion represent a lost early Hebrew/Aramaic
manuscript and that in any case Diaspora Judaism prior to A.D. 70 may have influenced
the Judaism of Palestine,30 so that the LXX ought to form an important potential witness to
Palestinian thought. However, a comparison of the LXX with the BHS with respect to
material considered in this thesis reveals that it is not often that they are very different in
substance. The position adopted here will be that, unless contrary evidence exists, the
differences between the LXX and the BHS will be considered generally to be the result of
the concerns of the translators, the needs of their (Diaspora) audience, and to factors
peculiar to Egypt and its Hellenistic milieu.31 In other words, the LXX translators were
largely operating from a Hebrew and Aramaic text not appreciably different in most places
from the BHS.32 However, since other explanations are possible, where such differences
do exist, they will be noted and discussed individually in the footnotes.
29 Some would want to identify the Pharisees with the seekers of smooth things or Ephraim in
Qumran texts, but the identification is far from certain, see footnote in Section 1.5.1. A good
example, too, of the limitation imposed here, is the exclusion from consideration of the Songs of
the Sabbath Sacrifice (11Q17, 4Q400-407). Despite the numerous references to God as king and
to his kingdom, they are generally considered to be from the Qumran sect, though Newsom,
(1992), Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice, ABD VI, 155b, considered it possible that they were not
originally composed by the Qumran community.
30 E.g. Hengel, (1974ET), Judaism and Hellenism I, 312.
31 Tov, (1988), The Septuagint, 172; G. I. Davies, (1991), The Presence of God, 34. This of
course is not the only possible explanation. Other scholars place more emphasis on the differences
between BHS and the Hebrew manuscripts before the Septuagint translator, or indeed in
transmission and copying errors. On this, see Jobes and Silva, (2000), Septuagint, 149-58, plus
the To Continue Your Study bibliography on pp. 165-66.
32 Wevers, (1978), Text History and Text Criticism of the Septuagint, 392-93; Brock, (1988),
Translating the OT, 90; Wevers, (1990), Greek Text of Exodus, xv; Tov, (1992), Textual
Criticism, 142; Wevers, (1995), Deuteronomy, xxii; and Jobes and Silva, (2000), Septuagint,
148, especially in the case of Isaiah.
1.3 Introduction : Luke 17:20-21 and its Literary Form 11
1.3 LUKE 17:20-21 AND ITS LITERARY FORM
The literary or rhetorical form of Luke 17:20-21 has been variously classified. Martin
Dibelius classified it as a paradigm (môabfdj^).33 Rudolf K. Bultmann labelled it
a scholastic dialogue type of apophthegm (mlcvdj^). 34 Vincent Taylor called
it a pronouncement story.35
While Dibelius and Taylor did not attempt to further classify their paradigms and
pronouncement stories into types, Bultmann divided his apophthegms into three classes
which unfortunately overlook significant similarities and differences between the texts.36
In recent years further division of types and refinement of definition of Taylors

pronouncement story have been undertaken by Robert C. Tannehill. Under his system,
Luke 17:20-21 is a correction-pronouncement story.37 Further nuances of types have been
proposed by Vernon K. Robbins based on classical works.38
There are two major problems with the above labels. One is that they are inventions of
modern times and do not take into account the system of classification operating in the
first century A.D. when the pericope was written and the question and response first
uttered.39 When an artificial framework is constructed, the intention of the original author
in formulating the pericope, or the intention of those who subsequently use it, may be lost.
The other problem is that the labels are not exact equivalents of one another, so that a
pericope labelled a paradigm under the system proposed by Dibelius may not be called a
33 This was done in the earlier edition of his work. In the later edition, Dibelius, (1965ET), From
Tradition to Gospel, 156, 158, 163, he considerably modified his views. For a critique of
Dibelius paradigm, see Robbins, (1989), Chreia & Pronouncement Story in Synoptic
Studies, 3-6.
34 Apophthegmata are sayings of Jesus set in a brief context, Bultmann, (1963ETRev), Synoptic
Tradition, 11, 25, 54. For a critique of Bultmanns apophthegm, see Robbins, (1989), Chreia
& Pronouncement Story in Synoptic Studies, 6-10. Most modern scholars follow either
Bultmann or Taylor in assigning a rhetorical classification to Luke 17:20-21.
35 V. Taylor, (1935), Formation, 69. Many others followed Taylor, including: Sneed, (1962),
Dissertation, 97-103; Sneed, (1962), Article, 367; Witherington, (1992), End of the World, 70.
36 Tannehill, (1981), The Pronouncement Story and its Types, 4.
37 Tannehill, (1981), Varieties of Synoptic Pronouncement Stories, 103; Tannehill, (1984),
Apophthegms in the Synoptic Gospels, ANRW II.25.2, 1800. Followed by: Crossan, (1991),
The Historical Jesus, 283; Holmn, (1996), The Alternatives of the Kingdom, 204, 228.
38 Robbins, (1981), Classifying Pronouncement Stories, 29-52. But see his partial retraction and
more detailed approach in Robbins, (1984), A Rhetorical Typology, 93-122. He later preferred to
operate under the classical system of chreiai. See: Robbins, (1989), Chreia & Pronouncement
Story in Synoptic Studies, 1-29; Robbins, (1993), Introduction, vii-xvi.
39 Buchanan, (1982), Chreias, 501.
12 1.3 Introduction : Luke 17:20-21 and its Literary Form
pronouncement story in another.40 Not only then is there little uniformity in classification,
there is the potential for confusing and contradictory conclusions based on different
classification systems.
Yet classification remains important because it leads to a better understanding of the

intended purpose and therefore the meaning of the account.
1.3.1 The Chreia
In recent years a few authors have renewed the preference for the rhetorical form known as
the chreia (uob^, sometimes spelt chria).41 It was one of the ten fundamental
rhetorical forms taught student writers and orators as well as budding philosophers.42
Thus it has the advantage of having being well known and having been closely defined by
the rhetoricians at the time when the canonical Gospels (including Luke) were written.
Indeed, the definition of the rhetorician Aelius Theon, who lived in Alexandria in the mid
to late first century A.D.,43 is to be favoured over other classical attempts because of its
precision and because it is contemporary to the formation of the third gospel.44
40 E.g. discussion in Robbins, (1981), Classifying Pronouncement Stories, 31. Dibelius, (1965ET),
From Tradition to Gospel, 152-53, placed the Chria as a subset of Apophthegmata.
41 To be fair, Dibelius in his second edition discussed the chreia, but his limitation of the subject of
chreiai to one of general significance negated much of his work. See Dibelius, (1965ET), From
Tradition to Gospel, 152. On p. 162 n. 2 he labelled Luke 17:20-21 a chria. See also: Butts,
(1986), Chreia in the Synoptic Gospels, 133a; Robbins, (1989), Chreia & Pronouncement
Story in Synoptic Studies, 13.
42 Farmer, (1961), Synoptic Material Peculiar to Luke, 308 n. 1; Fischel, (1968), Transformations
of a Chria, 373; Buchanan, (1984), Jesus, 43; Hock and ONeil, (1986), The Chreia in Ancient
Rhetoric, 3-21; Neyrey, (1998), Chreiai, 664.
43 Hock and ONeil, (1986), The Chreia in Ancient Rhetoric, 64; D. A. F. M. Russell, (1996),
Theon (3), OCD3, 1503b.
44 Butts, (1986), Chreia in the Synoptic Gospels, 132a; Robbins, (1988), The Chreia, 2.
Theon, Progymnasmata lines 2-4
Theon, Progymnasmata lines 2-445

Vob^ pqf pkqljlt mc^pft mogft jbq' bpqlu^t
k^cboljke bt qf ofpjklk mopsmlk kîldlk
molpm-
Translation of Theon, Progymnasmata lines 2-446

A chreia is a concise statement or action which is attributed with aptness to
some specified character or to something analogous to a character.
While it is clear that Luke 17:20-21 is an example of a chreia,47 the extant version has
three statements attributed to the character of Jesus rather than the usual one. The
statements are preceded by a question from the Pharisees.
Chreiai were used as repositories of received wisdom. In other words, as James R. Butts
put it, they were carriers of culture.48 Theon himself said it is useful in many ways
for life.49 Their form was such that it made them easier to remember and recall in debate
or speech.50
Chreiai have been detected not only in the gospels but in rabbinic literature, including the
Mishnah and in other ancient Jewish and Christian literature.51 This suggests that this
Hellenistic literary form was well known not only in Diaspora Jewish and Christian circles
but in those of Palestine. In particular, according to Tannehill, correction stories are one
of the more common types of pronouncement stories in many classical authors.
This coincides with what we know of the formation and preservation of classical Greek
chreiai. Chreiai were composed to preserve teachings for learning. By the time of Theon
(i.e. the NT), nothing of substance was invented in the preservation and manipulation of
45 Hock and ONeil, (1986), The Chreia in Ancient Rhetoric, 82.

46 Hock and ONeil, (1986), The Chreia in Ancient Rhetoric, 83.
47 Other scholars who explicitly classify Luke 17:20-21 as a chreia include: Kmmel, (1961ET),
Promise and Fulfilment, 32; McNicol, (1990), Composition of the Synoptic Eschatological
Discourse, 168; Gowler, (1991), Host, Guest, Enemy and Friend, 298.
48 Butts, (1986), Chreia in the Synoptic Gospels, 133.
49 Theon, Progymnasmata line 26; Hock and ONeil, (1986), The Chreia in Ancient Rhetoric, 82.
50 Farmer, (1961), Synoptic Material Peculiar to Luke, 308.
51 E.g. For the gospels, see Tannehill, (1981), Varieties of Synoptic Pronouncement Stories, 101-
19, and his other works cited elsewhere. For the pseudepigrapha, see VanderKam, (1981),
Intertestamental Pronouncement Stories, 65-72. For early Christian non-canonical literature, see:
Stroker, (1981), Examples of Pronouncement Stories, 133-41; Perkins, (1981), Pronouncement
Stories in Gos. Thom., 121-32, esp. 127. For rabbinic literature, including the Mishnah, see:
Farmer, (1961), Synoptic Material Peculiar to Luke, 312; Fischel, (1968), Transformations of a
Chria, 374-75, 383-84, 407-11; Porton, (1981), The Pronouncement Story in Tannaitic
Literature, 81-99; Avery-Peck, (1983), Early Rabbinic Pronouncement Stories, 223-44;
Buchanan, (1984), Jesus, 65-66. But see Chilton, (1986), Targumic Approaches to the Gospels,
111.
chreiai,52 although manipulation can be detected if individual chreiai are traced over time.
This is not to say that chreiai were retained word-for-word, but their sense and meaning
were, including the attribution to a particular character.
Luke 17:20-21 was likely formed as a chreia to meet the apologetic, catechetical and
homiletical needs of the community. The disproportionably large number of so-called
correction stories found only in Luke (L)53 indicates that this literary form was
favoured by the pre-Lukan community with the possibility that Luke 17:20-21 received its
chreia form not from the redactor but from this community or perhaps even earlier.54
It is likely then that as a chreia Luke 17:20-21 was not composed by the redactor but
incorporated into the gospel from some earlier source. A pre-Lukan community probably
formed it into a chreia from an oral tradition or traditions about Jesus and preserved it in
written form.55 To have invented such a chreia at any stage would have defeated its
purpose since it was essential that hearers acknowledge its authenticity.56 Yet the very act
of incorporating it into his gospel entailed some level of manipulation on the part of the
redactor. As part of the exegesis of Luke 17:20-21 in chapter 4, a likely scenario for the
manipulation of the passage and the possible reasons for doing so will be traced.
52 Farmer, (1961), Synoptic Material Peculiar to Luke, 307-308; Buchanan, (1982), Chreias,
503; Buchanan, (1984), Jesus, 40, 72-74.
53 Dibelius, (1965ET), From Tradition to Gospel, 161-64; Farmer, (1961), Synoptic Material
Peculiar to Luke, 307-308, who wrote, In every instance of a Chreia form in the synoptic
tradition peculiar to Luke we find the evangelists characteristic literary style and vocabulary
noticeably non-existent.; Tannehill, (1981), Varieties of Synoptic Pronouncement Stories, 103,
who wrote, While only five correction stories are unique to Matthew (including hybrids), there are
13-15 correction stories which are unique to Luke.; Tannehill, (1984), Apophthegms in the
Synoptic Gospels, ANRW II.25.2, 1803. Butts, (1986), Chreia in the Synoptic Gospels, 133-
37, listed nine in L, cf. Jacobson, (1992), The First Gospel, 67 n. 41. Butts, (1986), Chreia in
the Synoptic Gospels, 133-37, listed 22 in Mark, cf. Jacobson, (1992), The First Gospel, 67 n.
40. According to Jacobson, (1992), The First Gospel, 67, there are only two chreiai in Q (9:57-
58, 59-60).
54 Butts, (1986), Chreia in the Synoptic Gospels, 137b-38a. Butts also noted Eusebius, Hist. eccl.
3.39.15 (NPNF2 I, 172b), Peter gave his teachings in chreia form.
55 Whether this occurred in Palestine or in the Diaspora is not actually relevant. We may assume
however, that very early on apologetic, catechetical and homiletical preaching extended from
Hebrew and/or Aramaic into Greek in Palestine. The chreia was a well established rhetorical form
that reached into all levels of society and to all parts of the empire, Tacitus, Dial. 19. See also
footnote 51 above on chreiai in the Gospels, rabbinic literature and other Jewish and Christian
literature.
56 Farmer, (1961), Synoptic Material Peculiar to Luke, 308 n. 1, 310-11.
1.3.2 A Responsive Sayings Chreia
While Theon gave the usual division of chreiai into sayings (ildfh^), action
(mo^hqfh^) and mixed (jfhq^),57 another great advantage in using Theon as the master
is that he - virtually alone - further subdivided sayings and action chreiai.58
Theon wrote that each sayings chreia (those which make their point in words without
action) presents either a statement (mc^pft) or a response (mhofpft). The
statement could either be unprompted or could arise out of a specific circumstance. The
response can be to: a simple question; an inquiry; a question calling for an explanation;
and a fourth type about which Theon is ambiguous.59
Robert C. Tannehill, in opting for the designation pronouncement story, effectively

made that equal to the responsive sayings chreia of Theon.
The presence of ~Cmbosqevbt in 20a and do in 21b enables Luke 17:20-21 to be

classed as a responsive sayings chreia to a question which prompted an explanation.60
1.3.3 Expressed as a Change of Subject
Theon then went on to elaborate 12 ways in which chreiai may be expressed.61 Number 11
is relevant to Luke 17:20-21 for it is the chreia expressed with a change of subject. The
question of when the kingdom of God prompts in response a series of statements that
simply do not answer the question. We do not find out when the kingdom of God is to
come.
Robert Tannehills study of pronouncement stories both in the gospels and in classical
literature led him to devise six categories which delineate the various relationships between
57 Theon, Progymnasmata lines 30-31; Hock and ONeil, (1986), The Chreia in Ancient Rhetoric,
84.
58 Butts, (1986), Chreia in the Synoptic Gospels, 132b; Hock and ONeil, (1986), The Chreia in
Ancient Rhetoric, 67; Neyrey, (1998), Chreiai, 664-65.
59 Tannehill, (1984), Apophthegms in the Synoptic Gospels, ANRW II.25.2, 1797; Hock and
ONeil, (1986), The Chreia in Ancient Rhetoric, 30; Robbins, (1988), The Chreia, 5-7;
Neyrey, (1998), Chreiai, 665.
60 Buchanan, (1984), Jesus, 217; Hock and ONeil, (1986), The Chreia in Ancient Rhetoric, 29;
Robbins, (1993), Introduction, xv; Butts, (1986), Chreia in the Synoptic Gospels, 134a.
61 Theon, Progymnasmata lines 115-189; Hock and ONeil, (1986), The Chreia in Ancient
Rhetoric, 88-93; Robbins, (1993), Introduction, xii; Robbins, (1988), The Chreia, 13-16.
the prompting statement (Tannehill: stimulus, stimulating occasion) and the response.62
While noting that the stimulus may take numerous forms, he observed that:
In the case of requests or questions, the primary character does not respond
by granting the request or answering the question but by correcting an
assumption on which the request or question was based.63
This is very similar to Theons sub-category of change of subject.
Assuming that Tannehill is correct and that this can be applied to Luke 17:20-21 (which he
himself does64), the three responses lead to the conclusion that they not only negate the
views held by the Pharisees or whoever the Pharisees stand for in the various stages of
the tradition, but that, by not directly answering the question, Jesus effectively undermines
the assumption on which the question is based (cf. Luke 11:27-2865).
Noting that Luke 17:20-21 is a chreia expressed as a change of subject also enables the
question to be classed as rhetorical. It is possible, even likely, that no answer was expected,
but that by asking it something is thereby being obliquely asserted or denied.66 Therefore,
it is that which is indirectly asserted or denied which becomes the target of the responses.
If the question can be traced back to the Pharisees themselves, it says something about the
motive behind the question - an issue that has at times been hotly debated.67
Luke 17:20-21 is therefore uniquely suited to the purpose intended in this thesis. Not only
is it the only pericope in which Pharisees are reported to show interest in the kingdom of
God, its very form shows that it is fruitful ground from which to extract not simply the
meaning of the story but the assumptions underlying it. Ultimately, the chreia is not about
the when of the kingdom of God, nor directly about the coming of the kingdom. It is about
the different and contrasting notions that the Pharisees and Jesus had about the kingdom
and specifically about where each located this kingdom.
62 The six are: correction, commendation, objection, quest, inquiry and description. There is an
inherent inconsistency in the categorisation, as pointed out by Bailey and Vander Broek, (1992),
Literary Forms, 116. This is addressed by Tannehill, (1981), The Pronouncement Story and its
Types, 6.
63 Tannehill, (1984), Apophthegms in the Synoptic Gospels, ANRW II.25.2, 1797. Similar to his
earlier: Tannehill, (1980), Attitudinal Shift, 185; Tannehill, (1981), The Pronouncement Story
and its Types, 7; Tannehill, (1981), Varieties of Synoptic Pronouncement Stories, 103-104.
See also Robbins, (1981), Classifying Pronouncement Stories, 35-37, who further delineated the
direct correction, which Luke 17:20-21 would fall under and, Poulos, (1981), Form and
Function of the Pronouncement Story, 59.
64 Tannehill, (1981), Varieties of Synoptic Pronouncement Stories, 104; Tannehill, (1984),
Apophthegms in the Synoptic Gospels, ANRW II.25.2, 1800.
65 Dibelius, (1965ET), From Tradition to Gospel, 162, described this as a Chria.
66 Corbett, (19903), Classical Rhetoric, 460.
67 See Section 4.2.1.1.
1.3.4 Manipulated by Expansion
In Theons third and last section on chreiai,68 he discussed their manipulation. The chreia
can be changed in eight ways. The one relevant to our chreia is expansion, where in a
sayings chreia the response can be enlarged or the number of responses increased.
Recent scholarship, particularly under the direction of Vernon K. Robbins,69 has sought to
differentiate between an expansion and an elaboration in chreiai by their order of
argumentation.70 An expanded chreia completes the presentation with a dramatic finish,
whereas an elaborated chreia has the most important point at the beginning with the
argumentation flowing from it.
Based on such a refinement of Theons classification, Luke 17:20-21 is an expanded

responsive sayings chreia expressed with a change of subject and prompted by a question
calling for an explanation.
Theons work is useful in an appreciation of Luke 17:20-21 because it enables us not only
to describe the rhetorical form and style in a way that may have been familiar to the
redactor, but it also enables us to pin-point with a high degree of certainty the purpose or
climax of the pericope, which is v. 21b, For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.
Equally importantly, it suggests that the extant text, because of its expanded form, may
have been the result of manipulation probably both by the redactor and by those who
preserved and passed on the chreia. Yet it also affirms that the attribution and the setting of
the chreia were important and essential aspects of its preservation. In other words, it was
not the question (since it wasnt answered) but who asked it and its underlying
assumption that was important in this particular instance. It calls for an understanding of
what the Pharisees themselves understood by the kingdom of God, an analysis that,
strangely, has been almost totally lacking in discussions of Luke 17:20-21. It is hoped that
this present work will go someway to remedying the situation.
68 Theon, Progymnasmata lines 190-404; Hock and ONeil, (1986), The Chreia in Ancient
Rhetoric, 94-106.
69 Robbins, (1993), Introduction, ix; cf. Robbins, (1988), The Chreia, 17-21.
70 Cf. Expansion: Theon, Progymnasmata lines 309-312; Hock and ONeil, (1986), The Chreia in
Ancient Rhetoric, 100. Elaboration: Hermogenes, Progymnasmata lines 30-64, as in Hock and
ONeil, (1986), The Chreia in Ancient Rhetoric, 176.
18 1.4 Introduction : Three Important Scholars
1.4 THREE IMPORTANT SCHOLARS
Of all the scholars that will be consulted during the course of this thesis, three call for
special mention here because without their unique contributions this thesis would have
been all the poorer if not downright impossible.
1.4.1 Samuel L. Terrien on Divine Presence
One of the unique approaches in this present work is that the notion of Divine Royal
Presence is to be used as a tool to understand the notion of the kingdom of God. This
understanding in turn will help us to appreciate more fully the intended meaning of Luke
17:20-21. With that end in view, the following comments on Terriens work are offered.
Consideration of the notion of Divine Presence per se and its place in the history of ideas
as preserved in the Bible and other associated literature is synonymous with the 1978
work of Samuel L. Terrien, The Elusive Presence : toward a new Biblical Theology.71
This is not to say of course that Divine Presence was not studied prior to Terriens
work,72 but it is this book which established the notion, alongside others such as covenant
and Salvation-History, as a major OT theme and even one that has the potential to link the
Hebrew Bible with the NT.73
71 See also Terriens preliminary work, Terrien, (1969), Theology of Presence, 227-37.
72 See for example: G. H. Davies, (1942), The Presence of God in Israel, 11-29; G. H. Davies,
(1962), Presence of God, IDB III, 874-75; Congar, (1962ET), The Mystery of the Temple,
passim; Wolverton, (1963), Psalmists Belief, 82-94; Murray, (1964), The Problem of God, 5-
30; Clements, (1965), God and Temple, passim; Amirtham, (1968), To be Near to and Far away
from Yahweh, 31-55; B. A. Levine, (1968), On the Presence of God in Biblical Religion, 71-
87; de Vaux, (1969), Gods Presence and Absence in History, 5-11; Brueggemann, (1976),
Presence of God, Cultic, IDBSup, 680-83; Brueggemann, (1979), Presence in Israel, 47-86.
These, however, have proved of limited use in the present exercise since they either are of limited
scope or, focus on the Divine Presence associated with the temple rather than on the presence of
God as king, though of course the two do overlap. See also the list in Terrien, (1978), Elusive
Presence, 54-55 n. 131. For philosophical reflection on later Jewish thought on the Divine
Presence, see Fackenheim, (1970), Gods Presence in History, passim.
73 The work of Clements, (1965), God and Temple, stands out as being second only to that of
Terrien in importance. However, Menahem Haran severely criticised Clements work especially
because it assumed that there is an all-encompassing schema which can explain all the data and
because it assumed there was a dialectical conflict between YHWHs covenant and the temple as
his abode. See Haran, (1969), Divine Presence, 253, 257. The same criticism can be levelled at
Terriens work and indeed at any attempt to see order out of potential chaos. Yet the work must go
on.
1.4 Introduction : Three Important Scholars 19
With the aim of establishing the peculiarly Hebraic theology of presence (3)74 as the
organising principle of the Bible, Terrien considered numerous passages in the OT and
NT75 - a series of epiphanies and theophanies - in which the characters and writers were
confronted with a sense of Divine Presence.76 He extracted from them a notion of Divine
Presence that not only was Hebraic but extended into the NT, transformed as it was by
belief in the incarnation.77 He claimed that this was better than previous attempts to find a
unifying theme because it incorporated the contribution of Wisdom literature (473).
Divine Presence is to be seen as the primary motif (3).
The book is no more and no less than what Terrien claimed it to be, a prolegomenon to a
genuinely biblical theology which will respect historical complexity within, as well as
between, the Old Testament and the New (xxix). No more, because unfortunately
Terriens challenge has not been taken up in any comprehensive way. No less, because
there is no doubt that his work has established a prima facie case for the proposed role of
the motif.
Terriens book has been extensively reviewed.78 All have acknowledged its eloquence and
contribution to biblical theology. As seems to be the custom, most have pointed out
problems with the work, usually centring around: the possibility of there being a single
unifying biblical theology; the limited number of passages considered, especially those
of the prophets; and the fact that Terrien insisted on a dichotomy between presence and
covenant rather than the covenant relationship as a form of divine presence.79 Two
further criticisms of his work may (and some related comments) be made that have a direct
bearing on the present work.
74 Numbers in brackets in this Section, 1.4, refer to the relevant page numbers of the work being
discussed.
75 Very few of these coincide with the passages considered in this present work.
76 It is no wonder that Terriens Divine Presence is elusive, since epiphanies and theophanies are by
definition transitory.
77 E.g. Terrien, (1978), Elusive Presence, 5, It was a new theology of presence, drawn from the
Hebraic complex of cultus and faith, which presided over the emergence of Christianity from
Judaism.
78 E.g. Childs, (1979), Review of The Elusive Presence by Samuel Terrien, 441-42; Moriarty,
(1979), Review of The Elusive Presence by Samuel Terrien, 532-33; Brueggemann, (1980),
Review of The Elusive Presence by Samuel Terrien, 296-99; Miller, (1980), Review of The
Elusive Presence by Samuel Terrien, 108-11; Hensell, (1980), Review of The Elusive
Presence by Samuel Terrien, 283-84; McKeating, (1981), Review of The Elusive Presence by
Samuel Terrien, 121; Sloyan, (1981), Review of The Elusive Presence by Samuel Terrien, 70-
71; Hanson, (1981), Review of The Elusive Presence by Samuel Terrien, 186-89; Barr, (1999),
Biblical Theology, 323-25.
79 Moriarty, (1979), Review of The Elusive Presence by Samuel Terrien, 533. Terrien almost
totally ignored the Deuterocanonicals (he gave brief mention only to Sirach), which is odd
considering his desire to offer a theology that was ecumenical. See Terriens own response to
some of the criticisms in Terrien, (1981), The Pursuit of a Theme, 72-80.
1.4.1.1 Terrien: No Definition of Divine Presence
Terrien peppered his work with the expression Deus absconditus (Vulg. Isa 45:15) the
hidden God,80 at the end declaring: Deus absconditus atque praesens God hidden and
yet present (470). It is surprising then that Terrien nowhere gives a definition of his
Hebraic theology of presence which is not, as the phrase might suggest, an
encompassing theology of presence, but a consideration of the presence of God.81 There
are at least two inherent dangers in this.
First, the lack of definition means that not only can we never be sure of what we are
looking for in any given passage, but also that we can never be sure that we have found
what we are looking for. Terriens method can mean that we will find evidence of Divine
Presence wherever we look. Worse, we will not be able to weigh such evidence.
Second, there is the danger that a discussion of the presence of God may degenerate or
metamorphose into theology proper. That is, consideration of the perception of the
presence of God may lead, without a clear definitional anchor, into a discussion about
God. Scholarship on Divine Presence is essentially pre-theology. This present work thus
deliberately makes no claim to be a theology or even a theology of presence. If a
label must be given, it falls into the arena of the history of ideas. The need for a definition
of Divine Presence is thus urgent.
hwhy, the name of the God of the Bible, is now thought to be derived from the verb hyh
to be, become. Its origin from the hiphil (causative) form, favoured by some, has the
difficulty of being otherwise unattested in our sources.82 The more probable qal form of
hyh in Exod 3:14 suggests an approximate meaning for the name as simply the one who
is.83 For present purposes, the solution is unimportant. As we shall see in chapters 2 and
3, in the biblical world presence was never of mere philosophical concern, but an active,
dynamic reality. On the occasions when the opposite belief was expressed of the Divine
Royal Presence, it precipitated great anguish in the believer (e.g. Pss 10, 22).
80 Terrien, (1978), Elusive Presence, 1, 227, 250, 251, 301, 321, 390, 461, 470, 474. On p. 251
for example, he wrote The presence which conceals itself is not an absence.
81 Brueggemann, (1980), Review of The Elusive Presence by Samuel Terrien, 298.
82 Freedman, (1960), The Name of the God of Moses, 152-53; Terrien, (1978), Elusive Presence,
116-17; Freedman and OConnor, (1986ET), hwhy, YHWH, TDOT V, 513.
83 Bernhardt, (1978ET), hyh hayah, TDOT III, 381; Jenni, (1997ET), hwhy yhwh Yahweh,
TLOT II, 523.
For the ancient Israelites, existence was not metaphysical but phenomenal, not Sein but
Dasein. In other words, Gods existence was assumed, but his whereabouts and his
relationship to them was of paramount importance. For them to be could never be
simply an abstraction. Rather it was to be somewhere.84 If something or someone was,
then that thing could be situated or located. This is confirmed somewhat by the presence
of the phrase Kme hyha I will be with you in Exod 3:12, suggesting a profound link
between the divine Name and the perceived reality of his presence.85 hwhy the one who
is is also the one who is (there, somewhere).86 At the risk of lapsing into
philosophical anachronism, the God of the ancient Jews and early Christians was at once
incorporeal and yet an individual person. As such, he shared the categories of being as
enumerated by Aristotle, including the fifth one, ml ubi where,87 for which notions of
presence actualise. Divine Presence was never a Platonic abstract idea. God could be
encountered in the here-and-now.
Thus a working definition of Divine Presence might be something like: the

acknowledgment of God being present before, in front of or in the same place as the
human subject.88 In other words, the essence of Divine Presence is to be able to provide a
location for the perceived Divine Presence.89 It is, quite simply, to know his
whereabouts.90 It is to be noted that this stands in explicit contradiction to whatever
notion Terrien might have had: Presence dilutes itself into its own illusion whenever it is
confused with a spatial or temporal location (476).
The approach to Divine Presence being offered here finds immediate support in both the
OT and NT.
84 Murray, (1964), The Problem of God, 9. The whole chapter is remarkable, yet little known. See
also: Congar, (1962ET), The Mystery of the Temple, 15; Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the
Kingdom of God, 18; Preuss, (1995-96ET), OT Theology I, 142.
85 Cf. Gen 26:3, Exod 4:12,15, Deut 31:23, Josh 1:5, 3:7, Judg 6:16, 2 Sam 7:9 // 1 Chron 17:8.
86 von Rad, (1962ET), Theology I, 180; Childs, (1974), Exodus, 69. Contrary to Terrien, (1978),
Elusive Presence, 155 n. 29.
87 Aristotle, Metaphysics 5.7.4.
88 Cf. Presence in the Compact OED, (19912), 1420/393c, 1 a, The fact or condition of being
present, the state of being before, in front of, or in the same place with a person or thing; being
there; . . . Usually with of or possessive indicating the person or thing that is present; 1420/394b
4a), with possessive, denoting the actual person (or thing) that is present (his presence = his
present self, himself being present); hence sometimes nearly = embodied self, objective
personality.
89 Terrien, (1978), Elusive Presence, 404, is right that omnipresence totally fails to capture the
Hebraic awareness of communion.
90 Cf. B. A. Levine, (1968), On the Presence of God in Biblical Religion, 72.
Neither the OT nor the NT has a word for presence. The nearest equivalent is Mynp,
mostly translated by mopsmlk in the LXX. Its primary meaning is face and is a
common metaphor for presence in both Testaments.91 However, as the Greek indicates,
and contrary to Terrien (65), it speaks more to the being of the person than to his or her
actual presence or location. The lament of God hiding his face did not mean that the
worshipper thought that God had withdrawn himself - his person - from him so that his
presence was no longer there, but that, confronted with evil or misfortune, the only
explanation was a god who for whatever reason had withheld his divine aid, i.e. refused to
help.92 The words for to hide rto or Mle are the common antonyms of hlg to
reveal, uncover and have nothing to do with movement away from a place.93 In fact, when
applied to human beings, the hiding or covering of the face is an expression of sorrow, not
a removal of presence.94
To indicate location, the preposition l was added, so that ynpl literally means to (the)
face of and is often simply translated as before or in the presence of, that is, in the
immediate vicinity of some person or object. Thus the phrase hwhy ynpl before the
LORD most often indicates the localised Divine Presence, especially his cultic presence,95
that is, that God is in front of or very near the person.
91 A. R. Johnson, (1947), Mynp, 155-59; Beyerlin, (1965ET), Oldest Sinaitic Traditions, 103-10;
Terrien, (1978), Elusive Presence, 65, 78; M. S. Smith, (1988), Seeing God in the Psalms,
171-83, esp. 174; Brueggemann, (1979), Presence in Israel, 47-86; J. G. Williams, (1984),
Jobs Vision, 270; Preuss, (1995-96ET), OT Theology I, 163-65; Simian-Yofre, (2001ET),
Mynp panim, TDOT XI, 595.
92 E.g. Isa 8:16-18. Cf. Fretheim, (1992), Where in the World is God?, 9a; Preuss, (1995-96ET),
OT Theology I, 165; Simian-Yofre, (2001ET), Mynp panim, TDOT XI, 603.
93 Clines, (1993), DCH II, 350b. E.g. Job 13:24, Ps 13:1, 44:24, 88:14. For a full list of
occurrences of sentences which contain the phrase rto + Mynp, see Balentine, (1983), The
Hidden God, 47-48. On Job, see Pleins, (1994), Why Do You Hide Your Face?, 229-38. In
general, see: Wagner, (1999ET), rto satar, TDOT X, 366-68; Barr, (1960), Theophany and
Anthropomorphism, 31; Wolverton, (1963), Psalmists Belief, 86-87; de Vaux, (1969), Gods
Presence and Absence in History, 10, who compared Judg 6:13; and Balentine, (1983), The
Hidden God, 53-54, 57-58, though the distinction between presence and involvement seems to
have been lost on Balentine. However, Balentine made the valuable observation (contrary to
Terrien, (1978), Elusive Presence, 323) that for the psalmist, the hiding of Gods face was often
inexplicable and not always as a reaction to sin. For the prophets the opposite was the case, see
pp. 66-68. Also: Tournay, (1991ET), Seeing and Hearing God, 163; Wehmeier, (1997ET), rto
str to hide, TLOT II, 816-17; Drinkard, (1992), Face, ABD II, 743b, a lack of attention and
response. Cf. Pss. Sol. 2:8.
94 Cf. Isa 25:7, 2 Sam 15:30, Esth 6:12, Jer 14:3-4; Mettinger, (1988ET), In Search of God, 111.
95 Cf. Dalman, (1902ET), Words of Jesus, 29-31; Fowler, (1987), lipne YHWH, 384, 390; B. A.
Levine, (1990), Lpny YHWH, 196-205; Simian-Yofre, (2001ET), Mynp panim, TDOT XI,
609-11. It is not always used in connection with a shrine, a fact which Fowler admirably
demonstrated. For a discussion on the phrase hwhy ynpl and its frequency in Deuteronomy
implying that its Name theology does not preclude belief in the Divine Presence, see: I. Wilson,
(1995), Divine Presence in Deuteronomy, 403-406; I. Wilson, (1995), Out of the Midst of the
The location of the Divine Presence is thus integral to the concept. In this thesis, it is the
location of the Divine Royal Presence that is of interest.
1.4.1.2 Terrien: A Single Post-Exilic View of Divine Presence
Terrien claimed that the pre-exilic understanding of Divine Presence was characterised by
the belief that God was present in a special sense in the here-and-now chiefly in and
through the Jerusalem temple,96 but that Second Temple Judaism did not have such a
belief. Hebraism had been founded on divine presence. Judaism arose from divine
absence (390); A second temple was built in 516 B.C., but Yahweh did not come down
to inhabit his house (402).
Apart from the fact that this view is shared by other scholars and that it is incorrect (e.g.
Joel 2:27, 4:17),97 a more basic assumption lies behind it: it assumes that two seemingly
contradictory viewpoints cannot subsist in the one belief system. Therefore, argued
Terrien, one must have given way completely to the other.
Many would solve the problem by describing the situation as a creative tension. They
would postulate that the two do in fact co-exist in the belief system of individuals for
whom the texts are normative. However, to do so would be to do less than justice to the
integrity and common sense of those individuals, to say nothing of their sanity.
To be preferred is the simple scenario that some individuals held one view and others
another, while at the same time recognising each other as legitimate heirs of the same faith.
Such a picture would result in dialogue and debate - that would be the creative
tension.98 That there were many such Judaisms in the first century is now accepted.99
The dialogue between the Pharisees and Jesus over the kingdom of God as preserved in
Luke 17:20-21 is simply another example.
Fire, passim; McConville, (1997), Review of Out of the Midst of the Fire by Ian Wilson, 150-
52; Morrow, (1998), Review of Out of the Midst of the Fire by Ian Wilson, 723-25.
96 Terrien, (1978), Elusive Presence, 307, divine presence lingered in the temple, even without the
conjunction of sacerdotal and congregational activity.
98 The very point of whether God was present in the second temple was a topic of debate amongst the
rabbis, see footnote in Section 2.6.1.
99 Simon, (1967ET), Jewish Sects, 7; Nickelsburg, (1986), Introduction, 2, who wrote early
Judaism appears to encompass almost unlimited diversity and variety - indeed, it might be more
appropriate to speak of early Judaisms; Zwelling, (2000), The Fictions of Biblical History,
137. See further Section 2.2.
1.4.2 Bruce D. Chilton on the Kingdom of God
Bruce D. Chilton was chosen for discussion because he is a modern scholar who has
written on the kingdom of God from the unique perspective of the Targumim. Since
analysis of some Targum verses in this thesis forms a crucial element in constructing a
picture of the Pharisaic understanding of the kingdom, there is need to come to terms with
Chiltons work.
To date there have been only four major studies on the targumic notion of the kingdom of
God, if Chiltons works (which are largely repetitious) are subsumed under one heading:
Klaus Kochs article;100 Chiltons studies,101 which, though the most detailed,
concentrated almost exclusively on Tg. Neb. Isa; Odo Camponovos102 compendious
dissertation on all instances of God as king and his kingdom in the OT (BHS and LXX), the
Deuterocanonicals, Pseudepigrapha, Qumran, and Targumim; and John P. Meiers103
work within his Marginal Jew trilogy, which largely echoed the conclusions of Chilton.
Thus, for all intents and purposes, Chilton is the only scholar who has written extensively
on the subject of the kingdom of God in the Targumim. He has made three far-reaching
contributions.
Chilton developed a schema, not for dating those targumim verses as written, which
mention the kingdom of God or the like, but for proposing a time period in which the
tradition that lies behind these verses probably originated. Since this is by far the most
important contribution that is relevant to the present study, it will be discussed more fully
in Section 1.6.3 below.
Secondly, Chilton discussed at length the parallels between the use of kingdom of God
in Tg. Neb. Isa and by Jesus in the Gospels.104 Using the criterion of targumic diction
rather than the more frequently used criteria employed in the quest for the historical
100 Koch, (1978), Offenbaren Wird Sich Das Reich Gottes, 158-65.
101 Chilton, (1978), Regnum Dei Deus Est, 261-70; Chilton, (1979), God in Strength, 87-89;
Chilton, (1982), The Glory of Israel, 77-81; Chilton, (1984), Galilean Rabbi, 58-63, 66-67;
Chilton, (1987ET), The Isaiah Targum, xxvii, 48-49, 62-63, 77, 102-103; Chilton, (1994), Jesus
and Israels Scriptures, 306; Chilton, (1996), Pure Kingdom, passim. Beyond the scope of the
present thesis is the work Chilton, (1996), Inclusion and Noninclusion, 133-72.
102 Camponovo, (1984), Knigtum, passim.
103 Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 262-65, 286-87.
104 Tg. Neb. Isa 52:7, Mark 1:15, Luke 4:18f,21; Tg. Neb. Isa 24:23, 31:4, Matt 8:11, Mark 9:1; Tg.
Neb. Isa 40:9f, Luke 16:16.
Jesus,105 he concluded from this that they share a common first century (pre-70) tradition,
namely the use of the phrase kingdom of God.106
Thirdly, by comparing the BHS and Targum texts, Chilton drew the conclusion that the
phrase kingdom of God meant for the Targumist the self-disclosure of God. He also
concluded that such was the basic aspect of the meaning for Jesus.107
Leaving aside issues relating to his dating methods, which will be dealt with in Section
1.6.3, Chilton made a number of assumptions and methodological tactics that call into
doubt the last two of these conclusions.
1.4.2.1 Chilton: Kingdom Targumim Reflect Position of Jesus
Chilton went further than simply claiming that the historical Jesus and the Targumim share
the common pre-70 tradition of the use of the phrase kingdom of God. He argued that
since both Jesus and some of the traditions behind the Targumim are first century, the
Targumim reflect the understanding of the kingdom held by Jesus far better than any other
group or individual in the first century. For example, he wrote: [T]he Targumic kingdom
passages are substantively as well as linguistically coherent with Jesus preaching of the
kingdom.108 He based this on two incorrect premises.
First, he categorised the language of the extant Targumim to the Prophets (on which he
based most of his work) as Middle Aramaic (200 B.C. - A.D. 200) rather than Late
Aramaic (A.D. 200-700),109 to which Fitzmyer places the final redaction of all extant
Targumim.110
Second, he thought that parallels between the NT and the Targumim, or at least the
traditions behind them, were to be explained by the dependence of the former on the
105 Such as multiple attestation, discontinuity, coherence, etc. See Section 4.4.
106 Chilton, (1979), God in Strength, 95, 171, 226-27, 277; Chilton, (1980), Targumic
Transmission, 39. Given the fact that both the Gospels and the targumim were initially
transmitted orally before being redacted, Chilton claimed that the disciples might have used
Targumic methods to transmit the words and deeds of Jesus.
107 Chilton, (1979), God in Strength, 284, 285, 287; Chilton, (1978), Regnum Dei Deus Est, 268;
Chilton, (1984), Galilean Rabbi, 60-63; Stanton, (1980), Review of The Elusive Presence by
Bruce D. Chilton, 75-76; Chilton, (1996), Pure Kingdom, 11.
108 Chilton, (1978), Regnum Dei Deus Est, 266. See also: Chilton, (1984), Introduction, 22;
Chilton, (1979), God in Strength, 287, and also 291, . . . a Targumic matrix of the kingdom
diction offers a straightforward explanation of the dominical usage . . .. But see his later, Chilton,
(1984), Galilean Rabbi, 67.
109 But cf. Chilton, (1994), Judaic Approaches to the Gospels, 311.
110 Fitzmyer, (1997), The Phases of the Aramaic Language, 57-84.
latter.111 But dependence might be the other way round, especially since the redaction of
the Targumim is centuries after that of the NT.112 Indeed, it is not unknown for borrowings
of terminology and concepts to flow from Christian to Jew in the Byzantine period (fourth
- 15th centuries) - and these especially associated with the synagogue in the time of
Targum literary formation.113
Chilton posited such parallels mainly because, limiting himself to passages where Jesus
proclaimed the kingdom of God, he noted that the Tg. Neb. Isa also features kingdom
language in a proclamation or festive setting.114 He failed to take into account the simple
fact that the original BHS passages are also set within eschatological genres similar to
those of the NT.115
Apart from questionable premises, there are two important linguistic reasons for
suspecting that the targumim in fact represent a different but parallel tradition of the
kingdom of God.
In the effort to draw strong parallels between Jesus proclamation of the kingdom of God
and Tg. Neb. Isas use of the phrase, Chilton consistently claimed that, like the Targumim,
Jesus insisted on a personal God revealed.116 The fact is, however, that the Gospels
never record Jesus as having used ylg or rather its Greek equivalents (mlhîmqs,
c^kbos) in speaking of the kingdom of God. Jesus instead used the verb oulj^f (or
rather, the Aramaic equivalent, ata), or occasionally ddws, bpoulj^f or hs.
Conversely, the only occasion in which a Targum uses the equivalent of to come is in
Tg. Neb. Mic 4:8 - a passage that Chilton himself (correctly) assigned to the Amoraic
111 Chilton, (1984), Galilean Rabbi, 44, 90-136; Chilton, (1992), Targums, DJG, 803; Chilton,
(1994), Aramaic and Targumic Antecedents of Justification, 379-97.
112 Buchanan, (1977), The Use of Rabbinic Literature, 112b, 121 n. 33; McNamara, (1972), Targum
and Testament, 91-169; McNamara, (19662), The NT and the Palestinian Targum, passim;
McNamara, (1983), Palestinian Judaism, 217-52; Wilcox, (1994), Aramaic Background, 362-
78; Le Daut, (1982), Message, 28-48; Fitzmyer, (1975), Methodology, 100.
113 L. I. Levine, (1996), The Nature and Origin of the Palestinian Synagogue, 447; Tsafrir, (1987),
The Byzantine Setting, 150-51; Stroumsa, (1989), Religious Contacts in Byzantine Palestine,
21; Boyarin, (1998), Christianity and Judaism, 577-627. It might also be the case that
synagogue mosaics depicting images and pagan figures that appeared from the crucial fourth
century may represent a flexible response to such prohibitive laws as Exod 20:4, Lev 26:1 and
Deut 5:8, having been influenced by a similar phenomenon in Christian circles.
114 Chilton, (1979), God in Strength, 277, 278 n. 2, 285; Chilton, (1978), Regnum Dei Deus Est,
267.
115 J. J. Collins, (1987), The Kingdom of God in the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, 94; Meier,
(1994), Marginal Jew II, 287 n. 113.
116 Chilton, (1979), God in Strength, 285, 291; Chilton, (1994), The Kingdom of God in Recent
Discussion, 263; Chilton, (1996), Pure Kingdom, 12. In Chilton, (1979), God in Strength, 279,
Chilton acknowledged that his work did little more than emphasise an insight first put forward
by Johannes Weiss.
stage of Targum formation. In other words, a passage whose tradition let alone redaction
is much too late to reflect first century thought.
Indeed, what Chilton also appears to have missed is the fact that the Aramaic phrase
ahlad atwklm kingdom of God,117 nowhere appears in the extant Targumim. What
does appear that is closest is Nyhlad atwklm the kingdom of your God,118 and
perhaps the slightly better: ywyd atwklm the kingdom of the Lord.119 The first phrase
appears nowhere in its Hebrew equivalent in the BHS nor the Greek of LXX. The second
though appears twice in the BHS and LXX, at 1 Chr 28:5 and 2 Chr 13:8 (in addition to
Wis 10:10) and once in the NT at 2 Pet 1:11 (and Pss. Sol. 17:3).
1.4.2.2 Chilton: Reveal and Come are Synonyms
Chilton equated the Hebrew awb to come and the Aramaic (targumic) ylg to reveal,
seeing no difference between the two.120 Yet, elsewhere, he defined revelation as revealing
something that is present but hidden.121 Yet, something that is already present cannot be
said to come. Given the presence of come in Luke 17:20-21 with the kingdom of
God as its subject, this issue will receive separate treatment in Section 3.7.
1.4.2.3 Chilton: A Confused Picture of the Kingdom
As just discussed, Chilton effectively mixed Targum traditions regarding the kingdom of
God with those of Jesus as presented in the Gospels and he (therefore) saw no difference
between the targumic revealing of the kingdom and Jesus coming of the kingdom.
It is not surprising then to find that Chilton presented a very confused picture of his
understanding of the first century notion of the kingdom, even within individual works.
117 The determinative or emphatic state. The use of the construct form ahla atwklm is also a
possibility.
118 Tg. Neb. Isa 40:9d and Tg. Neb. Isa 52:7b.
119 Tg. Neb. Isa 24:23b, Tg. Neb. Isa 31:4c, Tg. Neb. Obad 21, Tg. Neb. Mic 4:7, Tg. Neb. Zech
14:9. In Tg. Ket. 1 Chr 28:5, hwhyd atwklm the kingdom of the LORD appears. However, Tg.
Ket. was redacted too late to be of relevance in the present analysis.
120 Chilton, (1979), God in Strength, 89, 287; Chilton, (1996), Pure Kingdom, 60.
121 Chilton, (1982), The Glory of Israel, 151 n. 1; Chilton, (1984), Galilean Rabbi, 60; Dalman,
(1902ET), Words of Jesus, 100-101 (not 97 as in Chilton); G. F. Moore, (1927), Judaism II, 374.
On occasion, for example, Chilton was able to touch on the notion of the kingdom of God
as God himself. The kingdom of God refers to God himself, as it were, personally.122
[T]he kingdom is . . . a theologoumenon, a manner of speaking of God.123
Sometimes, the kingdom seemed to be the act itself of divine disclosure.124 The kingdom
is the self-revelation of God.125 [T]he kingdom is taken as the self-revelation of
God.126 [T]he kingdom is a personal God revealed.127
At other times, the kingdom was divine revelation for the specific purpose of salvation.
The saving revelation of God Himself.128 Once, the intervention was without revelation.
Conceptually, the phrase kingdom of God merely refers to the fact, or the claim, that
God will intervene on behalf of his people.129
Sometimes, the kingdom was merely divine activity. . . . [T]he kingdom in Jesus
preaching [is] a symbol of Gods own activity . . ..130
Finally, on occasion, Chilton combined several of these elements. The emphasis is on the
dynamic, personal presence of God - not on the nature of God in itself, but on his saving,
normally future activity.131 [T]he kingdom is nothing other than Gods ultimate
disclosure and activity on behalf of his people.132
It is hoped that by focusing on one aspect of the kingdom of God, namely the presence of
the Divine King, confusion will be minimised and clarity and consistency be more likely.
122 Chilton, (1978), Regnum Dei Deus Est, 266.

123 Chilton, (1994), The Kingdom of God in Recent Discussion, 271.
124 He made too much (it is not likely a coincidence) of the similarity between Tg. Neb. Isa 40:10
the Lord God is revealed with strength (Pwqtb) and Mark 9:1 until they see that the kingdom of
God has come with power (k arkjbf).
125 Chilton, (1978), Regnum Dei Deus Est, 268.
126 Chilton, (1979), God in Strength, 284.
129 Chilton, (1987), Kingdom Come, Kingdom Sung, 59.
130 Chilton, (1998), The Historical Norman Perrin, 19b.
1.4.3 Richard J. Sneed on Luke 17:20-21
Literature on the pericope Luke 17:20-21 is large. Beginning with Tertullian, Christian
scholars have responded to the enigmatic nature of the dialogue with unflagging zeal in
order to explain its meaning or at least to account for its existence. In modern times, the
first major study was included in Bent Noacks Das Gottesreich bei Lukas, followed by
Richard J. Sneeds unpublished dissertation The Kingdom's Coming and his summary
article The Kingdom of God is within you in the same year.
Prior to and after these studies there have been numerous smaller studies largely confined
to a study of the meaning of two words which together form the key to understanding vv.
20-21, namely môôqeopbst and kqt. While these smaller studies will be
accounted for in chapter 4, several deserve mention here either because of their
comprehensiveness or because they have provoked further discussion.
There are, firstly, the studies in English: Colin H. Roberts article The Kingdom of
Heaven; a section of Andrew J. Mattills book Luke and the Last Things; the
commentaries of I. Howard Marshall, Joseph A. Fitzmyer , and Darrell L. Bock; a section
in George R. Beasley-Murrays book Jesus and the Kingdom of God; and the article by
Tom Holmn, The Alternatives of the Kingdom.
German scholars have been no less prolific. Translated works are numerous, but three
deserve mention here because of their influence: an appendix to Gustaf Dalmans The
Words of Jesus; a section of the book Promise and Fulfilment by Werner G. Kmmel;
and a section in Hanz Conzelmanns The Theology of St. Luke. Of note among the
untranslated works are: a section of the book Die Botschaft Jesu by Ernst Percy; the
various articles of August Strobel, especially his Die Passa-Erwartung als urchristliches
Problem in Lc 17 20f; Alexander Rstows article CLRMQ SKTL CQRGL; Franz
Mussners Wann kommt das Reich Gottes?; a section of Rudolph Schnackenburgs
essay Der Eschatologische Abschnitt; a section of Joseph Zmijewskis book Die
Eschatologiereden des Lukas - Evangeliums; a secton of Ruthild Geigers book Die
Lukanischen Endzeitreden; and the article by Gnther Schwarz entiled Mh - - - jbq
mô^qeopbst?.
What is striking about these lists is that there is no published monograph devoted
exclusively to a consideration of Luke 17:20-21. That alone is enough to justify this
present attempt at unravelling the pericope which has been described as the crux
interpretum133 and the Gordian knot134 of Gospel studies.
133 E.g. Hiers, (1970), Kingdom of God, 22.

134 Darr, (1992), On Character Building, 112.
Sneeds unpublished dissertation is divided into five chapters. After the Introduction,
chapter 2 is a collection, in chronological order, of various interpretations of Luke 17:20-
21 from the early patristic period to around 1960. He acknowledged his debt here to
Noack, but advanced his work by including material in the period from 1948 and included
some commentators that Noack neglected.
Chapter 3 represents the heart of the thesis. It is an exposition of the meaning of the two
key phrases jbq mô^qeopbst and kqt jk, mainly relying on ancient texts
and versions (e.g. the LXX and Syriac translations).
Chapter 4 is a justification and explanation of form-critical methods and a division of

gospel forms into three stages of formation with their associated liturgical, catechetical and
missionary milieux. Sneed included a discussion of possible motives, based on these
conclusions for the eventual selection of individual gospel sayings.
Chapter 5, the final chapter, is a form-critical analysis of Luke 17:20-21 based largely on
the fundamentals discussed in chapter 4. Sneed identified the pericope as a
pronouncement story and because it is without exact parallel in the synoptics, proceeded to
argue for a parallel with Rom 14:17.135 As a result of this parallel, Sneed interpreted
kqt jk as a reference, by Jesus, to the coming Holy Spirit. The narrative
introduction with its attribution of the question to Pharisees would have conjured up a
vision of unbending religious observance of the Mosaic Law (119, 120) and hence jbq
mô^qeopbst can mean little else other than a reference to the observance of the
Torah (i.e the practice of torah or halakot).
Sneeds dissertation is useful because it provided, in chapter 2, a sort of catena of works

of interpretation of the past two millennia, some of which are difficult to obtain even today.
However, it is disappointing on at least three counts.
1.4.3.1 Sneed: Uncritical Use of Secondary Sources
Little critical reflection was applied to early interpretations or versions. Thus for example, a
work of the second century was considered by Sneed to be of equal value to one of a later
century in providing the original meaning to the passage.
In this present thesis however, all Christian references after ca. A.D. 300 (i.e. from the
Nicene period onwards) and all Jewish references after ca. A.D. 200 (the redaction of the
135 On Rom 14:17 see Sections 3.4 under Luke 12:31,32, 3.6.3, 4.3.4.1 under Recent Exegetical
Comment and 4.4.2 under Recent Exegetical Comment.
Mishnah) will be deliberately ignored. A critical evaluation of those before will ensure that
only considerations that stand the best chance of being pertinent to the first century will be
taken into account.
1.4.3.2 Sneed: Minimised Importance of Kingdom of God
In his dissertation, Sneed relegated discussion of the meaning of kingdom of God to a

single footnote. He largely dismissed consideration of its meaning as irrelevant to his task:
the pericope is not directly occupied with the nature of the kingdom as such (62 n. 30).
The corrective to this in this thesis will be that the exegesis will proceed on the basis of a
thorough appreciation of what the fundamental meaning of the crucial phrase kingdom
of God must have meant both to the audience of the pericope and to the parties who
preserved it and especially to Jesus and the Pharisees. It is here that the pericope exposes a
fundamental difference in understanding between: the Pharisees and Jesus; the later pre-
Lukan community and the Pharisees; and Luke and the Palestinian Judaism of his time as
represented by the synagogue community and the Yavnean rabbis.
1.4.3.3 Sneed: Unbalanced Consideration of other Elements
Because he largely confined his work to unravelling the meaning of jbq

mô^qeopbst and kqt jk, other sections of the pericope received scant
treatment (for example, the narrative introduction and the second negative reply, to say
nothing of the kingdom of God itself).
What is particularly perplexing is that despite the presence of the (today) superfluous
chapter 4, there is no thorough composition-critical analysis of Luke 17:20-21. Sneed
believed that the evangelist incorporated the whole form as he found it and that it was
transmitted as such from the oral stage (110). This, despite a clear articulation of the three
stages which he labelled in chapter 4.
This resulted in a surprising error. Sneed concluded that the meaning of the pericope was
the same at each stage of its transmission, namely: that Jesus originally foretold of the
coming of the Spirit; that these words were preserved by the early pre-Lukan community
because of their associations with the Spirit; and that Luke not only preserved the form as
he received it, but that he did not add to its meaning (135-37).
As a corrective to Sneed, the whole of the pericope will be analysed and a composition-
critical picture of its formation constructed. This picture will then form the basis of an
exegesis of the passage for each of the three stages of formation. In the case of the role of
the Holy Spirit, it will be found that no such foretelling can be attributed to Jesus in this
pericope, but that such an interpretation was made by the pre-Lukan community of the
pericope as a result of the Pentecost experience. Luke then placed his own christological
interpretation on it.
32 1.5 Introduction : The Pharisees
1.5 THE PHARISEES
This Section, 1.5, will not be a rehearsal of what is known today of the Pharisees. There
are already some excellent summaries which are readily accessible136 and a major work,
which is a critical and nuanced rehabilitation of the more traditional view of the
Pharisees, is currently in progress.137
Instead, this Section will first present a very brief outline of who the Pharisees were and
what can be known of them by a critical evaluation of each of the three major sources,
namely Josephus, the Mishnah and the Gospels.138 In succeeding subsections, certain
136 Surveys of literature dedicated to the Pharisees may be found in the following: R. Marcus, (1952),
The Pharisees, 153-64; Neusner, (1970), Traditions III, 320-68; M. J. Cook, (1978), Jesus and
the Pharisees, 441-60; Silva, (1980), Pharisees in Modern Jewish Scholarship, 395-405;
Porton, (1986), Diversity in Postbiblical Judaism, 69-72; Dunn, (1988), Pharisees, Sinners,
and Jesus, 266-74; Goodblatt, (1989), The Place of the Pharisees in First century Judaism, 12-
30; N. T. Wright, (1992), People of God, 181-203; Saldarini, (1992), Pharisees, ABD V, 289-
303; Meier, (1999), The Quest for the Historical Pharisee, 713-22; Sievers, (1997), Who were
the Pharisees?, 137-55; Schaper, (1999), The Pharisees, 402-27.
137 I.e. the first volume has been published, Deines, Roland. Die Phariser : Ihr Verstndnis im
Spiegel der christlichen und jdischen Forschung seit Wellhausen und Graetz. Vol. 1, WUNT
101. Tbingen: Mohr [Siebeck], 1997. This was unavailable. The comments are from Meier,
(1999), The Quest for the Historical Pharisee, 715.
138 Some would want to identify the Pharisees with the seekers of smooth things or Ephraim in
Qumran texts such as 4QpNah (4Q169), 1QpHab, CD-A (4Q266), 4QpPs37 (4Q171), 4QTest
(4Q175), 11QT (11Q19) and especially 4QMMT (4Q394).
Those in favour of such an identification include: Schrer, (19732), Age I, 225 n. 22; Schiffman,
(1992), New Light on the Pharisees, 30-33, 54; A. I. Baumgarten, (1991), Rivkin and Neusner
on the Pharisees, 112, 117-18; E. P. Sanders, (1992), Judaism, 532 n. 1; A. I. Baumgarten,
(1997), Flourishing of Jewish Sects, 4, 63; Schaper, (1999), The Pharisees, 402.
Those sceptical of such an identification include: Saldarini, (1988), Pharisees, Scribes and
Sadducees, 278-80; Saldarini, (1992), Pharisees, ABD V, 301; Stemberger, (1995), Jewish
Contemporaries of Jesus, 103-105; Meier, (1999), The Quest for the Historical Pharisee, 722.
4QMMT (4Q395-399) is a case in point, being the most recently published. It has been dated to
the early Hasmonean period, specifically sometime between 159-152 B .C ., i.e. just prior to the
high priesthood of Jonathan Maccabee. A group composition, either from the Qumran sect itself or
one of its antecedents, it is an appeal to an individual (probably Jonathan) and the people of Israel
to follow certain halakot. This individual is likely the one later known in the community as the
Wicked Priest. The dispute, as discussed according to Lawrence H. Schiffman (1990), Elisha
Qimron, John Strugnell and Y. Sussmann (1994), points strongly to the conclusion that its
opponents followed what would later in Tannaitic literature be described as Pharisaic halakot and
that they themselves followed Sadducean halakot. This would appear to confirm that during
Jonathans time at least, the Pharisees or a group very like them occupied a position of influence
and dominance over the people with regard to cultic matters, somewhat confirming Josephus
similar comment in Ant. 18:15.
Text and translation: Qimron and Strugnell, (1994), Discoveries in the Judaean Desert X, 44-63;
Qimron and Strugnell, (1994), For this you waited 35 Years, 56-61; Martnez and Tigchelaar,
(2000), Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition II, 790-805.
Qimron and Strugnell, (1994), Discoveries in the Judaean Desert X, 121; Sussmann, (1994),
The History of the Halakhah and the Dead Sea Scrolls, 192. According to Qimron and Strugnell,
(1994), Discoveries in the Judaean Desert X, 152-54, there are four controversies mentioned in
1.5 Introduction : The Pharisees 33
issues surrounding the Pharisees that will be of primary significance to the presentation of
chapters 2, 3 and 4 will then be discussed in more detail.
1.5.1 The Pharisees before A.D. 70
Modern scholarship on the Pharisees is marked by three admissions. First, unlike, for
example, the Qumran sect, we do not have in fact any literature that can be said for certain
to have been written by the Pharisees or by a Pharisee. Second, that the amount of
secondary material that we do have that is contemporary or near contemporary on the
Pharisees is very small. Third, that this secondary material is either contradictory or, at best
unable to be corroborated. Michael J. Cooks comment that, the truth of the matter may
be that we cannot know the truth of the matter,139 is echoed by that of Joseph Sievers,
we know considerably less about the Pharisees than an earlier generation knew.140
No better example of this confusion and paucity of evidence can be found than when the
simple question is asked, what does the word Pharisee mean? The verb vrp, from
which the proper noun is derived, has, unfortunately, three distinct meanings: to
specify;141 to interpret;142 or to separate.143 Each meaning has its supporters when
4QMMT that are correspondingly mentioned in early rabbinic literature as positions held by the
Sadducees in their disputes with the Pharisees.
(1) The question of Mwy lwbj, specifically in regard to the burning of the red cow (4Q395): Num
19:7-8, m. Parah 3:7, t. Parah 3:7-8. See: Qimron and Strugnell, (1994), An Unpublished
Halakhic Letter from Qumran, 403-404; Yadin, (1985), The Temple Scroll I, 332-34; J. M.
Baumgarten, (1980), Pharisaic-Sadducean Controversies, 157-61; Schiffman, (1990), Miqsat
Maaseh Ha-Torah, 435-57; Schiffman, (1992), New Light on the Pharisees, 54.
(2) The question of the purity of the hides and bones of unclean animals (4Q395-396): Lev 11:39-
40, m. Yad. 4:6. See: Qimron and Strugnell, (1994), Discoveries in the Judaean Desert X, 154-
56; Yadin, (1985), The Temple Scroll I, 335; J. M. Baumgarten, (1980), Pharisaic-Sadducean
Controversies, 161-63.
(3) The question of a single stream of liquid poured from a clean into an unclean container
(4Q396): m. Toh. 8:9, Makh. 5:9, Yad. 4:7, t. Miq. 4:6. See: Qimron and Strugnell, (1994),
Discoveries in the Judaean Desert X, 161-62; J. M. Baumgarten, (1980), Pharisaic-Sadducean
Controversies, 163-64.
(4) The question of the degree of impurity in the three stages of purification of a leper
(4Q394,397): Lev 14:1-32, m. Neg. 14:2-3,8-9. See Qimron and Strugnell, (1994), Discoveries
in the Judaean Desert X, 166-70.
Qimron and Strugnell, (1994), Discoveries in the Judaean Desert X, 175, identified the they
group in 4QMMT as Pharisees.
139 M. J. Cook, (1978), Jesus and the Pharisees, 458.
140 Sievers, (1997), Who were the Pharisees?, 138.
141 The least favoured possibility is that championed by: G. F. Moore, (1927), Judaism I, 62; A. I.
Baumgarten, (1983), The Name of the Pharisees, 411-28; N. T. Wright, (1992), People of God,
185. Myvwrp originally meant specifiers, since another meaning of the verb is to specify both
in biblical and rabbinic Hebrew (Lev 24:12, Num 15:34, Ezra 4:18). Here precision or accuracy
(ho_bf^) in determination of the laws is implied - a picture of the Pharisees more than once
it comes to the origin of the word Pharisee. As it happens, these three possibilities
more-or-less coincide respectively with the three main groups various historians have
proposed as the forerunners of the Pharisees: the priest/scribe such as Ezra144 or the
scribes (Myrpo, Eo^jj^qbt) in general, with their desire for the specifics of the
Torah;145 the Hasidim (Mydyox, ~?pfa^lf), with their zeal for a strict interpretation of
torah;146 or a group which separated from the Sadducees (Myqwdu, Qâalrh^lf)
because of those tenets which are contrary to those of the Sadducees.147
noted by Josephus and Acts, J.W. 1:110, 2:162, Life 191, Acts 22:3, 26:5. Cf. J.W. 1:648, Ant.
17:149, 19:332, 20:43, 201,264, Ag.Ap. 2:144,175,257.
142 The second possibility is that Myvwrp means interpreters since the verb vrp can mean to
interpret: Neh 8:8; Graetz, (1893), History of the Jews II, 18; Mendham, (1998), The Yeast of
the Pharisees, 39. For a denial of this meaning see Herford, (1924), The Pharisees, 33; G. F.
Moore, (1927), Judaism II, 62. The name would then refer to those who interpret the Torah and
therefore derive binding laws not explicitly in it. Against this, however, is the fact that there is not
one halakah given in the name of the Pharisees in rabbinic literature, something we would
normally expect, see S. Zeitlin, (1961), The Pharisees, 228.
143 The third possibility and the one most favoured by scholars, is that Myvwrp means separatists,
since the verb most often means to separate and the nouns hvyrp and twvyrp occur in
rabbinic Hebrew with the meaning of separation from that which makes unclean, e.g. m. Sot.
9:15L, m. Toh. 4:12, m. Zab. 5:1J. Cf. Ant. 13:296; Origen, Comm. On Matt 14.17 (ANF X,
507a). See: Herford, (1912), Pharisaism, 41; Schrer, (1890ET), Time II.II, 19; Herford, (1924),
The Pharisees, 32; Simon, (1967ET), Jewish Sects, 27-28; A. Guttmann, (1970), Rabbinic
Judaism, 131; Schrer, (19732), Age II, 396.
For a list of authors who argue for either a perjorative or approbative sense for separatists see:
Schrer, (19732), Age II, 396 n. 54; A. I. Baumgarten, (1983), The Name of the Pharisees, 411
n. 1; R. Meyer and K. Weiss, (1974ET), côfp^lt, TDNT IX, 12; Baron, (19522), Social and
Religious History of the Jews II, 35. Separation from whom or what, though, is another matter.
Some suggest that it was separation from the high priest John Hyrcanus I, e.g. A. Guttmann,
(1970), Rabbinic Judaism, 131. Some place it earlier, when the Hasidim withdrew from fighting
with the Maccabeans and sought peace, e.g. 1 Macc 7:13; Hussey, (1920), Origin of the Name
Pharisee, 66-69. Others give it a religious connotation, signifying the groups voluntary
separation from other groups considered by them to be unclean, mostly either the Sadducees (e.g.
Finkel, (1964), The Pharisees and the Teacher of Nazareth, 39, 47; S. Zeitlin, (1969), The
Origin of the Pharisees Reaffirmed, 255), or the people of the land (m. Hag. 2:7A, Sot. 9:15L,
Zab. 5:1J; Schrer, (1890ET), Time II.II, 20-21; G. F. Moore, (1927), Judaism I, 61; Bowker,
(1973), Jesus and the Pharisees, 4; Herford, (1912), Pharisaism, 42; Herford, (1924), The
Pharisees, 32-35; Schrer, (19732), Age II, 396-98; Finkelstein, (19623), The Pharisees I, 76;
Oesterley and Robinson, (1948), A History of Israel II, 317 n. 2). Note also Ezras desire to
separate Jews from Gentiles, Ezra 6:21, 9:1, 10:11, Neh 9:2, 10:28, 13:3.
144 E.g. b. Sanh. 21b, Suk. 20b. See: Herford, (1912), Pharisaism, 5; R. Marcus, (1952), The
Pharisees, 155a.
145 E.g. S. Zeitlin, (1962), The Rise and Fall of the Judean State I, 176; S. Zeitlin, (1969), The
Origin of the Pharisees Reaffirmed, 255-67, and the later Finkelstein, (1969), The Origin of the
Pharisees, 175-86; Lauterbach, (1951), The Pharisees and their Teachings, 195-96 n. 2;
Schrer, (19732), Age II, 388; Tcherikover, (1959), Hellenistic Civilization and the Jews, 124-
25; Sofer, in ODJR 649a; Black, (1962), Scribe, IDB IV, 247a.
146 I.e. to the Hasidim of 1 and 2 Maccabees, 1 Macc 2:42, 7:13, 2 Macc 14:7. See: Graetz, (1893),
History of the Jews II, 17; Klausner, (1925), Jesus of Nazareth, 202; G. F. Moore, (1927),
Judaism I, 59; Baron, (19522), Social and Religious History of the Jews II, 342 n. 43; Finkelstein,
(19623), The Pharisees I, 76; Jeremias, (1969ET), Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus, 247; E.
Schrer, (19732), Age II, 401; I. M. Zeitlin, (1988), Jesus and the Judaism of his Time, 15;
When it comes to the three sources that explicitly mention the Pharisees, a critical
evaluation reveals that not a great deal can be taken as reasonably certain.
Steve Mason148 wrote what may be termed the definitive work on the Pharisees as
presented in Josephus. His most important conclusion was that Josephus portrait of the
Pharisees as the dominant religious group among the Jews and as the one who had
the support of the masses is to be taken as reliable since Josephus often lamented this
fact and thus would have had no reason to invent or inflate their popularity or influence.149
They, in fact, represented the popular middle ground on such questions as fate150 and
life after death.151 They had a reputation for ho_bf^ accuracy in the laws,152
tempered and enhanced by their kjfj^ regulations (i.e torah or halakot) which were
not part of the written Torah.153 Josephus himself shared the Pharisaic belief in fate,
immortality and the goal of accuracy in the handling of the Torah.154 A number of
Verms, (1997), Dead Sea Scrolls, 27; Farmer, (1962), Hasideans, IDB II, 528b; Goldstein,
(1976), I Maccabees, 6; Mansoor, (1971), Pharisees, EncJud XIII, 363; Hengel, (1974ET),
Judaism and Hellenism I, 224. There is, however, no explicit evidence for this connection: S.
Zeitlin, (1961), The Pharisees, 226; Kampen, (1988), Hasideans and the Origin of Pharisaism,
213; Kampen, (1992), Hasidim, ABD III, 67b; Smallwood, (1976), The Jews under Roman
Rule, 17; Bright, (1953), The Kingdom of God, 182.
147 E.g. Finkel, (1964), The Pharisees and the Teacher of Nazareth, 39, 47; S. Zeitlin, (1969), The
Origin of the Pharisees Reaffirmed, 255; T. W. Manson, (1938), Sadducee and Pharisee, 154.
148 Mason, (1991), Josephus on the Pharisees, passim, esp. 372-75. Other recent scholarship on the
Pharisees in Josephus includes: D. Smith, (1985), Jesus and the Pharisees, 151-56; Mason,
(1991), Pharisaic Dominance, 363-81; Saldarini, (1992), Pharisees, ABD V, 289-303;
McLaren, (2000), Josephus Summary Statements, 31-46.
149 J.W. 1:111-13, 2:166a, Ant. 13:288,297,298,401-405,408,409, 18:15.
150 J.W. 2:162-163, Ant. 13:172, 18:13. Cf. m. Abot 3:15A; Hippolytus, Refutation 9.23 (ANF V,
137); A. I. Baumgarten, (1984), Josephus and Hippolytus on the Pharisees, 1-25.
151 J.W. 2:163b, Ant. 18:14. Cf. Acts 23:8; Hippolytus, Refutation 9.23 (ANF V, 137).
152 kjlf, J.W. 1:110, Ant. 17:41; kjfj^, J.W. 2:162, Life 19. At Life 9, Josephus claimed such
accuracy for himself, cf. Life 12.
153 J.W. 2:162, Ant. 13:294,297,408, 17:41, 18:12. J.W. 1:648, Ant. 17:149, 19:332,
20:43,201,264, Ag.Ap. 2:175, 187, may also refer to the Pharisees though they are unnamed. See:
Wild, (1985), Encounter between Pharisaic and Christian Judaism, 122-23; A. I. Baumgarten,
(1983), The Name of the Pharisees,413, 413-14 n. 9. Cf. m. Sanh. 11:3 and, the cautionary
remarks in McLaren, (2001), Death of James, 10.
The status of these non-Scriptural laws for the Pharisees is disputed. Nowhere does Josephus
mention the Oral Law. What is probably meant is halakah derived from the Torah (see footnote
in Section 1.1). This may have been written or unwritten or a combination of both. The older
view was that any regulation not strictly Torah was unwritten and therefore oral, e.g.: J. M.
Baumgarten, (1972), The Unwritten Law, 7-29; Schrer, (19732), Age II, 390. For recent
discussions, see: Neusner, (1971), The Problem of Oral Transmission , 1-18; J. M. Baumgarten,
(1972), The Unwritten Law, 7-29; Neusner, (1973), The Written Tradition in the Pre-Rabbinic
Period, 56-65; S. Safrai, (1987), Oral Tora, 35-120; A. I. Baumgarten, (1987), The Pharisaic
Paradosis, 63-77; M. Goodman, (1999), Ancestral Tradition, 17-20.
154 Whether Josephus himself was a Pharisee is disputed. The traditional view, e.g. that of Schrer,
(19732), Age II, 389, is that he was. It is now generally accepted that he was not, following
Mason, (1991), Josephus on the Pharisees, 325-56. However, Stemberger, (1995), Jewish
Pharisees were politically active right up to and including the war with Rome (as was
Josephus).155
The Mishnah, on the other hand, presents a very different picture.156 Synonymous with the
name of Jacob Neusner,157 work in this area is even more dominated by issues regarding
Contemporaries of Jesus, 7, declined to draw a firm conclusion. For a criticism of Mason on this
point, see E. P. Sanders, (1992), Judaism, 532-33 n. 9.
155 E.g. J.W. 1:107-14,571, 2:411, Ant. 13:288-98,400-32, 41-45, 15:3,370, 18:14, Life 21, 191,
197, cf. J.W. 2:628. Cf. m. Maas. Sh. 5:15, Sot. 9:10.
156 This of course may be due in large part either to the fact that the Mishnah was redacted ca. A.D.
200, some 130 years after the demise of the Pharisees as an identifiable group and so issues of
anachronism naturally arise, or to the fact that it is by no means certain that the rabbinic Myvwrp
is equivalent to the Josephan (or NT) côfp^lf. See: Neusner, (1970), Traditions III, 304;
Mason, (1991), Josephus on the Pharisees, 10.
Further, complications arise in identifying the relationship between the Mishnaic Myvwrp and the
Myrbx Associates, Companions. They occur in parallel in two passages, m. Dem. 2:3 and Hag.
2:7 and both are similarly contrasted with Urah-Me common people. On the common
people, see Oppenheimer, (1977ET), The Am ha-aretz, passim. Yet, Myvwrp cannot be
translated as Pharisees with any certainty and the concerns of the Myrbx in the Mishnah were
limited to tithing and ritual purity (m. Dem. 2:3A, Toh. 7:4, 8:5), whereas those of the Pharisees
extended to Sabbath observance. Various solutions have been proposed: Neusner, (1960), The
Fellowship, 25; E. P. Sanders, (1977), Paul and Palestinian Judaism, 155; Neale, (1991), None
but the Sinners, 24; N. T. Wright, (1992), People of God, 185. Each suggested that all Haberim
were Pharisees though not all Pharisees were Haberim. Others, such as: Westerholm, (1978),
Jesus and Scribal Authority, 15; Sigal, (1980), Foundations of Judaism I.II, 13, suggested that
some Haberim were not Pharisees but nevertheless adopted Pharisaic practice with regard to tithing
and ritual purity. Others, such as: Jeremias, (1969ET), Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus, 247, 249;
R. Meyer and K. Weiss, (1974ET), côfp^lt, TDNT IX, 17; Schrer, (19732), Age II, 398;
Finkelstein, (1989), Pharisaic Leadership, 268; Beckwith, (1982), Relationship of the
Pharisees, Sadducees and Essenes, 25; Burkitt, (1927), Jesus and the Pharisees, 392, simply
equate the two groups. For an uncritical treatment of the Haberim in rabbinic literature, see Peli,
(1984), The Havurot that were in Jerusalem, 55-74.
157 Neusner, (1970), Traditions, 3 vols., and numerous subsequent works, particularly: Neusner,
(1973), From Politics to Piety, passim, a summary of the former work; Neusner, (1973),
Rabbinic Perspectives, passim; Neusner, (1982), The Pharisees in the Light of the Historical
Sources of Judaism, 71-83; Neusner, (1982), Two Pictures of the Pharisees, 525-38; Neusner,
(1993), Sanderss Pharisees and Mine, 253-56. The last is very good summary of Neusners
position.
Prior to Neusner, Ellis Rivkin made the first tentative attempts at a critical reconstruction based on
rabbinic sources: Rivkin, (1966), The Internal City, 225-40; Rivkin, (1937-38),
Prolegomenon, vii-lxx; Rivkin, (1969), Defining the Pharisees, 205-49; Rivkin, (1978), A
Hidden Revolution, passim; Rivkin, (1978), Scribes, Pharisees, Lawyers, Hypocrites, 135-42.
For an analysis of Rivkins work, see: Lightstone, (1975), Sadducees Versus Pharisees, 206-17;
S. J. D. Cohen, (1980), Review of A Hidden Revolution by Ellis Rivkin, 627-29; A. I.
Baumgarten, (1991), Rivkin and Neusner on the Pharisees, 110-14.
For the debate between Neusner and Rivkin over methodology, see: A. I. Baumgarten, (1991),
Rivkin and Neusner on the Pharisees, 109-26; Renwick, (1991), Paul, the Temple, and the
Presence of God, 6-21.
Neusners historical-critical approach to rabbinic literature is not without its critics. Chief among
them are: Wacholder, (1972), Review of Jesus and the Language of the Kingdom by Jacob
Neusner, 123-24; Wacholder, (1973), A Reply, 114-15; S. Zeitlin, (1974), Spurious
Interpretations of Rabbinic Sources, 122-35; E. P. Sanders, (1990), Jewish Law, passim; E. P.
Sanders, (1992), Judaism, passim. Major rebuttals to Sanders criticisms (which generally have
the critical evaluation of the evidence than is that of Josephus. Nevertheless, the portrait
emerges of a non-political group overwhelmingly concerned with ritual purity, particularly
with regard to the eating and preparation of ordinary everyday food. There is, it is to be
noted, nothing in common with the picture given by Josephus.158
As for the NT, the portrait is inconsistent even within individual Gospels. While the special
case of Luke-Acts will be treated in Section 1.5.5, there are examples of congruency of
themes between the Gospels and Josephus and between the Gospels and rabbinic
literature. For example, resurrection was a noted belief of the Pharisees in Josephus and
Acts159 and a concern for ritual purity may be found both in the Gospels and rabbinic
literature.160 The most important parallel for our purposes between Josephus and the
Gospels is the portrayal of the Pharisees as an influential group in first century Jewish
Palestinian society. Of particular concern here is whether and to what extent the Pharisees
exercised any influence in pre-70 Palestinian synagogues. This will be discussed fully in
Section 1.5.6.
1.5.2 Pharisees in the Pre-Lukan Community
The Pharisees continued as an identifiable group within first century Palestinian society
right up to A.D. 70,161 so the above comments apply not only to the Pharisees of Jesus
time (Stage I) but also to the Pharisees at the time of the pre-Lukan community (Stage II)
of which Luke was heir.
There is some evidence to suggest that some Pharisees were also members of this pre-
Lukan Christian Palestinian community.162 While the evidence is not conclusive, it clearly
points in that direction.163
not found many followers) can be found in: de Lacey, (1992), In Search of a Pharisee, 361-71; S.
J. D. Cohen, (1983), Jacob Neusner, Mishnah, and Counter-Rabbinics, 48-63. A more
accessible summary of this last work can be found in: Shanks, (1985), The Neusner
Phenomenon, 60-69; and of course, Neusner and Chilton, (1993), Sanderss Misunderstanding of
Purity, passim. For a modern reconstruction of the history of the Pharisees that is dependent on a
conservative view of rabbinic literature, see: Finkelstein, (1989), Pharisaic Leadership, 245-77.
158 Although N. T. Wright, (1992), People of God, 188, suggested that Ant. 18:12a, which said that
the Pharisees pursued a simple style of living, was in fact a coded references to their observance of
the purity laws.
159 J.W. 2:163b, Ant. 18:14, Acts 23:8. Cf. J.W. 3:374, Ag.Ap. 2:218, where Josephus expressed a
similar belief; 2 Macc 7, m. Sanh. 10:1.
160 E.g. m. Hag. 2:7A,B, Sot. 3:4I,J,K, Mark 2:15, 7:3-4.
162 The figure of Nicodemus in John (John 3:1, 7:50, 19:39), designated a Pharisee, was clearly
sympathetic to Jesus, though since the Gospel was redacted well after A.D. 70, this cannot be used
as evidence for the issue at hand. One scholar, de Jonge, (1971), Nicodemus and Jesus, 337-59,
Firstly, Acts 15:5 most likely refers to believers who also remained Pharisees.164
Secondly, in the parallel passage, Gal 2:4, Paul complained of false brethren who
insisted on circumcision (cf. Acts 15:1). Not a few commentators link them to some extent
with the Christian Pharisees of Acts 15:5,165 since the discussion is on a similar topic.
Thirdly, the believing Jews who were zealous for the law in Acts 21:20, fit in well with
these being the Christian Pharisees of Acts 15:1 and/or 5,166 or at the very least
sympathetic to these Christian Pharisees.
Fourthly, Luke depicts Paul as a Christian Pharisee. The present tense of Acts 23:6 and
the perfect tense of Acts 26:5 strongly suggest that Luke at least wanted to give this
impression. However, it should be said that Phil 3:5, where Paul claims a Pharisaic
pedigree, is in a context in which that claim is clearly of the past.167
Robert A. Wild168 approached the question by focusing his search on legal (halakic)
arguments which appear in Q or Mark, since these can be assumed to have been redacted
before A.D. 70. Wilds judgement of the issue, based on an analysis of Matt 23:23 / Luke
11:42 and Matt 23:25-26 / Luke 11:39-41 from Q and Mark 2:15-17 and 7:1-23, was
inconclusive. That is, these sayings could have come from conflict between Pharisees and
Christian Pharisees, or between Christian Pharisees and non-Pharisaic Christians, or
indeed between Jesus and the Pharisees. Wilds work signals a much needed word of
caution about being either over sceptical or too accepting at face value of the Gospel
record.
Nevertheless, there is enough evidence to say that if the assumption that some Pharisees
were members of the early pre-Lukan Palestinian community is correct, then it opens the
possibility that some or all of the controversies between the Pharisees and Jesus in Luke-
claimed that Nicodemus was a Christian Pharisee. Brown, (1979), The Community of the Beloved
Disciple, 72 n. 128, argued that he was not.
163 Wild, (1985), Encounter between Pharisaic and Christian Judaism, 114, arrived at this conclusion
based on the first two points presented here.
164 For the opinion that these Christians were ex-Pharisees or converted Pharisees, see: Lake and
Cadbury, (1933), The Beginnings of Christianity I.IV, 171; Neil, (1973), Acts, 171; Marshall,
(1980), Acts, 249; Barrett, (1994, 1998), Acts II, 704. The textual problems with Acts 15:1-5 do
not affect the argument here, see: F. F. Bruce, (19903), Acts, 334; W. A. Strange, (1992), The
Problem of the Text of Acts, 134-37, 142; Ldemann, (1989ET), Early Christianity, 167, 170.
165 E.g. Rackham, (1957), Acts, 245-46, F. F. Bruce, (1982), Galatians, 113.
166 Neil, (1973), Acts, 219; Marshall, (1980), Acts, 343.
167 Hengel, (1991), The Pre-Christian Paul, 27. On Ebonism and Christian Judaism, see Sigal,
(1980), Foundations of Judaism I.I, 431-40.
168 Wild, (1985), Encounter between Pharisaic and Christian Judaism, 112.
Acts may reflect not simply the historical situation of Jesus but the concerns of the early
pre-Lukan Christian community depicted in Acts. Given the attribution of the question in
Luke 17:20-21 to Pharisees, such Pharisees may have been either these Christian
Pharisees or the question may reflect the on-going polemic between the pre-Lukan
community and normal Pharisees.
1.5.3 The Pharisees and the Yavnean Rabbis
Since Luke wrote his Gospel and Acts sometime between A.D. 70 and 100, let us now turn
by way of setting the scene for discussion in subsequent chapters, to consider the place of
Pharisees in Lukes time (Stage III) and then to ask what he made of the Pharisees that he
wrote about.169
The rabbis of Yavneh who grouped during and after the A.D. 66-70 war were not made up
exclusively of former Pharisees. Certainly some were included,170 but they also consisted
of priests, scribes and others.171 Although the Mishnah contains pericopes attributed to
pre-70 Pharisees, it contains much that is not. The rabbis were heirs to Pharisaism but they
were also heirs to the wisdom of other pre-70 sects (except, as far as we know, that of
Qumran).172

170 Not only those aligned with the houses of Hillel and Shammai, but those associated with Simeon
ben Gamaliel I found their way to Yavneh, see Neusner, (1973), From Politics to Piety, 98. On
the debate whether the house of Hillel or Shammai dominated at Yavneh, see: Neusner, (1973),
From Politics to Piety, 103; Neusner, (1973), Rabbinic Perspectives, 14, 22, 282-84; Saldarini,
(1974), Rabbinic Chain of Tradition, 103.
171 See the list of disciples of rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai in m. Abot 2:8C. Also note: Buchanan,
(1970), Consequences of the Covenant, 261; Sigal, (1980), Foundations of Judaism I.II, 2;
Saldarini, (1988), Pharisees, Scribes and Sadducees, 131; Saldarini, (1992), Delegitimation of
Leaders, 663. Although not directly relevant, it may be mentioned that Josephus claimed to
follow Pharisaic ways (Life 12) and to be a priest (Life 1-2, J.W. 1:3, 3:352). See S. Schwartz,
(1990), Josephus and Judaean Politics, 100-101, for a list of Tannaitic rabbis who were priests,
205.
172 Sigal, (1980), Foundations of Judaism I.II, 2. For a recent and more confident connection between
the Pharisees and the early rabbis, see: McNamara, (1983), Palestinian Judaism, 162-63;
McNamara, (1983), Intertestamental Literature, 275-80; Maccoby, (1988), Early Rabbinic
Writings, 11-13. Modern scholarship has at least formed a consensus on this point that the
Pharisees and the rabbis cannot be simply equated. See: E. P. Sanders, (1977), Paul and
Palestinian Judaism, 60-62; Neusner, (1981), Judaism: the Evidence of the Mishnah, 70-71.
Earlier work by Neusner linked the rabbis with both the Pharisees and the scribes. The following
deny any link between the Pharisees and the rabbis: Bowker, (1973), Jesus and the Pharisees, 4-6;
Sigal, (1980), Foundations of Judaism I.II, 1. Earlier Scholarship virtually assumed a one-to-one
correspondence, exemplified by: Klausner, (1925), Jesus of Nazareth, 212; Alon, (1961), Attitude
of the Pharisees, 53-78. It should be noted that Jacob Neusner has altered his position on this. He
earlier regarded the rabbis as a product of Pharisaic and scribal legacies. Later he presented a more
complicated and comprehensive picture, i.e. that the rabbis were formed from members of many
different pre-70 groups. Noting Neusners change of stance: S. J. D. Cohen, (1984), The
What is more important for the present purpose is that no-one,173 including these Yavnean
rabbis,174 called themselves Pharisees after A.D. 70.175 The rabbis of Yavneh preferred
the label Mkx sage.176 Even more telling for the perspective of the redactor of the third
gospel, there is no Christian evidence until the fifth century (apart from one inconclusive
passage in Justin) that equates contemporary Jewish rabbis with the Gospel Pharisees.177
Thus a similar equation between Pharisees and rabbis cannot be casually made for Luke or
his audience.
1.5.4 The Pharisees in Luke-Acts
If there was no identifiable group of Pharisees in Lukes time, how did Luke regard the
Pharisees as depicted in his Gospel and Acts?178
Like Josephus who described the Pharisees as an ôbpft within Judaism,179 Luke too
labelled them a school or sect.180 Again, while Josephus depicted Pharisaism as a
Significance of Yavneh, 36 n. 18; A. I. Baumgarten, (1991), Rivkin and Neusner on the

Pharisees, 114.
173 Josephus, writing after A.D. 70, did not call himself a Pharisee, Life 12; Mason, (1991), Josephus
on the Pharisees, 374.
174 S. J. D. Cohen, (1984), The Significance of Yavneh, 29, 32, 39, In contrast to the Tannaim
who display little interest in establishing themselves as Pharisees, the Amoraim, especially the
Amoraim of Babylonia, begin to see themselves more clearly as the descendants of the Pharisees.
Contrast t. Yoma 1:8 with b. Yoma 19b, where sages are replaced by Pharisees. Yet Pharisee
was used as derogatory term. See the seven types of Pharisee in b. Sot. 22b and j. Sot. X.A,
XI.A,N, Ber. II.C-I. See: Robertson, (1920), Pharisees and Jesus, 24-27; M. J. Cook, (1978),
Jesus and the Pharisees, 446 n. 19; Bowker, (1973), Jesus and the Pharisees, 7-8; Klausner,
(1925), Jesus of Nazareth, 214; M. P. Miller, (1971), The Use of the OT in the NT, 38.
175 M. Goodman, (1994), Sadducees and Essenes after 70 CE, 347-56, argued for the continued
existence after 70 of Sadducees and the Essenes. If he is right, then it might be possible that
Pharisees as an identifiable group survived after 70, but positive evidence is lacking.
176 E.g. t. Nid. 5:3; S. J. D. Cohen, (1984), The Significance of Yavneh, 41. It is possible that a
group calling themselves Pharisees persisted after A.D. 70, however there is no evidence that any
did. Sectarian consciousness was minimal (p. 42).
177 Justin, Dialogue with Trypho, 80.4 (ANF I, 239a). The fifth century evidence is that of Jerome,
see: S. J. D. Cohen, (1984), The Significance of Yavneh, 53.
178 This is a narrower question than Lukes treatment of Jews and Judaism generally. On this, see for
example: J. T. Sanders, (1987), The Jews in Luke-Acts, passim; Fitzmyer, (1989), Luke the
Theologian, 175-202, esp. the list on p. 196 n. 2; Tuckett, (1996), Luke, 51-71; Rese, (1999),
Jews in Luke-Acts, 185-201, esp. the comprehensive list on pp. 189-90 n. 12; Tyson, (1999),
Luke, Judaism, and the Scholars, passim, and the strongly critical review of this work by Talbert,
(2000), Review of Luke, Judaism and the Scholars by Joseph B. Tyson, 569-70. Cf. also
footnote in Section 4.4.2 under Recent Exegetical Comment which deals with what Luke believed
the attitude Christians should have to the law.
179 J.W. 1:110, 2:162, Ant. 13:171,288, 17:41, 18:11; Life 10, 12, 191, 197. Elsewhere in Josephus
ôbpft is used to describe those who followed Judas the Galilean (J.W. 2:118), namely the
Essenes (J.W. 2:122,137,142, Ant. 13:171, Life 10) and the Sadducees (Ant. 13:171,293, 20:199,
Life 10). See also: Mason, (1991), Josephus on the Pharisees, 128; Saldarini, (1988), Pharisees,
cfilplc^,181 Luke came close to this when Jesus accused the Pharisees of justifying
(afh^fs) themselves to others.182 Luke and his audience saw the Pharisees as
contemporary sparring partners183 of Jesus and the apostles,184 but this reflects the
actual historical situation at the time of Jesus when competing Judaisms engaged in
debate with each other and probably even within each group. The Pharisees were of course
no match for Jesus, having rejected Gods purposes for themselves (Luke 7:30). The
debates with Jesus (in the Gospels) largely centre around the same three subjects: ritual
purity; Sabbath; and tithing (with other issues such as fasting and divorce).185 Doctrinal
questions, such as the value of baptism, the payment of taxes (and for that matter the
kingdom of God), these have no parallels in rabbinic literature concerning the
Pharisees.186
As for the literary purpose to which the redactor might have employed the Pharisees in
Luke-Acts, several theories have been proposed.
John A. Zieslers article initiated scholarly attention on the issue and may be said to
summarise previous scattered opinion. Here, Matthew, Mark and John were uniformly
hostile, suggesting that their respective communities only knew the Pharisees as
opponents. Luke, however, portrayed the Pharisees as friendly at least in part,
suggesting a community where not all Pharisees were foes.187 On the other hand, Anthony
Scribes and Sadducees, 123-27; Saldarini, (1992), Pharisees, ABD V, 294a; Desjardins, (1991),
Bauer and Beyond, 65-82.
180 Acts 15:5, 26:5. Elsewhere in Acts the Sadducees (5:17) and the Christians (24:5,14, 28:22) were
described as ôpbft.
181 Ant. 13:289, 18:11,23, J.W. 2:119,166. Josephus seemed to use ôbpft and cfilplc^ as
synonyms. Compare the references given in D. S. Williams, (1993), Morton Smith on the
Pharisees in Josephus, 33.
182 Brawley, (1987), Luke-Acts and the Jews, 86.
183 W. D. Davies, (1954), Introduction to Pharisaism, vi.
184 Luke saw other groups in pre-70 Palestine in a similar way, e.g. the Sadducees, Acts 5:17. Indeed,
he depicted the early Christian church as an ôbpft, Acts 17:19-20, 24:5,14, 28:22. For more on
Lukes portrait of Jesus as a philosopher see: Talbert, (1974), Literary Patterns, 89-98; Mason,
(1995), Chief Priests, Sadducees, Pharisees and Sanhedrin in Acts, 130-33.
185 See Section 1.1.
186 Neusner, (1982), The Pharisees in the Light of the Historical Sources of Judaism, 75-76. Rarely
noted, however, is the parallel between the Gospels and Josephus with regard to the involvement
of Pharisees with politics. Neusner, (1982), The Pharisees in the Light of the Historical Sources
of Judaism, 72, wrote [T]here is a striking discontinuity among the three principal sources which
speak of the Pharisees before 70, the Gospels, and the rabbinic writings of a later period, on the
one side, and Josephus, on the other.
187 Ziesler, (1979), Luke and the Pharisees, 156.
J. Saldarini and others see the Pharisees in Luke-Acts as serving the literary purpose of
stereotyped opposition to Jesus.188
Robert L. Brawley189 was of the opinion that the Pharisees, as authentic representatives of
Israel, legitimated Jesus in the Gospels and the apostles in Acts as the true heirs to pre-70
Judaism. Jack D. Kingsbury,190 arguing against Brawley, demonstrated that the role of
legitimator for Luke cannot be given to the Pharisees but must rather be given to God.
David B. Gowler191 and others,192 on the other hand, followed Brawleys picture: they saw
the Pharisees presented in Luke in largely negative terms, in Acts generally in positive
terms. In the Gospel, as the opponents of Jesus, they are used to legitimate him. In Acts
they serve as positive legitimation for Christianity.
For John T. Carroll,193 Luke used Jesus encounters with the Pharisees to portray
opposing conceptions of the kingdom. In Acts the Christian Pharisees continue this
opposition. Like Brawleys portrait, both the Christian Pharisees and the non-believing
Pharisees serve as a literary device to legitimate the Christian movement.194
Carroll based his belief that the Pharisees and Jesus opposed each other on their respective
conceptions of the kingdom on just two sections of the Gospel, Luke 14:15-24 and 17:20-
21. Unfortunately, neither the Parable of the Great Dinner in Luke 14:16-24 nor
subsequent parables with the Pharisees as audience (e.g. The Rich Man and Lazarus, Luke
16:19-31) can be described strictly as kingdom parables since they are not described as
such in the Gospel. Carroll also failed to offer an illustration of how the Pharisees
themselves might have conceived the kingdom of God. The only sure ground for coming
188 Flender, (1967ET), St Luke, 67; L. T. Johnson, (1977), Possessions, 116 n. 3; Saldarini, (1988),
Pharisees, Scribes and Sadducees, 181; Moxnes, (1988), Economy, 152; Beck, (1989),
Christian Character in the Gospel of Luke, 127-44. Neale, (1991), None but the Sinners, 106,
claimed that Lukes treatment of the Pharisees is more organized and negative than any of the
other Synoptic evangelists. For a critique of Neale and Beck, see Franklin, (1994), Luke, 175 n.
1.
189 Brawley, (1987), Luke-Acts and the Jews, 84, 105.
190 J. D. Kingsbury, (1992), The Pharisees in Luke-Acts, 1509-11.
191 Gowler, (1991), Host, Guest, Enemy and Friend, 301, 304-305.
192 Powell, (1990), The Religious Leaders in Luke, 93-110. According to S. G. Wilson, (1983),
Luke and the Law, 112, the Pharisees in Acts are used to defend Pauls reputation. Tyson, (1992),
Images of Judaism, 146, wrote there seems to be a gradual reappraisal of the Pharisees going on
in Luke-Acts. For a review and critique of Gowler, see: Barton, (1995), Review of Host, Guest,
Enemy, and Friend by David B. Gowler, 269-71, esp. 271.
193 J. T. Carroll, (1988), Lukes Portrayal of the Pharisees, 606-607, 616, 621.
194 See also: Neale, (1991), None but the Sinners, 108.
to terms with these opposing views is Luke 17:20-21, and this is not given the attention it
deserves by Carroll.195
Jack T. Sanders, representing the first serious alternative to the above, claimed that the
hostile Pharisees of the Gospel corresponded to the hostile Christian Pharisees of Lukes
community and that their hostility - condemned by Luke - centred around the conflicting
interpretation of halakot issues between the Christian Pharisees and the rest. The friendly
Pharisees serve to legitimate the link between Christianity and ancient Judaism.196
John A. Darr saw the role of the Pharisees in Luke-Acts as a purely negative example of
how not to apprehend the account of things fulfilled among us (Luke 1:1).197 In
other words, the audience is encouraged to repudiate their views and the basis behind them,
much as the responses to the rhetorical question of Luke 17:20-21 directly contradict the
underlying beliefs of the Pharisees regarding the kingdom of God.198
Because no group or individual identified themselves in Lukes time as Pharisaic199 and

because the portrait of the Pharisees in Luke-Acts lacks a common thread, it is difficult to
agree without reservation with any of the above stances.
Recent scholars, Eric Franklin and Steve Mason, among others,200 in arriving at the same
conclusion, have suggested that the Pharisees are for Luke figures primarily of the
past201 and that:
To make sense of all the narrative indicators, one must respect Lukes
avowed historical interest - in describing how things got to be the way they
are now - and shed the old form-critical bugbear that requires each item in the
story to correspond to some aspect of the reading communitys life.202
Thus, even if redactional motives can be detected in Luke-Acts, the ambivalence and
inconsistencies in the portrait of the Pharisees in Luke-Acts are probably due to Lukes
195 J. T. Carroll, (1988), Lukes Portrayal of the Pharisees, 613, where Luke 17:20-21 is given one
small paragraph. To be sure, Carrolls monograph, J. T. Carroll, (1988), Response to the End of
History, 71-96, analysed Luke 17:20-21 more closely for its information about the kingdom, but
differed little in substance from his article.
196 J. T. Sanders, (1985), The Pharisees in Luke-Acts, 159-60; J. T. Sanders, (1987), The Jews in
Luke-Acts, 90-112. For a critique of Sanders position, see Franklin, (1994), Luke, 195.
197 Darr, (1992), On Character Building, 85-126, esp. 126.
199 See the previous Section 1.5.3.
200 E.g. Lindars, (1978), Jesus and the Pharisees, 63; D. E. Cook, (1987), A Gospel Portrait of the
Pharisees, 226-29, 231-32. In another context, see Bartsch, (1965), Early Christian
Eschatology, 396.
201 Franklin, (1994), Luke, 197.
202 Mason, (1995), Chief Priests, Sadducees, Pharisees and Sanhedrin in Acts, 158, 130.
desire to preserve faithfully his sources (on the whole) and due to the simple fact that Luke
would never have had direct contact with a Pharisee.203 Nor should there be any surprise
that Jesus and the Pharisees (and the early church and the Pharisees) are portrayed
frequently as being in dispute over matters of halakot. This was normal fare in Palestine
between (and within?) the various sects of first century Jewish Palestine.
In other words, it looks as though the attribution of the question in Luke 17:20-21 to the
Pharisees may be from Lukes source rather than an invention from the hand of the
redactor. Whether this is in fact so and how Luke used the Pharisees in this particular
pericope, incorporating them into his gospel, will have to wait until Section 4.2.
1.5.5 Fate, Torah and the Kingdom of God
As noted above,204 it looks as though Josephus gave the most reliable and consistent data
on pre-70 Pharisees.
Josephus distinguished the three main Jewish sects (Pharisees, Sadducees and the
Essenes) by their differing attitudes to bjôjke fate. Of the 20 times the word
occurs in the works of Josephus, it occurs seven times in connection with these sects, four
of those in describing the Pharisees.205 Given the extent of the Josephan corpus, these
statistics indicate that Josephus regarded the word as an important tool in describing to his
readers the differences between the various first century Jewish sects.206
In fact, it will be established in this Section, 1.5.5, that for the Pharisees, as depicted by
Josephus, there was an intimate connection between fate, torah and the kingdom of God - a
connection that sheds light on their attitude to the kingdom of God. It is an attitude of the
Pharisees that will be confirmed later in Sections 2.3.1 and 3.3.1, where explicit instances
of God as king and the kingdom of God will be discussed.

205 Ant. 12:279, 13:172(Pharisees), 172(Essenes), 173(Sadducees), 16:397, 18:13(Pharisees), 19:347,
Ag.Ap. 2:245, J.W. 1:628,662, 2:163(Pharisees), 163(Pharisees), 164(Sadducees), 4:298,622,
6:85,108,250,267,428.
206 Blenkinsopp, (1974), Prophecy and Priesthood in Josephus, 249, similarly felt obliged to take
Josephus use of fate seriously.
1.5.5.1 What Josephus meant by Fate
The case for a connection between fate, torah and the kingdom of God for Pharisees may
now be made by first understanding what Josephus himself meant by fate. Since he
distinguished the three major sects of Judaism by their differing attitudes to fate, it is
necessary to understand his view of it.
The passage that best serves this purpose is Ant. 16:397-98.207
Ant. 16:397-98
LCL of Ant. 16:397-98

397 . . . vbk h^ mbfvjbv^ qt kvosmk^t mogbft m' hbket
molh^vspfpv^f q ql dbkpv^f mkqst kdh+ h^
hîljbk ^qk bjôjkek+ t labkt kqlt j af' ^qk
dkbq^f-
398 qlqlk jk lk qk idlk+ t kljws+ mot hbklk ohpbf
hokbfk jk qb ^qlt mlafakqlt qf h^ qt af^clot qk
mfqeabrjqsk lh krmbrvklrt mlflkq^t+ mo jk ae
mbcfilpceq^f h^ q kj-
LCL Translation of Ant. 16:397-98

397 . . . we are persuaded that human actions are dedicated by her
beforehand to the necessity of taking place inevitably, and we call her Fate
on the ground that there is nothing that is not brought about by her.
398 Now it will, I think, suffice to compare this doctrine with that according
to which we attribute some part of the cause to ourselves and hold ourselves
not unaccountable for the differences in our behaviour, as has been
philosophically discussed before our time in the Law.
Josephus, in searching for reasons why Herod Antipater had two of his sons brutally and
callously murdered, enunciated three possible views on fate. The first is that all human
actions are the result of fate. The second is that some part of the cause of human actions
may be attributable not to fate but to each particular person. These two views were not in
fact considered mutually exclusive, at least in Josephus time.
207 That Josephus wrote his Jewish War originally in Hebrew or Aramaic and that 12 of the 20
occurrences of bjôjke are in J.W. begs the question as to what word he might have used in
that earlier edition. Two Hebrew words are occasionally translated as fate (George F. Moore
insisted that there was no Hebrew term for fate: G. F. Moore, (1927), Judaism III, 140 n. 184; G.
F. Moore, (1929), Fate and Free Will in Josephus, 379). lrwg lot is by far the most common
and therefore probably the word Josephus used. It refers to the assignment of duties, property,
ones share, etc. and therefore also to the thing assigned (often qlx portion). D. J. A. Clines
(1993) The Dictionary of Classical Hebrew, gave three examples of its use in the OT in the sense
of the destiny of persons, Isa 17:14, Jer 13:25, Ps 16:5, Clines, (1993), DCH II, 337b. The other
word is hrqm which has a variety of meanings but is translated as fate by the NRSV in Eccl
2:14, 3:19, 9:2,3. lrwg in the sense of fate seems to be the inevitable consequences of breaking
the covenant with God, whereas hrqm, when applied as fate, is the inevitability of death.
In the case of the first view, Cicero observed that the Stoic philosopher Chrysippus (ca.
279 - 206 B.C.) wanted to distinguish fate (what will be) and necessity (what must be).208
He did so by attributing fate to proximate causes which are under divine control and are
thus of necessity and distinguishing them from principal causes which are in nostra
potestate in our power. For human actions to occur, proximate and principal causes
must both be present.209 With the passage of time, some Stoics began to fuse the two, so
that by the time of Marcus Aurelius (121 - 180) we find the phrase kdhe bjôjket
necessity of fate.210 Philo (ca. 20 B.C. - A.D. 50), saw fate as linking the causes of
everything.211 Seneca (ca. 1 - 65), who may be considered a contemporary of Josephus, in
fact defined fate as the necessitatem rerum omnium actionumque.212
The second view, which retained some role for human will, is also typically Stoic.213
For the Stoic, there were certain actions that are c' jk in our power and thus not of
necessity.214 For example, death was regarded as fate, it was an inevitable necessity. Yet
the manner and timing of ones death is to some degree in our power and hence not
fated.215 This is exactly what Josephus maintained. Death itself was fated for all,216 so
much so that it was inevitable (uobk).217
208 Cicero, Fat. 17.39. Cf. G. F. Moore, (1929), Fate and Free Will in Josephus, 377-79; Rist,
(1969), Stoic Philosophy, 125-26; Gould, (1970), Chrysippus, 143, 150-52; Squires, (1998),
Fate and Free Will, 131.
209 Cicero, Fat. 18.41, who used the illustration of a cylinder. It rolls not only because someone
(proximate cause) first pushed it but also because its nature enables it to roll (principal cause). See
Squires, (1993), The Plan of God, 161-62, and n. 36, for more classical references. Also Squires,
(1998), Fate and Free Will, 131-32, and Bobzien, (1998), Determinism and Freedom, 50-53, for
a discussion of causes and fate for Chrysippus.
210 Marcus Aurelius 12.14.1. Bobzien, (1998), Determinism and Freedom, 6, also acknowledged the
development of Stoicism over time.
211 Philo, Aet. 75.
212 [N]ecessity of all events and actions, Seneca, Nat. 2.36.1. See also his Ep. 101.7, inexorabilis
fatorum necessitas fixit, the remorseless necessity of fate has fixed it.
213 The Stoics in turn may well have borrowed the term from Aristotle, who first popularised it as a
way of explaining the cause of virtue and vice: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics 3.5.2; Mason,
(1991), Josephus on the Pharisees, 154.
214 c' jk: Ant. 4:119, 10:203, 13:173 (Sadducees), 16:105. c' ^rqlt: Ant. 4:100,297, 13:172
(Pharisees), 18:21 (Essenes), Ag.Ap. 2:227, J.W. 1:68, 2:461,571, 4:369. af' jk: J.W. 7:333.
m' ^qlt occurs 53 times in Josephus, but in relation to the sects it occurs: Ant. 15:372
(Essenes), 18:6 (cf. the Pharisee of 18:4),13 (Pharisees),24 (Zealots). As a technical Stoic term,
see: Flusser, (1977), Josephus on the Sadducees and Menander, 66; Long, (1971), Freedom and
Determinism, 180; Rist, (1969), Stoic Philosophy, 123-31; Furley, (1967), Two Studies in the
Greek Atomists, 187-89; Squires, (1993), The Plan of God, 161 n. 33.
215 Rist, (1969), Stoic Philosophy, 129-32.
216 J.W. 1:662, 6:84, Ant. 12:279, 19:347.
217 J.W. 5:515, 6:49, Ant. 7:383. Cf. J.W. 6:315 and Ant. 8:419, where it is not possible to avoid
the inevitable.
It would seem, then, that Josephus was doing nothing less than following the generally
accepted Stoic understanding of fate in his time.218 We ought not to be surprised at this
when we consider that in Life 12 he likened the Pharisees to the Stoics and that he
admitted that he followed many of the ways of the Pharisees.219
1.5.5.2 Fate and Torah
An important element in Ant. 16:397-98, which can easily go unnoticed, introduced a

Jewish twist into this otherwise typical Stoic discussion on fate. That was the
introduction of the kjlt Law, Torah, into the discussion. For Josephus, torah was
nothing less than Gods will - the law of the Divine King (Ag.Ap. 2:184).
The relationship between fate and divine will in the writings of Josephus is extremely
instructive. It is clear that far from equating the two,220 Josephus thought that fate was the
inevitable result of choosing to live life outside of Gods will. For example, in J.W. 4:622,
the rise of Vespasian, who did not obey the Torah, was fated and yet fell within the sphere
of moklf^ providence. In J.W. 6:108, Josephus, at the request of Titus, pleaded with
those besieged in the Antonia fortress to surrender. The rebels had previously ceased to
offer the daily sacrifices (6:94), thus moving outside providence to the sphere of fate.
Their fate was now to die, but Josephus sought to circumvent that with their surrender. In
J.W. 6:250, Josephus explained that God had long ago decided against the temple, thus
sealing its fate.
This divine mlpqocs turning away or abandonment, leaving the transgressor to

the inevitable forces of fate, may be considered as the prime reason - in Josephus eyes -
for the outbreak of hostilities. It was precisely the failure of the people (p_bf^) to live
by the Torah that led to their abandonment by God to fate, a fate which led inexorably to
defeat. In fact, the war with the Romans was an inevitable necessity (Life 27). Scholars
218 That Josephus generally followed a Stoic philosophy is conceded: Mason, (1991), Josephus on the
Pharisees, 140, 155; Rajak, (1983), Josephus, 100. Those to the contrary include: Flusser,
(1977), Josephus on the Sadducees and Menander, 61-67; Pines, (1977ET), A Platonic Model,
38-43; Squires, (1998), Fate and Free Will, 133-34.
219 Carson, (1981), Divine Sovereignty, 119, According to his own classification, Josephus himself
seems to fit more into the Pharisaic group than into any other - which is, of course, where one
would expect to find him.
220 As some have thought Josephus did, e.g.: Shutt, (1980), The Concept of God in Josephus, 183-
86. Blenkinsopp, (1974), Prophecy and Priesthood in Josephus, 249, also equated the Greek fate
with the Jewish divine decree revealed through the prophets.
have previously ignored this crucial aspect, choosing simply to lay the cause of the war for
Josephus simply on the sin of certain individuals and groups.221
Josephus also betrayed his thinking in a number of speeches.222 In Moses farewell

speech, sin will lead to the forfeiting of Gods favour and thus to defeat in war (Ant.
4:190). In Davids farewell speech to Solomon, David promised that following the Torah
would bring mercy and assistance from God, while rejection of it would mean
mlpqo`bft moklf^k the abandonment of providence (Ant. 7:385). J.W. 2:390-94
forms part of a similar speech Agrippa II made to the people of Jerusalem in the summer
of A.D. 66. He claimed that the rebels, in transgressing Gods laws, had forced God to
abandon them to destruction.
In other places, too, Josephus wrote of this divine abandonment to the inevitable forces of
fate. For example, in J.W. 2:539 God abandoned Jerusalem not merely to capture but to
destruction. In J.W. 6:250,267 we learn that the temple was long ago given over by God to
fate, which Josephus saw as leading to its inevitable destruction.223
But this turning away by God, this divine abandonment, was more than simply a cessation
of divine aid. For Josephus, it meant literally the physical removal of the Divine
Presence.224
221 Josephus frequently pointed to three events which in a socio-political sense he regarded as the
immediate causes of the war. They were: Florus appropriation of money from the temple treasury
(J.W. 2:282-83,293,296,305-308,318,331,333,420,531-32,558, Ant. 18:25, 20:257); the
disturbances in Caesarea (J.W. 2:284,288, Ant. 20:184); and the interruption of the daily sacrifices
for the Roman Emperor (J.W. 2:409-10,417). Cf. Bilde, (1979), The Causes of the Jewish War
According to Josephus, 181-85. Hengel, (1989ET), The Zealots, 128, noted Ant. 18:4, which
depicts Judas the Galilean urging the people to revolt because of a census by Quirinius the new
governor of Syria on the people of Judaea, cf. J.W. 7:253, Ant. 18:9.
To the above may be added: the murder of surrendered Roman soldiers in Jerusalem on a Sabbath
(J.W. 2:450-56); the murder of the high priests Ananus and Jesus in Jerusalem (J.W. 4:314-18);
the murder of priests and worshippers in the temple (J.W. 5:11-19); the murder of the high priest
Jonathan under Felix and other worshippers in the temple and Jerusalem (Ant. 20:162-67); the
Levites being granted permission to wear priestly linen robes (Ant. 20:216-18); the Hellenising
activities and laws of Herod the Great (Ant. 15:267-76); and the philosophy and activity of the
Zealots (Ant. 18:9, J.W. 7:253-57,324). See: Bilde, (1979), The Causes of the Jewish War
According to Josephus, 191-94; McLaren, (1998), Turbulent Times?, 152-53.
Josephus generally saw sin as punished by the loss of providence or divine favour, e.g. Ant. 5:98,
6:148, 7:385.
222 Josephus speeches are accepted as betraying as much of Josephus own thoughts as that of the
speaker, see: Mason, (1992), Josephus and the NT, 193; Rajak, (1991), Friends, Romans,
Subjects, 80-81.
223 Also see J.W. 5:559, 2:391,539.
224 The verb mlpqocs which Josephus frequently used to portray this physical abandonment, has
in fact a very strong physical connotation. It usually means something more than a simple
rejection, but involves bodily gestures, BDAG, 123a.
Prior to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, the Divine Presence, according to
Josephus, dwelt in the temple.225 Because of the sins of the people, that is, their failure to
live by the Torah, God physically left the temple.226 It is this abandonment of the Divine
Presence that enabled the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. Indeed, it appeared as if
God was literally with the Romans against the Jews.227 In reality, their destruction was the
result of fate. God, who had previously dwelt with his people, had physically fled because
of their failure to live by the Torah,228 leaving them to their fate.229
Briefly then, we may summarise the findings on Josephus and fate so far as follows: fate
came within the providence or oversight of God but was not the same as the divine will.
Rather it was part of Gods permissive will.230 The war and the destruction of the temple
was as a result of the abandonment by God of the Jewish people, an abandonment which
left the Jews at the mercy of the inevitable forces of fate. Even the gods of other nations,
according to Josephus, are themselves subject to fate to the extent that they cannot do other
than behave in a debased manner.231 Fate, then, exists through Gods permissive will. He
abandoned the Judaeans to the necessary consequences of fate because they had forsaken
his Law, which was, after all, nothing less than his will.
Josephus had made a real connection between the Divine Royal Presence and the
observance of torah. God, as the Divine King,232 was present in his kingdom in his temple
and one acknowledged this Divine Royal Presence or kingdom by observance of the
225 J.W. 5:459, Ant. 8:102,106,114. Cf. Ant. 3:100.

226 J.W. 5:412,459, 6:299-300, Ant. 20:166. Cf. Tacitus Hist. 5:13, Virgil Aen. II.351-52; G. I.
Davies, (1991), The Presence of God, 35. See also Section 2.5.1.5 under Ant. 14:24.
227 E.g. J.W. 3:293,494, 4:104,366,370, 5:412, 6:411, 7:327,330-33; Rogers, (1992), The Topical
Josephus, 122; Rajak, (1983), Josephus, 99; Rajak, (1991), Friends, Romans, Subjects, 132-
33.
228 E.g. presence prior to destruction, J.W. 5:459, Ant. 8:102,106,114, cf. Ant. 3:100; God left the
temple prior to destruction: J.W. 5:412,459, 6:299-30 (cf. Tacitus Hist. 5:13, Virgil Aen. II.351-
52), Ant. 20:166. See also G. I. Davies, (1991), The Presence of God, 35. Cf. Section 3.3.1.1.
229 Note Apost. Const. 6.2.6 (ANF VII, 452a), which claimed that the Pharisees ascribed sinners to
fortune and fate. Ezekiel had earlier explained the literal abandonment of the temple by the
Divine Presence glory and the resulting exile in a similar way. However, Ezekiel did not couch it
in terms of fate, nor did the removal of the Divine Royal Presence mean the cessation of divine
favour from his people. See Section 2.2.1.2 under Ezek 20:33. Cf. also 4 Ezra 3:20-27 (which is
more or less contemporary with Josephus), on which see M. E. Stone, (1981), Reactions to
Destructions, 201.
230 Nothing is done without the divine will (Ant. 4:60), since God himself is omniscient (Ag.Ap.
2:190,294). Providence included acts that were part of the divine permissive will (Ant. 4:128).
These acts may appear to be Gods direct intervention (Ant. 10:214, J.W. 3:28), but they are not
(Ant. 7:245). In Ant. 2:116 for example, a distinction is made between what God might send to
those who obey, and what will happen if one chooses to do something else.
231 Ag.Ap. 2:245. Cf. Philo, Mig. 179.
divine will, the Torah. Failure to observe torah meant the withdrawal not simply of divine
aid, but of the Divine Royal Presence which led inexorably to the clutches of fate and its
inevitability.
The next Section describes also the connection that the Pharisees maintained between fate,
observance of torah and the kingdom.
1.5.5.3 Pharisees, Fate and Torah
Far from being unjewish, Josephus choice of distinguishing the sects through their
differing attitudes to fate, was in keeping with his Jewish heritage. It remains then in this
and the subsequent subsection to outline how the Pharisees related fate, Torah and the
kingdom of God, at least in the writings of Josephus.
In J.W. 2:162-63, the Pharisees, we are told, bjôjk qb h^ vb molpmqlrpf

mkq^ ascribe all to fate and to God. They apparently allow for some human freedom
in moral actions which m qlt kvomlft hbpv^f lie within men, although even
here fate is not totally absent.
In Ant. 13:172-73, the Pharisees were said to ascribe certain human actions to fate but l
mkq^ not all. These others were said c' jk ^qlt hbpv^f to lie within our
own [power].
In Ant. 18:13, the Pharisees believe that q mkq^ all things are done by fate, but that
this does not negate the ability (bm' ^qlt) of the human will (q _lrijbklk), since it
pleased God to have both fate and human will (q vbip^k). Again, some freedom in
moral actions was allowed by the Pharisees.233
Several points arise from the above.
The first is that the mediating position of the Pharisees as presented by Josephus
corresponded not only with his own position but also with the position we may assign to
the contemporary Stoics.234 Again, there should be no surprise at this given Josephus
preference for Pharisaic ways and his likening of them to the Stoics.
233 There is a slight parallel to Ant. 18:13 in Herodotus (ca. 484 - ca. 425 B .C .) viii.60: when in
their counsels (_lribrljklfpf) [men] reject reason, God does not choose to follow the
wanderings of human fancies. With Herodotus as with Josephus, human will, divine will and fate
are distinct. Noticed by Thackeray, (1932), Pharisees Doctrine of Fate, 93 n. 3. Translation:
Herodotus, (1990ET), History, 270a.
234 Cf. Squires, (1993), The Plan of God, 164.
Second, they differed with the Stoics in that fate was not considered to be Gods direct
will.235
Third, according to Josephus, the Pharisees believed that life under fate lead to
punishment, life lived under the Torah lead to reward (J.W. 2:163). Failure to obey the will
of God leads to abandonment by God to the inevitable forces of fate. Conversely, one may
in fact obtain a certain freedom from fate by observance of the Torah or divine will.236
Finally, a few scholars have noted the parallel between the portrait given by Josephus that
the Pharisees believed in fate tempered by human will and a mishnah attributed to rabbi
Aqiba b. Joseph (A.D. 40-135).237
m. Abot 3:15A
m. Abot 3:15A238
hnwtn twvrhw ,ywpu lkh
Translation of m. Abot 3:15A239

Everything is foreseen, and free choice is given.
While there is no suggestion that this is to be linked directly to the pre-70 Pharisees, the
parallels are obvious. Within the context of the responsibility of man for his own
actions,240 Gods foresight or providence (wpu, hpu) is counter-balanced with an
individuals twvr free choice. Yet they do not stand in opposition to one another.
Whatever the individual does, whether it is within the torah or exposed to fate, he or she is
governed by free choice and all is overseen by God.241
Assuming the general reliability of Josephus account of the Pharisees, we may say that
the Pharisees believed in fate as inevitable necessity, while allowing for certain actions to
remain within the power of the individual. They saw torah as the means of freedom from
fate since life lived by observance of the Torah meant life lived in the presence of the
235 Contrary to: Wchter, (1969), Die unterschiedliche Haltung der Phariser, 97-114; L. H. Martin,
(1981), Josephus use of Heimarmene, 130-31; Mason, (1991), Josephus on the Pharisees, 136.
236 L. H. Martin, (1981), Josephus use of Heimarmene, 134.
237 E.g. G. F. Moore, (1929), Fate and Free Will in Josephus, 380; G. F. Moore, (1927), Judaism
I, 455; Urbach, (19792ET), The Sages I, 257; E. P. Sanders, (1992), Judaism, 419.
238 Blackman, (1963-64), Mishnayoth IV, 513.
239 Neusner, (1988ET), Mishnah, 680.
240 m. Abot 3:15B-C, In goodness the world is judged. And all is in accord with the abundance of
deed[s]; Urbach, (19792ET), The Sages I, 257-58.
241 m. Abot 2:1G.
divine. Failure to live by torah meant the abandonment by God not only of his presence
but also the abandonment by him of the sinner to the inevitable forces of fate.
Nevertheless, all this comes under divine providence or foresight.
1.5.5.4 Torah and the Kingdom of God
Finally, how might we relate this picture of the Pharisees to the kingdom of God, a
major theme of this thesis?
Josephus claimed that the Zealots (fourth philosophy) held very similar beliefs to the
Pharisees except for one.242 They differed precisely in the degree to which the divine
sovereignty of God overruled the secular rule of the Romans. For the Zealots the reality of
Gods rule was such that jklk dbjk^ h^ abpmqek qk vbk God alone is
their leader and master (Ant. 18:23, cf. J.W. 2:118,433).243 Those who continued subject
to foreign rulers were equated with Gentiles and were to be punished with death.244 For
them, freedom consisted not merely in rejection of the secular rule of the Romans, but also
in observance of the Torah.245 They were thus like the Pharisees for whom observance of
torah meant freedom from fate.
We may therefore rightly suspect that some Pharisees shared at least the theory behind the
stand of the Zealots and certainly many more probably would have acknowledged the
kingship of God while accepting the reality of, if not the need for, secular governance.
While Josephus never used the phrase kingdom of God or the like and only mentioned
God as universal king and his reign three times,246 it would appear that Josephus shared
the notion of the primary sovereignty of God. He described the Jewish nation as
fundamentally a vblho^q^ theocracy. No ruler was needed other than God.247
242 Cf. Ant. 18:4, where one of the founders of the Zealots was a Pharisee. See: Riches, (1980), Jesus
and the Transformation of Judaism, 93-94, 97; Riches, (1990), The World of Jesus, 118; Rogers,
(1992), The Topical Josephus, 87.
243 J.W. 2:443, 7:323,410,418; Hengel, (1989ET), The Zealots, 93; Schaper, (1999), The Pharisees,
422.
244 J.W. 2:264, 7:254-55; Hengel, (1989ET), The Zealots, 138-39, 227.
245 Cf. Mattathias speech rejecting the law of Antiochus IV in favour of the law of God, 1 Macc
2:19-21.
247 Ag.Ap. 2:165, cf. Ag.Ap. 2:185, Ant. 4:223; Hengel, (1989ET), The Zealots, 94; Blenkinsopp,
(1974), Prophecy and Priesthood in Josephus, 262.
It is more than possible then that this belief reflected the beliefs of the majority of pre-70
Pharisees. The Pharisees of the first century probably regarded observance of the Torah as
not only freedom from fate but also as thereby responding to the reality of the sovereignty
of, or the kingdom of, God. Gods sovereignty was a here-and-now universal reality
(confirmed by the Divine Royal Presence in the temple) participated in by observance of
the Torah.248
This picture of the Pharisaic attitude to the kingdom of God will be confirmed in Sections
2.3.1 and 3.3.1. It will come to a sharp focus particularly in Jesus first negative reply to
the Pharisees in Luke 17:20-21, The kingdom of God will not come by observance and
also in his positive reply, The kingdom of God is among you.249
1.5.6 The Influence of the Pharisees in Pre-70 Synagogues
Perhaps the most lively debate surrounding the picture of the Pharisees painted by
Josephus and echoed in the Gospels, is over whether and to what extent the Pharisees
exercised any influence over the Jewish people of Palestine and whether they exercised
control over the synagogues. The second area is of particular relevance here because in the
next Section, 1.6, it will be established that some of the kingdom of God verses in the
Aramaic Targumim may have the potential to reflect pre-70 traditions taught in the
synagogues. If pre-70 synagogues were either controlled or at least strongly influenced by
the teaching of the Pharisees, then a reasonable case exists for concluding that any pre-70
targumic kingdom of God sayings reflect the position of the Pharisees.
The debate over the influence of the Pharisees in first century Jewish Palestinian society
per se was set in motion by Morton Smiths seminal article entitled Palestinian Judaism
in the First Century250 and championed by his student Jacob Neusner and others.251
248 Though based on later rabbinic literature, the following comment indicates that this attitude to the
Torah (written and halakah) extended into the rabbis: Rabbinic Judaism extended that perceived
range of Gods authority by making His kingdom a kingdom of halakah: God reigns in the world
now even when we do not see Him defeating Israels enemies, since He reigns through His Torah,
which moulds all facets of Jewish life, D. Hartman, (1985), A Living Covenant, 224. Cf. E. P.
Sanders, (1977), Paul and Palestinian Judaism, 221-23; N. T. Wright, (1992), People of God,
228. Sanders and Wright both note that the Shekhinah rests on those who study and practice torah
(m. Abot 3:2), so that the temple itself - the palace of the Divine King - is replaced by observance
of torah. See Section 2.5.1.1.
249 See the relevant Sections in chapter 4.
250 M. Smith, (1956), Palestinian Judaism in the First Century, 67-81.
251 To the works cited in D. R. Schwartz, (1983), Josephus and Nicolaus on the Pharisees, 164 n.
23, may be added: Schrer, (19732), Age II, 389 n. 20; E. P. Sanders, (1985), Jesus and Judaism,
194-98, 315-16; Goodblatt, (1989), The Place of the Pharisees in First century Judaism, 12-30.
Summaries of Smiths article and critics of it may be found in: D. S. Williams, (1993), Morton
These insisted that, prior to A.D. 70, the Pharisees did not dominate or influence
Palestinian Jewish society and that Josephus deliberately portrayed them as doing so
especially in the later Antiquities in order to point out to his readers that their successors,
the rabbis, now enjoyed such a position in Jewish society.
This view is now seriously undermined because the general reliability of the Josephan
evidence regarding the three sects has recently been convincingly reaffirmed.252 The
amount of Josephan material on the Pharisees in particular is so small in comparison with
his entire corpus of work that no reader could assign any specific motive to his description
that might have coloured or affected his comments.253
More specifically however, several of the passages in Josephus that tell of Pharisaic
influence also bemoan it254 - somewhat lessening the impact of the Smith-Neusner theory
that Josephus wrote them as propaganda in favour of the Pharisees. Even if they can be
conclusively shown to be originally Nicholaus of Damascus hostile opinion of the sect
which opposed his patron Herod,255 they were nevertheless incorporated by Josephus and
he made them his own as it were. Either way, they cannot be readily dismissed.256
Josephus too, named a number of respected political figures both before and during the
A.D. 66-70 war, all of whom were Pharisees, leading to the conclusion that Pharisees were
not without representation in official circles.257
Smith on the Pharisees in Josephus, 30-31; Mason, (1991), Pharisaic Dominance, 365-71; A.
I. Baumgarten, (1991), Rivkin and Neusner on the Pharisees, 114-18.
253 For example, for the theory that Josephus wanted to present the rabbis as the natural successors to
the Pharisees, or that he wanted to present a picture of a typical Jew as uninterested in rebellion.
See: Saldarini, (1988), Pharisees, Scribes and Sadducees, 130; D. S. Williams, (1993), Morton
Smith on the Pharisees in Josephus, 39-40; McLaren, (2000), Josephus Summary Statements,
44-45. On the reliability of Josephus regarding different first century sects, see A. I. Baumgarten,
(1997), Flourishing of Jewish Sects, 43 n. 2.
254 Ant. 13:288, 401-2; 17:41-42, 18:15; D. S. Williams, (1993), Morton Smith on the Pharisees in
Josephus, 32-39; Mason, (1991), Pharisaic Dominance, 367-71; N. T. Wright, (1992), People
of God, 195.
255 D. R. Schwartz, (1983), Josephus and Nicolaus on the Pharisees, 157-71. For a response to
Schwartzs article, see Goodblatt, (1989), The Place of the Pharisees in First century Judaism,
18-30.
256 See also Mason, (1991), Josephus on the Pharisees, 372-73, who concluded: [T]his ongoing
lament over Pharisaic predominance would be unnecessary - indeed it would make no sense - if the
Pharisees did not hold a dominant position in pre-70 Palestine. Josephus had no discernible reason
to invent their popularity, since he regarded it as an unpleasant fact of life.
257 Eleazar, Ant. 13:290, Saddok, Ant. 18:4, Pollion, Ant. 15:3,370, Simon ben Gamaliel I, Life
191; Jozar, Jonathan, Ananias, Life 197. Other leading, though unnamed, Pharisees are mentioned
in: J.W. 1:111-13, 2:411, Ant. 13:401-409, Life 21. See: Schrer, (19732), Age II, 402; S. J. D.
Cohen, (1984), The Significance of Yavneh, 36 n. 20; N. T. Wright, (1992), People of God,
195.
This Josephan picture of Pharisaic influence if not dominance in the hearts and minds of
the first century Palestinian Jew is supported by the Gospels.258 Their evidence also
cannot be easily dismissed on the grounds of a religious agenda to bolster the image of
Jesus and the early church. To be sure, they were possibly used for that purpose by the
redactor of Luke-Acts for example,259 but Luke and the other Gospel writers based their
use of the Pharisees on good source material. Indeed, all Gospel sources affirm that the
Pharisees were indeed influential in society and held in high esteem.
But were they influential in the synagogues?
It is unfortunate that this question is not discussed today, for it is overshadowed by a

narrower and therefore potentially misleading question, namely, did the Pharisees control
the synagogues? This narrow question must be dealt with first. Three possibilities are
open.
The first position is that the Pharisees had no connection whatsoever with pre-70
synagogues. Principal modern scholars who hold this are Lester L. Grabbe260 and Richard
A. Horsley.261 Their argument is three-fold and amounts to a denial of the evidence. They
claim their position on the grounds that: Josephus made no mention of synagogues in any
of his descriptions of the Pharisees; only one NT passage, John 12:42, suggests a
connection and since this was written after A.D. 70, the connection is anachronistic and
therefore unreliable; and finally, that the early rabbinic traditions about the Pharisees also
make no mention of a connection.
While it is true that Josephus made no explicit connection between synagogues and
Pharisees, in Ant. 18:15, he wrote, mp^ vb^ buk - - - h^ bok mlfpbst
. . . all prayers and sacred rites of divine worship are performed according to their
[Pharisees] exposition.
Now, the evidence for prayer in first century Palestinian synagogues is not as strong as the
evidence for prayer for Diaspora synagogues,262 but may be confidently presumed.
258 Mark: 3:6, 12:13; Q: Luke 11:43b; M: 21:45, 23:2; L: Luke 6:7, 13:31; Acts: 5:34, 23:6-9; Matt
23:2.
260 Grabbe, (1995), Synagogues in Pre-70 Palestine, 22; Grabbe, (1992), Judaism from Cyrus to
Hadrian II, 542.
261 Horsley, (1995), Galilee, 233-35; Horsley, (1996), Archaeology, History, and Society in
Galilee, 151.
262 The Diaspora synagogues were most often called molpbru^ - a clear indication of the role of
prayer in such places, see: L. I. Levine, (1987), The Synagogue in late Antiquity, 20-22;
Levinskaya, (1990), Jewish or Gentile Prayer House, 154-59; Fine, (1997), This Holy Place,
25-33; E. P. Sanders, (1999), Synagogue in the first century, 6-9.
Josephus most likely refers to the custom of praying in (Jerusalem and Galilean)
synagogues,263 as does Jesus in Matthews Gospel (6:5, notably a saying set in
Galilee).264
Given then the likelihood that Palestinian and particularly Galilean synagogues included
prayers addressed to the divine as part of their liturgy,265 there is no reason for
thinking that this phrase merely refers to the temple, nor is it probable, since neither the
Pharisees nor ordinary people had control over the proceedings of temple worship.266
Thus, it is difficult to account for the meaning of this passage in any other way than to
suggest that it is referring - albeit tangentially - to Pharisaic influence in synagogue
worship, even if allowance is made for exaggeration on the part of Josephus. We may note
that Josephus says nothing explicitly here about Pharisaic control, simply that they were
able to strongly influence what was said and done.
John 12:42 is certainly the most important and explicit reference to the influence of
Pharisees in synagogues in the NT. However, it is neither anachronistic nor the only such
reference. For a discussion on this and the other NT verses, see below.
Finally, while it is true that the Mishnah makes no explicit connection between Pharisees
and synagogues, there is no reason to expect any. Not only did the rabbis not consider
themselves to be the heirs exclusively of the Pharisees, the rabbis were made up of other
prominent Jewish men, some of whom no doubt were leaders of synagogues. In other
words, there was nothing to be gained by emphasising such a connection.267 This point is
Those who say that there is no evidence that first century Palestinian synagogues included prayer in
their worship include: H. A. McKay, (1994), Sabbath and Sacrifice, 172, 206-207; L. I. Levine,
(1992), Synagogues, NEAEH IV, 1421; L. I. Levine, (1987), The Synagogue in late
Antiquity, 19-20; Fine and Meyers, (1997), Synagogues, OEANE V, 118b. The exceptions are
the Qumran Community (e.g. Damascus Document CD-A XI:22, Martnez and Tigchelaar, (2000),
Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition I, 568) and the temple (e.g. Luke 1:10, m. Ta. 5:1).
263 Ag.Ap. 1:209 (Jerusalem), Life 280, 293 (where in each he refers to a synagogue in Tiberias as a
molpbru), 295; L.A.B. 11:8. See: E. P. Sanders, (1990), Jewish Law, 73; E. P. Sanders,
(1992), Judaism, 199, 207; S. J. D. Cohen, (1987), Pagan and Christian Evidence, 161-62; E.
P. Sanders, (1999), Synagogue in the first century, 10-12; van der Horst, (1999), Synagogue
and Sabbath Worship, 20, 23-37. But see H. A. McKay, (1994), Sabbath and Sacrifice, 84.
264 L. I. Levine, (1987), The Synagogue in late Antiquity, 20-22. But see H. A. McKay, (1994),
Sabbath and Sacrifice, 172. Even if Matt 6:5 was anachronistic, it refers to a practice no later
than the final redaction of the Gospel - well before the end of the first century - a practice that
could not have been new then.
265 The word here translated prayer, bu (cf. James 5:15), may also on occasion mean vow, e.g.
Acts 18:18, 21:23, J.W. 2:313. It is likely to mean prayer here since it is paired with sacred
rites - a pairing that seems to be equivalent to the pair prayers and sacrifices, J.W. 7:155, Ant.
6:19,24,102, 11:9, 14:260, 20:112. See S. J. D. Cohen, (1999), Pharisees and Rabbis, 98-99.
266 E. P. Sanders, (1992), Judaism, 395-98.
267 Reich, (1995), Synagogue and the Miqweh, 289-99, Hengel and Deines, (1995), Common
Judaism, 34. Shanks, (1979), Judaism in Stone, 30, argued that the presence of twawqm ritual
baths attached to pre-70 synagogues and their rarity in post-70 synagogues pointed to their use for
strengthened by the fact that there is possibly only one example where rabbinic literature
as a whole discusses pre-70 synagogues.268
The second position is that the Pharisees did indeed control the synagogues. This is the
older traditional view,269 but is held by a few modern scholars, including: Sen
Freyne270 and Hyam Maccoby.271 Their view is based on the belief that the Pharisees
founded the institution of the synagogue and that because the rabbis, the heirs to the
Pharisees, controlled the post-70 synagogues, so did the Pharisees.
Unfortunately, not only is there no evidence that Pharisees founded the institution of the
synagogue, the earliest archaeological evidence for synagogue buildings dates from the
third century B.C. in Egypt.272 This suggests that in all likelihood the synagogue had its
origin in the Diaspora of the Greek period and from there made its way into Palestine,
precluding any initial involvement on the part of the Palestinian Pharisees.273 The earlier
a certain type of pharisaic halakah. However, their widespread use in Palestine and the Diaspora
and the fact that synagogues were often located near natural bodies of water, precludes this as a
factor in favour of Pharisaic influence.
Similarly, orientation of synagogues either towards Jerusalem or along the same axis as the temple
cannot be used. See: 1 Kgs 8:44,48, 2 Chr 6:34,38, Dan 6:11. For a general discussion on
orientation, see: Landsberger, (1975), Sacred Direction, 239-61; Horsley, (1996), Archaeology,
History, and Society in Galilee, 140-41.
268 Flesher, (1995), Palestinian Synagogues before 70, 29 n. 8. There are in fact rabbinic indications
of synagogues in Jerusalem, although whether these refer to first century synagogues is unclear: t.
Meg. 2:17, Suk. 4:5, b. Ket. 105a, j. Ket. 35c I.A and j. Meg. 73d III.E. The only probable
reference to a pre-70 synagogue is t. Meg. 3:6 (cf. b. Meg. 73d III.D), see: Riesner, (1995),
Synagogues in Jerusalem, 189; E. P. Sanders, (1999), Synagogue in the first century, 9, 16 n.
71.
269 Herford, (1924), The Pharisees, 98; G. F. Moore, (1927), Judaism I, 286-87; Finkelstein,
(19623), The Pharisees II, 568-69; Vawter, (1968), John, JBC, 440a; H. M. J. Loewe, (1937-
38), The Ideas of Pharisaism, 11; H. M. J. Loewe, (1937-38), Pharisaism, 141-42; Schrage,
(1971ET), prk^dsd, TDNT VII, 823; Rivkin, (1978), A Hidden Revolution, 250; Guttmann,
(1981), Synagogue Origins, 4.
270 Freyne, (1988), Galilee, Jesus and the Gospels, 202-10.
271 Maccoby, (1989), Judaism in the First Century, 62.
272 L. I. Levine, (1992), Synagogues, NEAEH IV, 1421; Griffiths, (1987), Egypt and the Rise of
the Synagogue, 1-15, Grabbe, (1995), Synagogues in Pre-70 Palestine, 18-19; Schrer,
(19732), Age II, 425; L. I. Levine, (1987), The Synagogue in late Antiquity, 10; Meyers,
(1992), Synagogue, ABD VI, 252b.
273 This assumes that the Diaspora molpbru (hlpt tyb, cf. Isa 56:7, Philo Mos. 2:215-16, Spec.
Leg. 2:62, Leg. 23), is the same institution as the Palestinian prk^dsd (tonkh tyb). Those
in favour include: Schrer, (19732), Age II, 425-26 n. 5 and H. A. McKay, (1994), Sabbath and
Sacrifice, 245, who wrote, Jews in Palestine did not as a rule call their communal buildings
molpbru^. For the contrary view see Guttmann, (1981), Synagogue Origins, 3.
For further examples of other terms for a synagogue, see: L. I. Levine, (1987), The Synagogue in
late Antiquity, 13; Binder, (1999), Into the Temple Courts, 91-154. The Hebrew equivalent of
prk^dsd is tonk and the Aramaic atvynk, though the LXX translates hdu with
prk^dsd. Both tonkh-tyb and prk,^dsd mean a house of assembly or an assembling
together. tonkh tyb appears later in rabbinic literature and inscriptions. Oster, (1993),
theories that the synagogue had its antecedents in the Babylonian exile274 and was
encouraged by Ezra,275 or that Moses instituted regular synagogue worship,276 are now
discounted on the basis of a lack of archaeological evidence.277
When it comes to first century Palestinian synagogues, there is a fierce debate over
whether the literary evidence suggests synagogue buildings or merely congregations and
whether the archaeological finds of synagogue buildings in Palestine are in fact
synagogues or constructions for other purposes.278 Though the debates are interesting,
Supposed Anachronism, 186, gives a list of Greek words used of second temple synagogues. A
better list can be found in: Binder, (1999), Into the Temple Courts, 152. E. P. Sanders, (1999),
Synagogue in the first century, 9-10, suggested that Palestinian synagogues may have evolved
independently in areas well away from Jerusalem and the temple.
274 For older opinions, see the articles by Louis Finkelstein, Solomon Zeitlin and Julius Guttmann
in: J. Guttmann, (1975), The Synagogue; passim. See also: Filson, (1944), Temple, Synagogue,
and Church, 78-79; G. F. Moore, (1927), Judaism I, 283 (Babylonian Exile); I. Levy, (1963),
The Synagogue, 5-14 (Pre-exilic). A recent proponent of the exilic date is Finkel, (1994), Jesus
Preaching in the Synagogue, 325.
275 Cf. meeting places of God, Ps 74:8; little sanctuary, Ezek 11:16. Modern scholars who hold to
this opinion include: Meyers, (1996), Ancient Synagogues, 10; de Breffny, (1978), The
Synagogue, 8; Le Daut, (1989), The Targumim, 564.
276 Josephus: Ant. 16:43, Ag.Ap. 2:175; Philo: Op. 128, Mos. 2:215, Hyp. 7:12-13. Cf. Pseudo-
Philo 11:8; b. Meg. 4a; j. Meg. VI.A; Acts 15:21. See: Shinan, (1996), Synagogues in the Land
of Israel, 132; E. P. Sanders, (1990), Jewish Law, 78; Binder, (1999), Into the Temple Courts,
399.
277 The following conveniently list and discuss the various dates and occasions that have been
proposed: Hachlili, (1988), Ancient Jewish Art and Archaeology, 137-38; L. I. Levine, (1992),
Synagogues, NEAEH IV, 1421; Urman and Flesher, (1995), A Readers Guide, xx-xxv;
Shanks, (1979), Judaism in Stone, 21-22.
For the suggestion that the synagogue emerged from the city-square, see: Hoenig, (1979), The
Ancient City Square, ANRW II.19.1, 448-76 (first and second century A.D.); Finkel, (1994),
Jesus Preaching in the Synagogue, 325-26 (exilic or early post-exilic); Horsley, (1995),
Galilee, 226 (until early rabbinic times).
That the synagogue emerged as a result of the centralisation of the cult under the Deuteronomic
reforms, see von Waldow, (1979), The Origin of the Synagogue Reconsidered, 278.
That the synagogue emerged from worship at the city-gates, in the late second or early first century
B .C . (cf. Neh 8:1), see L. I. Levine, (1996), The Nature and Origin of the Palestinian
Synagogue, 435-36. For an analysis, see Binder, (1999), Into the Temple Courts, 210-15.
278 Early literary evidence for synagogues in first century Palestine includes, for example, for those
in Galilee: Nazareth, Matt 13:54, Mark 6:2, Luke 4:16; Capernaum, Mark 1:21, Luke 7:5, John
6:59. For those in Dora, Caesarea Maritima and Tiberias, J.W. 2:269,285-92, Ant. 19:300-11,
Life 54,272-80. See E. P. Sanders, (1999), Synagogue in the first century, 10.
Those in favour of first century synagogues as buildings include: E. P. Sanders, (1990), Jewish
Law, 341-42 n. 29; Oster, (1993), Supposed Anachronism, 178-208; Richardson, (1996), Early
Synagogues, 99-101; Atkinson, (1997), The First-Century CE Synagogue, 491-502; Binder,
(1999), Into the Temple Courts, ch. 3; Strange, (1999), First-Century Synagogue, 27-45; van
der Horst, (1999), Synagogue and Sabbath Worship, 20-23, argued against Howard C. Kee.
The various archaeological remains of possible first century synagogues are the centre of individual
debates regarding their function and date, e.g. especially that of Capernaum. For a first century date
for the Capernaum site: J. F. Strange and Shanks, (1983), Synagogue Where Jesus Preached, 24-
31; Grabbe, (1995), Synagogues in Pre-70 Palestine, 22; Avi-Yonah, (1981), Capernaum
Excavations, 60-62. Hachlili, (1988), Ancient Jewish Art and Archaeology, 86-87 who identified
they say nothing about whether Pharisees may have influenced their liturgy and teaching,
which is the ultimate concern here.
As for the view that the Pharisees controlled the synagogues, because the rabbis, their
heirs, did so, it may be quickly dismissed on two grounds. First, the rabbis were not heirs
to the Pharisees as if there was a one-to-one or continuous relationship between the
two.279 In any case, the Pharisees themselves did not control the synagogues. Secondly, as
will be discussed in Section 1.6.6, there is no unequivocal evidence that the Yavnean or
Tannaitic rabbis controlled the synagogues of Palestine.
The third, mediating, position, and the one that will be adopted here, is that the Pharisees
neither controlled nor had nothing to do with synagogues, but rather that their influence
extended to both synagogue liturgy and particularly to teaching. The leading modern
scholars280 who may be said to opt for this position did so by arguing the case against
Pharisaic control. They are: Ed P. Sanders,281 Martin Hengel and Roland Deines,282 and
Shaye J. D. Cohen.283 They argued that: the Gospel evidence of a connection between
Pharisees and synagogues does not demonstrate a picture of Pharisaic control; some
the site at Capernaum as a synagogue because it is under a later synagogue. For a later post-70
date: Loffreda, (1981), Late Chronology, 52-59; Loffreda, (1992), Capernaum, NEAEH I,
294b; L. I. Levine, (1992), Synagogues, NEAEH IV, 1422 (fifth century).
Those in favour of assemblies or congregations only, include: Franklyn, (1987), The Cultic
and Pious Climax of Eschatology, 7 n. 12; L. I. Levine, (1987), The Synagogue in late
Antiquity, 10-12, for whom the evidence for Gamla is inconclusive; Flesher, (1995), Palestinian
Synagogues before 70, 27-39, who denied Masada and Herodium but conceded Gamla; Grabbe,
(1995), Synagogues in Pre-70 Palestine, 17-26; Kee, (1990), The Transformation of the
Synagogue, 1-24; Tsafrir, (1995), Architecture of Galilean Synagogues, 79; Horsley, (1995),
Galilee, 223-27; Horsley, (1996), Archaeology, History, and Society in Galilee, 132-48; H. A.
McKay, (1994), Sabbath and Sacrifice, 250; Kee, (1999), Defining the First-Century C.E.
Synagogue, 7-26; Horsley, (1999), Synagogues in Galilee, 46-69. Cf. Hoppe, (2000), Review
of Into the Temple Courts by Donald D. Binder, 349-51.
280 Others include: M. Smith, (1978), Jesus the Magician, 157; Hengel and Riches, (1981), The
Charismatic Leader, 45 n. 26, 55; Saldarini, (1988), Pharisees, Scribes and Sadducees, 52,
195. An interesting comment in favour of the stand can be found in: Cathcart and Gordon,
(1989ET), The Targum of the Minor Prophets, 236 n. 13.
281 E. P. Sanders, (1985), Jesus and Judaism, 193, 198, one must certainly grant them some
influence [in synagogues]; E. P. Sanders, (1990), Jewish Law, 80; E. P. Sanders, (1992),
Judaism, 398, I think that we cannot safely generalize about who dominated how many
synagogues, but we must doubt the general view that the Pharisees ran all of them. Yet, on page
450 he wrote: The Pharisees were generally responsible for the development of synagogues in
Palestine. See Neale, (1991), None but the Sinners, 26-27, who misunderstood Sanders on this
point.
282 Hengel and Deines, (1995), Common Judaism, 32-34.
283 S. J. D. Cohen, (1979), Josephus in Galilee and Rome, 226; S. J. D. Cohen, (1999), Pharisees
and Rabbis, 89-105, No doubt some, perhaps many, synagogues in antiquity will have been
under the religious influence of the Pharisees/rabbis. See also: Jeremias, (1969ET), Jerusalem in
the Time of Jesus, 252 n. 26.
synagogues were in fact controlled by priests; no Pharisee is ever called an

oufprkdsdlt synagogue leader; and, the number of Pharisees was too small to
enable firm control over the synagogues.
The Gospel verses that associate Pharisees with synagogues are: Matt 23:6a // Mark 12:39
// Luke 11:43, 20:46; Matt 23:34, and John 12:42. Because of its potential significance, we
may include Matt 23:2 here as well.
Matt 23:6a // Mark 12:39 // Luke 11:43, 20:46. The Pharisees and scribes love the best
seats in the synagogues. Although Cohen is probably right is saying that this verse
merely indicates that the Pharisees occupy the best seats because of their social
prominence,284 their social prominence would have translated into some influence in the
synagogue itself.
Matt 23:2. The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses seat. This verse has been
variously interpreted, most commentators preferring to draw out from it a references to an
actual physical seat in synagogues because of its association with Matt 23:6.285 But it is
likely to be rather a metaphor for the influential position the Pharisees held in the study
and exposition of the Torah. That they held just such a position in society is confirmed on
several occasions by Josephus (see below).
Matt 23:34. . . . some you will flog in your synagogues. The synagogues are those of
the scribes and Pharisees.
John 12:42. Nevertheless many, even of the authorities (qk oukqsk), believed in
him. But because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, for fear that they would be put
out of the synagogue. This is a telling verse. The authorities were members of the
Sanhedrin. If they of all people were afraid of being put out of the synagogue because of
the Pharisees, the Pharisees at the very least must have exercised strong influence in
synagogues, particularly in the area of what was taught and preached.
284 S. J. D. Cohen, (1999), Pharisees and Rabbis, 97.

285 Scholars in favour of a physical seat of Moses in synagogues, include: Roth, (1949), Chair of
Moses, 100-11; Renov, (1955), The Seat of Moses, 233-38; Newport, (1990), Seat of
Moses, 53-58; Newport, (1991), The Pharisees in Judaism, 127-37. Scholars who regard the
seat of Moses as a metaphor for teaching, include: Viviano, (1990), Social World and
Community Leadership, 3-21, esp. 10-11; Saldarini, (1992), Delegitimation of Leaders, 669-
70; Saldarini, (1994), Matthews Christian-Jewish Community, 47-48; S. J. D. Cohen, (1999),
Pharisees and Rabbis, 93-96. Scholars who regard it as a metaphor for those who control access
to torah include Powell, (1995), Do and Keep what Moses Says, 431. Scholars who maintain
that it was a physical chair on which the Torah scroll was sometimes enthroned, include:
Rahmani, (1990), Stone Synagogue Chairs, 192-214, esp. 212; Horsley, (1996), Archaeology,
History, and Society in Galilee, 142-44.
The second claim made against Pharisaic control of synagogues, that some synagogues
were controlled by priests, is certain. The Theodotus inscription from Jerusalem286 and
Philo of Alexandria287 both indicate that at least their synagogues were led by priests.
However, to use this as an argument that therefore Pharisees did not control any
synagogues is flawed. Not only is this evidence merely from a single synagogue in
Palestine and possibly third century A.D. at that,288 a priest was in fact not necessary for
conducting synagogue liturgy.289 It also ignores the fact that some priests were
Pharisees.290
That no Pharisee is ever called an oufprkdsdlt synagogue leader may be

conceded,291 but again that does not necessarily preclude Pharisees from influence within
the synagogue community. In any case, in ancient Diaspora synagogues at least,
hierarchical authority structures were largely non-existent. The title synagogue leader
was symbolic and based on benefaction. Other strong figures in Jewish communities
exercised influence if not control.292
The third claim, that the number of Pharisees was too small to ensure general control over
Palestinian synagogues looks like a convincing argument also against their effective
influence, but closer inspection reveals otherwise.
Josephus, in Ant. 17:42, claimed that more than 6,000 Pharisees refused to make an oath
of allegiance to Herod the Great. This is taken by some to be the total number of Pharisees
in Palestine (under the rule of Herod). Such a small number, it is said, could not hope to
be in a position to control much at all. However, even if this number was in fact the total
number of Pharisees and not merely the number of those who refused to swear allegiance,
it still amounts to at least three per cent of the total Jewish population, given a total adult
286 Frey, (1936), CIJ II, n. 1404; Shanks, (1979), Judaism in Stone, 18-20; Richardson, (1996),
Early Synagogues, 99; Binder, (1999), Into the Temple Courts, 104; S. J. D. Cohen, (1999),
Pharisees and Rabbis, 103.
287 Philo, Hyp. 7.13.
288 Kee, (1990), The Transformation of the Synagogue, 7-8; Kee, (1999), Defining the First-
Century C.E. Synagogue, 10, 26. However, the majority continue to ascribe a pre-70 date to the
inscription. Those who counter Kees arguments include: E. P. Sanders, (1990), Jewish Law, 341;
Riesner, (1995), Synagogues in Jerusalem, 194-200; van der Horst, (1999), Synagogue and
Sabbath Worship, 19.
289 Hengel and Deines, (1995), Common Judaism, 32 n. 3.
290 E. P. Sanders, (1992), Judaism, 412.
291 In the Dialogue with Trypho 137.2, Justin Martyr wrote: Assent, therefore, and pour no ridicule
on the Son of God; obey not the Pharisaic teachers, and scoff not at the king of Israel, as the rulers
of the synagogues (oufprkdsdlf) teach you to do after your prayers (ANF I, 268a). Justin
clearly distinguished between Pharisees and the rulers of the synagogues, and it is likely that he
referred to the pre-70 Pharisees, see S. J. D. Cohen, (1999), Pharisees and Rabbis, 100-101.
292 Rajak and Noy, (1993), ARCHISYNAGOGOI, 75-93, esp. 80, 93.
male population of around 200,000.293 This would be more than enough to be able to
influence key institutions and for prominent Pharisees to rise to positions of leadership -
as in fact they did.294
Finally, while the possibility that Pharisees in fact grew out of the institution of scribes is
in dispute,295 it seems clear that in the first century some Pharisees were scribes.296 In
three places in the NT (Mark 2:16, Luke 5:30, Acts 23:9) we are told that some scribes
were Pharisees. Since scribes were also teachers,297 we have here some indication that
at least some Pharisees might have been in positions not merely of influence in society but
of some measure of influence in the teaching of torah in general. In fact, that Pharisees
were listened to by the population generally and specifically in matters to do with the
exposition and interpretation of the Torah, is a point repeated numerous times by
Josephus.298
All this of course presupposes that pre-70 Palestinian synagogues conducted liturgy,
Torah study and exposition.299
The liturgical use of the Torah and Prophets in synagogues is indicated by: contemporary
literary evidence and evidence that repositories were kept in synagogues for that purpose;
and if a building at Masada is a synagogue, by the fragments of biblical texts found
293 Jeremias, (1969ET), Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus, 205, estimated the total Jewish population to
have been between 500,000 and 600,000. Assuming half were female and at least 100,000 boys,
200,000 adult males does not seem unreasonable. Hengel and Deines, (1995), Common Judaism,
33 n. 85, estimate 200,000 adult males.
294 See footnotes above which give references in Josephus and the Gospels of prominent named and
unnamed Pharisees.
296 Rivkin, (1978), Scribes, Pharisees, Lawyers, Hypocrites, 135-42; E. P. Sanders, (1985), Jesus
and Judaism, 390 n. 91, 397 n. 15; Westerholm, (1978), Jesus and Scribal Authority, 26-39.
Also M. J. Cook, (1978), Marks Treatment of the Jewish Leaders, 90-91, who argued that
scribes and Pharisees were one and the same.
297 Neh 8:9,13, Philo, Flacc. 3; Binder, (1999), Into the Temple Courts, 363-35, 433.
298 See: Ant. 13:297-98, the Pharisees had the support of the masses when it came to the
interpretation of the Torah; Ant. 13:401,408, Alexandra Salome restored qk kljjsk the
regulations of the Pharisees because they were popular; J.W. 2:162, the Pharisees had the
reputation for accurate interpretation of the regulations; Ant. 20:264, Josephus stated that
deference is paid by Jews generally to anyone who acquires an accurate knowledge of the Torah and
an ability to interpret it; Ant. 18:15, cf. J.W. 2:166, the Pharisees were popular among the people
because of their views; and, Ant. 18:17, where presumably even the Sadducees were forced by the
Pharisees popularity to acquiesce in matters to do with the synagogue.
299 It is known that synagogues of late antiquity (post-70) had a wide variety of uses which can be
roughly divided into three broad areas: liturgical worship; education; and community and welfare
needs. See: L. I. Levine, (1981), Ancient Synagogues - A Historical Introduction, 3-4; L. I.
Levine, (1987), The Synagogue in late Antiquity, 14-17; Binder, (1999), Into the Temple
Courts, ch. 6; cf. Z. Safrai, (1995), Communal Functions of the Synagogue, 181-204. For the
relationship between assembly and prayer places in Talmudic times, see Urman, (1993),
House of Assembly and House of Study, 236-57.
there.300 Just as distance from the temple, with the consequent inability of faithful Jews to
visit it regularly, prompted Diaspora Jews to develop public Torah readings and prayer,
this would of course also apply to Galilee and, to a lesser extent, to Judaea.
Of particular note is Ag.Ap. 2:175, in which Josephus stated that every week men
assembled to listen to the Law and obtain a thorough and accurate (hof_t)
knowledge of it. The use of the adjective accurate in association with the Torah
strongly hints at the direct influence of the Pharisees in the teaching of it in synagogues,
though other groups and individuals may have had a similar reputation.301a
As for non-liturgical education, this too may be assumed, though no explicit evidence
presently exists. First, the need to teach children to read was an understood requirement of
Mosaic law.301b Minors and other non-officials were apparently permitted not only to read
the Hebrew but also to give an Aramaic targum of that reading in liturgical worship.302
Teaching was associated with synagogues.303
Second, a small room inside the first century synagogue at Gamla was quite possibly used
as a school-room.304
Third, although all these functions were carried out also by the Jerusalem temple,305 daily
or regular travel to Jerusalem by students even from areas in Judaea would have been
300 Archaeological evidence: Frey, (1936), CIJ II, n. 1404; Netzer, (1992), Masada, NEAEH II, 624;
Binder, (1999), Into the Temple Courts, 175, 179, 399-401, 432-33.
Philo: Op. 128, Som. 2:127, Mos. 2:215-16, Spec. Leg. 2:62, Quod Omn. Prob. 82, Hyp. 7:12-
13, Leg. 156-57, 312.
NT: Luke 4:16-31, Acts 13:15,17, 15:13-21. Cf. Horsley, (1996), Archaeology, History, and
Society in Galilee, 147, who thought that the two references from Lukes Gospel represented
Lukan projections from his own later experience in Diaspora synagogues back into the ministry
of Jesus.
Josephus: J.W. 2:285-92, Ant. 16:43, Ag.Ap. 1:209, 2:17,175.
Mishnah: m. Taan. 2:1, note 2:5F for second temple chronology. Cf. Sot. 7:7, Yoma 7:1.
301a Others which, according to Josephus, displayed accuracy/exactness in the law included: Eleazar,
Ant, 20:43; Simon, Ant. 19:332; some priests, Ag.Ap. 2:187; two teachers, J.W. 1:648, Ant.
17:149. See: Wild, (1985), Encounter between Pharisaic and Christian Judaism, 122-23; A. I.
Baumgarten, (1983), The Name of the Pharisees, 413-14; McLaren, (2001), Death of James,
10. However, these all may have been Pharisees.
3 01b Ag.Ap. 2:204, Philo, Leg. 115, 210, Spec. Leg. 2:233; Binder, (1999), Into the Temple Courts,
434.
302 m. Meg. 4:6A,D. See Section 1.6.4.
303 Frey, (1936), CIJ II, n. 1404; Matt 4:23, Luke 13:10.
304 Guttmann, (1992), Gamla, NEAEH II, 461-62; Binder, (1999), Into the Temple Courts, 434. For
the link between school and synagogue, see Bloedhorn and Httenmeister, (1999), The
Synagogue, 293.
impractical and certainly not conducive to good study. Even if the reference in Luke 4:16
to Jesus reading from the Hebrew scroll in the synagogue at Nazareth is anachronistic,306
the assumption of the redactor (and his source?) nevertheless was that Jesus did learn to
read Hebrew, despite growing up far from Jerusalem.
Lastly, Philo on five occasions called a synagogue a afa^phîblk school (building) -

an indication of one of its functions.307 At least two of these references imply that such
synagogues were present in Palestine as well as in the Diaspora.
To sum up, many individual Pharisees were influential members of society and indeed
most ordinary Jews looked to the Pharisees in general for correct interpretations of Torah,
though few Pharisees were probably in control of any institution. This influence, by its
very nature, extended into the synagogue, especially into the area of the study and
exposition of the Torah and Prophets.
305 Copies of the Torah: J.W. 7:150, Ant. 2:346, 3:28,303, 5:61. The reading and teaching of
Scripture: Mark 12:35, 14:49, Luke 2:46, John 7:14,28, 8:2,20, Acts 5:21,25,42, J.W. 1:78-80,
Ant. 13:311; Binder, (1999), Into the Temple Courts, 434-35. Cf. t. Sanh. 7:1, a house of study
on the Temple Mount.
306 For this opinion, see H. A. McKay, (1994), Sabbath and Sacrifice, 164.
307 Philo, Mos. 2:216, Decal. 40 (including Palestine), Spec. Leg. 2:62, Praem. 66 (including
Palestine), Leg. 312. See also Binder, (1999), Into the Temple Courts, 133-35.
1.6 Introduction : The Targumim 65
1.6 THE TARGUMIM
Along with such phrases as my kingdom and his kingdom, the Aramaic Targumim
also contain a number of examples of kingdom of the Lord as well as numerous
references to God as king. If it can be demonstrated that even some of these may be traced
in origin back to the pre-70 synagogue, a strong case will have been made for supposing
that these pre-70 traditions reflect the position of the Pharisees since the Pharisees
influenced the teaching of first century Palestinian synagogues.
1.6.1 What are the Targumim?
Traditionally, the literary genre of the non-Qumran Aramaic Targumim (Mymwgrt)308 has
been described as translation from the Hebrew.309 More recently, the Targumim have been
described as paraphrases,310 or interpretations.311 Alexander Samely312 described the
Targumim as dedicated exegetical rewording of Scripture, though of a different kind to
midrash.313 Given the fact that the Aramaic word amwgrt means both translation and
interpretation, this confusion in definition is understandable.314 However, perhaps as an
indication of the complexity and infancy of Targum studies, neither is uniformly the
case.315
As a literary corpus, the non-Qumran Targumim may be classified along the following
lines.
308 The Hebrew word Mgrt occurs in the Hebrew Bible only at Ezra 4:7. In this and subsequent
Sections and chapters, the Jewish Targumim as opposed to the Samaritan Targum are meant in
every case, cf. Tov, (1992), Textual Criticism, 149.
309 Alexander, (1983), Targumim and Rabbinic Rules, 14; Alexander, (1992), Targum, Targumim,
ABD VI, 328-29.
310 Chilton, (1992), Targums, DJG, 800b; Chilton, (1980), Targumic Transmission, 21;
McNamara, (1983), Palestinian Judaism, 205.
311 Ribera, (1994), The Targum, 218, who pointed out that they belong to the Jewish hermeneutical
method called avrd (interpretation, exposition).
312 Samely, (1994), Is Targumic Aramaic Rabbinic Hebrew?, 96, 98. Cf. Brock, (1988),
Translating the OT, 92; Le Daut, (1989), The Targumim, 563.
313 For a modern scholar who identifies the genre as midrash, see . Lvine, (1988), The Aramaic
Version of the Bible, 38-40.
314 . Lvine, (1982), The Biography of the Aramaic Bible, 362; . Lvine, (1988), The Aramaic
Version of the Bible, 29; Tov, (1992), Textual Criticism, 149.
315 As recently as 1995, Paul V. McC. Flesher was able to write: the targums remain an under-
utilised source; scholars of Second-Temple Judaism, rabbinic Judaism, and early Christianity have
only begun to delve into them, Flesher, (1995), The Targumim, 41.
66 1.6 Introduction : The Targumim
The Targumim to the Pentateuch. Targum Onqelos (Tg. Onq.) is the best known. Its
Aramaic dialect shows strong western elements indicating its genesis in Palestine, yet since
it is mentioned in the Babylonian Talmud and shows the influence of eastern Aramaic, its
redaction probably took place in Babylon under the influence of the rabbis, so that its
dialect is now designated Babylonian Aramaic of the Late Aramaic phase.316 The
dialect of Targum Neofiti (Tg. Neof.), the most recently discovered of the Targumim, is
Palestinian Aramaic, since there is no evidence of redaction outside of Palestine.
Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (Tg. Ps.-J.) may be similarly described. Two groups of Targum
fragments, those of the Cairo Geniza (Tg. C.G.) and those grouped under the title
Fragments with two main recensions, one from the Paris library (Tg. Frg. P) the other
from the Vatican (Tg. Frg. V), also show similar characteristics to Neofiti and Pseudo-
Jonathan.317
The Targumim to the Prophets. Targum Jonathan (Tg. Neb.) incorporates the whole of
the Former and Latter Prophets. It had a similar composition history to Onqelos, i.e it
originated in Palestine but received redaction in Babylon. Its Aramaic is from the Late
Aramaic period and is again of the eastern variety. This would place its literary formation
in the period A.D. 200-700 in Babylon, i.e. somewhat contemporary with the formation of
the Mishnah-Talmud corpus.318
The Targumim to the Writings or Hagiographa (Tg. Ket.). Redaction of these books is
considered to be medieval though again betraying Late Aramaic. As such they will not
316 On the formation of Tg. Onq., see now, Flesher, (1999), Is Targum Onkelos a Palestinian
Targum?, 66-68, and Drazin, (1999), Dating the Targum Onkelos, 246-58. Joseph A. Fitzmyer
has proposed five phases in the evolution of Aramaic which have become generally accepted by
scholars: Old Aramaic (925-700 B .C .); Official Aramaic (700-200 B .C .); Middle Aramaic (200
B .C . - A.D. 200); Late Aramaic (A.D. 200-700); and Modern Aramaic (to the present day). See:
Kutscher, (1970), Aramaic 347-412; Fitzmyer, (19712), The Genesis Apocryphon, 22-23 n. 60;
Fitzmyer, (1975), Methodology, 84 n. 38; Fitzmyer, (1997), The Phases of the Aramaic
Language, 60-63; Casey, (1998), Aramaic Sources, 53-54; . Lvine, (1988), The Aramaic
Version of the Bible, 23; McNamara, (1983), Intertestamental Literature, 268; Tov, (1992),
Textual Criticism, 150; McNamara, (1992ET), Neofiti 1, Genesis, 13. For a systematic
presentation of an older system of classification, see Moscati et al., (1969), Comparative
Grammar of Semitic Languages, 10-13.
317 Alexander, (1992), Targum, Targumim, ABD VI, 321-24; Chilton, (1994), Judaic Approaches
to the Gospels, 309-10; Fitzmyer, (1997), The Phases of the Aramaic Language, 72-74. The
contrast between Fitzmyer and Le Daut on these points is instructive. Le Daut represents the
older view, especially in his use of old categories of Aramaic: Le Daut, (1989), The Targumim,
575-84; Kaufman, (1985), Methodology in Targum Study, 122; Bokser, (1983), Recent
Developments in the Study of Judaism, 21; . Lvine, (1988), The Aramaic Version of the
Bible, 24-25; McNamara, (1983), Intertestamental Literature, 269-71; Tov, (1992), Textual
Criticism, 150; McNamara, (1992ET), Neofiti 1, Genesis, 4-9.
318 Alexander, (1992), Targum, Targumim, ABD VI, 324-25; Fraade, (1985), Targum Jonathan to
the Prophets, 392-401; . Lvine, (1988), The Aramaic Version of the Bible, 23-24; McNamara,
(1983), Intertestamental Literature, 271-72; Levey, (1971), The Date of Targum Jonathan to the
Prophets, 186-96; Tov, (1992), Textual Criticism, 151.
be considered here. They are of diverse literary form, ranging from translation to midrash,
though even here some scholars would posit a Palestinian origin. They fall into two
groups: the five scrolls (Megilloth); and the rest (except for Ezra, Nehemiah and Daniel
which do not have a Targum).319
1.6.2 Translation Techniques
Linguistically, Aramaic is very similar to Hebrew. Both languages have the same
grammatical, syntactical and semantic structures. Thus in theory a translation of Hebrew
into Aramaic can be done in a word-for-word manner retaining the original structure in a
way impossible say for the translators of the LXX.320 It ought to be the case then that any
deviation along grammatical, syntactical or semantic lines from the original Hebrew will
reflect the particular concerns not simply of the final translator but of the tradition behind
the formation of the text for which he is the last in a long line.
In broad terms, several techniques in Targum translation have been uncovered: the word-
for-word translation, sometimes called literal or base translation; the base translation
with a word or two altered;321 the base translation with explanatory additions;322 and a free
paraphrase such that it is frequently impossible to detect any base translation.323 That such
a literary analysis is possible warns against categorising the literary genre of the
Targumim as a whole.324
Specific issues within these basic techniques have also received scholarly attention,325
especially: the extent and meaning of supposed anti-anthropomorphisms;326 the instances
319 Alexander, (1992), Targum, Targumim, ABD VI, 325, 329; . Lvine, (1988), The Aramaic
Version of the Bible, 25-27; McNamara, (1983), Palestinian Judaism, 206-207; McNamara,
(1983), Intertestamental Literature, 272-73; Tov, (1992), Textual Criticism, 151; Meier, (1994),
Marginal Jew II, 262.
320 Neusner, (1987), What is Midrash?, 27; Golomb, (1998), Methodological Considerations, 4.
321 E.g. Tg. Neof. Gen 2:15, Deut 29:9; cf. Neusner, (1987), What is Midrash?, 27-28.
322 E.g. Tg. Ps.-J. Gen 4:3-16, 18:1-5.
323 E.g. Tg. Lam 1:1, Song 5:10-16.
324 For discussions on these, see: Jerome, Letter 57.5 (NPNF2 VI, 113b); Brock, (1979), Aspects of
Translation Technique in Antiquity, 69-87; Alexander, (1983), Targumim and Rabbinic Rules,
17-21; Brock, (1988), Translating the OT, 92-95; Alexander, (1988), Jewish Aramaic
Translations, 228-37; Alexander, (1991), Orality in Pharisaic-Rabbinic Judaism, 171;
McNamara, (1992ET), Neofiti 1, Genesis, 29-35; Flesher, (1995), The Targumim, 53-54; M. L.
Klein, (1998), The Aramaic Targumim, 317-31. For a critique of Alexanders classification, see
Smelik, (1998), Translation and Commentary in One, 245-60.
325 See Alexander, (1988), Jewish Aramaic Translations, 226-29, for brief descriptions of these and
others.
where the Targum does not translate at all but simply ignores the text;327 and instances
where the Targum translates in such a way as to completely oppose the meaning of the
Hebrew.328
It is this last phenomenon that is of special interest here, not only because several relevant
passages that will be discussed in Section 3.7 will be shown to exhibit this technique
known as Converse Translation, but that such translation exposes a fundamental
conceptual shift from the time of the Hebrew to the time of the Targum tradition. Here it is
enough to simply establish the principle and make a few comments on its significance.
Michael L. Klein is credited with reviving awareness of the technique in modern times.329
He noted that the Targumim execute their converse translation in one of four ways: by the
addition or deletion of the negative particle;330 by the replacement of the verb; by
resolution of rhetorical questions; and by addition of the negative particle ald lest.
In the examples Klein cited, he concluded that converse translations were made for a
variety of reasons.
The addition or deletion of the negative particle was made for example in: Gen 4:14, to
ensure that it could not be said that man could hide from God; Gen 4:23, to harmonise the
text and thus avoid a contradiction; Gen 5:24, 42:36, to give the current exegesis especially
where the Hebrew text is ambivalent; Gen 37:33, 43:14, 46:30, to ensure that the belief in
the resurrection of the dead is not denied;331 Gen 48:22, to avoid ascribing battle with bow
and sword to Jacob; and in Exod 33:20 to reinforce the belief that no one can see God and
live.
The replacement of the verb with one of opposite meaning was done, for example in: Exod
33:3,5, to ensure that the presence of God was always with his people; and in Deut 15:4
and 15:11 to harmonise a possible contradiction.
326 E.g. G. F. Moore, (1927), Judaism I, 419-21; Klein, (1979), The Preposition Mdq, 502-507;
Klein, (1981), Anthropomorphisms and Anthropopathisms, 162-77; Orlinsky, (1981),
Anthropomorphisms and Anthropopathisms, xv-xxiv; M. L. Klein, (1998), The Aramaic
Targumim, 319-20.
327 E.g. Alexander, (1976), Forbidden Targumim, 177-91; M. L. Klein, (1988), Not to be
Translated in Public, 80-91.
328 E.g. Klein, (1976), Converse Translation, 515-37; Gordon, (1978), Targumists as
Eschatologists, 113-14; Alexander, (1988), Jewish Aramaic Translations, 228; M. L. Klein,
(1998), The Aramaic Targumim, 323-24; Gordon, (1999), Converse Translation, 3-21.
329 Through his article, Klein, (1976), Converse Translation, 515-37. He noted on p. 516 n. 5 that
Elias Levita had previously observed this feature in the sixteenth century.
330 Gordon, (1999), Converse Translation, 3-21, is concerned with this first category.
331 See also Gordon, (1978), Targumists as Eschatologists, 114.
Finally, the addition of ald lest is made to avert a curse or evil prediction, for example,
in Exod 22:23 and Deut 7:4.
Any translation of a document, more especially that of the Scriptures, does not take place
in a vacuum. The relative frequency of the phenomenon of converse translation testifies to
the fact that we cannot often blame textual variants for the deviations but must look for
other motives for the interpretations that the Targumists placed on their text.332 Not only
will the translator bring to the text his own ideas and even prejudices, traditions of
interpretation, especially those surrounding difficult texts, will also have a bearing on the
final product. Further, the translator will be writing for a contemporary audience.333
In Section 3.7 it will be demonstrated that the Hebrew verb awb to come is conversely
translated by the Aramaic verb hlg to reveal in those contexts where the kingdom of
God is referred to or where the metaphor of God as king is explicit or implied. It is
therefore an example of Kleins second category (the replacement of the verb with one of
opposite meaning). This translation reflects the fundamentally different understanding of
the nature of the presence of the Divine King between the writers of the Hebrew text and
those represented by the targumic tradition.
1.6.3 Dating the Targumic Kingdom Traditions
Before addressing the specific issue of dating the kingdom traditions in the Targumim,
certain general problems relating to the dating of the Targumim need to be tackled.
The dating of the various Targumim is extremely problematic (the various arguments
being described by one scholar as inconclusive and circular334) for much the same
reasons as it is difficult to obtain a precise date for the Christian Gospels. Scholars are no
longer as confident as Martin McNamara was in 1972, [T]he bulk of the material which
we have in the Palestinian Targum to the Pentateuch comes from pre-Christian times.335
Among the reasons for the difficulty may be deduced the following:
332 Targumist is used in a collective sense, of all who contributed to the final text.
333 See Section 1.2.3 where a similar understanding regarding the LXX is made. Also: Klein, (1976),
Converse Translation, 537; Gordon, (1999), Converse Translation, 20; Alexander, (1988),
Jewish Aramaic Translations, 228.
334 Chilton, (1982), The Glory of Israel, 11.
335 McNamara, (1972), Targum and Testament, 88, see also 85.
First, there is no consensus on the method to be employed in approaching the field of

Targum study.336 Three examples will suffice to illustrate the reality of this problem.
For some time two assumptions by Paul Kahle and others337 have produced results of
dubious or no value: the so-called Palestinian Targumim are older than Onqelos and
Onqelos and Jonathan are wholly Babylonian; and, if a halakah is contrary to known
halakot in the rabbinic literature, then it must be older than that ruling in the rabbinic
literature. Both have been sufficiently called into question, notably by Anthony York338 as
to exclude any conclusion based on these assumptions.
There is also the debate over the dating of Tg. Ps.-J. Two scholars Avigdor Shinan339 and
Charles T. R. Hayward340 use similar methods applied in different ways to come to
completely different results. Shinan argued for a post-Islamic (early medieval) dating,
while Hayward proposed at the latest a date in the late fourth or early fifth century,
suggesting that verses which betray a very late date were contemporary interpolations.341
There is the question of how to interpret: the absence or inclusion of verses of Targumim
that are forbidden to be translated in rabbinic literature;342 and the contradictions between
the Targumim and rabbinic halakot. The fact that some of the Targumim include most if
not all of these forbidden translations or contradictions is thought by some to indicate that
336 Kaufman, (1985), Methodology in Targum Study, 117-24, esp. 121; Chilton, (1980), Targumic
Transmission, 25.
337 The affirmative is also followed by Matthew Black and others. For references, see: York, (1974),
The Dating of Targumic Literature, 50 n. 5; Greenfield, (1972), Review of An Aramaic
Approach to the Gospels, 1968 ed. by Matthew Black, 58-61.
338 York, (1974), The Dating of Targumic Literature, 49-62. See also discussion in McNamara,
(1983), Palestinian Judaism, 214-15.
339 Shinan, (1985), The Palestinian Targums, 77-87; Shinan, (1990), Dating Targum Pseudo-
Jonathan, 57-61; Shinan, (1992), The Aramaic Targum as a Mirror of Galilean Jewry, 245, 245
n. 19.
340 C. T. R. Hayward, (1989), The Date of Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, 7-30; C. T. R. Hayward,
(1989), Targum Pseudo-Jonathan and Anti-Islamic Polemic, 77-93; C. T. R. Hayward, (1990),
Jacobs Second Visit to Bethel, 175-92; C. T. R. Hayward, (1991), Pirqe de Rabbi Eliezer and
Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, 215-46; C. T. R. Hayward, (1992), Inconsistencies and
Contradictions, 31-55; C. T. R. Hayward, (1992), Red Heifer and Golden Calf, 9-32.
341 E.g. Tg. Ps.-J. Gen 21:21 contains the names of Mohammeds wife and daughter, yet Tg. Ps.-J.
Deut 33:11 contains a blessing of John Hyrcanus which could hardly have been composed in later
centuries. Cf. . Lvine, (1988), The Aramaic Version of the Bible, 20-21.
342 m. Meg. 4:9-10, Sot. 7:2, e.g. Gen 35:22, Exod 32, Lev 18:21, Num 6:24-26, 2 Sam 11:2-17, 2
Sam 13. See: McNamara, (1972), Targum and Testament, 48; McNamara, (19662), The NT and
the Palestinian Targum, 46-51; Alexander, (1976), Forbidden Targumim, 177-91; M. L. Klein,
(1988), Not to be Translated in Public, 80-91; Chilton, (1984), Galilean Rabbi, 42; Josephus
deletion of the golden calf incident at Sinai, Ant. 3:99.
Targumim were used for study purposes in addition to public worship,343 while for others
it means merely that they were composed prior to the relevant rabbinic record.344
The second problem in dealing with the dating of the Targumim is the fact that there is no
scholarly consensus regarding the interrelationships between the Targumim. Attempts to
find proto versions, by Bruce Chilton,345 Paul V. McC. Flesher346 and others,347 by
employing similar techniques as those used for the Synoptic Gospels, based on the
premise that all the Targumim exhibit indications of a Palestinian origin, have yet to be
fully tested.348 As Walter Aufrecht349 pointed out, the Targumim were composed at
different times to meet different translational, hermeneutical, and liturgical needs.
Gabriele Boccaccini,350 in the same book as one of Fleshers essays on synoptic parallels,
pointed out forcefully that such a desire to get back to a proto-targum presupposes that
there was a single Targum tradition and indeed a single first-century Judaism. But
discontinuity - not less than continuity - characterizes targumic tradition; each Targum has
its own personality and defines a distinct ideological system. . . . Parallels among
documents do not mean dependence or agreement.
Finally, all the Targumim show evidence of language and material that can be individually
dated to various periods.351 This includes Tg. Neof. which was thought by Alejandro Dez
Macho and others352 to be entirely pre-Christian. This early dating of Tg. Neof. in its
343 E.g. M. L. Klein, (1988), Not to be Translated in Public, 88; Fraade, (1992), Rabbinic Views
on the Practice of Targum, 261 and n. 19.
344 E.g. Bowker, (1969), The Targums and Rabbinic Literature, 19; Heinemann, (1974), Early
Halakha in the Palestinian Targumim, 117.
345 Chilton, (1986), Targumic Approaches to the Gospels, 113-35, 137-49, 163-77.
346 Flesher, (1992), Sources of the Synoptic Targums, 101-29; Flesher, (1994), The Targumim in
the Context of Rabbinic Literature, 612-16; Flesher, (1994), Mapping the Synoptic Palestinian
Targums, 247-53; Flesher, (1995), The Targumim, 45-49; Flesher, (1999), Is Targum
Onkelos a Palestinian Targum?, 35-79.
347 Kaufman, (1994), Dating the Language of the Palestinian Targums, 129. This desire is very
much like Martin McNamaras habit of labelling numerous Targumim (Tg. Ps.-J., Frg. Tg., Tg.
C.G., Tg. Neof., i.e. all but Tg. Onq.) under the one epithet Palestinian Targum. See any of his
works, e.g. McNamara, (1972), Targum and Testament, 81, 173; McNamara, (1983), Palestinian
Judaism, 207; McNamara, (1983), Intertestamental Literature, 269. This habit is explained in
his recent book McNamara, (1992ET), Neofiti 1, Genesis, 8. Here he claimed that Neofiti 1 is a
complete copy of the Palestinian Targum to the Pentateuch.
348 . Lvine, (1988), The Aramaic Version of the Bible, 22, 29.
349 Aufrecht, (1992), Some Observations, 80.
350 Boccaccini, (1994), Targum Neofiti as a Proto-Rabbinic Document, 254-63, quote from p. 262
and p. 263.
351 . Lvine, (1988), The Aramaic Version of the Bible, 22, 29.
352 Dez Macho, (1959), The Recently Discovered Palestinian Targum, 222-45, esp. 236; Le Daut,
(1989), The Targumim, 580; McNamara, (19662), The NT and the Palestinian Targum, 64-66.
present form has been well refuted by Joseph A. Fitzmyer,353 Anthony D. York,354
Stephen A. Kaufman355 and others356 by convincing critiques of their textual analysis and
methodology.
The situation, however, is not hopeless. With two caveats these potential pitfalls may be
avoided or at least limited in their effectiveness. Each Targum document will be treated
initially as if it has the same chance of preserving old traditions and each relevant verse in
the Targumim will be treated (without further evidence to the contrary) as if it is embedded
in younger traditions and redactional material. That is, each verse will be treated on its own
merits and exegesis may be necessarily limited to that particular verse or part thereof.
One further methodological approach needs to be flagged before discussion of the dating
of the kingdom of God sayings in the Targumim. That is, that like the formation of the
Gospels,357 the assumption will be that the Targumim underwent a similar three-fold stage
of formation, namely: oral; oral and written; and redaction.358
This of course begs the question as to when Targum traditions first began to be written.
The answer, whatever it may be, is in fact not relevant here.359 The interest is in the
353 Fitzmyer, (1970), Review of Neophyti 1 by Alejandro Dez Macho, 107-12. Also a 1979 reprint
of a lecture given by Fitzmyer in 1974, itself reprinted in 1997, Fitzmyer, (1997), The Phases of
the Aramaic Language, 72-74.
354 York, (1974), The Dating of Targumic Literature, 54-60.
355 Kaufman, (1985), Methodology in Targum Study, 119-20. Kaufman also dated some documents
as follows: 11QtgJob, first century B .C .; 1QapGen, first century A.D.; Tg. Onq. and Tg. Neb.,
final form between A.D. 70 and 135. See also Kaufman, (1973), Job Targum from Qumran, 327.
356 Wernberg-Mller, (1962), Dating of the Recently Discovered Palestinian Targum, 312-30; Le
Daut, (1982), Message, 25.
358 Golomb, (1985), Grammar of Targum Neofiti, 5, insisted that there was no connection between
the extant Targumim and the activities of the Nmgrwtm Meturgman in the synagogue liturgy.
Even if he is right (few today would argue for absolutely no connection), what is being argued here
is a connection of tradition or substance between them.
359 The question is, nevertheless, quite fascinating. The evidence of at least a tradition of written
targumim in the first century seems incontrovertible, though nothing conclusive exists that the
present Aramaic Targumim had written forms or sources in the first century. See, e.g. Shinan,
(1992), The Aramaic Targum as a Mirror of Galilean Jewry, 244, The phenomenon of the
Aramaic Targum is, of course, very early and can be traced back to the Second Temple period,
while the extant manuscripts of Targum are relatively late.
Aramaic translations of fragments of Job and Leviticus have been found at Qumran. For a
discussion of the Targumim from Qumran, especially 11QtgJob, see Fitzmyer, (1997), The
Targum of Job from Qumran Cave XI, 161-82. The problem with using this as evidence of a first
century written Targum tradition is that depending on ones definition of targum these may or may
not be targumim. 4QtgLev, 4QtgJob and 11QtgJob are straight translations without the normal
exegetical embellishments associated with the Targumim, see: Fraade, (1992), Rabbinic Views on
the Practice of Targum, 254; McNamara, (1972), Targum and Testament, 63-66; McNamara,
(1983), Intertestamental Literature, 268; Fitzmyer, (1997), The Targum of Job from Qumran
Cave XI, 164. For example, Samely, (1994), Is Targumic Aramaic Rabbinic Hebrew?, 98 n.
18, did not want to label 11QtgJob as a Targum because of this, although designating the Qumran
tradition or the substance behind the relevant extant Targumim not in their precise
semantic syntactical or grammatical construction.
Paul V. McC. Flesher360 and Bruce D. Chilton delineate four and two stages respectively
in the formation of the Targumim. These can be easily accommodated into the three-fold
scheme by incorporating two or more of their stages into Stage II.
fragments as Targumim, and Flesher, (1995), The Targumim, 43, acknowledged the difficulty in
drawing similarities with the Targumim.
1QapGen is sometimes included in the list, though its literary genre is better categorised as Re-
written Bible, similar to Jubilees and Josephus Antiquities. See: Flesher, (1995), The
Targumim, 43; Fitzmyer, (19712), The Genesis Apocryphon, 11; McNamara, (1983),
Intertestamental Literature, 147. The Aramaic portions of 4QTob may be remains of Tobit in its
original language. In any case they do not display the targumic style of free translation and so
should not be included.
Secondly, we know that the Jews of the Greek Diaspora had not hesitated to translate the
Scriptures. The LXX not only offers a simple translation - a precedent for a translation of the
Hebrew and Aramaic text (Norton, (1994), Jews, Greeks and the Hexapla of Origen, 403) - but in
places embellishes or alters the BHS (e.g. apart from Job 42:17b, LXX Isa 9:11 replaces Aram and
the Philistines with Syria and the Greeks). See also Section 1.2.3 on the LXX.
Thirdly, in the LXX version of Job 42:17b, just such an embellishment contains an allusion to an
Aramaic version of the book: Mqlt ojekbbq^f h qt Qrof^ht __ilr This (man) is
explained in the Syriac book. The noun Qrof^h is commonly understood as referring to
Aramaic (e.g. NRSV 2 Macc 15:36), and is similar to the adverb Qrofpq in LXX 2 Kgs 18:26,
Ezra 4:7, Isa 36:11, Dan 2:4 (BHS tymra in each case). If this does refer to an Aramaic version of
Job and not to some Aramaic apocryphal work, then this is a very early indication of a possible
Targum to Job. See: McNamara, (1972), Targum and Testament, 66; Winter, (1954), Lc 2 49
and Targum Yerushalmi, 157; Fitzmyer, (1997), The Targum of Job from Qumran Cave XI,
167.
For a brief discussion of the problems associated with equating Qrof^h with Aramaic, especially
its relationship to the adverb ~C_o^pq (which can sometimes mean Aramaic. e.g. John 19:13)
and related words, see Fitzmyer, (1997), The Languages of Palestine, 43.
Fourthly, works generally classified as rewritten Bible around the first century such as those of
Josephus, Pseudo-Philo, Philo and Jubilees are thought to have had access to targum traditions if
not the written Targumim.
On Josephus, see: R. Marcus, (1953), Review of The OT and Versions by B. J. Roberts, 139-
40; Winter, (1954), Lc 2 49 and Targum Yerushalmi, 148-53; Marcus, (1977), Preface, x, for
which a convenient tabulation of Marcus notes can be found in Brownlee, (1956), The Habakkuk
Midrash and the Targum of Jonathan, 181-82. Also see Verms, (1961), Scripture and Tradition
in Judaism, 75 (Gen 12:13 (BHS), Tg. Ps.-J. 11:29, Ant. 1:151). A related though distinct issue is
the question whether Josephus had an Aramaic source for the writing of his Antiquities, given
J.W. 1:3, see: Schalit, (1965), Evidence of an Aramaic Source, 163-88; Thackeray, (1928),
Josephus, 77-81.
On Pseudo-Philo, see: Verms, (1961), Scripture and Tradition in Judaism, 76-77 (Gen 11:4, Tg.
Ps.-J. Gen. 11:4, L.A.B. 6:2-4); C. T. R. Hayward, (1990), Jacobs Second Visit to Bethel,
175-92.
On Philo and Jubilees, see: Verms, (1961), Scripture and Tradition in Judaism, 209 (2 Chr 3:1,
Tg. Ps.-J. Gen 22:9, Jub. 18:13); Syrn, (1994), Ishmael and Esau, 310-15; C. T. R. Hayward,
(1990), Jacobs Second Visit to Bethel, 175-92.
360 First stage: first century B .C . to first century A.D. in Palestine, e.g. the Dead Sea Targumim.
Second stage: second - third centuries, e.g. Tg. Neof. and Tg. C.G., primarily in Galilee. Third stage:
third - fourth centuries, e.g. Tg. Onq. and Tg. Neb. in Babylon. Fourth stage: fourth century
onwards, Tg. Ps.-J. and Tg. Ket. in Syria and Galilee. See: Flesher, (1994), The Targumim in the
Turning our attention to Chiltons stages, he claimed that Tg. Neb. Isa was amongst the
earliest of the Targumim to be committed to writing. He saw in it two stages of formation,
not unlike the four stages of Targum formation of Flesher: the Tannaitic and the Amoraic,
with the Tannaitic divided into two strata: pre-70 and post-70.361 The stages are to be
distinguished chiefly by their respective attitudes to the (Jerusalem) temple. The first still
hopes for the actual rebuilding or restoration of the temple,362 the second sees Gods
dwelling place as already existing in heaven. The Tannaitic is nationalistic and
eschatological, the other more settled and theoretical.363 Given the complexity of
formation and language of any Targum, Chilton wisely cautioned against assuming either
that these different stages can be discerned in a single given passage or that every section
or chapter can be necessarily assigned to one or the other.364 In the end, it is impossible
with any certainty to decide when the work of one leaves off and that of another takes
up.365 His general failure to take into account the natural influence of the foundational
Hebrew text should warn against taking this development of kingdom doctrine as
assured.366
With regard to the kingdom of God verses in the Targumim, Chilton dated them
according to the above schema. In the Tannaitic stage the universalistic rendering of the
Divine Kingdom in Tg. Neb. Obad 21b and Tg. Neb. Zech 14:9a, characteristic of pre-
70,367 gave way to the nationalistic connection between the divine kingdom and Zion as
in Tg. Neb. Isa 24:23b, 31:4c.368 In the later Amoraic period, the Messiah was associated
with the kingdom of God and the late term atvnk congregation - indicating a loss of
Context of Rabbinic Literature, 628-29, which mentioned only the last three stages; Flesher,
(1995), The Targumim, 42-51. Nevertheless, this process bears some similarities to Bruce
Chiltons three stages of the formation of the Isaiah Targum, for which he mounted more
convincing evidence, see Section 1.3.2.
361 Chilton, (1982), The Glory of Israel, 97; Chilton, (1984), Galilean Rabbi, 48, 53; Chilton,
(1997), Two in One, 547-48.
362 According to Chilton, the pre-70 phase articulates this in terms of a proper regulation of the cult,
the post-70 phase of an actual physical rebuilding, Chilton, (1982), The Glory of Israel, 99.
363 Chilton, (1987ET), The Isaiah Targum, xx, xxiii.
364 Chilton, (1982), The Glory of Israel, 101, What we have postulated to explain the growth of the
Isaiah Targum is not a series of mechanical redactions, but the unfolding of an interpretive
continuum.
365 Chilton, (1982), The Glory of Israel, 99. Cf. Chilton, (1984), Galilean Rabbi, 52.
366 Cathcart and Gordon, (1989ET), The Targum of the Minor Prophets, 224 n. 22.
367 See Section 3.3.1.3. Chilton ignored Tg. Neb. Jer 10:7,10, 49:38, and the Pentateuchal
Targumim.
368 See Section 3.5.1.3. Chilton made very little use of Tg. Neb. Isa 40:9,10 and Tg. Neb. Ezek
7:7,10.
national identity - was used to describe Gods people. This is encapsulated in Tg. Neb. Isa
52:7 and Tg. Neb. Mic 4:7b,8.369
While this method of dating the kingdom of God sayings in the Targumim will be
followed in this thesis and in fact used to date other closely related targumim, it suffers to
an extent from being based on circular arguments.
For Dennis C. Duling,370 A. P. Hayman,371 and Ed P. Sanders,372 Chilton used perceived

similarities between Jesus and the Targumim on the kingdom of God as proof that his
dating of them was correct and then proceeded to conclude that pre-70 traditions show that
the similar sayings of Jesus were authentic.373
Richard White374 saw circular reasoning in Chiltons otherwise very plausible picture.
Chiltons dating of material on the basis of whether the temple had or had not been
destroyed neglected the fact that the Targumim frequently do little more than modify a
similar statement in the original Hebrew. So that, for example, a verse that gives no hint of
the destruction need not therefore have its origin before A.D. 70.
A third possible circularity lies in the use of allusions to datable historical events, a
technique Chilton375 adopted from what was for him a very influential work, Pinkhos
Churgins Targum Jonathan to the Prophets. However, such a method is fraught with
pitfalls, unless it is confined to explicit references. The danger is two-fold: that of
anachronism;376 and that which has become known as Parallelomania.377 That is,
reading back with the benefit of hindsight what we know to have occurred and finding
parallels with the smallest of coherences. These dangers have been known for some time
369 Chilton, (1978), Regnum Dei Deus Est, 269; Chilton, (1982), The Glory of Israel, 77-81, 100,
103. Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 287 n. 113, criticised Chiltons use of Isaiah because of
problems about dating. He cited unfairly Chiltons (1978) early work as if this was all Chilton had
to say on the matter. See also the much earlier Schechter, (1895), Some Aspects of Rabbinic
Theology, 208, which noted the nationalistic rabbinic connection of the kingdom of Israel with
the kingdom of God, played out particularly with the contrast between the kingdom of God/Israel
and that of Rome.
370 Duling, (1984), Norman Perrin and the Kingdom of God, 477.
371 Hayman, (1985), Review of A Galilean Rabbi and His Bible by Bruce D. Chilton, 447.
372 E. P. Sanders, (1987), Review of A Galilean Rabbi and His Bible by Bruce D. Chilton, 335.
373 Cf. Section 1.4.2.1.
374 White, (1984), Review of The Glory of Israel by Bruce D. Chilton, 107.
375 Chilton, (1982), The Glory of Israel, 5-7, 109-10.
376 In regard to the use of rabbinic literature in the study of the NT, see Section 1.2.3.
377 Sandmel, (1962), Parallelomania, 1-13. On p. 1 he defined Parallelomania as that extravagance
among scholars which first overdoes the supposed similarity in passages and then proceeds to
describe source and derivation as if implying literary connection flowing in an inevitable or
predetermined direction. See also: Alexander, (1983), Rabbinic Judaism and the NT, 245-46;
Parsons, (1985), Critical Use of the Rabbinic Literature, 85-87.
now with respect to the use of rabbinic literature in NT studies. To be fair, Chilton
acknowledged these dangers (without the use of the technical terms),378 though they were
not enough to deter him from drawing conclusions based on these allusions, given the
layers of formation he discerned.
Despite these reservations, Chiltons method for dating the kingdom targumim will be
used in this present work. They represent the only coherent attempt to so date these
targumim and they provide a way of screening out late traditions. Chiltons dating of the
tradition of universal kingdom sayings to the pre-70 period will in fact be borne out by the
evidence presented.
1.6.4 The Targumim and the First Century Pre-70 Synagogue
Neh 8:8 (and to a lesser extent Neh 13:24), following talmudic and midrashic
references,379 has often been cited as the first indication of an Aramaic translation
alongside the Hebrew original in a worship setting.380 However, the passage is neither
explicit that translation was involved nor that the setting was synagogue worship. In fact,
the passage refers to a homily and was a special, singular, though nonetheless liturgical
occasion.
There is no direct evidence that either written Targumim or oral targumim were used in the
liturgical worship of the first century pre-70 Palestinian synagogue. However, we may
assume that the Hebrew portions of the Torah and Prophets were followed by an Aramaic
targum for the following reasons.
In the liturgies of Ptolemaic Egypt (cf. m. Meg. 1:8B), the Septuagint actually replaced the
Hebrew text. While there is no indication that the Septuagint was used in the synagogues
of Palestine (even amongst the Hellenistic ones), or that the Septuagint was read in
addition to the original Hebrew, the Egyptian practice was no doubt discussed there,381 and
perhaps followed in synagogues that catered for foreign Jews.
378 Chilton, (1982), The Glory of Israel, 5-7; Chilton, (1984), Galilean Rabbi, 45.
379 j. Meg. 74d IV.B, b. Meg. 3a, b. Ned. 37b, Gen Rab. 36:8.
380 For two examples of modern writers who still follow this line, see: Le Daut, (1989), The
Targumim, 566; Casey, (1998), Aramaic Sources, 76-77. For a brief discussion of this theory
see: McNamara, (19662), The NT and the Palestinian Targum, 39-40; McNamara, (1972), Targum
and Testament, 79-80; Binder, (1999), Into the Temple Courts, 401 n. 40.
381 Norton, (1994), Jews, Greeks and the Hexapla of Origen, 404-405; Hengel, (1980), Jews,
Greeks, and Barbarians, 93-94, 111.
In a mishnah that dates from the Usha period (based on the mention of the Ushan sage R.
Judah b. Ilai) which followed the Bar Kochba revolt,382 the following directions are given
for the recitation of an Aramaic translation of the Hebrew (m. Meg. 4:4-10): readings from
the Hebrew Torah are read one verse at a time first, followed by the translator (Nmgrwtm,
meturgman) and readings from the Prophets, three verses at a time; a child (Njq) may
read the Hebrew or translate (i.e. provide a targum), but the same person may not do both;
the translator must translate without simultaneous recourse to a written text (i.e. the blind
man of 4:6D, a prohibition which indicates that there must have been even at this early
stage such a written translation383); there are some passages (see also m. Sot. 7:2) that are
read in the Hebrew but are not to be translated;384 and, if the meturgman gave an incorrect
targum, he could be silenced or rebuked there and then.
That this Ushan rule exists without justification suggests that the practice may go back
prior to A.D. 135, and there is no reason why it could not have originated before A.D. 70.
After all, the Nmgrwtm did not operate in a vacuum, translating and interpreting as he chose,
but gave the sense of the Hebrew based on accepted exegesis, the substance of which
would have had a long, albeit continuously developing, tradition.
A third indirect indication is that since the common language of the day was Aramaic, to
learn Hebrew required education and not all Jews, particularly women, would have had
access to this. Thus the provision of an interpretation / translation of the biblical text in the
vernacular would seem to have been a natural imperative.
On the other hand, it must be repeated that no direct evidence exists for the use of Aramaic
translations in the liturgical worship of second temple synagogues, including the time of
Jesus.385 Precisely where we might expect to find such references (the NT, Josephus,
Philo, the Mishnah) there is utter silence.
Yet, some scholars are surely wrong to draw the conclusion from this silence that
targumim were not given either in Palestine or in the Diaspora in Second Temple times.386
382 Z. Safrai, (1990), The Origins of Reading the Aramaic Targum in Synagogue, 189.
383 Cf. Golomb, (1985), Grammar of Targum Neofiti, 7, made this conclusion based on later
Talmudic references, strangely ignoring this one.
384 See Section 1.6.3 above.
385 Fraade, (1992), Rabbinic Views on the Practice of Targum, 254; Perrot, (1988), The Reading of
the Bible in the Ancient Synagogue, 155. Luke 4:18-19 conforms to the LXX and not to any
Targum. Jesus, we are told, read from the scroll, which implies not only that he did not give an
Aramaic targum but also that he could read Hebrew. See though, Fitzmyer, (1997), The
Languages of Palestine, 45.
386 E.g. Z. Safrai, (1990), The Origins of Reading the Aramaic Targum in Synagogue, 191.
The reason for the silence might simply be due to the real possibility that such a targum
was either taken for granted or delivered as an early form of homily or commentary.387
In addition to these tantalising possibilities, there is stronger evidence to suggest that

Targumim, or at least the targumic tradition of Aramaic translation of Hebrew
Scriptures, was a feature of the first century synagogue school.
The Qumran targumim (if that is their genre),388 especially 4QtgJob and 11QtgJob,
indicate that written targumim were used in the late Second Temple period in situations
other than liturgical celebrations, because Job was never read in the synagogue worship.
Indeed the Targumim to the Writings, apart from the Megilloth, were not read in the
synagogue at all.
Secondly, the unattributed mishnahs m. Shab. 16:1, m. Meg. 2:1 and m. Yad. 4:5, attest to
the existence of written Aramaic targumim, certainly in the Tannaitic period but probably
in the pre-70 period as well. But again, there is no indication in any verse that they were to
be used in liturgical worship.
Thirdly, some scholars have suggested that targumim, otherwise forbidden in rabbinic
literature, were translations or traditions of interpretation meant for study purposes and not
for the general public.389 If the rules regarding forbidden targumim were adhered to and if
such a tradition can be traced back to the first century, it is hard to account for their
presence in any other way than in the first century synagogue school.
Fourthly, since a minor or any suitably qualified person was able to read the Hebrew and
offer a translation, this points to the situation that reading Hebrew and translating it into
Aramaic while observing the accepted interpretation were skills possessed by more than
the synagogue hierarchy.390
Lastly, that m. Meg. 4:4-10 only applied to synagogue worship does not logically exclude
the use of written Targumim either in preparing the meturgman for his task or in studying
the Scriptures outside worship.391 That the Targumim are not vernacular but technical
Aramaic, also suggests that they were used in education, both in the study of the Hebrew
387 Perrot, (1988), The Reading of the Bible in the Ancient Synagogue, 155; Alexander, (1988),
Jewish Aramaic Translations, 239. See Alexander, (1991), Orality in Pharisaic-Rabbinic
Judaism, 169, where he upheld the distinction between sermon and targum.
388 See footnote in Section 1.6.3 above.
389 See Section 1.6.3 above.
390 Ag. Ap. 2:178; Fraade, (1992), Rabbinic Views on the Practice of Targum, 262; McNamara,
(1972), Targum and Testament, 81.
391 McNamara, (19662), The NT and the Palestinian Targum, 41.
Scriptures for its own sake and in the training of meturgmans. They probably represent
the authorised standard interpretation of their day,392 which again would have been based
on traditions of interpretation. Such traditions would have become fixed at different times
for different verses, sections, etc.
There would thus have been a great deal of training and preparation to read the Hebrew
and to offer an Aramaic targum that was both faithful to the Hebrew and to the current
exegesis. The only place that had the necessary equipment and teachers would have been
the schools attached to synagogues (cf. m. Abot 5:21).393
Given that exposition of Scripture was part of both the school and the synagogue, a sharp
distinction between the two cannot be drawn.394 Although the earliest sure evidence we
have that Aramaic targumim were given in synagogues dates from the Ushan period, there
are strong indications that the custom was derived from earlier and probably pre-70
practice.395 These traditions were ultimately directed to the worshipping public, though
they were also used and formulated by scholars in the study of the Hebrew Scriptures.396
In both cases, their home was the synagogue.397
1.6.5 Pharisees and the Targumim
What then was the relationship of the Pharisees to the pre-70 targumic tradition? The
conclusions of previous Sections which are relevant to an answer to this question may be
summarised thus: the Pharisees exercised some influence in the teaching conducted in first
century Palestinian synagogues, particularly in the interpretation and exposition of
392 Golomb, (1985), Grammar of Targum Neofiti, 8.

393 York, (1979), The Targum in the Synagogue and in the School, 82-83; Shinan, (1992), The
Aramaic Targum as a Mirror of Galilean Jewry, 241-42; McNamara, (1983), Palestinian
Judaism, 211; Chilton, (1980), Targumic Transmission, 22.
394 Alexander, (1991), Orality in Pharisaic-Rabbinic Judaism, 168.
395 There is a great deal of other material from the Tosefta and Talmuds which elaborates on this basic
information. However, to have included them would have meant incorporating not only late
material, but traditions which were developed from those of the Tannim.
396 Alexander, (1983), Targumim and Rabbinic Rules, 27; York, (1979), The Targum in the
Synagogue and in the School, 83; Shinan, (1992), The Aramaic Targum as a Mirror of Galilean
Jewry, 243; Alexander, (1988), Jewish Aramaic Translations, 238.
397 The probability that Aramaic Targumim of both the oral and written varieties were used and
formulated by scholars challenges the prevailing view that this was done because the original
Hebrew text read in synagogues was becoming increasingly less understood. Their use may have
been primarily because it enabled the Hebrew text to stand apart from any attempt to alter it by
paraphrase or comment. For modern scholars who assume the common opinion see: Fitzmyer,
(1997), The Aramaic Background of the NT, 7; Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 262.
Scripture;398 Aramaic targumim, both oral and written, which present not only translation,
but interpretation and exposition of Scripture, were probably in use in these
synagogues;399 and, within the extant Aramaic Targumim, may be traced some traditions
which go back to the pre-70 period.400
Thus, given the influence the Pharisees had in the synagogue and their predilection for
tradition,401 it is not unreasonable to suppose that their involvement in targumic
traditions was influential. If a Targum tradition can be traced back to the first century, we
may presume that it indicates a tradition that reflects the beliefs of the Pharisees.
1.6.6 The Influence of the Yavnean Rabbis in Post-70 Synagogues
If the Pharisees were influential in the teaching of the pre-70 Palestinian synagogues,402
did the rabbis similarly exercise an influence on the teaching undertaken in post-70
Palestinian synagogues? In short, would any possible post-70 Tannaitic targumic
traditions reflect the position of these rabbis?
The fact is that there is little, if any, evidence that Yavnean rabbis exercised any control in
Palestinian synagogues,403 let alone that they were able to influence the teaching of such
synagogues.404 The most that can be said is that by the time of Judah the Patriarch (fl.

400 See Section 1.6.3; Alexander, (1988), Jewish Aramaic Translations, 240-41; McNamara, (1972),
Targum and Testament, 50. There is no doubt that the Gospels share with the Targumim some
common traditions. One has only to compare the classic passages: Mark 4:12 with Tg. Neb. Isa
6:9,10; Luke 6:36 with Tg. Ps.-J. Lev 22:28. But this does not mean that they share every
tradition. Also: Matt 26:52 and Tg. Neb. Isa 50:11; Mark 9:48 and Tg. Neb. Isa 66:24b. See
Chilton, (1984), Galilean Rabbi, 90-107.
401 E.g. Ant. 13:297,408, 17:41, 18:12.
403 The rabbis certainly exercised strong influence, even (limited) control, over certain other areas
(e.g. purity, tithing, marriage and divorce), but, it would appear, not for some time in the
synagogues. See Neusner, (1983), Judaism in Society, 196-97. In this summary of rabbinical
authority as depicted in the Jerusalem Talmud, Neusner made no mention at all of their authority
in synagogues, cf. p. 119. See too: Cohen, (1986), Political and Social History, 50, the rabbis
had no obvious power base; Cohen, (1992), The Place of the Rabbi in Jewish Society, 162,
173; L. I. Levine, (1992), Sages and the Synagogue, 211-18; S. S. Miller, (1999), Rabbis and
the Non-existent Monolithic Synagogue, 57-58; Cohen, (1999), The Rabbi in Second-Century
Jewish Society, 975-76. This observation would seem to confirm or at least be consistent with
the picture of former Pharisees as not being overly represented among the Yavnean rabbis, see
Section 1.5.3.
404 The Tannaim tried to regulate various aspects of synagogue life, but there is no way to determine
whether these were generally followed. Cohen, (1999), The Rabbi in Second-Century Jewish
Society, 972-73.
A.D. 190) who redacted the Mishnah, a certain - though far from total - uniformity had
taken root and that this long process may be traced back, in germ, to the program initiated
by the Yavnean rabbis. However, the rabbis both in the Tannaitic and Amoraic periods had
no official status within the synagogue.405 In other words, the influence of the rabbis took
many years and generations to infiltrate into the synagogue system.406
Thus, with regard to any possible post-70 Tannaitic targumic traditions, they generally
would not have reflected the beliefs of the Yavnean rabbis, but may possibly reflect the
beliefs of the later Tannaim. On the other hand, any early post-70 Tannaitic targumic
traditions may be considered to reflect the beliefs current in Palestinian synagogues at the
time of the Yavnean rabbis.
Gamliel II of Yavneh possibly went on a circuit of towns (e.g. m. Erub. 10:10, Git. 1:5, Abod.
Zar. 3:4), but his twnqt regulations had nothing to do with the synagogue. See: Alon,
(1980ET), Jews in their Land I, 232-33; Freyne, (1980), Galilee, from Alexander the Great to
Hadrian, 324-25.
There is no evidence of Rabbis who studied with their groups in this building [synagogue] (Z.
Safrai, (1995), Communal Functions of the Synagogue, 202), and not much evidence that rabbis
took part in synagogue worship and such as there is gives no indication that they were able to
dictate procedures, see Cohen, (1999), The Rabbi in Second-Century Jewish Society, 973-74.
The only evidence may be Benediction 12 (the Birkat ha-minim) of the Palestinian Recension of
the Amidah (Hebrew: Schechter, (1898), Genizah Specimens, 376, 378, English translation:
Schrer, (19732), Age I, 461, and Heinemann, (1977), Prayer in the Talmud, 28 n. 16). It is a
curse (which John 9:22, 12:42, 16:2 are not) against heretics and Nazarenes (Jewish-Christians),
ordered to be recited by Gamliel II of Yavneh (m. Ber. 4:3, b. Ber. 28b, though cf. b. Meg. 18a).
See: Finkelstein, (1925), Development of the Amidah, 263; Heinemann, (1977), Prayer in the
Talmud, 13; Horbury, (1982), The Benediction of Minim, 19-61. We know that a similar curse
was recited in synagogues of the second century (Justin, Dialogue e.g. 16.4, 47.4, 96.2, 137.1
(ANF I, 202b, 218b, 247b, 268a); Schrage, (1971ET), prk^dsd, TDNT VII, 838). If the
connection is valid, it constitutes good evidence of the adoption of rabbinic rules in the synagogue
of the time. However, if the following are right and Nazarenes was a later insertion, then there
would be no evidence that the Birkat ha-Minim was recited in the early post-70 synagogue and thus
no evidence that the rabbis were able to influence synagogue activity: Finkel, (1981), Yavnehs
Liturgy and Early Christianity, 235-38; Kimelman, (1981), Birkat Ha-Minim, 233-34; van der
Horst, (1994), Birkat ha-minim, 367-68, S. J. D. Cohen, (1999), Pharisees and Rabbis, 102.
In particular Thornton, (1987), Christian Understanding of the Birkath ha-minim, 421-22, made
the observation that There is in fact no indication whatsoever that the imperial authorities [of the
fourth - sixth centuries] ever regarded Jews as regularly cursing Christians in the course of
synagogue worship [though Epiphanius and Jerome do]. There are problems too in making a
connection between Justins comments and the Birkat ha-minim, see for example: Kimelman,
(1981), Birkat Ha-Minim, 235-36. Though Horbury, (1982), The Benediction of Minim, 19-
61, argued for a positive connection.
405 Cf. Jacobson, (2000), Review of The Social Structure of the Rabbinic Movement in Roman
Palestine by Catherine Hezser, 356. Hezsers book was unavailable (Hezser, Catherine. The
Social Structure of the Rabbinic Movement in Roman Palestine, TSAJ 66. Tbingen: Mohr
Siebeck, 1997). See too L. I. Levine, (1999), Patriarchate and Ancient Synagogue, 87-100, who
argued that the Patriarch exercised authority throughout most of the third and fourth centuries,
but the evidence for synagogue involvement is woefully scant (p. 95).
406 Also: Alon, (1980ET), Jews in their Land I, 28; Dunn, (1988), Pharisees, Sinners, and Jesus,
273; L. I. Levine, (1992), Sages and the Synagogue, 220; Horsley, (1995), Galilee, 234;
Cohen, (1999), The Rabbi in Second-Century Jewish Society, 974. But cf. Goodman, (1983),
State and Society, 99, 104, However, most synagogue ritual was not under rabbinic control
though the academies example was doubtless influential.
82 1.7 Introduction : Synthesis
1.7 SYNTHESIS
Within the context of the quest for the historical Jesus, the ultimate aim of this thesis is to
construct a working model of the kingdom of God and to draw certain conclusions
regarding the differences between the Pharisees and Jesus in their understanding of it. By
way of testing that model it is intended to apply it to Luke 17:20-21, a procedure that will
in itself shed light on that most enigmatic of Gospel passages. To that end source material
will be considered that can reasonably be expected to have influenced or to have been
influenced by either the Pharisees or the authors behind Luke 17:20-21.
Luke 17:20-21 was chosen not simply because it is the only example in the Gospels where
the Pharisees themselves demonstrate explicit interest in the kingdom of God, but because
as a chreia it has the potential to contain within itself not only the plain meaning of the
question and answers but the assumptions underlying them.
Naturally, the positions of numerous scholars will be considered and weighed in

subsequent chapters, but the criticism of three scholars enables a number of issues to be
clarified. Among those issues include: the realisation that notions of presence include the
reality of location; the need for clarity when discussing first century notions of the divine
kingdom; and the need for a fresh consideration of Luke 17:20-21.
The Pharisees were an identifiable group within first century Palestinian Judaism,
characterised by their own set of halakot. Though there were some Pharisees in the early
pre-Lukan (Christian) community, they ceased to be an identifiable sect after A.D. 70.
Lukes picture of them is inconsistent, probably because he had no direct contact with
them. Josephus, on the other hand characterised them as accurate interpreters of the Torah
with an attitude to fate that distinguished them from the Sadducees and Essenes. A
careful analysis of this leads to the conclusion that, according to Josephus, the Pharisees
regarded observance of the Torah (their particular halakot) as living the law of the divine
King, or as we would want to say, living in the kingdom of God. The kingdom was
intimately associated with the divine presence in the Temple. To not observe the Torah is
to fall under the umbrella of fate.
Finally, it was argued that the Pharisees were able to gain some measure of influence over
the teaching undertaken in synagogues of the time, particularly in the interpretation and
exposition of Scripture. Given the likely fact that the Aramaic targum tradition originated
in pre-70 Palestinian synagogues (a tradition which by definition is the interpretation and
exposition of Scripture), any targum tradition that may be traced back to the pre-70 period
may be presumed to reflect the influence and therefore the beliefs of the Pharisees.
2 THE PRESENCE OF
THE DIVINE KING
Truly, you are a God who hides himself, O God of Israel, the Savior.
(Isa 45:15, NRSV)
2.1 PREFACE
Luke 17:20-21 represents a brief conversation between the Pharisees and Jesus. The
Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God was coming. As extant in Luke, Jesus
responded with three brief sayings that seem at first not to answer the question. Though
the first and third responses at least are about the kingdom of God, they do not address the
timing of the kingdom. Jesus replies are framed and modified at each stage of the
formation of the chreia in such a way that they reflect fundamental concerns and
differences regarding the notion of the kingdom of God.
The notion of the kingdom of God that we wish to bring to an exegesis of Luke 17:20-21
is that at Stage I, the Pharisees and Jesus agreed that it first and foremost meant God
himself as king - that is, the Divine Royal Presence. It does not primarily mean Gods rule
or reign as most scholars claim, or even his sphere of rule. It does not even mean God in
his saving activity, but simply the Divine Royal Presence itself. Further, it will be
demonstrated that the Pharisees and Jesus disagreed precisely in their location of the
Divine King and hence of the kingdom of God. In subsequent stages differences in the
identity of the kingdom of God rather than location will be found to have existed between
the Pharisees and the early pre-Lukan community and between Luke himself and the
Yavnean rabbis and the Palestinian synagogues of his time.
To reach such an understanding first requires a thorough analysis of the presence of God
in his capacity as the Divine King, with the aim of formulating a picture of how this was
conceived at each stage of the formation of Luke 17:20-21.
To that end, in this chapter every instance of the description of God as king that may have
a bearing on both the formation of the pericope and the understanding of the Pharisees
will be analysed. Two matters in particular will be considered for each verse: its date and
historical context; and any attached notion of Divine Royal Presence. Language regarding
the coming or appearing of the Divine King will be noted for special consideration
in Section 3.7.
84 2.1 The Presence of the Divine King : Preface
This endeavour raises the issue of the semantic domain from which one might gather
material.
For example, the Hebrew word that is translated king is the noun Klm.1 It occurs 42
times in the OT in describing God (excluding the Aramaic instance in Dan 4:37). The
related word hkwlm kingship occurs twice as an attribute of God. There is also the verb
Klm to reign of which God is the subject 13 times.2
However, there are numerous other words that are used and that could be said to relate to
God as king in the OT, such as the nouns: aok throne;3 jbv sceptre;4 and even
her shepherd.5 This list could easily be extended.6 In short, the metaphor of YHWH
as king is known as a root metaphor because it is a key concept that generates other
related metaphors.7
Similar problems exist in the consideration of kingdom of God in the next chapter.
The following discussion in this chapter will be confined to a consideration of notions of

Divine Presence attached to the root metaphor (i.e. +Klm and in Greek the _^pfi+
group), since, except perhaps for shepherd, each of the others refers to God as king or
his kingship only indirectly. Further reasons for this limitation have been outlined in
Section 1.2.3.
1 Lists of occurrences of the noun Klm when referring to God may be found in: Eissfeldt, (1928),
Jahwe als Knig, 179; Mettinger, (1988ET), In Search of God, 116; Brettler, (1989), God is
King, 172 n. 2. There is scholarly dispute over: Deut 33:5, Isa 19:4, 33:17, Jer 46:18, 48:15,
51:57, Mic 2:13a, Zeph 1:5, Ps 20:9, 44:4, 68:12, 89:18. See Brettler, (1989), God is King, 172-
73 n. 2. Since these debates are largely secondary to the present task, the list of Ringgren, Seybold
and Fabry, (1997ET), Klm melek, TDOT VIII, 365, has been adopted here. Dahood, (1965-70),
Psalms II, 204, did not consider that Ps 74:12 referred to God. God as _^pfibt occurs at LXX Ps
88:18 but is disputed in BHS Ps 89:18, cf. Camponovo, (1984), Knigtum, 391-92.
2 Lists of occurrences of the verb Klm when it refers to God may be found in: Eissfeldt, (1928),
Jahwe als Knig, 180-81; Mettinger, (1988ET), In Search of God, 116; Ringgren, Seybold and
Fabry, (1997ET), Klm melek, TDOT VIII, 365.
3 1 Kgs 1:37, 22:19, 1 Chr 28:5, 29:23, 2 Chr 9:8, 18:18, Job 26:9, Isa 6:1 (ynda), 66:1, Jer 3:17,
14:21, 17:12, 49:38, Lam 5:19, Ezek 1:26, 10:1, 43:7, Dan 7:9 (Aramaic bty), Ps 9:4,7, 11:4,
45:6, 47:8, 89:14, 93:2, 97:2, 103:19.
4 E.g. Ps 45:6.
5 E.g. Ps 23:1, 77:20, 80:1, Isa 40:11, 63:11, Jer 31:10, Ezek 34; Mic 5:4; F. F. Bruce, (1970),
This is That, 100-101; Brettler, (1989), God is King, 36-37.
6 See Brettler, (1989), God is King, 26, and the introduction to each chapter.
7 Mettinger, (1988ET), In Search of God, 92.
2.2 The Presence of the Divine King : Ancient Palestinian Literature 85
2.2 ANCIENT PALESTINIAN LITERATURE The origin of the concept of God

as king has been the source of considerable debate.
Some have suggested that the events of the exodus from Egypt were the occasion on
which the Hebrews first acknowledged their God as king (cf. Exod 15:18, Num 23:21).8
Some have suggested that the notion is to be found implicitly in the Mosaic covenant
where God as the law-giver is the suzerain and Israel is his vassal (cf. Deut 33:5).9 Some
have suggested that it was gradually appropriated from Canaanite religion after
settlement.10 Some proposed that it wasnt until Israel herself instituted a monarchy that
the notion was applied to God.11 Others consider it to be derived from a new year cultic
enthronement festival,12 though with less success, since it remains debatable whether the
Israelites ever had such a festival for YHWH.13 Marco Treves even went so far as to claim
that the beginning of the concept of God as king wasnt until the days of the Maccabees.14
Though not germane to the present task, it is likely that the concept was appropriated by
the Israelites only after settlement. Although its development was no doubt accelerated by
the introduction of the Davidic dynasty, allusions from Canaanite myths have been shown
to lie behind much of the imagery of the psalms.
The purpose of this Section is to amass the imagery and notions of Divine Royal Presence
to which the first century Pharisees and Jesus owed their respective positions. This will
enable a more nuanced interpretation not only of their respective positions but also of the
differences between them.
8 E.g. T. W. Manson, (19352), The Teaching of Jesus, 131.

9 E.g. Buber, (1967ET), Kingship of God, 121-35; Weinfeld, (1972), Deuteronomy, 81-83;
Mendenhall, (1973), The Tenth Generation, 24-29; Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the
Kingdom of God, 18; Patrick, (1987), The Kingdom of God in the OT, 75-76. Cf. J. Gray,
(1979), The Reign of God, 107.
10 E.g J. Gray, (1956), Conception of the Kingship of God, 268-85; Mowinckel, (1962ET), Psalms
I, 114; Perrin, (1976), Language, 16; J. Gray, (1979), The Reign of God, 27-29. Miller, (1973),
Divine Warrior, 174, probably would agree, though he added, The conception of the kingship of
God is therefore from the beginning fully wrapped up in the early representation of the divine
warrior. See also: Mettinger, (1982ET), Dethronement of Sabaoth, 75; W. H. Schmidt, (1983ET),
The Faith of the OT, 146; Mettinger, (1988ET), In Search of God, 95; Bowes, (1991),
Basilomorphic Conception of Deity, 235-75, for the concept in Mesopotamia; Gibson, (1994),
Kingship of Yahweh, 101-12.
11 E.g. Eichrodt, (1961ET), Theology of the OT I, 195.
12 E.g. J. Gray, (1979), The Reign of God, 48, 109.
13 Kraus, (1988ET), Psalms 1-59, 87-88, mounted a convincing case against such a festival, as did:
Brettler, (1989), God is King, 149, 157-58.
14 Treves, (1969), The Reign of God, 230-43, esp. 238.
86 2.2 The Presence of the Divine King : Ancient Palestinian Literature
To that end, questions of dating are of secondary importance. Nevertheless, they have not
been avoided because when approached with due care they enable the individual passages
or at least groups of them to be placed in relative chronological order. This in turn will
enable streams of tradition to be more easily identified, again with the view of discovering
which survived into the first century.
This combined historical-critical and synchronic approach has the added benefit of both
neatly side-stepping and taking into account the effect of the results of the minimalist or
revisionist school represented by such people as Niels P. Lemche,15 Philip R. Davies16
and Thomas L. Thompson17 and others.18 This school suggests that the Hebrew
Scriptures contain invented history which reflect metaphorically only the period of its
construction which they typically date to the Persian and even Hellenistic period. Any
effort to reconstruct the earlier history of Israel must be based purely on archaeology and
other non-biblical evidence.
If this school should prove to be correct, and that the few sources are either historically
unreliable or cannot be traced much further back than the sixth century B.C., it will
undermine only that part of the following presentation that relies on the more commonly
accepted chronology. While any description of diachronic trajectories of tradition may
thus be suspect, the more crucial result (and indeed the purpose of Section 2.2), namely
that by the first century certain differing traditions regarding the Divine Royal Presence
coexisted in Palestine, will in fact be strengthened. This will be because it will be shown
that the OT does indeed encompass within itself differing views on this very subject.
15 E.g. Lemche, (1988), Ancient Israel, passim, esp. 29-73; Lemche, (1997), Clio is also among
the Muses!, 124; Lemche, (1998ET), Prelude to Israels Past, passim, esp. 12-26; Lemche,
(1998), The Israelites, passim, esp. 1-21, 22-34. Lemche, (2000), Reconstructing History, 4.2,
wrote, The conclusion that historical-critical scholarship is based on a false methodology and
leads to false conclusions simply means that we can disregard 200 years of biblical scholarship and
commit it to the dustbin. It is hardly worth the paper on which it is printed.
16 P. R. Davies, (1992), In Search of Ancient Israel, passim; P. R. Davies, (1997), Biblical
Histories, Ancient and Modern, 104-22; P. R. Davies, (1998), Scribes and Schools, passim.
17 T. L. Thompson, (1992), The Early History of the Israelite People, passim; T. L. Thompson,
(1997), Defining History and Ethnicity, 166-87. T. L. Thompson, (1999), The Mythic Past,
passim, e.g. on p. xv he wrote, [T]he Bible is not a history of anyones past. The story of the
chosen and rejected Israel that it presents is a philosophical metaphor of a mankind that has lost its
way. For an excellent summary of Thompsons work and the position of the minimalist school
generally, see Zwelling, (2000), The Fictions of Biblical History, 117-41. For an informed
debate between the leading scholars on both sides, see Shanks, (1997), Face to Face, 26-29, 32-
38, 40-42, 66.
18 E.g. van Seters, (1983), In Search of History, passim; Garbini, (1988ET), History and Ideology,
passim; Whitelam, (1996), Invention of Ancient Israel, passim; Grabbe, (1997), Can a History
of Israel be Written?, the various essays. Also the Recommended Reading in T. L. Thompson,
(1999), The Mythic Past, xvii-xix.
2.2.1 The Old TestamentThe explicit references to God as king and his kingship in the
OT occur in the following places. With the caveat as regards dating outlined in Section 2.2,
the verses have been arranged into three groups according to their probable dating. Instead
of a more exact chronological order within each group, verses have been arranged
according to their appearance in the (English) Bible, in order to emphasise that some
verses are extremely difficult if not impossible to date and that, after all, the purpose here
of dating is to obtain relative and not absolute chronological relationships so that streams
of tradition into the first century may be discerned.19
The superscripts c and r (in this and subsequent Sections) refer to a related reference to the
coming or revealing of God respectively, discussed briefly under each citation. The
implication will be more fully explored in the Excursus at the end of chapter 3.
Probably Probably Probably

Pre-Exilic Exilic Post-Exilic
Exod 15:18 Ps 10:16 1 Chr 16:31c
Num 23:21 Ps 44:4 Ps 97:1
Deut 33:5c Ps 74:12 Ps 98:6c
1 Sam 8:7 Isa 24:23 Ps 145:1
1 Sam 12:12 Isa 33:17,22c Ps 146:10
Ps 5:2 Isa 41:21 Ps 149:2
Ps 22:28 Isa 43:15 Zech 14:9,16,17c
Ps 24:7-10c Isa 44:6 Mal 1:14bc
Ps 29:10 Isa 52:7
Ps 47:2,6,7,8 Jer 10:7,10
Ps 48:2 Jer 48:15
Ps 68:24 Jer 51:57
Ps 84:3 Ezek 20:33
Ps 93:1 Obad 21
Ps 95:3 Mic 2:13b, 4:7b
Ps 96:10c
Ps 99:1,4
Isa 6:5
Jer 8:19
Jer 46:18
Zeph 3:15
19 In addition, unless otherwise stated, references have been standardised to conform to their
appearance in English Bibles.
2.2.1.1 Probably Pre-ExilicExod 15:18
BHS of Exod 15:18 (cf. LXX Exod 15:1820)

: dew Mlel Klmy hwhy
NRSV of Exod 15:18

The LORD will reign forever and ever.
Wide debate exists as to the date of the original composition of Exod 15:1b-18, the Song
of the Sea. Suggestions range from the time of Moses to after the exile. The original may
be very old and pre-date the J material in which it is now embedded. Alternatively, it could
be a late composition using earlier forms, since such early forms and much-post exilic
redaction can be detected.21 Whatever its origin, the original setting was most likely cultic
and the possibility that it was very early on associated with Passover cannot be ruled out,22
though no consensus has been reached.23
In the present context, the declaration of YHWHs sovereignty at the end of the poem
comes after his action as hmxlm vya Warrior (v. 3, through his capacity as god of
storm and sea24) in defeating the army of Pharaoh and as a shepherd-figure leading his
people to a pasture where he himself camps.25 Such imagery is not unlike that of the
judges and indeed Saul and David, each of whom achieved their leadership roles in part as
20 The contrast between the imperfect Klmy and the present _^pfibsk of LXX and v seems neither
to betray an older MSS different from the BHS nor a different theological approach. Both ^ and p
have the future, _^pfibbf. Cf. Camponovo, (1984), Knigtum, 384; Wevers, (1990), Greek
Text of Exodus, 235.
21 Cf. Coats, (1969), The Song of the Sea, 1-5, the poem is younger than the surrounding J
material; Buber, (1967ET), Kingship of God, 132 who divided the poem 2-11,18 and 12-17 and
considered the first group the older of the two; Propp, (1998), Exodus 1-18, 562; second century
B .C .: Treves, (1969), The Reign of God, 238; twelfth century B .C .; I. Wilson, (1995), Out of
the Midst of the Fire, 96, Solomonic times; Freedman, (1975), Early Israelite History, 10; tenth
century B.C.: Cross, (1973), Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic, 121-23; Hyatt, (1971), Exodus,
162-63, who considered vv. 1-12 to be very old, but vv. 13-18 after the building of Solomons
temple; J. Gray, (1979), The Reign of God, 50; Brenner, (1991), The Song of the Sea, 79-80, 175,
186, after the construction of Zerubbabels temple, the prose framework written at the same time.
For a discussion, see: Childs, (1974), Exodus, 245-47; Gibson, (1994), Kingship of Yahweh,
106-108.
22 Cross, (1973), Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic, 112-44; Propp, (1998), Exodus 1-18, 562-63;
Brenner, (1991), The Song of the Sea, 42, 186-87.
23 Childs, (1974), Exodus, 243-44, for a list; Coats, (1969), The Song of the Sea, 9-10, the
autumn (Tabernacles) festival. The article argues for a consideration of Exod 15:1-18 as a whole
form-critical unit.
24 For discussions of the control of the deity over storm and sea in the ancient Near East and its
subsequent appropriation by the Israelites, see: Cross, (1973), Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic,
112-44; Miller, (1973), Divine Warrior, 113-17; Dion, (1991), YHWH as Storm-god and Sun-
god, 48-49; Propp, (1998), Exodus 1-18, 554-59; Mann, (1977), Divine Presence, 30-117 and,
specifically related to Exod 15:1-18, 123-30.
25 Exod 15:13 hxn to lead and lhn to guide apart from general guidance, both have associations
with herding; hwn abode is literally pasture or camp. See: Hyatt, (1971), Exodus, 166;
Propp, (1998), Exodus 1-18, 531-32.
a result of their charismatic qualities and expertise in battle.26 Other key words that point
to God as king are: hewvy my salvation (v. 2), tlag you redeemed, tyxn you
led (cf. Ps 5:8) and tlhn you guided (cf. Isa 40:11), all in v. 13.
YHWHs presence or whereabouts in all this is not mentioned until v. 13 and v. 17. The
question here is two-fold: whether vv. 13, 17 are referring to the same place; and where
that place(s) might be. Given their close proximity and their presence in the same unit of
tradition it is most likely that they refer to the same place.
The phrase vdq hwn holy abode (v. 13) occurs here and nowhere else.27 hwn is literally
a pasture for sheep.28 The divine hwn is mentioned elsewhere only at Jer 25:30 where it
clearly refers to a location.29 In Jer 50:7 YHWH is himself called the qdu-hwn true
pasture (cf. Jer 31:23) of the people of Israel and Judah.
The phrase Ktbvl Nwkm a place to dwell (v. 17)30 or its equivalent, occurs in 1 Kgs
8:13,39,43,49 (and in the parallel verses in 2 Chr) in the prayer of Solomon at the
dedication of the temple. There it refers first to the temple itself and subsequently to Mymv
heaven. Similarly, v. 17 credits YHWH with having built this place without help. Pss
78:69 and 147:2 claim that YHWH built the temple and Jerusalem respectively.
Ktlxn rh mountain of your (own) possession (v. 17) is again unique, though Sinai, or
Zion would naturally spring to mind as possibilities.31
At Jer 31:23, Isa 11:9, 57:13 and
Ezek 20:40 vdq rh holy mountain refers to the whole of Judah and we may note that
these are all probably at least exilic in date. The parallel at Ps 78:54 suggests that we have
here a reference to the whole promised land in its present context, though in a later
cultic setting it could have meant little else than Mount Zion.32
26 E.g. Gideon: Judg 6:12, 7, (note Judg 8:22-23). Saul: 1 Sam 10:10, 11:6,11. David: 1 Sam 16:13,
27:8-12. Mettinger, (1988ET), In Search of God, 107, rightly categorised these motifs as those of
chaos and exodus, battle and salvation.
27 Brenner, (1991), The Song of the Sea, 131, was wrong to claim that vdq hwn also occurs at BHS
Jer 31:23.
28 Cross, (1973), Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic, 141; Freedman, (1975), Early Israelite
History, 6-7, 9; Mann, (1977), Divine Presence, 127, who thought that this referred to Sinai.
29 from on high, see: Bright, (1965), Jeremiah, 161; J. A. Thompson, (1980), Jeremiah, 519; D.
R. Jones, (1992), Jeremiah, 334; R. P. Carroll, (1986), Jeremiah, 505, Zion.
30 The phrase Kaok Nwkm throne place occurs only at Pss 89:14, 97:2. Consequently, it is difficult
to agree with William H. Propp that there is a parallel reference to enthronement, Propp, (1998),
Exodus 1-18, 542-43. More likely is a connection between Ktbvl Nwkm and aok-le bvy to
dwell on a throne, 1 Kgs 22:19 (// 2 Chr 18:18), Ps 9:4, 47:8, Isa 6:1, though because of the
limited number of examples, the possibility remains slim. See Brenner, (1991), The Song of the
Sea, 138, 141.
31 E.g. Freedman, (1975), Early Israelite History, 6, Sinai.
32 Cf. Clements, (1965), God and Temple, 51; Coats, (1969), The Song of the Sea, 12-13;
Clifford, (1972), Cosmic Mountain, 139; Cross, (1973), Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic, 142;
The presence of vdqm sanctuary (v. 17) is a probable anachronism since this word is
elsewhere used only of permanent shrines. When used of the Jerusalem temple, it always
occurs in exilic and post-exilic references.33
Together with Philistia in v. 14,34 the above anachronisms alert us to the probability
that this poem was interpreted in different ways during the course of its transmission and
probably altered accordingly.35
The inverted syntax of v. 18, i.e. Klmy hwhy instead of hwhy Klmy, emphasises the fact that
it is hwhy (and no other god) who reigns.36 Having brought them into his presence, God
then reigns for ever at least over Israel and probably over the whole of creation (from
Israel) given his activity in vv. 1-12. The parallelism between YHWH leading his people
into Canaan and leading his people into the temple is a theme that finds a home only in
post-exilic literature,37 though the connection between divine kingship and presence was
probably established much earlier in the songs transmission.
The post-exilic synthesis underlying this song seems to be then that the whole land was
the Divine Kings abode because of his primary presence in the vdqm of Mount Zion.38
The use of the verb bvy to dwell, abide is illustrative of Divine Presence and its
association here with the Divine King warrants a brief consideration.39 It is to be
J. J. M. Roberts, (1973), Zion Tradition, 343; Couturier, (1990), Jeremiah, NJBC, 289b. For
a list and discussion of other suggestions, see: Hyatt, (1971), Exodus, 167; Propp, (1998), Exodus
1-18, 564-68. Grg, (1990ET), bvy, yasab, TDOT VI, 433, suggested that v. 17 represented a
semantic bridge between YHWHs dwelling on earth and in heaven.
33 The exact phrase ynda vdqm sanctuary of the Lord is found only at Lam 2:20 and means the
temple, see Brenner, (1991), The Song of the Sea, 138, 141-42. Freedman, (1975), Early Israelite
History, 6, considered that in Exod 15:17 it referred to Sinai.
34 Though see: Cross, (1973), Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic, 124; Freedman, (1975), Early
Israelite History, 10. Gibson, (1994), Kingship of Yahweh, 103, thought that its presence dated
the poem towards the end of the settlement period.
35 Some scholars regard the whole of Exod 15:1-18 as composed of at least two sections, namely vv.
1-12 and vv. 13-18, e.g. Hyatt, (1971), Exodus, 163 and, G. H. Davies, (1967), Exodus, 126,
though most refrain from too close an analysis. The presence of anachronisms indicates that some
later tampering probably took place.
36 Gelston, (1966), Klm hwhy, 512; Dahood, (1965-70), Psalms II, 340; A. A. Anderson, (1972),
Psalms II, 666; Mettinger, (1988ET), In Search of God, 95; Ringgren, Seybold and Fabry,
(1997ET), Klm melek, TDOT VIII, 370. See also Ps 10:16, 29:10, 93:1, 95:3, 96:10, 97:1, 99:1
and Isa 44:6.
37 E.g. Ps 24:7-10, 68:24, Mic 2:13, 4:6-7. Cf. Brenner, (1991), The Song of the Sea, 27, 138, 141.
38 Cf. Clements, (1965), God and Temple, 51-51, esp. 51 n. 2; Cross, (1973), Canaanite Myth and
Hebrew Epic, 142-43; Brenner, (1991), The Song of the Sea, 140; Tan, (1997), Zion Traditions,
28.
39 Cf. Brenner, (1991), The Song of the Sea, 145-46, though its use is not as clear or as consistent as
Brenner made out.
distinguished from its synonym Nkv which originally had the connotation of a temporary
sojourn as opposed to the more permanent bvy.40
The Deuteronomistic school could not conceive of YHWH dwelling anywhere but
heaven.41 Perhaps the absence of the ark prompted a re-evaluation. Whatever the reason,
this concept was followed in post-exilic literature, notably in the rewriting of the
Chronicler.42 Elsewhere the notion of YHWH dwelling occurs with one exception only
in the Psalms43 and (Proto and Deutero) Isaiah. The Isaiah references are indicative of the
older belief in the presence of the Divine King in the temple without reference to heaven.44
Again, that the motif of YHWH dwelling occurs elsewhere other than Exod 15:17 only
in exilic or post-exilic literature, suggests that its use in Exod 15:17 is anachronistic.
40 Terrien, (1978), Elusive Presence, 195-96.

41 Mymv specifically: 1 Kgs 8:30,39,43,49, 22:19 (aok). Above or on the Mybwrk: 1 Sam 4:4, 2
Sam 6:2, 2 Kgs 19:15. Not in a earthly structure: 2 Sam 7:5,6, 1 Kgs 8:27 (cf. v. 13). See: Grg,
(1990ET), bvy, yasab, TDOT VI, 433-34; Levenson, (1981), From Temple to Synagogue,
159, who argued that the tradition that YHWH dwelt in heaven, not the temple is post-exilic, cf.
Isa 56:6-8. The so-called Name Theology of D is thought by most scholars to be intended to
combat the popular belief that the Deity actually dwelled within the sanctuary, see: Weinfeld,
(1972), Deuteronomy, 193, 195; von Rad, (1953ET), Studies in Deuteronomy, 38-39. This is
countered somewhat by: McConville, (1979), Gods Name and Gods Glory, 149-63, esp.
162; I. Wilson, (1995), Divine Presence in Deuteronomy, 403-406; I. Wilson, (1995), Out of
the Midst of the Fire, passim.
42 Mymv specifically: 2 Chr 6:21,30,33,39, 18:18 (aok). Above or on the Mybwrk: 1 Chr 13:6.
Not in a earthly structure: 2 Chr 6:18 (cf. v. 2).
43 Mymv specifically: Ps 2:4, 5:8 (probably), 29:10 (probably); 47:8 (probably), 33:14, 102:12,
113:5, 123:1. Above or on the Mybwrk: Ps 80:1, 99:1; Nwyu rh: Ps 68:16; Nwyu: Ps 9:4 (aok),7
(aok),11, 132:14. The temple in general: Ps 22:3. Undefined: Ps 55:19. The one occurrence
outside Isaiah and the Psalms re YHWH is Lam 5:19 (aok).
44 Temple: Isa 6:1. Above the earth: Isa 40:22. Above or on the Mybwrk: Isa 37:16. Nwyu rh: Isa
8:18.
Num 23:21
BHS of Num 23:21b (cf. LXX Num 23:21b45)

: wb Klm tewrtw wme wyhla hwhy
NRSV of Num 23:21b

The LORD their God is with them, acclaimed as a king among them.
Part of the second oracle of Balaam to Balak, king of Moab (vv. 18b-24), like the Song of
Moses, it links YHWHs kingship with the events of the exodus (cf. v. 22a).46 The second
oracle is attributed by some to a northern (i.e. the E) tradition.47 A date in the late
monarchic period is most likely, given the presence of a character named Balaam in the
eighth century B.C. texts recovered at the Jordanian site of Tell Deir All (the biblical
Succoth).48
Unlike the Song of Moses, however, God is said here to have been with Jacob and
Israel as he brought them out of Egypt, his Divine Royal Presence guaranteeing protection
from harm (v. 48). The preposition Me with is an expression of this presence and is not
merely an indication of divine protection.49
Interestingly, Balaam is said to have received his oracle from YHWH near an xbzb
altar which Balak had built (vv. 14-15, cf. vv. 1-3). It is near this altar that Balaam rqy
met with YHWH.50 Although the verb has the connotation of a temporary presence of
the deity,51 Balaams acknowledgment of YHWH as king is nevertheless in association
45 LXX Num 23:21 translates it in such a way that a messianic interpretation is possible. The
reference to God has been deleted. Cf. Camponovo, (1984), Knigtum, 386; LXX Deut 33:5, Tg.
Ps.-J. Num 23:21b. Wevers, (1998), Numbers, 396, commented that the only king for Israel was
YHWH so LXX Num 23:21 was written to avoid any possible notion of a king in Israel.
46 Noth, (1968ET), Numbers, 187.
47 See Gnuse, (2000), Redefining the Elohist, 201-20, for a reaffirmation of the existence of a
northern Israelite E tradition which he dated to post 721 B.C.
48 I.e. if it can be separated from JE: Hackett, (1984), Balaam Text from Deir All, passim; Hackett,
(1986), Balaam Tradition at Deir All, 216-22; Hackett, (1992), Balaam, ABD I, 569b. J.
Gray, (1979), The Reign of God, 13 n. 24, wrongly attributed it to J. For a more sceptical
approach to identifying traditions here and a good description of the Tell Deir All find, see
Ashley, (1992), Numbers, 432-40.
49 Cf. Judg 6:12,16, 1 Sam 10:7; B. A. Levine, (2000), Numbers 21-36, 183-84.
Me Myhla hwhy in the context of exodus or wilderness: Num 23:21, Deut 2:7, Josh 1:17, 1 Kgs
8:57. Of Solomon: 1 Chr 22:18, 2 Chr 1:1. King Asa of Judah: 2 Chr 15:9. Judahites: 2 Chr
36:23. Cf. the similar phrase Kme hyha I will be with you, in Exod 3:12, Deut 31:23, Josh
1:5 and Judg 6:16. On the formula yna Kta I am with you, which denotes protection rather than
presence, see Section 2.2.1.4 under Isa 41:21.
50 Cf. Exod 3:18(J), Num 11:23(J), 23:3(E),16(E).
51 B. A. Levine, (1968), On the Presence of God in Biblical Religion, 80.
with Divine Presence.52 This Divine Royal Presence is again associated with the exodus
(v. 22) as the event in which God established his kingship over his people.53
The joyful shout or acclamation (tewrtw) is both acknowledging that YHWH is king and
that he is present among them as king. hewrt is frequently the response given to the
presence of God.54 Both ewr to shout and Nnr to shout out or sing for joy are
verbs often associated with the presence of monarchs and in particular it is the emotional
response of being in the cultic presence of the Divine King.55
Deut 33:5
BHS of Deut 33:5 (cf. LXX Deut 33:556)

Me yvar Poathb Klm Nwrvyb yhyw
:larsy yjbv dxy
NRSV of Deut 33:5

There arose a king in Jeshurun, when the leaders of the people assembled -
the united tribes of Israel.
Jeshurun is a poetic (affectionate?) name for Israel.57 Its recurrence at v. 26 of the

Blessing of Moses after each of the twelve tribes has received its blessing suggests that
originally vv. 2-5, 26-29 formed a unit which was subsequently enlarged with the insertion
of the individual tribal blessings.58 Even if this were not true, the sudden change of context
in v. 6 means that v. 5 can be analysed from its immediate context of vv. 2-5. A cultic
setting for the original poem cannot be ruled out, though it is usually based on a
52 The so-called northern (E) tradition associated altars with the presence of the deity (Exod 20:24, cf.
Gen 28:17, 35:7), though there is no suggestion of permanent presence. YHWH was said awb to
come from Mymv heaven whenever sacrifice was performed on them. Cf. B. A. Levine, (1990),
Lpny YHWH, 202-203.
53 Ashley, (1992), Numbers, 479.
54 1 Sam 4:5-6, 2 Sam 6:15 (// 1 Chr 15:28), 2 Chr 15:14, Ezra 3:11-13, Ps 27:6, 33:3, 47:5,
89:16, 150:5, Job 33:26. Most often, however, it occurs as a prelude to war, though the
connection between this and YHWH as the Divine Warrior King leading his people to war should
not be forgotten, e.g. 2 Chr 13:12.
55 ewr and the Divine King: Ps 47:1, 95:1,2, 98:4,6, Zeph 3:14. Nnr and the Divine King: 1 Chr
16:33, Ps 84:2, 95:1, 96:12, 98:4,8, 145:7, 149:5. Cf. Ringgren, (1974), Behold your King
Comes, 209; Ollenburger, (1987), Zion, 34-36.
56 The LXX of Deut 33:5 is probably (Davidic) messianic, cf. Camponovo, (1984), Knigtum, 387.
Wevers, (1997), The LXX Translator of Deuteronomy, 87, suggested that the LXX translation
betrays a deliberate avoidance of referring to any other king of Israel other than YHWH. Thus
_^pfibt is avoided in favour of ousk-
57 Deut 32:15, 33:5,26, Isa 44:2. The late use in Isa 44:2 need not imply lateness of the poem in
Deut, see Buber, (1967ET), Kingship of God, 209 n. 75.
58 Payne, (1985), Deuteronomy, 189-90.
conjectured annual enthronement or covenant-renewal festival.59 In any case, a setting in

some sort of cultic worship seems most likely. It is difficult to envisage any other.
There is some debate as to whether v. 5 constitutes a reference to YHWH as king. Most

commentators assume that it is a reference to YHWH as king in and of Israel.60 Gerhard
von Rad and others61 prefer the other possibility, namely that it is an anachronistic
reference to the rise of kingship in Israel. Though their reasons are unconvincing,62 it is
nevertheless possible. The next instance of divine kingship to be discussed (1 Sam 8:7),
comes from the same school as Deut 33:5. There the elders of Israel also gathered
together and asked Samuel for a king (vv. 4-5).
To be preferred, however, is that, for the final redactor, it was a reference to Moses
himself.63 The first part of Deut 33:5 reads literally And he was in Jeshurun a king (cf.
KJV). Given that there is a change of subject from YHWH in vv. 2-3 to Moses in v. 4, that
it was originally a reference to Moses does justice to the text as it now stands, although it
has to be admitted that nowhere else is Moses described as a king.
Originally, however, it must have referred to YHWH, as v. 26, which followed immediately,
brings the subject back to YHWH.64 If this is the case, Moses in v. 4 is a later
alteration (or copyists error),65 prompted no doubt by the imagery of the giving and
execution of the law in v. 21.
The imagery of YHWH (v. 26 la) contained in vv. 2-3, 26-27 has similarities in other
ancient Near Eastern religions, and recalls a similar image to that of the Song of the Sea
(Exod 15:1-18), namely the march of the Divine Warrior from the south.66 Verse 26
59 E.g. Cross, (1973), Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic, 85-86; J. Gray, (1979), The Reign of
God, 32 n. 81; Payne, (1985), Deuteronomy, 191; Treves, (1969), The Reign of God, 241,
Hasmonean period.
60 E.g. Miller, (1973), Divine Warrior, 82; Craige, (1976), Deuteronomy, 393-94; Payne, (1985),
Deuteronomy, 190.
61 E.g. von Rad, (1966ET), Deuteronomy, 205; Freedman, (1976), Divine Names and Titles, 95-
96; P. D. Miller, (1990), Deuteronomy, 238-39.
62 von Rad, (1966ET), Deuteronomy, 205, for example claimed that this was the case because
Elsewhere the conception of Yahweh as king is understood to be confined [my emphasis] to a
kingdom over the gods and the nations, a claim that is patently false.
63 Mann, (1977), Divine Presence, 181, considered this the most obvious reading. Wevers, (1998),
Numbers, 541, considered LXX Deut 33:5 as implying some kind of Moses redivivus.
64 Cairns, (1992), Word and Presence, 295.
65 Clifford, (1989Rev), Deuteronomy, 179.
66 Cross, (1973), Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic, 85-86; Mann, (1977), Divine Presence, 178-
82; Payne, (1985), Deuteronomy, 190; Clifford, (1989Rev), Deuteronomy, 178; P. D. Miller,
(1990), Deuteronomy, 238. Cf. Num 21:14.
makes no claim that Mymv is his home, but reiterates the belief that God is king of
creation.67
YHWH is said awb to come, xrz to rise and epy to shine from Sinai and after
victory to become king in Israel, though he was king of creation from the beginning.
Despite the presence of epy there is no hint of theophany because nothing is seen,68
merely presence and activity, as is the case with Exod 15:1-18. heypwh shine forth is
little more than a battle term particularly associated with deities and does not here indicate
light or revelation.69 Indeed, Patrick D. Miller may be right in supposing that the march of
YHWH from Sinai was not a mythological motif but a historical march of conquest from
Sinai to Canaan with his people, at the end of which YHWH became king.70
Of particular interest also is the use of the verb awb to come in the context of divine
kingship. YHWH is said to come from somewhere else (Sinai) as king to be the
(hidden) king in Israel, in the process giving victory to her enemies (vv. 26-29). The
parallels, Judg 5:4-5, Ps 68:8-9, Hab 3:3-7, similarly preserve a tradition of movement of
God from the south.71
67 The poetic parallel between Mymv and Myqxv presents the possibility that Mymv here refers to
the air. See Section 2.2.3 under Dan 4:37.
68 Contrary to: Buber, (1967ET), Kingship of God, 131; Cross, (1973), Canaanite Myth and Hebrew
Epic, 86; Ringgren, (1974), Behold your King Comes, 207; Craige, (1976), Deuteronomy,
393; Cairns, (1992), Word and Presence, 295.
Theophany may be distinguished from epiphany and vision. Theophany is the perceived
appearance of God to physical sight, epiphany an indirect manifestation of Divine Presence
through the evidence of unusual phenomena which are physically visible. In the OT, God is more
often heard than seen and unusual physical events are often explained in terms of epiphany.
Visions are usually individual encounters where God is perceived, as it were, in the minds eye.
These distinctions will be followed in this present work. Cf. Lindblom, (1961), Theophanies,
91.
69 B. A. Levine, (1968), On the Presence of God in Biblical Religion, 75 n. 2; Miller, (1973),
Divine Warrior, 77; Mann, (1977), Divine Presence, 253; Ollenburger, (1987), Zion, 72; cf. Ps
80:1; but cf. Weinfeld, (1986), The Day of the Lord, 342 n. 4.
70 Miller, (1973), Divine Warrior, 83; E. C. Kingsbury, (1967), Theophany Topos, 210. Sinai
in v. 2 is its only occurrence in Deut which otherwise uses Horeb. Thus it could be an addition to
the poem.
71 For a discussion of awb to come in the context of this present work, see Section 3.7.
1 Sam 8:7
BHS of 1 Sam 8:7

Kta al yk Kyla wrmay-rva lkl Meh lwqb emv lawmv-la hwhy rmayw
: Mhyle Klmm woam yta-yk woam
NRSV of 1 Sam 8:7

and the Lord said to Samuel, Listen to the voice of the people in all that
they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me
from being king over them.
1 Sam 8 is a crucial chapter in the Deuteronomistic History. The elders of Israel asked
Samuel, a judge, to appoint a king for them like other nations (cf. Deut 17:14),
ostensibly because they disapproved of the idea of Samuels corrupt sons being judges (v.
5).72 We are told that Samuel did not appreciate their request (v. 6), perhaps because he
saw it as a reflection on himself and his sons (v. 7). The response to his prayer was a
confirmation of his attitude.
Very little redactional activity can be detected in 1 Samuel. In particular 1 Sam 8:7, like
most of the book, is from material inherited by the Deuteronomistic historian.73 We may
note that v. 8 also contains explicit mention of the exodus from Egypt in connection with
the declaration of the kingship of YHWH.
Were it not for the mention that these events took place at Ramah, Samuels home town,
there would be no hint of Divine Presence in 1 Sam 8.
The editorial summary of 1 Sam 7:15-17 may at least provide a clue to the understanding
of the redactor. Here we are told that Samuels court circuit consisted of the towns of
Bethel, Gilgal, Mizpah and Ramah. We are told that he built an altar to YHWH at Ramah.
In each town there was, at least according to the Deuteronomistic editor, an Israelite cultic
site. The presence of an altar is either explicit or implied in each case.74 Ramah is
subsequently implied indirectly as a cultic site in 1 Sam 9:12-14, and in 1 Sam 19:23 as
the place near where the spirit of God came upon David. Consequently, it is significant
that Ramah was thought by the editor to need an altar.
72 The customary reason given for the desire for a king is that the Philistine menace was too strong
for one or a group of Israelite tribes and that they needed the unifying effect of a single king (cf. 1
Sam 4:2,10, 7:7, 8:20). However, this is not explicit, see: McCarter, (1980), I Samuel, 16;
Brueggemann, (1990), I & II Samuel, 61. Indeed, note 1 Sam 7:13. Taken at face value, according
to the editor, the immediate occasion of the request was the behaviour of Samuels sons.
73 McCarter, (1980), I Samuel, 15-16, 157. The phrase hzh Mwyh-de even to this day occurs
frequently in the Deuteronomistic History.
74 Bethel: Judg 21:1-4 (cf. Gen 28:11-12,17-18,20-22, 35:1-5,7-8, all from E). Gilgal: 1 Sam 10:8,
11:15, 13:8-10, 15:21. Mizpah: Judg 20:1, 21:5,8, 1 Sam 10:17.
The implication then is that we are meant to conclude that Samuel prayed and received an
answer to his prayers in chapter 8 at this altar at Ramah.75 Samuel prayed to YHWH, in
his ears (vv. 6, 21), and his prayers were answered.76 Echoing the E tradition,77 for the
Deuteronomistic editor, altars were associated with the presence of the deity (Judg 13:20),
and their proscription against being made of cut stone (Deut 27:5-7, cf. Josh 8:31),78
appears to have been because unworked stone retained something of the presence of the
god.79
Thus again, articulation of YHWH as king comes in the context of his cultic presence,
though in this case the presence is transitory, i.e. it is present only when invoked, though it
is perhaps pertinent to point out that in the case of 1 Sam 8, YHWHs response was as a
result of Samuels intercession, not sacrifice. YHWHs implied kingdom is Israel.
1 Sam 12:12
BHS of 1 Sam 12:12

yl wrmatw Mkyle ab Nwme-ynb Klm vxn-yk wartw
: Mkklm Mkyhla hwhyw wnyle Klmy Klm-yk al
NRSV of 1 Sam 12:12

But when you saw that King Nahash of the Ammonites came against you,
you said to me, No, but a king shall reign over us, though the LORD your
God was your king.
1 Sam 12 stands at the end of the period of the last judge, Samuel, and at the beginning of
the new era of monarchy under Saul. Previously, Saul had been anointed king by Samuel
at Ramah (1 Sam 10:1), proclaimed king by the people at Mizpah (1 Sam 10:24) and
renewed in his kingship at Gilgal (1 Sam 11:14-15), following the victory against the
Ammonites. Samuel now old, symbolically hands over the reins of authority to Saul in this
speech, rehearsing the events by which God brought them to their present situation,
exhorting the people to renew the covenant stipulations with the usual blessings and
curses.
75 Hertzberg, (1964ET), I & II Samuel, 69, was probably correct in assuming that Samuel also
judged at each of the four sanctuaries before the presence of the Lord.
76 Cf. Ant. 6:60 in Section 2.5.1.5, where God is said by Josephus to have actually appeared to
Samuel.
77 See the discussion for Num 23:21(E) above.
78 Taken over from Exod 20:25(E).
79 Galling, (1962), Altar, IDB I, 97a; Haak, (1992), Altar, ABD I, 163b.
As is the case with the other speeches in the Deuteronomistic History, 1 Sam 12 comes
from the hand of the (Josian) Deuteronomistic Historian, except for vv. 24-25 which come
from the exile.80
The sequence of events as they now stand in 1 Samuel place Samuel in the Gilgal shrine
immediately after the renewal of Sauls kingship there. Sacrificial worship and the renewal
occur in the same place and occur in the presence of YHWH, before the L ORD (1 Sam
11:15).81 Indeed such a site for covenant renewal is indicative of the Deuteronomist.82
Addressed to the people (v. 6, cf. v. 1 all Israel), the Deuteronomistic editor
affirmed his conviction that the making of a human king over Israel was only reluctantly
allowed by YHWH, but that, even so, the existence of the monarchy should not mean
therefore that God ceased to demand obedience as their Divine King. YHWHs kingdom
is the people of Israel. He is present with them chiefly, though not exclusively, at the
shrines. Again there is the connection with the exodus (vv. 6, 8).
Ps 5:2
BHS of Ps 5:3
yhlaw yklm yeqv lwql hbyvqh
: llpta Kyla-yk
NRSV of Ps 5:2
Listen to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you I pray.
Psalm 5 was classified by Hans-Joachim Kraus as a Song of Prayer for the individual.83
As its setting is obviously the temple (v. 7) perhaps as part of the morning sacrifice (v. 3),
it was probably sung within the context of congregational worship.84 Nothing precludes a
date for this psalm in the days of the pre-exilic temple.85
80 McCarter, (1980), I Samuel, 15, 217.

81 The phrase hwhy ynpl before the LORD is a recurrent one in the OT and most often indicates the
localised Divine Presence without any indication of theophany or manifestation. See Section
1.3.1.
82 Moses in Moab, Deut 29:14. Joshua at Shechem, Josh 24:1 (Myhlah ynpl). Josiah in the
temple, 2 Kgs 23:3. Cf. a covenant made between David and Jonathan, 1 Sam 23:18; a covenant
made between David and the elders of Israel at Hebron, 2 Sam 5:3; Jer 34:15.
83 A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms I, 105-106, later post-exilic; Kraus, (1988ET), Psalms 1-59, 47,
153; Gerstenberger, (1988), Psalms Part 1, 59-60.
84 Psalms classified as those of individuals need not have been sung by solitary persons, e.g. Ps
35:18. Cf. Amirtham, (1968), To be Near to and Far away from Yahweh, 32-33. Terrien,
(1978), Elusive Presence, 307, surmised, plausibly, that such psalms for individuals may have
been commissioned by temple officials for pastoral occasions, such as ritual cleansing.
85 Treves, (1969), The Reign of God, 232, suggested a possible date of 161 B.C.
The prayer presupposes that God is present, enthroned above the ark. It is a presence that
only the righteous may fairly approach (v. 12). The element of joy simply expressed in
v. 11 (using the verbs xms and Ule) is indicative of the natural response to being in the
Divine Royal Presence (see under Num 23:21 above). The boastful and the evildoers have
no such right (v. 5) to the Divine Presence. Yet YHWH is king to all (vv. 6, 11), not simply
the obedient,86 since there is a strong element of the Divine King as both judge of all and
protector of the righteous.
Ps 22:28
BHS of Ps 22:29
: Mywgb lvmw hkwlmh hwhyl yk
NRSV of Ps 22:28
For dominion belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.
This is one of two places in the OT that contain the abstract noun hkwlm in reference to
God. The other instance is Obad 21. It is properly translated kingship rather than
dominion or kingdom since it refers to the office of king or the status of being a
king.87
Psalm 22 is clearly divided into two parts: vv. 1-21 and vv. 22-31, the second of which is a
Song of Thanksgiving of an individual. Despite the two distinct parts, most commentators
maintain the unity of the psalm.88 Verses 22 and 25 give the setting: the temple during the
course of a communal gathering, perhaps in association with a meal (v. 26).
Because of YHWHs kingship, he rules over the nations (v. 28) and so they owe him
homage (v. 27), including, oddly enough, the dead (v. 29). That the dead are mentioned at
all could mean either a late composition or a late redaction of the psalm, since the next
instance of this is in Dan 12:2.89 It certainly means that to rule over the nations is
effectively the same as saying that YHWH rules over the whole created order.
86 On yhlaw yklm my king and my God see also Ps 44:4, 84:3.

87 BDB, 574b; Raabe, (1996), Obadiah, 270-71; Ringgren, Seybold and Fabry, (1997ET), Klm
melek, TDOT VIII, 359.
88 Dahood, (1965-70), Psalms I, 136-44; A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms I, 184-85; Kraus,
(1988ET), Psalms 1-59, 293-94.
89 In contrast, Ps 6:5 and Ps 88:10-12.
Verse 28 contains the verb lvm to rule, govern90 with YHWH as the subject and thus
connects both YHWHs attribute of hkwlm kingship and the expression of that in his
consequent ruling of the nations. Because God is king he therefore has a realm to rule, one
which is over the nations. In Ps 145:13 it is hlvmm dominion that stands in parallel
with twklm kingdom, further suggesting that the kingdom of God is not devoid of
spatial inferences.91
But where is the Divine Royal Presence and what is its relationship to the sphere of his
rule? There are in fact few indications of Divine Royal Presence in this psalm.
The phrase larsy twlht bvwy literally sitting on the praises of Israel in v. 3, is
unfortunately of not much help. It is an obscure one, occurring only here. It probably does
not refer to YHWHs understood location but merely to the reception of adulation.92
Verse 27 is reminiscent of the post-exilic eschatology of Zech 14. The universal

sovereignty of YHWH will be acknowledged by all peoples. They will come ynpl
before YHWH in the temple to worship him. One day, YHWH, who is already king of
the earth, will be acknowledged as such.93 Meanwhile, YHWH does not wynp ryto hide
his face, i.e. refuse to help, but hears the cry of the petitioner in the temple (v. 24,
contrary to the first part of the psalm, v. 1).94 Because, unlike Zechariah, there is no hint
that prior to this picture of universal worship YHWH was not present in the temple, the
assumption must be that the writer and users of this psalm considered the Divine Royal
Presence to be in the temple. The Divine King lives in his kingdom.
90 The verb is applied to YHWH in 11 verses: Judg 8:23, 1 Chr 29:12, 2 Chr 20:6, Job 25:2, Isa
40:10 (his erz arm), 63:19, Pss 22:28, 59:13 (Myhla), 66:7 (Myhla), 89:9, 103:19 (his
twklm, see Section 3.4.1.1). See: Brettler, (1989), God is King, 47; Soggin, (1997ET), lvm msl
to rule, TLOT II, 689; Gross, (1998ET), lvm masal II, TDOT IX, 69-70. The only derivative
word to apply to God is hlvmm dominion, rule, realm: Ps 103:22, 114:2; 145:13. The others
are lvm dominion and, lvmm dominion, ruler. The Aramaic equivalent verb jlv is never
applied to God, though the cognates of the Aramaic sometimes are, Njlv dominion (noun) in
Dan 4:3,34, 6:26 and jylv ruling (adjective) in Dan 4:17,25-26,32, 5:21.
91 See Section 3.2.1 under Ps 145:11-13.
92 A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms I, 187.
93 Treves, (1969), The Reign of God, 233, thought that this hope was typical of the Maccabean
age.
94 See Section 1.4.1.1. Contrary to Kraus, (1988ET), Psalms 1-59, 299, there is no theophany here.
There is rather auricular communication between God and the petitioner.
Ps 24:7-10
BHS of Ps 24:7-10
: dwbkh Klm awbyw Mlwe yxtp wasnhw Mkyvar Myrev was 7
: hmxlm rwbg hwhy rwbgw zwze hwhy dwbkh Klm hz ym 8
: dwbkh Klm abyw Mlwe yxtp wasw Mkyvar Myrev was 9
: hlo dwbkh Klm awh twabu hwhy dwbkh Klm hz awh ym 10
NRSV of Ps 24:7-10
7 Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the
King of glory may come in.
8 Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD,
mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the
King of glory may come in.
10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.
Psalm 24 is cultic versicle and response probably originating in pre-exilic times.95 It most
likely formed part of a liturgical re-enactment of the bringing of the ark into the temple
(hence its origins are probably early monarchic), but exactly what was the festival that
might have been celebrated cannot be determined.96 Like Ps 22, Ps 24 is in distinct parts
but should be considered as a whole.97 It combines three motifs with that of kingship.
YHWH has gained victory over the forces of chaos (v. 8), created the world (v. 2), and
entered his royal palace, the temple on Mount Zion.98 twabu hosts denotes an all-
mighty or all-powerful god-king, hence one whose reach - as it were - is universal, the
ruler of all things.99
Verse 3 with its hwhy-rh hill of YHWH and wvdq Mwqm his holy place, points
unequivocally to the Temple Mount as the primary place of YHWHs presence as king.100
95 Kraus, (1988ET), Psalms 1-59, 315-16, dated it to the time of David and the bringing of the ark
into Jerusalem. Far more likely is its use in a regular cultic festival, cf. A. A. Anderson, (1972),
Psalms I, 204; Dahood, (1965-70), Psalms I, 151; Treves, (1963), Zechariah IX-XIV, 205 n. 6
and, Treves, (1969), The Reign of God, 233-34, who dated this psalm and Pss 47, 93 and 95-99
to 164-163 B.C. of the Maccabean period.
96 Preuss, (1975ET), awb bo, TDOT II, 48, doubted whether Ps 24 reflected a regular and repeated
rite. Tournay, (1991ET), Seeing and Hearing God, 126-27, dated it to the early post-exilic period.
97 Weiser, (1965ET), The Psalms, 232-36; A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms I, 200-201; Kraus,
(1988ET), Psalms 1-59, 311-13; Gerstenberger, (1988), Psalms Part 1, 118-19, post-exilic; J.
Marcus, (1988), Entering into the Kingly Power of God, 666-67.
98 Mettinger, (1988ET), In Search of God, 100-101. Gibson, (1994), Kingship of Yahweh, 109,
also found parallels with Canaanite mythology.
99 Michaelis, (1965ET), m^kqlhoqso, TDNT III, 914-15; van der Woude, (1997ET), abu saba
army, TLOT II, 1045; Mettinger, (1982ET), Dethronement of Sabaoth, 24; Mettinger, (1982ET),
YHWH Sabaoth, 109-38, esp. 136; Tournay, (1991ET), Seeing and Hearing God, 83-84.
100 A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms I, 202; Kraus, (1988ET), Psalms 1-59, 313.
To be in this presence (v. 6) requires clean hands and a pure heart (v. 4),101 i.e. ritual
and moral purity. Notably the earth belongs to YHWH but he is not explicitly called its
king or its ruler.
A small group of scholars have detected the notion in these verses that despite the temple
being the primary place of YHWH as king, he nevertheless bursts the confines of the
temple. This is possible, even likely, despite the psalm being set in a re-enactment of the
original divine entry. The temple is unable to contain the entering L ORD of hosts - a
concept also depicted in Isa 6:1, where only the hem of his robe filled the temple.102
Ps 29:10
BHS of Ps 29:10 (cf. LXX Ps 28:10103)

bvy lwbml hwhy
: Mlwel Klm hwhy bvyw
NRSV of Ps 29:10
The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;
the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.
There seems to be a consensus that Psalm 29 is derived from Canaanite ritual where Baal
was worshipped as a storm-god. Carefully avoiding theophanic images, the psalm has
been adapted for YHWHistic use. It is generally dated to the pre-exilic monarchic period
and may be much older.104
Given the different syntax of the first and second part of this verse, it is likely that the
phrase lwbml from/over the flood stands not in synonymous parallel but in antithesis
to Mlwel Klm as king forever.105 In other words, the first part should be interpreted
spatially, the second temporally. YHWH sits/dwells above the primeval waters of
creation,106 he has always been its king.
101 Based on the reconstruction of Ps 24:6 by the LXX which is followed by the NRSV. Cf. Dahood,
(1965-70), Psalms I, 152.
102 Mettinger, (1982ET), Dethronement of Sabaoth, 31-32 and, the scholars mentioned there.
103 Both verbs (h^qlfhfb and h^vbq^f) are in the future tense, as well as those of v. 11, suggesting
an eschatological interpretation, cf. Camponovo, (1984), Knigtum, 391.
104 A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms I, 233; J. Gray, (1979), The Reign of God, 39-42; Kraus,
(1988ET), Psalms 1-59, 346-47, who suggested that it could have been at the autumn feast of
Tabernacles, cf. Pss 68, 84, 93, Zech 14:16-19; Gerstenberger, (1988), Psalms Part 1, 132, extant
stage post-exilic; Treves, (1969), The Reign of God, 233, later than 621 B .C .; Tournay,
(1991ET), Seeing and Hearing God, 127-28, 134, early post-exilic.
105 Cf. Weisenberg, (1964), melekh ha-olam, 11-12; Tournay, (1991ET), Seeing and Hearing God,
134.
106 Or perhaps the waters above the firmament, cf. Gen 1:7, Ps 104:3, 148:4.
However, YHWHistic adaptation has meant that the temple must feature in the psalm to
counter the obvious Canaanite imagery. In v. 9 all in wlkyh his temple - literally his
palace - say to YHWH dwbk glory. This is probably a reference to the worshipper in
the earthly temple, despite the similar ascription of glory on the part of the Myla ynb
sons of gods107 in vv. 1-2. Although lkyh can refer to the heavenly temple, it does
so only in exilic and post-exilic literature. Here it no doubt means the earthly temple in
general and sometimes, specifically the largest of its three sections, also simply called the
vdq (the) holy.108
The noun dwbk (and the Aramaic rqy, which is also used in Hebrew texts as a loan word)
occurs here in association with the Divine King for the first time and so a brief digression
is warranted.
dwbk has the basic meaning of heavy, and by extension wealth, dignity, honour. In
other words, that for which respect is due.109 When applied to the OT Deity, it is usually an
attribute of God that can be seen either directly or indirectly110 and frequently has the
connotation of brilliant light, even blinding light (e.g. Ezek 10:4).111 Thus it is: an attribute
of God; something that is owed to kings and to God as king;112 and a quality of
something that demonstrates the sovereignty or majesty of God (e.g. Ps 19:1). Hence its
relevance here. In this context it is almost invariably translated in English by glory (and
107 Cf. Gen 6:2, 1 Kgs 22:19, Isa 6:2, Job 1:6, 2:1, 38:7, Ps 89:7, 103:20-21, 148:2; Dahood, (1965-
70), Psalms I, 175; Kraus, (1988ET), Psalms 1-59, 348.
108 E.g. Palace of a human king: 1 Kgs 21:1, 2 Kgs 20:18, Prov 30:28. heavenly temple: 2 Sam
22:7, Ps 11:4, 18:6, Jon 2:7, Mic 1:2, Hab 2:20, later cf. 1 Enoch 9:1 and, Rev 11:19, 14:17,
15:5. The entire earthly temple or Shrine: 1 Sam 1:9, 3:3, 2 Kgs 23:4, 24:13, Hag 2:15, Neh
6:10. Sometimes also called the vdq (the) holy, the larger room attached to the rybd of the
earthly (Jerusalem) temple: 1 Kgs 6:17, Isa 6:1, Ezek 41:1.
See: Dahood, (1965-70), Psalms I, 179; A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms I, 238; Ottosson,
(1978ET), lkyh hekhal, TDOT III, 383, 386; Kraus, (1988ET), Psalms 1-59, 350; Wildberger,
(1991ET), Isaiah 1-12, 262-63, G. B. Gray, (1912), Isaiah I-XXVII, 103.
109 Ramsey, (1949), The Glory of God, 9-18; Eichrodt, (1961ET), Theology of the OT I, 30; von Rad,
(1962ET), Theology I, 23; Brettler, (1989), God is King, 56; Preuss, (1995-96ET), OT Theology I,
167.
110 E.g. Ps 19:1, The heavens are telling the glory of God.
111 Some scholars think that dwbk literally means body, substance or person, cf. Exod
33:18,20. See: Ginsberg, (1953), Gleanings in First Isaiah, 246-47; Weinfeld, (1972),
Deuteronomy, 202; Tournay, (1991ET), Seeing and Hearing God, 119. Terrien, (1978), Elusive
Presence, 145, 171, also claimed that glory is a feature of Southern traditions paralleled by
name in the North.
112 Human kings: 1 Kgs 3:13, Isa 8:7, 14:18. God as king: 1 Chr 16:28-29, Ps 24:7-10, 29:1-2,
96:7-8, Isa 24:23, 42:12. Gods kingdom: Ps 145:11-12. Cf. Weinfeld, (1997ET), dwbk kabod,
TDOT VIII, 26.
in the LXX by ag^113). The word is particularly associated with Ezekiel (see under Ezek
20:33 below), but also with Isaiah, the Psalms and P.
Both Isaiah and the psalms associate the dwbk of YHWH with the temple and cultic
worship respectively. Gods glory is experienced there and yet the temple cannot
contain it (cf. Num 14:21(J?)). The psalms, in addition, look to a future revelation of
Gods glory, something that is continued in the later Isaiah tradition.114
The P tradition on the other hand, does not associate the hwhy dwbk exclusively with the
shrine. Taking on an almost anthropomorphic quality, it led the Hebrews out of Egypt and
through the Red Sea. It descended from heaven to Mount Sinai and accompanied them in
the wilderness often in the Nne cloud115 and in association with the dewm lha tent of
meeting.116 It could, on occasion, be seen.117
Contrary to Gerhard Kittel and others,118 dwbk is not always rendered by the Aramaic rqy
in the Targumim. At least once the Hebrew word is retained.119 Kittels explanation of its
use, namely that it is used in the Targumim to avoid anthropomorphisms, is also
questionable.120 More likely it is not a circumlocution but was used to avoid any
implication that the Lord was or could be seen. Rather it is his glory that is seen,121
113 On ag^ in the LXX, see Ramsey, (1949), The Glory of God, 23-28 and, Brockington, (1957),
BMH?, 1-8, in which Brockington claimed that the Masoretic dwbk expressed the fact and
apprehension of Gods presence, whereas the LXX ag^ expressed the effect. See also Kittel and
von Rad, (1964ET), ag^, TDNT II, 242-45.
114 E.g. Ps 97:6, 102:16; Isa 40:5. If Isa 56-66 can be separated from Isa 37-55, then Third Isaiah
exhibits a tendency to objectify Gods dwbk, a tendency that is strengthened by P and especially
Ezekiel, Isa 58:8, 59:19, 60:1-2, 66:18-19. See Westermann, (1997ET), dbk kbd to be heavy,
TLOT II, 599.
115 Exod 16:10, 24:16-17, 40:34-35, Num 16:42 (BHS 17:7); cf. 1 Kgs 8:11, Ezek 10:4.
116 Exod 40:34-35, Lev 9:23, Num 14:10, 16:19,42, 20:6; Milgrom, (1991), Leviticus 1-16, 36,
139, 516. In P, lha refers to the entire structure, whereas Nkvm Tabernacle to the central
edifice, i.e. the one consisting of the Holy and the Holy of Holies. For more on the tent of
meeting, see Haran, (1960), The Ohel Moedh in Pentateuchal Sources, 50-65, though
Harans article needs to be read in the light of Milgroms work, especially p. 61.
117 von Rad, (1953ET), Studies in Deuteronomy, 39; Kittel and von Rad, (1964ET), ag^, TDNT II,
240; Preuss, (1995-96ET), OT Theology I, 168; Westermann, (1997ET), dbk kbd to be heavy,
TLOT II, 600; Weinfeld, (1997ET), dwbk kabod, TDOT VIII, 32.
118 Kittel and von Rad, (1964ET), ag^, TDNT II, 245, In the Targums the dwbk of God is always
rendered arqy; G. F. Moore, (1927), Judaism I, 420; Dalman, (1902ET), Words of Jesus, 231.
119 Tg. Neof. Gen 49:2, if hytwklm his kingdom amounts to a circumlocution for God then it is
also in reference to God.
120 Brockington, (1945), The Presence of God, 23b, also made this assumption.
121 Cf. G. F. Moore, (1927), Judaism 420-21.
and is used to emphasise his incomprehensible splendour.122 A comparison between

BHS Isa 6:5 and Tg. Neb. Isa 6:5 is as good an example as any.123
Ps 47:2,6,7,8
BHS of Ps 47:3,7,8,9
: Urah-lk-le lwdg Klm arwn Nwyle hwhy-yk 3
: wrmz wnklml wrmz wrmz Myhla wrmz 7
: lyksm wrmz Myhla Urah-lk Klm yk 8
: wvdq aok-le bvy Myhla Mywg-le Myhla Klm 9
NRSV of Ps 47:2,6,7,8
2 For the LORD, the Most High, is awesome, a great king over all the earth.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the king of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm.
8 God is king over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.
The first of the so-called Enthronement Psalms, Psalm 47 most likely was part of a
yearly celebration of YHWHs kingship (rather than an annual re-enthronement) at the
Autumn festival (Tabernacles) and composed in the late pre-exilic period.124
Quite likely it was part of the same celebration that used Ps 24. Indeed, Ps 24:3 and Ps
47:5 both employ an important cultic verb, hle to go up, ascend (cf. John 2:13). In Ps
47:5, it refers not to the perceived movement of God, but the celebration of his Royal
122 Chilton, (1982), The Glory of Israel, 75.

123 For BHS Isa 6:5 see below. For Tg. Neb. Isa 6:5 see Section 2.3.1.2 below. At least in the
rabbinic literature that is dealt with in this present work (Tannaitic), there is a clear difference, too,
between rqy and hnykv Shekhinah, nor does hnykv replace rqy. In later Jewish literature,
however, rqy and hnykv are equated, e.g. Tg. 2 Chr 7:13 and, apparently rqy is replaced by
hnykv. See: Abelson, (1912), The Immanence of God, 380-82; Baltzer, (1965), The Temple in
Luke, 270; Weinfeld, (1997ET), dwbk kabod, TDOT VIII, 32.
124 A. R. Johnson, (1958), Hebrew Conceptions of Kingship, 234; Treves, (1969), The Reign of
God, 233, 163 B .C .; G. Klein, (1972), The Biblical Understanding, 396; A. A. Anderson,
(1972), Psalms I, 360-61, 365; Kraus, (1988ET), Psalms 1-59, 466-67; Sibinga, (1988),
Composition of Psalm XLVII, 478. Gerstenberger, (1988), Psalms Part 1, 198, doubted, though
didnt exclude, a pre-exilic origin and kingship celebration. Sigmund O. P. Mowinckel is credited
with the theory that these enthronement psalms were written for an annual re-enthronement of
YHWH. Thus Klm hwhy in these psalms should be translated as YHWH has become king, see
Mowinckel, (1962ET), Psalms I, 107, II, 222-24. For a critique of this view and support of the
approach taken here, see: Eaton, (1976), Kingship and the Psalms, 105-108; Ollenburger, (1987),
Zion, 24-33; Mettinger, (1988ET), In Search of God, 119-22. For a good summary of
Mowinckels thesis, see A. R. Johnson, (1958), Hebrew Conceptions of Kingship, 221-23. For
a critique, see 223-35; Ringgren, Seybold and Fabry, (1997ET), Klm melek, TDOT VIII, 371-72;
Bowes, (1991), Basilomorphic Conception of Deity, 261-62.
Presence which had previously ascended Mount Zion when the ark was installed in the
temple.125
In v. 8 God sits/dwells on wvdq aok his holy throne. Given the context, it is possible
that this is a reference to the ark-throne.126 However, the ark is never called a throne of
YHWH127 and on the rare occasions that the verb bvy is used with aok, it is either the
heavenly throne or Zion (Jerusalem) itself that is indicated.128 The adjective Nwyle Most
High is of little help here. It is used not only as a description of God as the highest of
gods but may refer to something that is spatially higher than something else.129 Thus
not only could it be an oblique reference to the heights of heaven but also to Mount Zion,
since, ideally, Mount Zion could be regarded as the highest of mountains.130
We cannot then be sure where the worshipper who used this psalm considered the Divine
Royal Presence to be. Nevertheless, YHWH was king of all the earth / all nations, though
there was clearly a special relationship between YHWH and Israel (vv. 3, 6b).
Ps 48:2
BHS of Ps 48:3b
: br Klm tyrq Nwpu ytkry Nwyu-rh
NRSV of Ps 48:2b
Mount Zion in the far north, the city of the great King.
Probably dated to pre-exilic times, Psalm 48 is a hymn praising Zion (Jerusalem) and
therefore her Divine King.131 It was intended to be sung in and around Zion. We may note
125 1 Kgs 8:6; Lipinski, (1963), Yahweh malak, 443; Dahood, (1965-70), Psalms I, 285; A. A.
Anderson, (1972), Psalms I, 363.
126 So: A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms I, 365; Kraus, (1988ET), Psalms 1-59, 469. Dahood, (1965-
70), Psalms I, 286, declined to give an explanation, pointing out simply that vdq aok is unique
in the OT.
127 von Rad, (1962ET), Theology I, 237 n. 110; Fabry, (1995ET), aok kisse, TDOT VII, 254.
128 Heaven: 1 Kgs 22:19 // 2 Chr 18:18, Isa 6:1. Zion: Ps 9:4, cf. Jer 3:17, Ps 9:7, Lam 5:19, Dan
7:9 (Aramaic, bty + aork).
129 J. J. M. Roberts, (1973), Zion Tradition, 331-32; Urbach, (19792ET), The Sages I, 79;
Mettinger, (1988ET), In Search of God, 122. Cf. Fabry, (1995ET), aok kisse, TDOT VII, 255;
Zobel, (2001ET), Nwyle elyon, TDOT XI, 126. See also Sir 50:15.
130 Highest of the mountains, Isa 2:2 // Mic 4:1, cf. Ps 95:4. But see Clifford, (1972), Cosmic
Mountain, 157 n. 77, who wrote, that it does not mean the highest point of a peak but the
position at the head of a range of mountains. Heights of heaven: Job 11:8, 22:12; Ps 103:11;
Isa 55:9.
131 Dahood, (1965-70), Psalms I, 289; A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms I, 367; Kraus, (1988ET),
Psalms 1-59, 474; Gerstenberger, (1988), Psalms Part 1, 202, post-exilic; Treves, (1969), The
Reign of God, 233-34, after 621 B.C.
again the motif of battle in vv. 4-8 in which YHWH defends his city. His presence
guarantees the safety of the city, unlike the theology of the prophets, especially that of
Isaiah and Jeremiah (see below).
Quite apart from the Canaanite echo in the parallel of Mount Zion, the home of YHWH,
with Nwpu Zaphon, the home of Baal,132 Ps 48:2b is unusual in that it describes Mount
Zion as a hyrq city. In vv. 1 and 8 the psalm uses a synonym of hyrq, rye.133 The
synonym usually simply means the city of Jerusalem, but occasionally can mean
something like temple quarter,134 so that it incorporates within it the belief that YHWH
inhabits the whole city of Jerusalem, effectively making the whole city his temple, as is
explicitly the case in Ps 46:4.135
Ps 48:2b probably should be interpreted in this light. Mount Zion, indeed the whole city of
Jerusalem, not only belongs to YHWH the Divine King but is his dwelling place.136
Ps 68:24
BHS of Ps 68:25
: vdqb yklm yla twkylh Myhla Kytwkylh war
NRSV of Ps 68:24
Your solemn processions are seen O God, the processions of my God, my
King, into the sanctuary -
Like Exod 15, Psalm 68 has been adapted from very old storm-god Canaanite motifs and
has undergone emendation (e.g. vv. 5, 29, 32-35).137 Even if the theory of William F.
Albright is correct,138 namely that Psalm 68 is a list of the beginnings of songs, it is best to
132 Clements, (1965), God and Temple, 3-5, 61-62; Dahood, (1965-70), Psalms I, 289-90; Clifford,
(1972), Cosmic Mountain, 140; A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms I, 368-69; J. J. M. Roberts,
(1973), Zion Tradition, 334-35; Terrien, (1978), Elusive Presence, 189; Levenson, (1985),
Sinai and Zion, 94-95, 146.
133 BDB, 900a, described rye and hyrq as synonyms.
134 2 Kgs 10:25, Isa 66:6; Ezek 40:2.
135 Fisher, (1963), Temple Quarter, 39-40; W. D. Davies, (1974), The Gospel and the Land, 151 n.
163, 152; S. Safrai, (1975), Temple and Service, 289; Levenson, (1985), Sinai and Zion, 152.
For a similar understanding in the ancient Greek pagan world, see: Malkin, (1987), Religion and
Colonisation, 138-39, 144; Scully, (1990), Homer, 141-42; and, Fleming, (1986), House/City,
689-90, who noted instances where tyb and rye stand in parallel to one another. Myhla rye
occurs at Ps 46:5, 48:1,8, 87:3, in each case referring to Jerusalem.
136 Mettinger, (1982ET), Dethronement of Sabaoth, 25.
137 Dahood, (1965-70), Psalms II, 133-34; A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms I, 481-82; J. Gray,
(1979), The Reign of God, 52; Kraus, (1993ET), Psalms 60-150, 49-50; Treves, (1969), The
Reign of God, 234, Maccabean.
138 Albright, (1950-51), Catalogue of Poems, 1-39; Miller, (1973), Divine Warrior, 103.
consider the psalm as a whole. Nevertheless, the psalm clearly finds its cultic setting in a
festival involving a re-enactment of the procession of YHWH into the temple (vv. 17, 18,
24) and a consequent celebration of his kingship.139
YHWH as Divine King resides on the Temple Mount (vv. 16, 18, 35), having come as the
Warrior from Sinai (cf. Deut 33:2). In v. 5 God is in wvdq Nwem his holy habitation, a
phrase which here and elsewhere refers to heaven.140 From there he exercises his kingship
as father and protector.141 The lateness of the tradition probably means that this verse is a
later, perhaps post-exilic, insertion.142
Ps 84:3
BHS of Ps 84:4
hl Nq rwrdw tyb haum rwpu-Mg
Kytwxbzm-ta hyxrpa htv-rva
: yhlaw yklm twabu bhwhy
NRSV of Ps 84:3
Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young, at your altars,
O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.
Ps 84 is generally considered to be pre-exilic because of the mention of your anointed

(the Davidic king) in v. 9. It is a psalm for an individual who need not be in the temple.143
Indeed, there is the unmistakable element of nostalgia for the temple, which suggests that,
for the one reciting this psalm, God could still be addressed outside of it.
Unambiguous too is the perceived location of the Divine Royal Presence. It is the temple,
or, more precisely, to the entire complex on the Temple Mount, poetically called the
Kytwnkvm dwelling places (v. 1) and hwhy twrux courts of the L ORD (v. 2, cf. v.
10).
139 Fohrer, (1971ET), Xfk, TDNT VII, 310; J. Marcus, (1988), Entering into the Kingly Power of
God, 667. If it was an annual enthronement festival then Marcus comments to the effect that it
was a divine procession in which the participants of the celebration liturgically accompany
YHWHs entry would be valid.
140 Deut 26:15, 2 Chr 30:27, Jer 25:30, Zech 2:13; cf. Pss. Sol. 10:3, As. Mos. 10:3.
141 Curtis, (1988), God as Judge, 9.
142 On heaven as a late reference to the location of the Divine King, see: Section 2.2.3 under Dan
4:37.
143 A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms II, 601; Terrien, (1978), Elusive Presence, 313. Cf. Dahood,
(1965-70), Psalms II, 279; Kraus, (1993ET), Psalms 60-150, 167. Croft, (1987), Individual in the
Psalms, 180, thought it was for a temple singer.
Verse 3 presents a beautiful picture of Divine Royal Presence at once literal and
metaphorical. Birds were a constant problem for the temple authorities, even in Second
Temple times, because of the accompanying excrement.144 Nevertheless, the birds are a
metaphor for Israel. Their feelings of being protected (cf. v. 12) by the very presence of
the Divine King means that they can make nests and have young in safety.145
Regardless of the location of the reciter, YHWH is a personal king, dispersing grace and
glory (v. 11) and dwelling on the Temple Mount (vv. 5, 6). To be in the temple and thus in
his presence brings joy (v. 2) and happiness (v. 4), responses that are extended in vv. 5, 12
to all who trust in God.
Ps 93:1
BHS of Ps 93:1a (cf. LXX 92:1b146)

vbl twag Klm hwhy
NRSV of Ps 93:1a
The LORD is king, he is robed in majesty;
This psalm belongs to the category of psalms often called the Enthronement psalms
(Pss 47, 93, 95-99), though their original setting was probably as part of an annual festival
celebrating YHWHs kingship. It is almost certainly pre-exilic.147 It is quoted in the
Mishnah (m. Tam. 7:4G) as the psalm that was sung by the Levites every Friday for the
morning and evening sacrifices.148
Since YHWH established the world (v. 1b)149 as king, it is the world that is effectively
his kingdom. He rules by decree (v. 5), thereby establishing order. In v. 5 vdq
144 E.g. J.W. 5:224; m. Mid. 4:6E-F; Patrich, (1986), Mesibbah of the Temple, 226.
145 Weiser, (1965ET), The Psalms, 567. This picture is used by Jesus in his description of the
kingdom of God (Section 3.3.2 under Luke 13:18,20).
146 LXX Pss 92:1, 95:10, 96:1, and 98:1, translate Klm hwhy by hoflt _^pibrpbk.
147 Dahood, (1965-70), Psalms II, 339; A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms II, 665-66; J. Gray, (1979),
The Reign of God, 46; Kraus, (1993ET), Psalms 60-150, 233; Treves, (1969), The Reign of God,
234, Pss 93, 95-100, are Maccabean; Ringgren, Seybold and Fabry, (1997ET), Klm melek,
TDOT VIII, 372, post-exilic. This also is the psalm that usually initiates discussion on the phrase
Klm hwhy, discussion which centres on whether Klm is a noun, a stative or action verb and, on
the significance of the word order. Such discussions are beyond the scope of this present work, but
see for example: Brettler, (1989), God is King, 141-44; Mays, (1994), The Centre of the Psalms,
231-46; Lipinski, (1963), Yahweh malak, 405-60.
148 See under Section 2.5.1.1.
149 Cf. 1 Chr 16:30, Jer 10:12, 51:15, Ps 96:10.
holiness befits the tyb house of YHWH, because as the temple, it is where God
dwells and from which he exercises his kingship.150
Ps 95:3
BHS of Ps 95:3
: Myhla-lk-le lwdg Klmw hwhy lwdg la yk
NRSV of Ps 95:3
For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
This Enthronement Psalm is difficult to date, but could well be originally pre-exilic (cf.
the polytheistic above all gods).151 Its setting is clearly liturgical worship in the temple
(v. 2). It is a song of praise of God as king.
YHWHs ownership and creation of the earth signifies that he is king of the earth (vv. 4-
5).152 In v. 2, worshippers are called literally wynp Mdq to meet his face, a cultic term
indicating that the Divine Royal Presence was considered to be in the temple.153 The
Divine King lived not above but in his realm.
Ps 96:10 (cf. 1 Chr 16:31)
BHS of Ps 96:10a
Klm hwhy Mywgb wrma
NRSV of Ps 96:10a
Say among the nations, The LORD is king!
Another so-called Enthronement Psalm. It may be considered pre-exilic because it does

not exhibit any signs of late biblical Hebrew.154 It too has the phrase above all gods (v.
4) suggesting a time before absolute monotheism became a distinctive feature of YHWH
worship.
150 A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms II, 669; Kraus, (1993ET), Psalms 60-150, 236. Cf. Dahood,
(1965-70), Psalms II, 343, who thought it referred to heaven. His argument is too far fetched to be
probable.
151 I.e. Myhlm-lk-le: Ps 95:3, 96:4, 97:9, 1 Chr 16:25.
152 J. Gray, (1979), The Reign of God, 48-49.
153 A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms II, 677. See also Section 1.4.1.1.
154 Brettler, (1989), God is King, 148, so also Pss 97 and 99; post-exilic: A. A. Anderson, (1972),
Psalms II, 681; J. Gray, (1979), The Reign of God, 67-68; Kraus, (1993ET), Psalms 60-150, 252.
The mention of YHWHs vdqm sanctuary in v. 6, and wytwrux his courts in v. 8

(cf. Ps 84:3), culminates in v. 9 with wynpm before him (cf. 1 Chr 16:29). The
worshipper considered YHWH to be in the temple.155
This means that the remaining verses must be interpreted non-eschatologically.156 The
verb form ab in v. 13 should be seen as a perfect he has come,157 so that the rejoicing
of vv. 11-12 and the judgement of v. 13 is a present reality. YHWH would have been
thought of as already having come to the temple (the setting of the psalm) and from there
reigning as king and judging the peoples.158
Ps 99:1,4
BHS of Ps 99:1,4
: Urah jwnt Mybwrk bvy Myme wzgry Klm hwhy 1
. . . bha jpvm Klm zew 4
NRSV of Ps 99:1,4
1 The Lord is king; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the
cherubim; let the earth quake!
4 Mighty King, lover of justice, . . .
The last of the Enthronement Psalms, this one praises Gods kingship and his
holiness. Its setting is cultic and most probably originally pre-exilic.159
There are numerous indications of the presence of the Divine King in this psalm. YHWH
as king Mybwrk bvy sits enthroned upon the cherubim (v. 1) and is great in Zion
(v. 2). The singers of the psalm call all to extol God and worship at wylgr Mdh his
footstool and wvdq rh his holy mountain, both of which refer to Mount Zion
generally, though the footstool would ultimately be the ark (cf. 1 Chr 28:2, Ps 132:7).160
All point to the Divine Royal Presence in the temple from which YHWH is king over all
peoples (v. 1, 2) dispensing jpvm justice.
155 Contrary to A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms II, 683, 684.

156 Contrary to Chilton, (1998), The Reign of Forceful Grace, 136.
157 The translation of: Weiser, (1965ET), The Psalms, 628.
158 Cf. A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms II, 685-86. Contrary to Kraus, (1993ET), Psalms 60-150, 254.
Against Dahood, (1965-70), Psalms II, 35, there is no hint of theophany here, only of presence.
159 Kraus, (1993ET), Psalms 60-150, 269.
160 Haran, (1959), The Ark and the Cherubim 2, 30-38; Haran, (1959), The Ark and the Cherubim
2, 89-94; Dahood, (1965-70), Psalms II, 369; A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms II, 694-97; J.
Gray, (1979), The Reign of God, 50; Mettinger, (1982ET), Dethronement of Sabaoth, 23; Kraus,
(1993ET), Psalms 60-150, 270; Ringgren, Seybold and Fabry, (1997ET), Klm melek, TDOT VIII,
372.
Isa 6:5
BHS of Isa 6:5

: ynye war twabu hwhy Klmh-ta yk
NRSV of Isa 6:5

yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!
According to v. 1, this vision of Isaiah took place in the year of Uzziahs (Azariahs)
death, i.e. 739 B.C.161 It ought to be classed as a vision (har, to see vv. 1, 5) rather than
a theophany since we are to assume that Isaiah was the only person who saw ynda the
Lord (v. 1), nor are there any words describing the self-revelation of God. It is the only
vision of the Divine King recorded in the OT.
The location of Isaiahs vision was the Jerusalem temple. In v. 6 altar is mentioned as
being part of this temple complex. lkyh in v. 1, meaning palace or temple or
specifically the larger room of a temple attached to the rybd, refers to the earthly temple or
shrine, as elsewhere in pre-exilic literature.162
First Isaiah located YHWH on the high and lofty (v. 1) Mount Zion (cf. Isa 8:18), so
his vision must be interpreted with that in view. The additional metaphors such as the
hem of his robe that filled the lkyh and that the whole earth is full of wdwbk his glory
(v. 3)163 indicate that Isaiah saw God as at once dwelling in the temple but not confined in
or by it. For example, Isa 13:5 and 35:4 use earlier Canaanite imagery to depict YHWH as
the Divine Warrior King coming with his army amassed from all over the world to save
the redeemed. The Divine Royal Presence was beginning to expand.
161 Finegan, (1998Rev), Handbook, 261. For a contrary opinion, see Kaiser, (1983ET), Isaiah 1-12,
123-24. Cf. J. Gray, (1979), The Reign of God, 139-40, who thought that it also occurred during
the autumn festival of Tabernacles.
162 See also under Ps 29:10 above.
163 The motif of the glory of God filling or being over an area can also be found in: Nkvm wilderness
tabernacle, Exod 40:34,35; hwhy tyb, 1 Kgs 8:11, 2 Chr 7:1, Ezek 43:5, 44:4, cf. Hag 2:7;
rux court, Ezek 10:4; Ura, Num 14:21, Ps 57:5,11, Isa 6:3, cf. Hab 2:14. Whether dwbk is
an attribute of or a circumlocution for God himself must be decided on a case by case basis as the
word has numerous possible meanings, even with respect to God, depending on the context. For
discussions on dwbk see (in addition to the standard dictionaries): Eichrodt, (1961ET), Theology of
the OT I, 29-35; von Rad, (1962ET), Theology I, 239-41; Preuss, (1995-96ET), OT Theology I,
167-70. In the present case, Isa 6:3, dwbk emphasises the fact and apprehension of Gods
presence, Brockington, (1957), BMH?, 3; Brockington, (1945), The Presence of God, 21b.
See also Tournay, (1991ET), Seeing and Hearing God, 113, who claimed that the whole earth of
v. 3 meant only the land of Israel. dwbk occurs in Proto-Isaiah 21 times, only four of which refer
to God, Isa 4:5, 10:16, 24:23, 35:2. Each of these could be construed in a different way.
Jer 8:19
BHS of Jer 8:19b

hb Nya hklm-Ma Nwyub Nya hwhyh
NRSV of Jer 8:19b

Is the LORD not in Zion? Is her King not in her?
Writing at a time (before 587 B.C.) when the temple still stood, Jeremiah did not doubt that
despite the stream of disasters affecting Judah, and despite the fact that he believed that
these disasters were punishment due to sin (e.g. 8:14), doubts about the Divine Royal
Presence with his people were unfounded. This verse proclaims that God was both king
and present in the temple in Zion, in his city of Jerusalem (cf. 14:9).164
This explanation is in keeping with the vowel pointing of Mkta hnkvaw and I will let
you dwell in Jer 7:3 adopted by the BHS.165 Here, YHWH makes the presence of the
people of Judah in the land conditional on the amendment of their ways.166 In v. 4 he
explicitly insists that the existence of the temple (and therefore his presence, v. 10) does
not mean that the people of Judah are guaranteed to stay. Indeed, such was their sin that
Jeremiah predicted that it would be the people who would first leave YHWHs sight
(7:15). After that, not even the temple itself would be safe once YHWH himself had left it
(7:12, 12:7, cf. 14:9, 2 Macc 5:17-20).167
Jer 46:18
BHS of Jer 46:18 (cf. LXX Jer 26:18168)

wmv twabu hwhy Klmh-Man yna-yx
: awby Myb lmrkkw Myrhb rwbtk yk
NRSV of Jer 46:18

As I live, says the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts, one is coming
like Tabor among the mountains and like Carmel by the sea.
164 Fohrer, (1971ET), Xfk, TDNT VII, 309; J. A. Thompson, (1980), Jeremiah, 305; Holladay,
(1986), Jeremiah 1, 293; Lundbom, (1999), Jeremiah 1-20, 531.
165 For a summary of the issues and scholars involved, see: Clements, (1965), God and Temple, 85 n.
1; Holladay, (1986), Jeremiah 1, 236-37; R. P. Carroll, (1986), Jeremiah, 207; Lundbom,
(1999), Jeremiah 1-20, 461. Note also that Tg. Neb. Jer 7:3 has and I will make you dwell, see
R. Hayward, (1987ET), The Targum of Jeremiah, 70.
166 Terrien, (1978), Elusive Presence, 205-206. Here Mwqm means the whole land of Judah and, not
simply the temple, D. R. Jones, (1992), Jeremiah, 147.
167 B. A. Levine, (1968), On the Presence of God in Biblical Religion, 87; Holladay, (1986),
Jeremiah 1, 248; M. E. Stone, (1981), Reactions to Destructions, 197.
168 LXX Jer 26:18, lacks the word _^pfibt.
There is no good reason to doubt that Jer 46:14-24 can be attributed to Jeremiah. The
Babylonians were threatening the Egyptians with invasion to the extent that Jeremiah
thought it imminent, although it did not actually occur until 568 B.C. YHWH, the powerful
king who is behind the Babylonians push towards Egypt, is contrasted with the
ineffective pharaoh.169 Within the poem, however, there is no indication of Divine Royal
Presence.
Zeph 3:15
BHS of Zeph 3:15b

Kbrqb hwhy larsy Klm
NRSV of Zeph 3:15b

The king of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst;
Whether or not all the contents of the book of Zephaniah were composed during the reign
of Josiah (641/40-609 B.C.) is now difficult to determine, nevertheless they are set in that
time and are therefore meant to be understood against the historical background that
implies.170
Oracles of judgement and condemnation of foreign nations are followed by a profound

hope that the punishments of the day of the L ORD (1:14-16) will end and a purified
remnant will survive (3:12-13). Because YHWH is always brq in the midst of Israel
and Zion (3:5,15,17), as the Divine Warrior King (1:4, 3:17) through all the evils and the
punishment of them, their future security is assured.
In this he stands contrary to the conditional Divine Royal Presence of the likes of Second-
Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel.
2.2.1.2 Probably Exilic
Ps 10:16
BHS of Ps 10:16
: wuram Mywg wdba dew Mlwe Klm hwhy
NRSV of Ps 10:16
The LORD is king forever and ever; the nations shall perish from his land.
169 R. P. Carroll, (1986), Jeremiah, 770.

170 Berlin, (1994), Zephaniah, 38; J. Gray, (1979), The Reign of God, 142-43. O. P. Robertson,
(1990), Zephaniah, 256, preferred a time after 622 B .C . because of the many parallels between
Zephaniah and Deuteronomy.
Psalm 10 completes the acrostic begun in Psalm 9. Whereas Psalm 9 is a song of praise
and thanksgiving from the pre-exilic period, Psalm 10 is a lament, most likely from the
exilic or early post-exilic period.171 The lament of course is due to the singers belief that
YHWH does nothing to stop the wicked preying on the poor and helpless. His
explanation is that YHWH has hidden his face, a euphemism for divine inactivity rather
than divine absence - although the effect is as if YHWH stood far off (v. 1).172
Ps 9:7-11 (cf. 10:17-18) uses royal motifs to describe the presence of YHWH as king of
the world enthroned in Zion, dispensing justice (jpv to do justice) because of his
attribute of qdu righteousness.173 Indeed his righteousness and kingship demand the
exercise of justice. This theme of justice is carried over into Psalm 10. The differences
between Psalms 9 and 10 can be seen in the fact that God is firmly enthroned in Zion in
Psalm 9 but literally nowhere to be found in Psalm 10. No doubt the writer of Psalm 10
thought that Gods true home continued to be Zion.
wuram from his land cannot mean Israel,174 but the whole earth (cf. v. 18), affirming
that the kingdom of YHWH in the mind of the singer is indeed the whole earth. The
Divine Royal Presence could be found in his kingdom.
Ps 44:4
BHS of Ps 44:5
: bqey twewvy hwu Myhla yklm awh-hta
NRSV of Ps 44:4
You are my King and my God; you command victories for Jacob.
Though difficult to date, the communal lament which is Psalm 44 probably belongs to the
early exilic period (cf. v. 12).175 As with Ps 10 above, the lament is again due to the
inactivity of God, this time for failure to help in time of war. The question
rytot Kynp hml why do you hide your face, asked of God in v. 24, speaks not of the
171 Treves, (1969), The Reign of God, 232-33; A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms I, 106-107, late
post-exilic; Kraus, (1988ET), Psalms 1-59, 191-94; Gerstenberger, (1988), Psalms Part 1, 75.
172 See Section 1.4.1.1 and also Section 2.2.1.1 under Ps 22:28.
173 Ps 9:8, 35:24, 50:6, 96:13, 97:6,8, 98:9, 99:4, Jer 11:20; Kraus, (1988ET), Psalms 1-59, 195;
Curtis, (1988), God as Judge, 3-12; Brettler, (1989), God is King, 44-45; Preuss, (1995-96ET),
OT Theology I, 171-79, esp. p. 175.
174 E.g. Briggs and Briggs, (1907), Psalms I, 81.
175 Dahood, (1965-70), Psalms I, 265, date uncertain; A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms I, 337; Kraus,
(1988ET), Psalms 1-59, 446; Gerstenberger, (1988), Psalms Part 1, 185-86, Persian period; Treves,
(1969), The Reign of God, 233, 166-165 B.C.
withdrawal of his presence (face) from the community but of the failure of divine aid
and redemption (cf. v. 26).176
Verse 4 is linked thematically with v. 26. There YHWH is called on to arouse from his
apparent inactivity and htrze help and wndpw ransom his people. rze and hrp are
virtually synonyms and are key aspects of divine kingship. Like lag to redeem, they
refer to a rescuing from some enemy/sin/disaster, whereas evy to save is generally a
saving for something better.
There is however, no explicit reference to the location of the Divine Royal Presence.
Ps 74:12
BHS of Ps 74:12
: Urah brqb twewvy lep Mdqm yklm Myhlaw
NRSV of Ps 74:12
Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the earth.
The text of this psalm is corrupt in many places, striking a note of caution not only in
dating the psalm but in any interpretation that may be offered. With suitable care, the
psalm may be tentatively dated to the very early post-exilic period, prior to the construction
of the second temple. It is a communal lament, again prompted by the inactivity of God (v.
11), recited at the site of the ruined temple (v. 3) and calling on him to restore his
honour.177 Like Ps 44, the motif of the Divine Warrior is evident here. Deliverance from
chaos is followed by the salvation of creation.
Despite the destruction of the temple, according to v. 2, Mount Zion is still the place where
the Divine King dwells (Nkv) and from which he works (literally) salvation in the midst
of the land.
In v. 7 the vdqm sanctuary is the proper Nkvm dwelling place of Gods Mv

name. At the time of the lament God himself was thought to still dwell on Mount
Zion, since Nkvm and its verb Nkv both denote a permanent physical construction and a

177 See comments for Ps 44:4 and: Dahood, (1965-70), Psalms II, 199-200; A. A. Anderson, (1972),
Psalms II, 538; J. Gray, (1979), The Reign of God, 48; Mettinger, (1988ET), In Search of God,
96, 98, exilic; Kraus, (1993ET), Psalms 60-150, 97, 101; Treves, (1969), The Reign of God,
234, 169-167 B.C.
permanent presence respectively.178 However, YHWHs name no longer did, since that
was dependant on the existence of the sanctuary.
Isa 24:23
BHS of Isa 24:23

twabu hwhy Klm-yk hmxh hvwbw hnblh hrpxw
: dwbk wynqz dgnw Mlvwrybw Nwyu rhb
NRSV of Isa 24:23

Then the moon will be abashed, and the sun ashamed; for the LORD of hosts
will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before his elders he will
manifest his glory.
Isa 24-27 are chapters within First Isaiah commonly known as the (Little) Apocalypse of
Isaiah. Modern scholarship has tended to deny authorship of these chapters to the
prophet Isaiah, but nevertheless still places them firmly in the Isaianic school. They were
probably composed in response to the fall of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. Isa 24:23 looks
forward to the restoration of the divine kingship after the desolation outlined in chapter 24
(particularly the cosmic and earthly battles in 24:21-22) and the restoration of Judah in
25:6-27:13.179
The NRSV translation of Isa 24:23 is unfortunate because neither the Hebrew nor the LXX
state that YHWH will manifest his glory at the restoration.180 In fact, nowhere in Isaiah
24-27 is there a picture of divine manifestation. Granted that the picture of an abashed
moon and ashamed sun imply that YHWHs glory will itself outshine these celestial
bodies (gods?) and therefore will be seen, nevertheless the text is not explicit that this will
be the case. This point is important because it is only in the Targum version that we find
explicit use of appearance or revelation language in Isa 24:23, which, it will be argued, is
an articulation of a particular view of the kingdom of God.181
178 The phrasing is Deuteronomic, cf. Deut 12:5,11, 14:23, 16:2,6,11, 26:2. Cf. Jer 7:12 where the
divine name dwelt in Shiloh for a time. See also comments under Exod 15:18. For a challenge to
the Name Theology of Deuteronomy, particularly that the recurrence of the phrase hwhy ynpl
implies direct reference to the presence of YHWH, see: I. Wilson, (1995), Divine Presence in
Deuteronomy, 403-406; I. Wilson, (1995), Out of the Midst of the Fire, passim; McConville,
(1979), Gods Name and Gods Glory, 149-63 esp. 162.
179 J. Gray, (1979), The Reign of God, 197, end of monarchy or early exile; Kaiser, (1983ET), Isaiah
1-12, 173-79, who dated segments to various periods right down to the second century B .C .;
Hanson, (1987), OT Apocalyptic, 36-37, 93-107; Millar, (1992), Isaiah 24-27, ABD III, 489-
90. For a different perspective, see: Oswalt, (1986), Isaiah 1-39, 440-44; Treves, (1969), The
Reign of God, 235.
180 The KJV is perhaps the most accurate here, and before his ancients gloriously.
181 See further, Sections 3.2.3 and 3.7.
Isaiah 27:13 (cf. Zech 14:16,17) is perhaps the only other related passage in Isaiah 24-27.
There the writer looks forward to the day when all the people of God (and not simply the
elders) will come and worship the LORD on the holy mountain in Jerusalem (cf. a feast
in 25:6). Taken together with 24:23, it is clear that the writer saw the Divine Presence as
intimately connected with the temple - no temple, no Divine King. At the time of writing
the Divine King was no longer present on the mountain as far as the writer was concerned.
He looked forward to the time when YHWH would come out from his place (not the
temple, but probably heaven) and execute judgement (26:21, cf. Zech 14:3). At the
restoration of the earth, YHWH will resume his kingship and presence from and on
Mount Zion, the holy mountain. At the very least, the elders will be directly conscious of
this presence.
The words of sorrow felt by the people are an added indication of the contemporary lack
of Divine Royal Presence. This sorrow will be removed by YHWH (25:7-8). The
opposite, joy, is an emotional response to the presence of the Divine King, though in 25:9
the positive outburst is in response to what YHWH will do (cf. 1 Chr 16:31, Ps 96:10,
149:2) and in anticipation of his Royal Presence.182
Isa 33:17,22
BHS of Isa 33:17,22

: Myqxrm Ura hnyart Kynye hnyzxt wypyb Klm 17
: wneyvwy awh wnklm hwhy wnqqxm hwhy wnjpv hwhy yk 22
NRSV of Isa 33:17,22

17 Your eyes will see the king in his beauty; they will behold a land that
stretches far away.
22 For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our ruler, the LORD is our king;
he will save us.
Chapters 28-33 of Isaiah form a unit because of the repetition of the interjection ywh Ah,
Ha, Oh. The unit comes from a time later than First Isaiah. They recount the arrogance
and misplaced trust of Gods people and the consequent coming judgement of YHWH.183
The crucial verse for the present task is 31:4. Here YHWH will come down (dry) to
fight upon Mount Zion and upon its hill in his capacity as the Divine King of his people
182 See Section 1.4.1.1 and also Section 2.2.1.1 under Num 23:21.
183 Isa 28:1, 29:1,15, 30:1, 31:1, 33:1. The previous occurrence is in 18:1 and the next in 45:9. See:
Seitz, (1992), First Isaiah, ABD III, 484b; Treves, (1963), Zechariah IX-XIV, 205. Treves,
(1969), The Reign of God, 235, thought Isa 33:22 was composed in the Maccabean period by a
group who refused to recognise any human ruler and wanted to elect God himself to be king of the
Jews.
(cf. 29:6, 37:35). Now, YHWH cannot descend from Mount Zion to fight upon Mount
Zion, so the natural implication is that he will come from higher up or far away.184 This
notion is confirmed by 30:27, and 33:5. Isa 30:27 states: the name of the LORD comes
(ab) from afar. It points to a place far away from Mount Zion. Isa 33:5: the LORD . . .
dwells (Nkv) on high, points to a permanent Divine Royal Presence at an unspecified
location. The writer, presumably, has already decided that YHWH the Divine King no
longer rules from Mount Zion because of the arrogance and misplaced trust of the people.
He looks forward to the day when God will reclaim his rightful place on Mount Zion as
king.
Finally, the designation of YHWH as judge and saviour are two activities associated with
kingship, especially that of YHWH. He is the Divine King sitting in judgement who will
help his faithful people.
Isa 41:21, 43:15, 44:6, 52:7
BHS of Isa 41:21, 43:15, 44:6, 52:7c

: bqey Klm rmay Mkytwmue wvygh hwhy rmay Mkbyr wbrq 41:21
Mkklm larsy arwb Mkvwdq hehy yna 43:15
twabu hwhy wlagw larsy-Klm hwhy rma-hk 44:6
Kyhla Klm . . . 52:7b
NRSV of Isa 41:21, 43:15, 44:6, 52:7c

41:21 Set forth your case, says the LORD; bring forth your proofs, says the
King of Jacob.
43:15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.
44:6 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the LORD of
hosts:
52:7c . . . Your God reigns.
These verses may be taken together because they all come from so-called Second Isaiah.
For the sake of clarity and the ever-present danger of wandering too far out of context
from the kingship motif, the comments below will thus be confined to chapters 40-55,
without entering into the debate regarding the existence of a third Isaian prophet behind
chapters 56-66.185 In any case, the divine kingship motif does not occur explicitly in
chapters 56-66.
184 Kaiser, (1980ET), Isaiah 13-39, 316; Mayer, (1990ET), dry, yarad, TDOT VI, 321-22; Wehmeier,
(1997ET), hle lh to go up, TLOT II, 891. dry with regard to YHWHs descent has the
technical meaning to descend from heaven.
185 Although this limitation needs to be made, several passages would have made the case presented
here stronger: Isa 60:2, 63:15, 66:1,15,18.
For present purposes the major thing to notice in the above verses is that YHWH is
regarded as king explicitly only of Israel (even though he is also acknowledged as
creator186). Because of this, the prophet looks forward to a future time when the Lord
GOD comes (awby) with might to Judah (40:10, cf. 42:13),187 the return of the LORD to
Zion (52:8), to redeem and save (52:9-10) his people because he is their king.188 The
image of YHWH as the Divine Warrior King (especially in 51:9-11), this time leading his
people out of Babylon (cf. like a shepherd 40:11), has been cleverly recast by Second
Isaiah.189
In other words, because of the sins of the people, YHWH had withdrawn his Royal
Presence, but one day he will return to Zion after a period of punishment (i.e. the exile,
42:24-25). The formula yna Kta I am with you (43:2,5), does not contradict this.190
By this formula Second Isaiah expressed the belief that YHWH had not forgotten the
covenant relationship forged with his people (43:1), but was working even in his
punishment of them for their good.191 It was a formula guaranteeing divine protection, not
Divine Presence.192
Jer 10:7,10
BHS of Jer 10:7a,10a

Kary al ym 7a
. . . Mywgh Klm
Mlwe Klmw Myyx Myhla-awh tma Myhla hwhyw 10a
NRSV of Jer 10:7a,10a

7aWho would not fear you, O King of the nations? . . .
10aBut the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting
King.
186 J. Gray, (1979), The Reign of God, 167-68.

187 According to 41:5, YHWHs glory will be revealed before he comes.
188 Cf. W. H. Schmidt, (1983ET), The Faith of the OT, 148, the kingship of YHWH is a future
reality.
189 For a fuller analysis of this theme in Isa 40-55, see Mettinger, (1997), Hidden Structure, 143-51.
190 Isa 43:1-7 is naturally connected with 42:21-25 because of the htew But now of 43:1, see:
Westermann, (1969ET), Isaiah 40-66, 115; Oswalt, (1998), Isaiah 40-66, 136. On the I am with
you sayings in the OT and post-biblical Judaism, see: van Unnik, (1959), Dominus Vobiscum,
270-305; Kupp, (1996), Matthews Emmanuel, 138-56.
191 Cf. Gen 39:2,5,21. Westermann, (1969ET), Isaiah 40-66, 117, saw in the formula a declaration of
divine protection. Oswalt, (1998), Isaiah 40-66, 138-39, saw it as the promise of Divine Presence,
but this is contradicted by the motif of the eventual return of YHWH to Judah and Zion, Isa 40:10,
52:8.
192 See also Section 2.2.1 under Num 23:21 for a similar formula which speaks of presence rather than
protection.
The poems of Jer 10:1-16, as they are extant, are most likely not from Jeremiah himself.
They have undergone considerable reworking (e.g the LXX does not have vv. 6-10). There
is the presence of an Aramaic gloss (v. 11) and the repetition of vv. 12-16 in material that
is clearly exilic (51:15-19).193 Yet, even if they were from Jeremiah himself, there is no
indication in the poems regarding the presence of the Divine King. They do proclaim,
however, that YHWH made the universe and is king of the nations.194
Jer 48:15
BHS of Jer 48:15 (cf. LXX Jer 31:15195)

xbjl wdry wyrwxb rxbmw hle hyrew bawm ddv
: wmv twabu hwhy Klmh-Man
NRSV of Jer 48:15

The destroyer of Moab and his towns has come up, and the choicest of his
young men have gone down to slaughter, says the King, whose name is the
LORD of hosts.
Chapter 48 of Jeremiah consists of a collection of poems against Moab. The assumption

of the poems is that Moab has already been destroyed (e.g. 48:2,4) - an event that occurred
shortly after the Babylonians invaded it in 582 B.C. (cf. Ant. 10:181). These poems may
therefore be dated to early in the exilic period. In any case, they do not prove helpful in the
search for indications of Divine Royal Presence. Yet, the poems leave the reader in no
doubt that the L ORD of hosts has ultimate control over Moab and therefore over all
nations. His reach is universal.
Jer 51:57
BHS of Jer 51:57b

: wmv twabu hwhy Klmh-Man . . .
NRSV of Jer 51:57b

. . . says the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.
193 So: Bright, (1965), Jeremiah, 79; D. R. Jones, (1992), Jeremiah, 171-72; Treves, (1969), The
Reign of God, 236. To the contrary, i.e. there is no reason to deny Jeremiah authorship: J. A.
Thompson, (1980), Jeremiah, 325-26; Holladay, (1986), Jeremiah 1, 324-26; Lundbom, (1999),
Jeremiah 1-20, 577-82.
194 Jer 10:10 Mlwe Klm may also be translated king of the world which only confirms the title
king of the nations of v. 7 and his act of creation in Jer 10:12 // 51:15. See also Weisenberg,
(1964), melekh ha-olam, 11.
195 LXX Jer 31:15 lacks says the king whose name is the LORD of hosts. See LXX Jer 28:57 (BHS
Jer 51:57).
Linked to Jer 46:18 and 48:15 because of the refrain, 51:57 (cf. v. 39) is part of a
collection of poems against Babylon stretching across chapters 50 and 51. They can be
dated to the exilic period. Nwyu Zion occurs five times196 and lkyh temple twice.197
Together with 51:51 they betray a high concern for the integrity of the temple198 and look
forward to the time when the profanities committed against the temple (the LORDs house,
51:51) will be avenged.
Although there is nothing in these poems to indicate that the composer thought that the
Divine Royal Presence was removed because of the destruction of the temple,199 the writer
probably followed the Jeremiah school. That is, the Divine Royal Presence removed itself,
thus allowing the destruction of the temple. The writer looks forward to the time when the
people of Israel and Judah may be able once again to seek the L ORD (50:4). Where
will they go to seek him? Zion.
Ezek 20:33
BHS of Ezek 20:33

hmxbw hywjn ewrzbw hqzx dyb al-Ma hwhy ynda Man yna-yx
: Mkyle Kwlma hkwpv
NRSV of Ezek 20:33

As I live, says the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand and an out-stretched
arm, and with wrath poured out, I will be king over you.
The initial part of Ezekiels first divine vision (chs. 1-7) speaks indirectly of YHWHs
kingship over creation. He has attendants and is free to move about the earth (cf. Ps 29).
The vision proclaims not the presence of Yahweh among the exiles200 but precisely this
ability to grant such a vision of divine realities to anyone anywhere.
Although Ezek 1:1 would appear at first to suggest that Ezekiel thought of God as
dwelling in heaven, all other instances of Mymv in Ezekiel indicate either air or
196 Jer 50:5,28, 51:10,24,35.

197 Jer 50:28, 51:11.
198 Cf. R. P. Carroll, (1986), Jeremiah, 850-51.
199 See comments in Section 2.2.1.1 under Jer 8:19.
200 So: Block, (1997), Ezekiel 1-24, 108. Ezek 11:16 may either imply a reduced presence among
the exiles, so: Greenberg, (1983), Ezekiel 1-20, 190 and, Block, (1997), Ezekiel 1-24, 350. Or, as
most likely, since Gods glory did not follow them into exile, that even in Babylon God can be
encountered as in the temple, so Eichrodt, (1970ET), Ezekiel, 145.
sky.201 It is only with later reflection that Ezekiels divine chariot was to be located
in heaven.202
Nevertheless, for Ezekiel himself, the Divine King was to be found, prior to the exile, in the
temple. After his exile, he discovered through vision that YHWH had literally and
physically abandoned the temple and could be accessed even in Babylon. This picture of
Ezekiels notion of Divine Royal Presence is to be found in his use of dwbk glory.
Ezekiels well-known reticence to describe YHWH directly is countered by his liberal use
of glory. For him, Gods glory is only observed in vision never in theophany and is
effectively a circumlocution for the Divine Presence. It appears to him in vision in human
form,203 though like P it is also associated with a cloud (Ezek 10:4). There is little doubt
that Ezekiel came closest to claiming a hypostatic status for the hwhy dwbk.
Before the exile, Gods dwbk rested on the cherubim of the ark (9:3). At the exile, it left
the tyb and moved to the Mount of Olives (11:23).204 More than a symbol of divine
disfavour or abandonment to the inevitable forces of fate as punishment for sins,205 this
withdrawal from the temple by Gods glory was meant by Ezekiel to be taken as a
physical self-removal of the Divine Royal Presence. Behind the anxiety expressed by the
elders of Israel that God had forsaken them (8:12, 9:9) was more than an admission that
God had withdrawn his divine aid.206 It prompted Ezekiel to insist that Gods favour and
presence was still with them as it was in the temple (cf. 8:6) because his glory could now
be found with the exiles in Babylon.207
201 Ezek 8:3, 29:5, 31:6,13, 32:4,7,8 38:20, are all either the air or the sky. See Section 2.2.3
under Dan 4:37.
202 E.g. Dan 7:9-10,13-14, 1 Enoch 14:18-24, Apoc. Abr. 18, L.A.E. 25:3, Rev 4:1-11. See Block,
(1997), Ezekiel 1-24, 358.
203 Ezek 1:26-28, 3:23; Kittel and von Rad, (1964ET), ag^, TDNT II, 241; Terrien, (1978),
Elusive Presence, 259; Westermann, (1997ET), dbk kbd to be heavy, TLOT II, 601, 602.
204 Cf. Ezek 10:4,18-19, Zech 14. See N. T. Wright, (1996), Jesus, 205.
205 Ezek 3:12, 10:4,18, 11:23, 43:4,5, 44:4, Preuss, (1995-96ET), OT Theology I, 167, 169. Cf.
Section 1.5.5.2 and Josephus explanation for the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in A.D.
70. See too N. T. Wright, (1996), Jesus, 205.
206 B. A. Levine, (1968), On the Presence of God in Biblical Religion, 86; Greenberg, (1983),
Ezekiel 1-20, 170; Block, (1997), Ezekiel 1-24, 294. The context suggests that there is more than
simple cessation of divine aid that is implied, though this can be the meaning of the verb bze,
see: Gerstenberger, (1999ET), bze azab, TDOT X, 584-92.
207 Cf. Clements, (1965), God and Temple, 104; Terrien, (1978), Elusive Presence, 213; Wevers,
(1982), Ezekiel, 47; Greenberg, (1983), Ezekiel 1-20, 51; Tournay, (1991ET), Seeing and Hearing
God, 114.
Indeed, although Gods glory would not return to Zion until his tyb house was
restored (43:4, 44:4)208 and regardless of what happened to Jerusalem and Judah, YHWH
remained in charge.209 His divine kingship was to be recognised in the historical events
that had occurred and would occur.210
The context of 20:33 (cf. Jer 21:5) confirms the above. It is part of an auricular encounter
with God stretching over 20:1-44. After a recitation of earlier opportunities for the
execution of divine wrath, God finally punished Israel with the exile. Despite this
punishment and the removal of his presence, God will be king again over his people and
bring them back to the land (20:40). It will be a new exodus (vv. 34-37) in which
YHWH himself will return from the east (43:2), leading his flock back to Zion (v. 40,
cf. the Shepherd motif of 34:11-31). There, all Israel will serve YHWH and he will reign
as their king (cf. 48:35, Exod 15:1-18) from the new temple (37:27-28, 43:7).211
Obad 21
BHS of Obad 21 (cf. LXX Obad 21212)

wse rh-ta jpvl Nwyu rhb Myevwm wlew
: hkwlmh hwhyl htyhw
NRSV of Obad 21
Those who have been saved shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau;
and the kingdom shall be the LORDs.
Obadiah is probably early exilic, though wide opinion still exists.213 The prophet looks
forward to an eschatological hwhy Mwy day of the L ORD 214 (v. 15) when YHWHs
208 Cf. Ezek 37:26-28; Clements, (1965), God and Temple, 106-107; Terrien, (1978), Elusive
Presence, 211
209 Block, (1997), Ezekiel 1-24, 107. Ezek 16 echoes the relationship of the divine bwbk to
Jerusalem. YHWH abandoned Jerusalem to her enemies (vv. 37-40) because of sin (v. 27), but will
one day renew the covenant with her (vv. 59-63).
210 Block, (1997), Ezekiel 1-24, 650.
211 R. W. Klein, (1971), Yahweh Faithful and Free, 495b, 498b; W. H. Schmidt, (1983ET), The
Faith of the OT, 149-50; Mettinger, (1988ET), In Search of God, 106.
212 LXX Obad 21b has _^pfib^, though the future sense is maintained with pq^f.
213 E.g. exilic: Wolf, (1986ET), Obadiah, 18-19; Raabe, (1996), Obadiah, 51. See also the list and
discussion of other proposed dates: early post-exilic, L. C. Allen, (1976), Obadiah, 131; fifth
century, Mallon, (1990), Obadiah, NJBC, 404; and Maccabean, Treves, (1969), The Reign of
God, 236.
214 On the hwhy Mwy day of the LORD, see: von Rad, (1959), The Day of Yahweh, 97-108;
Terrien, (1978), Elusive Presence, 401-402; Weinfeld, (1986), The Day of the Lord, 341-72;
and, especially Mettinger, (1988ET), In Search of God, 108-12, 117, in which Mettinger discussed
it in association with the metaphor of God as king. Weinfeld, (1986), The Day of the Lord, 344,
rightly pointed out that Mwy day, te time and Uq hour are synonyms, i.e. a certain day is
kingship shall be reclaimed after the nations are punished (v. 21b). His activity of judging,
in virtue of his kingship,215 will be delegated to and shared by human beings (cf. Dan
7:14,27), who will be saved by the Divine King from punishment (cf. Isa 33:22). It will be
exercised from Mount Zion, the holy mountain (vv. 17, 16). That this place is twice
called vdq holy is an indication that Obadiah probably thought of it as the place of the
Divine Royal Presence,216 though again, that is in the future (vv. 17, 21b).
Mic 2:13, 4:7
BHS of Mic 2:13b, 4:7b

: Mvarb hwhyw Mhynpl Mklm rbeyw 2:13b
: Mlwe-dew htem Nwyu rhb Mhyle hwhy Klmw 4:7b
NRSV of Mic 2:13b, 4:7b

2:13b Their king will pass on before them, the LORD at their head.
4:7b and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion now and forevermore.
Because Mic 2:12-13 interrupts the flow of denunciation in 2:1-11 and 3:1-12, questions
of its dating and authorship have provoked much discussion. It has no explicit internal
pointers to dating, yet nothing in it positively precludes it having been composed by the
pre-exilic prophet Micah himself.217 However, its promise of restoration strongly suggests
a time during the exile, particularly as its terms and imagery are similar to those of Second
Isaiah and Ezekiel.218 Its similarities with 4:6-7 both in vocabulary and sentiment suggest
that these two passages originally belonged together and were inserted into the Micah
tradition at a later stage.
As shepherd-king, YHWH will both protect and lead Israel. The image cannot be anything
less than literal, that is, the Divine Royal Presence will be at the head of his flock when
they break out of the exile and return.219 4:6-7 continues the imagery. This shepherd-king
will continue his protection and leadership from Mount Zion once they have returned. The
not necessarily indicated, though it would be hard for the day of the Lord not to at least begin on
a specific day. See too Schaefer, (1993), The Ending of the Book of Zechariah, 169-70.
215 On hkwlm kingship see Section 2.2.1.1 under Ps 22:28.
216 Raabe, (1996), Obadiah, 204, 243.
217 A pre-exilic Micah: L. C. Allen, (1976), Obadiah, 301; Hillers, (1984), Micah, 39-40. A post-
exilic Micah: Wolff, (1990ET), Micah, 76. In part by an eighth-century prophet, in part by an
author in Maccabean times, Treves, (1969), The Reign of God, 237. Both exilic and post-exilic,
Andersen and Freedman, (2000), Micah, 332-34, where vv 12-13 have no evident connections
with the rest of chapters 1-3.
218 E.g. Isa 40:11, 43:15, 45:1-2, 52:7,11-12, 62:10, Ezek 34:13-16. Cf. Jer 23:3, 31:7,10.
219 W. H. Schmidt, (1983ET), The Faith of the OT, 150; Andersen and Freedman, (2000), Micah,
341.
implication is that at the time of writing, the author of 2:12-13 and 4:6-8 believed that the
Divine Royal Presence was not (yet) in Mount Zion.
This in fact is probably a tradition of the Micah school. Mic 1:2-3 contains the phrases
wvdq lkyhm from his holy temple and wmwqmm from his place indicating the
location from which the Divine King will come. They refer not to the Jerusalem temple but
this time to the heavenly palace.220
2.2.1.3 Probably Post-exilic
1 Chr 16:31 (cf. Ps 96:10)
BHS of 1 Chr 16:31 (cf. LXX 1 Chr 16:31221)

: Klm hwhy Mywgb wrmayw Urah lgtw Mymvh wxmsy
NRSV of 1 Chr 16:31

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,
and let them say among the nations, The LORD is king!
1 Chr 16:8-36a is a cultic hymn of praise and is a post-exilic reworking of the parts of
three psalms (Pss 105, 96, 106) and with three distinct parts (vv. 8-22, 23-34, 35-36a).222
In particular, the present verse is virtually identical to Ps 96:10a,11a.223 Here, YHWH is
king of: all gods (v. 25); creation and the earth (vv. 14, 30, 33); and all nations (v. 31). He
is not designated as king of Israel, though that is implied in v. 31 and a loose reading of v.
36a might also suggest it.
The final editor, probably fourth century B.C.,224 wished us to envisage this hymn being
sung at least for the first time in the tent in Jerusalem Myhlah ynpl before God (v. 1),
i.e. Myhlah-tyrb Nwra ynpl before the ark of the covenant of God (v. 6, cf, vv. 4, 37).
Ps 96, however, was probably sung at an annual autumn festival celebrating the kingship
220 Cf. Deut 26:15, 2 Sam 22:7, Ps 18:6, Isa 26:21, 63:15, Jer 25:30, 1 Enoch 1:3, As. Mos. 10:3.
See: Hillers, (1984), Micah, 19b; Wolff, (1990ET), Micah, 56. See too on lkyh Section 2.2.1.1
under Ps 29:10.
221 The LXX of 1 Chr 16:31 translates Klm hwhy as the NRSV, using _^pfibsk, a present active
participle; Camponovo, (1984), Knigtum, 387-88.
222 Myers, (1965), I Chronicles, 121; T. C. Butler, (1978), A Forgotten Passage from a Forgotten
Era, 142; A. E. Hill, (1983), Patchwork Poetry or Reasoned Verse?, 98; McConville, (1984),
Chronicles, 53; de Vries, (1989), 1 and 2 Chronicles, 150-51; Japhet, (1993), I & II Chronicles,
318; Selman, (1994), 1 Chronicles, 168-69.
223 See Section 2.2.1.1 above.
224 T. C. Butler, (1978), A Forgotten Passage from a Forgotten Era, 142-50, esp. 149, argued that
the editor of the hymn and the Chronicler are likely to be identical. See too R. W. Klein, (1992),
Chronicles, Book of 1-2, ABD I, 994-95.
of YHWH. Because both Ps 96 and 1 Chr 16:8-36a were to be sung in the same place
cultically, the Chronicler probably wanted to draw a connection between the two. That is,
the tent with the ark (Ps 96) and the second temple without it (1 Chr 16:8-36a), so that
even without the ark the second temple was still the place where the Divine King dwelt.225
Worshippers are still bidden in the hymn to bring an offering wynpl wabw and come
before him (v. 29b), wmqmb in his place (v. 27b).226
This conviction of the abiding reality of the Divine Royal Presence is matched in v. 33 by
the perfect ab he has come. God has come and is already present in the temple, from
where he judges the earth in the worshippers present. The appropriate response is that
the trees of the forest shall wnnry sing for joy hwhy ynplm before the L ORD the
king.227 Note that there continues to be no hint of theophany, only Divine Royal Presence
and judgement.
Ps 97:1
BHS of Ps 97:1a
: Mybr Myya wxmsy Urah lgt Klm hwhy
NRSV of Ps 97:1a
The LORD is king! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!
Another so-called Enthronement Psalm, this one betrays not an enthronement festival but
at least a cultic celebration on Mount Zion (v. 8). Most scholars regard the psalm as post-
exilic, though it incorporates older material.228
There are no indications of Divine Presence in the temple, so the psalm is a general hymn
extolling the kingship of God over all peoples, nature itself and even other gods. The
various motifs of kingship are very old, probably Canaanite. They include: his control over
nature (vv. 2-5) and his exercise of jpvm justice, judgement (vv. 2, 8). The verbs lyg
to rejoice and xms to be glad occur together three times in this psalm and occur
elsewhere in connection with God as king to denote the response to Gods presence as
225 Cf. Japhet, (1993), I & II Chronicles, 318. For a list of views regarding the relationship of the ark
to Divine Presence, see: G. H. Davies, (1971), Ark of the Covenant, 44. For a positive
connection between the ark and the Divine Presence, see de Vaux, (1972ET), The Bible and the
Ancient Near East, 145-51.
226 The place was no doubt coterminous with the ark, cf. 1 Chr 15:1,3. wynpl wabw replaces the
phrase wytwruxl into his courts of Ps 96:8, wmqmb replaces the phrase wvdqmb in his
sanctuary of Ps 96:6.
227 See on Ps 96:10 above.
228 A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms II, 686; J. Gray, (1979), The Reign of God, 68-69; Kraus,
(1993ET), Psalms 60-150, 258.
king.229 hxms gladness, joy is also associated with the response to the deeds of a
human monarch and is thus indicative of the deeds of any king, human or divine.230
Contrary to numerous scholars, the images presented in this psalm are not theophanic but
are events that accompany the Divine Royal Presence.231 They are to be classified rather as
epiphanic events.232 The events so described are universal, suggesting a universal kingship
and presence for YHWH.233
Ps 98:6
BHS of Ps 98:6
: hwhy Klmh ynpl weyrh rpwv lwqw twruuxb
NRSV of Ps 98:6
With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the
King, the LORD.
Similar to Psalm 96, this psalm is considered post-exilic,234 though it has motifs of the
Divine Warrior (vv. 1b-3). There are no indications that the psalm was to be sung in the
temple.
The psalm bids the earth to make a joyful noise to the L ORD (v. 4), before the King,
the LORD (v. 6b). This can only be done if God is already present. Like Ps 96:13 and 1
Chr 16:33, ab at v. 9 should be considered a perfect form he has come. YHWH has
already come to judge the earth. The Divine Royal Presence is over all the earth so that
joyful noise can indeed be made before him over all the earth (v. 4).235
229 Cf. 1 Chr 16:31, Pss 48:12, 68:3, 96:11, 97:1,8,12, 149:2.
230 Earthly, for example: 1 Sam 18:6, Ps 45:15, Esth 8:16,17.
231 Ps 97 is theophanic: Kraus, (1993ET), Psalms 60-150, 258-62; A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms II,
686-89; Ringgren, Seybold and Fabry, (1997ET), Klm melek, TDOT VIII, 372.
232 See footnote in Section 2.2.1.1 under Deut 33:5.
233 S. L. Cook, (1992), Apocalypticism and the Psalter, 95, claimed that Ps 97 describes the
apocalyptic coming of God, though no coming vocabulary is used in the psalm. The beholding
of YHWHs dwbk in v. 6 need only be of these epiphanic signs.
234 Kraus, (1993ET), Psalms 60-150, 264; A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms II, 691, probably.
235 Cf. Ringgren, Seybold and Fabry, (1997ET), Klm melek, TDOT VIII, 373.
Ps 145:1
BHS of Ps 145:1
: dew Mlwel Kmv hkrbaw Klmh yhwla Kmmwra
NRSV of Ps 145:1
I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name for ever and ever.
Psalm 145236 is an acrostic hymn of praise for an individual, with 13b (beginning with n)
missing from the MT but surviving in the LXX and Syriac versions and in 11QPsa col.
17.237 It is generally dated to the post-exilic period, not because of its acrostic pattern,238
but in view of the late Hebrew239 and the use of twklm kingdom in relation to YHWH
which, as will be shown in Section 3.2.1, occurs elsewhere only in post-exilic literature.240
It does not betray a temple setting but rather is for an individual, perhaps to be said every
day (v. 2).241
Just as the reciter of this psalm need not be in the temple, the perceived location of the
Divine Royal Presence is one that is not confined to the temple. In his kingdom which is
the whole of creation (vv. 9, 10), YHWH stands ready to hear the prayer and bring justice
to those who fear him and call on him in truth (vv. 19, 18), in fact all who are
bowed down (v. 14),242 wherever they may be. The Divine King is to be found
everywhere in his kingdom.
The use of the adjective bwrq near to describe YHWHs relationship to such people
(v. 18),243 is more than an acknowledgment that divine aid is readily available. Sometimes,
as is the case here, it is an adjective of place even when applied to God, e.g. Ps 119:151.
The Divine King is able to hear and answer prayer because, for the reciter of this psalm, he
is not confined to the temple, but is present wherever the psalm is sung.244
236 See Section 3.2.1 under Ps 145:11-13a especially for a consideration of the mention of YHWHs
twklm kingdom in this psalm.
237 Dahood, (1965-70), Psalms III, 335; A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms II, 939; Lindars, (1989),
The Structure of Psalm CXIV, 24. Cf. Martnez and Tigchelaar, (2000), Dead Sea Scrolls Study
Edition I, 5-6, though no text is given.
238 Cf. Pss 9-10, Section 2.2.1.2.
239 E.g. Pqz of v. 14 occurs only elsewhere at Ps 146:8 and Ezra 6:11; BDB, 279a, late.
240 A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms II, 936; Kraus, (1993ET), Psalms 60-150, 547. Though again for
an alternate view, see Dhood, (1965-70), Psalms III, 336.
241 So also Ps 34. Other suggestions include: A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms II, 936, a
representative of the whole community; Croft, (1987), Individual in the Psalms, 181, a temple
singer.
242 Cf. Curtis, (1988), God as Judge, 11.
243 Cf. Lev 10:3, Deut 4:7, Ps 34:18, 148:14, Isa 55:6, Lam 3:57.
244 Amirtham, (1968), To be Near to and Far away from Yahweh, 38; Khlewein, (1997ET), brq
qrb to approach, TLOT III, 1168.
Given the three-fold repetition of Mv name in the psalm (vv. 1, 2, 21), in connection
with its blessing and praise, v. 18 could also be saying that those who call on YHWH call
on his name. The name in other words, is nothing less here than the pledge of the presence
of the Divine King promised in v. 18a. If this is the case, the contrast to in truth would
be the commandment not to misuse the Divine Name (Exod 20:7).245
Ps 146:10
BHS of Ps 146:10
rdw rdl Nwyu Kyhla Mlwel hwhy Klmy
: hy-wllh
NRSV of Ps 146:10
The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the LORD!
Probably post-exilic because of the Aramaisms in vv. 4-5,246 Psalm 146 is the first of the
Hallel Psalms (Pss 146-50) which close the Psalter. It is an individual psalm of praise and
gives no indication of an original cultic setting.247 Zion in v. 10 is here a synonym for
the people of God (cf. Ps 149:2, Isa 52:7).248 There is also no indication of Divine
Presence within this psalm. YHWH as king is primarily maker (v. 6), helper (v. 5) and
judge (v. 7).
Ps 149:2
BHS of Ps 149:2
: Mklmb wlygy Nwyu-ynb wyseb larsy xmsy
NRSV of Ps 149:2
Let Israel be glad in its Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.
245 Kraus, (1993ET), Psalms 60-150, 548.

246 A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms II, 940; Kraus, (1993ET), Psalms 60-150, 551. To the contrary,
Dahood, (1965-70), Psalms III, 340-41. Notwithstanding the valuable cautionary comments
regarding Aramaisms as evidence of late dating in Hurvitz, (1968), Aramaisms in Biblical
Hebrew, 234-40, esp. 239-40.
247 Cf. Kraus, (1993ET), Psalms 60-150, 551. To the contrary, A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms II,
940; and,Croft, (1987), Individual in the Psalms, 181, for whom the individual was a temple
singer.
248 A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms I, 465, II, 944.
Ps 149 is a post-exilic psalm of praise (cf. Isa 25:9).249 As with Ps 146, there is neither a
firm indication of a cultic setting nor of Divine Royal Presence.250 lhq assembly in v.
1 may either refer to the worshipping community or the cultic congregation.251 YHWH is
primarily a Warrior King (v. 4).
Zech 14:9,16,17
BHS of Zech 14:9,16,17

Urah-lk-le Klml hwhy hyhw 9
: dxa wmvw dxa hwhy hyhy awhh Mwyb
Mlvwry-le Myabh Mywgh-lkm rtwnh-lk hyhw 16
twabu hwhy Klml twxtvhl hnvb hnv ydm wlew
: twkoh gx-ta gxlw
Mlvwry-la Urah twxpvm tam hley-al rva hyhw 17
: Mvgh hyhy Mhyle alw twabu hwhy Klml twxtvhl
NRSV of Zech 14:9,16,17

9 And the LORD will become king over all the earth; on that day the LORD
will be one and his name one.
16 Then all who survive of the nations that have come against Jerusalem
shall go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to
keep the festival of booths.
17 If any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship
the King, the LORD of hosts, there will be no rain upon them.
Scholarly consensus admits that Zech 9-14 was written by a later hand than Zech 1-8, but
as to its date and literary genre debate continues. Some even suggest that chapter 14 is
itself a separate composition.252 We may however, place 9-14 generally in the late post-
exilic period.253 Zech 14:9,16,17 occurs within an oracle concerning Israel (12:1) that
stretches across the last two chapters of Zechariah.
The oracle depicts a future Mwy d a y 254 when YHWH, the Divine Warrior King,255 will
bring victory to Jerusalem over her enemies, cleanse the inhabitants from sin and
249 A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms II, 952; Kraus, (1993ET), Psalms 60-150, 566. Treves, (1969),
The Reign of God, 234, thought that it was composed by Hasideans. Dahood, (1965-70), Psalms
III, 357, considered it pre-exilic.
250 Kraus, (1993ET), Psalms 60-150, 556.
251 A. A. Anderson, (1972), Psalms II, 634, 952.
252 E.g. Schaefer, (1993), The Ending of the Book of Zechariah, 166-67.
253 Treves, (1963), Zechariah IX-XIV, 196-200, Maccabean age; Petersen, (1992), Zechariah 9-14,
ABD VI, 1066; Schaefer, (1993), Zechariah 14 And the Book of Zechariah, 394. On the
possibility that Zech 12-14 may be from a Third Zechariah, see: Cody, (1990), Zechariah,
NJBC, 352; Meyers and Meyers, (1993), Zechariah 9-14, 55. See too: Petersen, (1995),
Zechariah 9-14, 24, Zech 9-14 is prophetic literature; Hanson, (979), The Dawn of Apocalyptic,
it is an early form of Apocalyptic.
254 Zech 12:3,4,6,8,9,11, 13:1,2,4, 14:1,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,13,20,21.
impurity (13:1) and make the city the focal point for worship for all people who survive
(14:16).
In each of the three instances of Klm, the Divine King is associated with Jerusalem. On the
future day YHWH will become king over all the earth and reign from Jerusalem
(14:9). It is to there that pilgrims from many nations will travel in order to hxv
worship him at the autumn Feast of Tabernacles (14:16,17, cf. 8:20-23)256 - an
important feature of which is a banquet in the presence of the Divine King.257 This
response of worship or bowing down is one made only to kings and gods in their
presence.258 Before that, however, YHWH will be the Divine Warrior who will himself
auy go forth and fight (14:3).
auy go forth is used 18 times in the OT in the qal with YHWH as subject. It usually
indicates departure not from a specific place but for a specific task, especially battle.259 In
this case however, the mention of the Mount of Olives and its being on the east of
Jerusalem suggest not only a previous location of the Divine Royal Presence but a link
with Ezek 11:23 and 43:2. In Ezekiel the Mount of Olives was the last place at which the
Glory of YHWH paused before moving away from Jerusalem. It will return from the
east.260
In short, the verb go forth in Zech 14:3 betrays not so much an exact location of the
Divine Royal Presence but at least a location that was somewhere other than Jerusalem and
the temple. Indeed, the plunder that is described in vv. 1-2 can take place precisely because
YHWH is not present there.
After the battle, YHWH ab will come with all the Myvdq holy ones (his loyal
retinue261) from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem to take up residence in his house
255 Cf. Miller, (1973), Divine Warrior, 141; Mettinger, (1988ET), In Search of God, 111-12, the
motif of the chaos battle transformed into that of the battle with the peoples. See too Schaefer,
(1993), The Ending of the Book of Zechariah, 171-72, who noted that in Zech 14 God does not
actually attack Jerusalem.
256 Cf. Schaefer, (1993), The Ending of the Book of Zechariah, 224-25; Nielsen, (1994), A Note on
Zechariah 14,4-5, 37.
257 See Section 3.3.2 under Luke 13:28,29.
258 BDB, 1005.
259 Preuss, (1990ET), auy, yasa, TDOT VI, 232; Jenni, (1997ET), auy ys to go out, TLOT II,
564.
260 Cf. Schaefer, (1993), The Ending of the Book of Zechariah, 175, 181-82.
261 Meyers and Meyers, (1993), Zechariah 9-14, 429-30; Petersen, (1995), Zechariah 9-14, 143.
Though the more difficult BHS Kme with you is to be preferred rather than the third person of
the LXX and Tg. Neb. Zech 14:5, see Schaefer, (1993), The Ending of the Book of Zechariah,
178-79, 187-88.
(14:20,21) as king over all the earth (14:5,9, cf. vv. 16, 17).262 He is not king - does not
reign (directly) - until then.263
Such a picture is consistent with the rest of Zechariah and so fits in with the traditions that
are grouped under Zechariah.264 In Zech 1-8, especially 2:10-11 for example, the writer
looked forward to the return of YHWH to the soon to be rebuilt temple.265 In Zech 12-14
this return of YHWH is pushed into the future. Perhaps this later member of the Zechariah
school was convinced that YHWH had in fact not yet returned to the second temple
(probably because of the continued sins of the people) but would do so on some future
day. Thus it is clear that the Zechariah school saw the Divine Royal Presence as absent
from the second temple. This absence, however, would not last forever.
Mal 1:14
BHS of Mal 1:14b

: Mywgb arwn ymvw twabu hwhy rma yna lwdg Klm yk
NRSV of Mal 1:14b

for I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name is reverenced
among the nations.
Malachi is a single early post-exilic oracle.266 Despite the impure sacrifices offered to him,
YHWH is and remains king and is acknowledged as such by people of all nations. But he
seems for the time being to be an absent king. The temple is his (2:11, 3:10), yet he is not
actually present as king there (witness for example the question at the end of 2:17).267
Chapter 3 is of special relevance to the present discussion. Because of the various

profanities conducted in the temple and various social improprieties, Malachi foresees that
the time will come when YHWH will deal with it. YHWH will send a messenger who will
come and appear (3:1a,c-2a) and purify the Levitical priests so that they can offer
262 Petersen, (1995), Zechariah 9-14, 149; Preuss, (1975ET), awb bo, TDOT II, 47. Meyers and
Meyers, (1993), Zechariah 9-14, 417, 429, saw significance in the pairing of auy (14:3) and awb
(14:5) as a pair frequently associated with military campaigns. However, awb in Zech 14:5,
describes what YHWH will do after the battle.
263 Cf. Schaefer, (1993), The Ending of the Book of Zechariah, 198.
264 See in particular: Schaefer, (1993), Zechariah 14 And the Book of Zechariah, 368-98.
265 Schaefer, (1993), Zechariah 14 And the Book of Zechariah, 378.
266 Post-exilic because of the use of hxp governor rather than Klm in 1:8. See: Treves, (1969),
The Reign of God, 237, Maccabean; A. E. Hill, (1992), Malachi, Book of, ABD IV, 481, ca.
500-480 B.C.
267 Nor are there any references to a heaven in the oracle.
sacrifices pleasing to YHWH (3:2b-4).268 Then the Divine King awby Matp will come
unexpectedly to his temple (3:1b).269 He ytbrq will draw near to judge (as king)
those who commit social evils (3:5). Again, it is worth noting that there is no theophany
associated with the coming of YHWH.
2.2.2 The DeuterocanonicalsThe Deuterocanonicals receive separate treatment here.

They are ignored in some studies of the OT and bundled with the Pseudepigrapha in
others, though chronologically, they fall within the same period as those normally
designated as part of the Pseudepigrapha.
Palestinian Origin Diaspora Origin

Late third century B.C. Tob 1:18, 10:13,
13:6,7,10,11,15,16270
Second century B.C. Sir 50:15d, 51:1,12.n Add Esth 13:9,15, 14:3,12271
2 Macc 1:24, 7:9, 13:4272
Late second century B.C. Jdt 9:12 Wis 3:8, 18:15273
to early first century A.D.
268 Based on the extant text, this messenger may be a priest (2:7) or Elijah (4:5), though other
suggestions have been made (e.g. Messiah, John the Baptist, etc.). See discussions in: Verhoef,
(1987), Malachi, 287-88; A. E. Hill, (1998), Malachi, 287-89.
269 There is some scholarly debate as to the identity of Nwdah the Lord. Most concede that it refers
to YHWH, for example: Verhoef, (1987), Malachi, 288; Redditt, (1995), Malachi, 176; A. E.
Hill, (1998), Malachi, 289. Some believe it refers to the messenger, e.g. Petersen, (1995),
Zechariah 9-14, 211-12. The simple observation that it is to his temple that the Lord will
come, favours the majority view.
270 Third century B.C.: Schrer, (19732), Age III.1, 224; Nickelsburg, (1984), Stories of Biblical and
Early Post-Biblical Times, 45; Nickelsburg, (1981), Jewish Literature, 35. Late third, early
second century: C. A. Moore, (1992), Tobit, Book of, ABD VI, 591; C. A. Moore, (1996),
Tobit, 40-43. Early second century: Nowell, (1990), Tobit, NJBC, 568a; Zimmermann, (1958),
Tobit, 20, 24, Antioch, in time of Antiochus IV (175-164 B .C .), 15-21. Cf. Camponovo, (1984),
Knigtum, 130-33.
271 Schrer, (19732), Age III.2, 719-20, in Palestine; Dumm, (1990), Esther, NJBC, 576a, 579b.
Cf. Camponovo, (1984), Knigtum, 181-82.
272 Schrer, (19732), Age III.1, 532-33; Goldstein, (1976), I Maccabees, 63, first century B .C .;
McEleney, (1990), 1-2 Maccabees, NJBC, 423, second century B .C . in Egypt; Fischer,
(1992ET), Second Maccabees, ABD IV, second century B .C . in Egypt. Cf. Camponovo, (1984),
Knigtum, 188-9
273 Schrer, (19732), Age III.1, 573, Roman period; Gilbert, (1984), Wisdom Literature, 312, not
before 30 B .C . and, possibly early first century A.D.; Nickelsburg, (1981), Jewish Literature,
184, during reign of Caligula A.D. 37-41; A. G. Wright, (1990), Wisdom, NJBC, 510a; R. E.
Murphy, (1990), The Tree of Life, 83, last half of first century B.C. Di Lella, (1992), Wisdom of
Ben-Sira, ABD VI, 932b, assigned a date well before Antiochus IV Epiphanes because reference to
those turbulent years is lacking in the work.
In this body of literature, God is depicted or addressed as a king 21 times. However, only
four of those times occur in books whose origin can be confidently said to be Palestinian.
The remaining instances come from the Diaspora, more importantly, from books whose
influence on the Palestine of the first century, especially on the Pharisees and Jesus is
questionable. For example, no Jewish writer of the first two centuries A.D. mentions or
quotes Wisdom,274 yet fragments of five scrolls of Tobit have been found in Cave 4 at
Qumran, indicating that it at least was known among the sectarian circles of Qumran in
Palestine before A.D. 70.275 If they did influence Palestinian thought, their contribution to
Palestinian belief will in any case be secondary and not reflective. No harm then will be
done by excluding them.276
Sir 50:15
LXX of Sir 50:15d

pjk bsa^t `pq m^j_^pfib-
NRSV of Sir 50:15d

a pleasing odor to the Most High, the king of all.
Sir 50:1-24 is an eulogy for Simon II ben Onias II, high priest 219-196 B.C. (cf. Ant.
12:224).277 Unfortunately, though now extant completely only in Greek and Syriac, Sirach
was originally composed in Hebrew in Palestine but translated into Greek in Egypt by the
authors grandson (prologue).278 Although Sir 50 is largely well preserved in the Hebrew,
it does not include this verse, though verses either side are preserved.279 This suggests that
this particular verse may be from the Diaspora.
In any case, it is not much use for the present purpose, since the whole chapter is
ambiguous as to the location of the Divine King. Seven times `fpqlt Most High is
used of God, possibly indicating that God was considered to dwell somewhere high and
from there was king of all (cf. Ps 47:2, Sir 24:3-4).280 The odor rising from the outside
274 Gilbert, (1984), Wisdom Literature, 312.

275 I.e. 4Q196-200. Cf. Martnez and Tigchelaar, (2000), Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition I, 382-99.
276 See also the remarks in Section 1.2.2 with regard to the LXX.
277 Cf. Camponovo, (1984), Knigtum, 133-34; MacKenzie, (1983), Sirach, 190; N. T. Wright,
(1992), People of God, 217.
278 Schrer, (19732), Age III.1, 202; Skehan and Di Lella, (1987), Ben Sira, 8-10; Di Lella, (1990),
Sirach, NJBC, 496b-97a; Camponovo, (1984), Knigtum, 133.
279 Beentjes, (1997), Ben Sira, 89, 176. Verse 15 is missing from all Hebrew MSS.
280 See Section 2.2.1.1 under Ps 47:2,6,7,8.
altar (50:15c) rose up (cf. Judg 13:20), not horizontally into the holy of holies. Yet, 50:19
depicts worshippers in the temple offering their prayers h^qk^kqf before God.
Sir 51:1
Hebrew of Sir 51:1a (MS B)281

:yba yhla Ky[..]a yevy yhla Kllha
LXX of Sir 51:1a

~Cgljlildplj^ plf+ hofb _^pfib+
h^ ^kps pb vbk qk psqo jlr+
NRSV of Sir 51:1a282

I give you thanks, O Lord and King, and praise you, O God my Savior.
Sir 51:1-12 is a prayer or psalm forming part of the appendix to the book of Sirach. Ben
Sirach gives thanks to God for deliverance from trouble.
Curiously, the LXX departs significantly from the extant Hebrew at 51:1. The Hebrew may
be translated: I will praise you my God and my salvation, I will sing to you my God my
Father. There is, in other words, no mention of God as king in the Hebrew.
It is possible that the Greek is a reflection of another older Hebrew text that is now lost.283
It is possible too that the Greek text is indicative of the theological predilection of the
translator who had before him a Hebrew text similar to the one we now possess but for
some reason chose to include a mention of God as king.284 If it is attributable to the
second possibility, it would remove the verse from further consideration here because the
verse is of relevance only insofar as it yields an indication of Palestinian thinking, not that
of the Jewish Diaspora.
As it happens, the problem need not be resolved here. If the text betrays an underlying
Hebrew MSS, it tells us little of the notion of Divine Royal Presence. In v. 9 Ben Sirach
sent his prayer from the earth, suggesting that for him that the Divine King was not
on earth. But that is about all that can be ascertained.
281 Vattioni, (1968), Ecclesiastico, 277; Beentjes, (1997), Ben Sira, 91.
282 The Greek verbs are in the future, so, I will give you praise, O Lord king and, will tell of you my
Saviour God.
283 Ziegler, (1982), Sirach, 362, does not indicate a Hebrew text underlying any MSS variant of Sir
51:1.
284 Cf. Section 1.2.3.
Sir 51:12.n
Hebrew of Sir 51:12.n (MS B)285

: wdox Mlwel yk Myklm yklm Klml wdwh
NRSV of Sir 51:12.n

Give thanks to the King of the kings of kings, for his mercy endures
forever;
Sir 51:12.a-p is a hymn modelled on Psalm 136 because of the similar refrain for his
mercy endures forever. It survives only in the Hebrew. Although probably not composed
by Ben Sira, it nevertheless was written in the second century B.C. when the Zadokites
were still high priests (v. 12.i), i.e. before 152 B.C.286 The three-fold expression Myklm
yklm Klm in 51:12.n occurs elsewhere in later literature, with its two-fold counterpart
first occurring in 1 Enoch 9:4.287 It acknowledges and proclaims the universal sovereignty
of God over all kings and therefore over all nations.
Verse 12.g is a thanksgiving to YHWH for rebuilding his city and his sanctuary.288
Either it is possible that the author considered the Divine King to dwell in the temple in his
present, or it is a future hope that the temple will be rebuilt by God since at the time of
composition it already existed. The former possibility seems more likely as the author
seemed happy with the present temple (v. 12.i).
Jdt 9:12
LXX of Jdt 9:12

k^ k^ vbt ql m^qot jlr h^ vbt hieolklj^t ~Gpoêi+
apmlq^ qk lo^kk h^ qt dt+ hqpq^ qk aqsk+
_^pfib mpet hqpbt plr+ p bphlrplk qt abpbt jlr
NRSV of Jdt 9:12

Please, please, God of my father, God of the heritage of Israel, Lord of
heaven and earth, Creator of the waters, King of all your creation, hear my
prayer!
285 Vattioni, (1968), Ecclesiastico, 279; Beentjes, (1997), Ben Sira, 93.
286 Di Lella, (1966), Hebrew Text of Sirach, 102, 105; MacKenzie, (1983), Sirach, 194; Skehan and
Di Lella, (1987), Ben Sira, 569-70. About two-thirds of Sirach has been recovered in the Hebrew.
Schrer, (19732), Age III.1, 203, 205, pointed out that the Syriac was translated from the Hebrew,
not the Greek, but with frequent recourse to the Greek.
287 Earlier: 1 Enoch 9:4 (2-fold). Later: 1 Enoch 84:2 (2-fold), Aleinu, m. Sanh. 4:5N, Abot 3:1E,
4:22O.
288 Cf. Exod 15:17, Jub. 1:7. The references that are given in Skehan and Di Lella, (1987), Ben Sira,
570, either refer only to Jerusalem or are not explicit as regards God himself building the temple.
The original language of the book of Judith was probably Hebrew, since the LXX gives
every indication of being a translation from a Hebrew text. It was most probably
composed towards the end of the second century B.C. and in Palestine.289 As recently as
1985, the author was considered by at least one scholar to have been a Pharisee,290 though
most remain indifferent to this claim.
Jdt 9:2-14 forms the prayer of Judith, prayed by her at Bethulia (8:11b) at the time of
the evening sacrifice in the temple (9:1). Whether Bethulia was an actual city (4:6, 6:10-
11), or as seems more likely, a substitute for Jerusalem,291 there is no indication that we
are meant to think that Judith offered her prayer in the temple. The text is more concerned
with the timing of the prayer (v. 1).
For the writer of Judith, God is vbt ql lo^kl the God of heaven and the
`fpqlt Most High.292 Yet, in 9:8 it is his klj^ that rests in the phksj^, a less
frequently used synonym for phek, literally a tent.293 It refers to Gods house or
temple. Elsewhere, too, God himself is thought of as residing in the temple (e.g. 9:1,13,
11:13). Judiths prayer, though not uttered in the temple, was nevertheless heard by God.
The Divine Royal Presence, though centred on the temple, was not confined to it.
289 Schrer, (19732), Age III.1, 218-19; C. A. Moore, (1985), Judith, 66-71; Craghan, (1982), Judith,
81, mid-second century B .C .; Craven, (1990), Judith, NJBC, 573b, early first century B .C .
Palestine.
290 Schrer, (19732), Age III.1, 219; C. A. Moore, (1985), Judith, 66-71; cf. Camponovo, (1984),
Knigtum, 177-78.
291 So Craghan, (1982), Judith, 80-81.
292 Jdt 5:8, 6:19, 11:17, 13:18.
293 It is not the first time that the divine name has been encountered within the context of the Divine
Royal Presence. See discussions under Isa 33:17,22, Ps 74:12, 145:1, Zech 14:9, Mal 1:14.
2.2.3 The Pseudepigrapha (and Daniel)Explicit mention of God as king, his reign
(noun or verb) or his kingship, occur in the following places in the (Jewish)
Pseudepigrapha and Daniel.294

Third Century 1 Enoch 9:4r,c, 12:3, 25:3,5,7, 27:3 Dan 4:37
B .C . 1 Enoch 81:3
Second 1 Enoch 84:2,3,5 1 Esdr 4:40(?),46,58,295
Century B.C. Jub. 1:28r T. Naph. 8:3, Dan 5:13, Benj. 10:7296
Sib. Or. 3:499,560,617,717-18,808297
Frag. Sib. Or. 1:7,35, 3:42298
First Pss. Sol. 2:30,32, 5:19, 17:1,34,46 Sib. Or. 3:48,56
Century B.C. 3 Macc 2:2,9,13, 5:7,28,35,51, 6:2, 7:9299
First As. Mos. 4:2, 10:3c Ps.-Phoc. 111300
Century A.D. L.A.E. (Apoc.) 29:4
Second T. Ab. A 2:6,11, 8:3301
Century A.D. Sib. Or. 5:348,352,499302
3 Bar. 16:4303
294 It also occurs in: 3 Enoch 1:10, 10:3, 15B:3, 22B:5,7, 22:15,16, 25:4, 29:1, 35:6, 45:6. 3 Enoch,
however, is thought to have been composed in the fifth or sixth century A.D. in the Diaspora, see
Alexander, (1983), 3 (Hebrew Apocalypse of) Enoch, OTP I, 229. On p. 241 Alexander wrote,
According to 3 Enoch 5:1-14, after Adam was expelled from Eden, the Sekinah remained on earth,
but since the generation of Enosh (the third in line from Adam) it has been residing in the highest
heaven. For a lists of references in the Deuterocanonicals and the Pseudepigrapha, see for
example: Swanson, (1980), Kingship of God, 1-25; Camponovo, (1984), Knigtum, passim.
295 Schrer, (19732), Age III.2, 713-14; N. Turner, (1962), Esdras, Books of, IDB II, 142a; W. R.
Goodman, (1992), Esdras, First Book of, ABD II, 610b.
296 Schrer, (19732), Age III.2, 774, considered the Testaments late first century B .C ., but see n. 32
for scholars who dated the Testaments to the second half of the second century B .C .; Charlesworth,
(1981), The Pseudepigrapha and Modern Research, 212; J. J. Collins, (1984), Testaments,
344, for whom the final form of the Testaments were late second or early third century A.D.;
Charlesworth, (1987), The NT Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, 55; Kee, (1983), Testaments of
the Twelve Patriarchs, OTP I, 778.
297 Schrer, (19732), Age III.1, 636, 640; Nickelsburg, (1981), Jewish Literature, 162-63;
Charlesworth, (1981), The Pseudepigrapha and Modern Research, 185; J. J. Collins, (1984),
The Sibylline Oracles, 367, 370; Charlesworth, (1987), The NT Apocrypha and
Pseudepigrapha, 55; Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 253, mid second century B .C . in Egypt;
Stemberger, (1995), Non-Rabbinic Literature, 24.
298 See references for Sib. Or. 3.
299 Schrer, (19732), Age III.1, 539-40; H. Anderson, (1983), 3 Maccabees, OTP II, 512.
300 van der Horst, (1983), Pseudo-Phocylides, OTP II, 567-68.
301 E. P. Sanders, (1983), The Testament of Abraham, OTP I, 874-76, between A.D. 75-125;
Schrer, (19732), Age III.2, 762-64, late second or first century B .C .; Nickelsburg, (1981), Jewish
Literature, 253; Charlesworth, (1981), The Pseudepigrapha and Modern Research, 70;
Nickelsburg, (1984), Stories of Biblical and Early Post-Biblical Times, 64; Charlesworth,
(1987), The NT Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, 55.
302 Schrer, (19732), Age III.1, 643-45; J. J. Collins, (1983), Sibylline Oracles, OTP I, 390.
303 The date and provenance of 3 Baruch (the Greek and Slavonic versions) are much in dispute. A
Diaspora origin in the first or second century is not improbable. See: Schrer, (19732), Age III.2,
791; Nickelsburg, (1981), Jewish Literature, 303; Charlesworth, (1981), The Pseudepigrapha
References from the Diaspora may be immediately discarded from further consideration.
Christian influence304 cannot be entirely ruled out for many of them (e.g. the
Testaments,305 3 Baruch306) and as the purpose here is to gain some insight into the
situation pertaining to the Pharisees and Jesus of first century A.D. Palestine, it would
seem unnecessary to take these documents into account.307 It is to be noted that according
to the fourth edition of the UBS Greek NT,308 there are no allusions or verbal parallels
between any of these works and Luke-Acts, indicating that they had no influence at any
stage of the formation of the third Gospel. This is still so in the case of the Testaments of
the Twelve Patriarchs, even if their earlier pre-Christian forms were used by first century
A.D. Palestinian groups.309
The one exception is Dan 4:37. Thus there are some 21 verses and their contexts that need
to be surveyed for their notions of the Divine Royal Presence.
Dan 4:37
BHS of Dan 4:34 (Aramaic)

aymv Klml rdhmw Mmwrmw xbvm rundkwbn hna Nek
:hlpvhl lky hwgb Nyklhm ydw Nyd htxraw jvq yhwdbem-lk yd
NRSV of Dan 4:37

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for
all his works are truth and his ways are justice; and he is able to bring low
those who walk in pride.
and Modern Research, 86; Stone, (1984), Apocalyptic Literature, 412, dated it in the second
century A.D.; Charlesworth, (1987), The NT Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, 55; Gaylord,
(1983), 3 (Greek Apocalypse of) Baruch, OTP I, 656-57.
304 See the timely caution about using the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs and the Sibylline
Oracles in NT scholarship in: Charlesworth, (1998), The OT Pseudepigrapha and the NT, 36, 40;
Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 286 nn. 104, 107. The caution is because they are probably
Christian redactions and expansions of admittedly earlier Jewish documents.
305 Nickelsburg, (1981), Jewish Literature, 233; Charlesworth, (1981), The Pseudepigrapha and
Modern Research, 212; Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 261-62; de Jonge, (1980), Main
Issues, 508-24, esp. 514, 521; de Jonge, (1975), Christian Influence, 192-246; de Jonge,
(1982), The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, ANRW II.20.1, 359-420, esp. 412.
306 Stone, (1984), Apocalyptic Literature, 411-12.
307 Cf. Section 1.2.2.
308 UBS4, 900-901.
309 Charlesworth, (1998), The OT Pseudepigrapha and the NT, 40; J. J. Collins, (1987), The
Kingdom of God in the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, 91.
Dan 1-6 was composed in the Diaspora and was joined with Dan 7-12 in the second
century B.C. in Palestine.310 Hence consideration is given to it here and in Section 3.2.3.
The motif king of heaven is not an indication that God was thought of here as the king
in and of heaven only, simply that he is king of the earth but ruled as king from heaven.
This explanation conforms with such phrases in Daniel as God in heaven (2:28) and
with the fact that Nebuchadnezzars kingship and kingdom is subtly compared and
contrasted with the Divine Kingdom and Kingship (e.g. 4:22,25,26).311 We may note, too,
the association of Divine Kingship with Nyd judgement, justice.
This verse has the distinction of being the first to locate the Divine Royal Presence
explicitly in heaven.
The term Mymv heaven (literally heavens, Aramaic Nymv) can mean both the
dwelling place of God, air or sky and God himself, much like the word hwn
pasture on occasion.
Particularly when not in conjunction with kingdom, heaven is the uppermost world
of the three-tiered Hebrew cosmos. It is literally a location in space to be distinguished
from Ura earth and lwav Sheol or the underworld.312 This heaven was nothing
less in some circles than the dwelling place of God,313 though as Ps 139:7-10 testifies, that
did not necessarily nullify Gods perceived ability to be anywhere.314
310 Schrer, (19732), Age III.1, 246-47; Nickelsburg, (1984), Stories of Biblical and Early Post-
Biblical Times, 34; Hartman and Di Lella, (1990), Daniel, NJBC, 409a; Hartman and Di Lella,
(1978), The Book of Daniel, 13.
311 D. S. Russell, (1981), Daniel, 82. Heaven is a circumlocution for God here, Hartman and Di
Lella, (1978), The Book of Daniel, 173.
312 Cf. Deut 5:8, 2 Sam 18:9, Ezek 8:3, Ant. 1:30; Baird, (1963), Justice of God, 77; Stadelmann,
(1970), Hebrew Conception of the World, 9-10, 40; Nickelsburg, (1991), Reality in 1 Enoch,
58-59. A similar three-tiered view may be found in the contemporaneous 1 Enoch. Heaven in this
sense is separated from the Earth and Sheol by the eyqr firmament.
313 Particularly evident: where God is said to look down from heaven, e.g. Ps 14:2, 33:15, 53:2,
80:14, 102:19, Isa 63:15, Lam 3:50; where God is said to descend from heaven to the earth, e.g.
Gen 11:5,7, Exod 19:11,18,20, Isa 64:1; and in the post-exilic title God of heaven, e.g. Ezra
1:2, Neh 1:4,5, 2:4,20, Ps 136:26, Jonah 1:9 and, the Aramaic Ezra 6:9,10, 7:21,23, Dan
2:37,44. See: G. F. Moore, (1927), Judaism I, 367; Stadelmann, (1970), Hebrew Conception of
the World, 54-55; Urbach, (19792ET), The Sages I, 70; Reddish, (1992), Heaven, ABD III, 90-
91; Soggin, (1997ET), Mymv samayim heaven, TLOT III, 1371.
314 Also 1 Kgs 8:27, Isa 66:1, 2 Chr 2:6, 6:18. This need not mean that God was thought to be
omnipresent as most scholars conclude, merely that God was not able to be confined, that is, he
had the ability to be anywhere he desired. The multiplicity of heavens in later rabbinic Judaism
need not be of concern here, cf. 2 Cor 12:2.
On a few occasions the word can mean air or sky, i.e. the space between heaven
and earth, particularly the place from which rain comes.315
From the Greek period onwards, heaven became also a circumlocution for God.316
1 Enoch 9:4, 12:3, 25:3,5,7, 27:3
1 Enoch 9:4 (Greek)317

I^ bm^Yk[ q hro Q b hoflt qk hrosk h^ vbt qk
vbk h^ _^pfibt qk ^ksk9 voklt qt aget plr bt
mp^t qt dbkbt ql ^klt+ h^ q klj plr q dflk h^
jd^ h^ bildeqk bt mkq^t qlt ^k^t-
1 Enoch 9:4 (Aramaic) = 4QEnb 1 iii 14-15 (4Q201)318

hlaw ayrm arm htna] amle arm a[wh] abr anrm [awh htna]
[aymle Klmw ayhla
. . . a]mle Nm yd ayrd rd{l} Krqy a[orwkw]
Translation of 1 Enoch 9:4 (based on the Ethiopic)319

And they said to the Lord of the potentates, For he is the Lord of lords,
and the God of gods, and the King of kings, and the seat of his glory
(stands) throughout all the generations of the world.
1 Enoch 12:3 (Greek)320

I^ pqt jek Cku bildk q hro qt jbdîspket+
q _^pfib qk ^ksk-
315 E.g. Gen 8:2, 1 Kgs 18:45, Isa 55:10, Jer 14:22, Ezek 29:5, 31:6,13, 32:4, 38:20, Zech 5:9. See
. Levine, (1976), Distinguishing Air from Heaven, 97-99.
316 Found as early as: 1 Macc 3:18,19,50,60, 4:10,24,40,55 12:15, 16:3(NRSV), 2 Macc 7:11, 8:20,
9:4,20 and, possibly Dan 4:23 and, also e.g. 1 Enoch 6:2, 13:8, Matt 21:25, 23:22, Luke
15:7,18,21, 19:38, Mark 14:62. See the later: m. Ber. 2:5E, Abot 1:3B,11A, 2:2C,12D, 4:11E,
5:17, Sanh. 2:1O, 6:4S, 9:6H, 10:1D, Ned. 10:6E, but note Shab. 4:13; Dalman, (1902ET),
Words of Jesus, 217-19. See too: Schechter, (1895), Some Aspects of Rabbinic Theology, 201;
Stadelmann, (1970), Hebrew Conception of the World, 55; Kadushin, (19723), The Rabbinic
Mind, 18, 204; G. F. Moore, (1927), Judaism I, 367, 430; Treves, (1969), The Reign of God,
230 n. 1; Urbach, (19792ET), The Sages I, 69-72; Deutsch, (1987), Hidden Wisdom and the Easy
Yoke, 127; Lattke, (1984), On the Jewish Background, 79; Marmorstein, (1927), The Old
Rabbinic Doctrine of God I, 93, 105; Sandmel, (1978), Judaism and Christian Beginnings, 170,
442 n. 6; Keener, (1999), Matthew, 218 n. 167. Thus, too, there is no difference in meaning
between kingdom of heaven and kingdom of God in Matthew, despite the efforts of Pamment,
(1981), The Kingdom of Heaven, 211-32 and, Thomas, (1993), Kingdom of God in Matthew,
136-46. See, for example, Cyprian, Treatise IV.13, (ANF V, 451a), where kingdom of God equals
the kingdom of heaven and, Jeremias, (1971ET), NT Theology I, 97.
317 Black, (1970), Apocalypsis, 23; Camponovo, (1984), Knigtum, 243.
318 Milik, (1976), The Books of Enoch, 171; Camponovo, (1984), Knigtum, 243; Martnez and
Tigchelaar, (2000), Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition I, 406.
319 Isaac, (1983), 1 (Ethiopic, Apocalypse of) Enoch, OTP I, 6, 17. The original Ethiopic to 1
Enoch may be found in: Knibb, (1978), The Ethiopic Book of Enoch I, passim.
1 Enoch 12:3 (Aramaic) = 4QEnc 1 v 19 (4Q204)321

. . . aymle Klml atwbr arml Krbmw Maq tywh Kwnx hnaw

And I, Enoch, began to bless the Lord of the mighty ones and the King of
the universe.
1 Enoch 25:3,5,7 (Greek)323

3 - - - Rlql q olt q èik+ l hlorc jl^ voklr vbl+
h^vao^ pqk l h^vwbf jd^t hoflt+ dflt qt aget
_^pfibt ql ^klt+ q^k h^q^_ mfph`^pv^f qk dk m'
d^v-
5 hômt ^ql qlt hibhqlt bt wsk bt _look+ h^
jbq^crqbrvpbq^f k qm d mô qk lhlk ql vbl
_^pfist ql ^klt-
7 Rqb eidep^ qk vbk qt aget+ qk _^pfi^ ql ^klt - - -
1 Enoch 25:7 (Aramaic) = 4QEnd 1 xii 1 (4Q205)324

. . . Nyjyvql Nlak avnal Ny]km yd hlbwql [Maq] 7
Translation of 1 Enoch 25:3,5,7 (based on the Ethiopic)325

3 This tall mountain which you saw whose summit resembles the throne of
God is (indeed) his throne, on which the Holy and Great Lord of Glory, the
Eternal King, will sit when he descends to visit the earth with goodness.
5 . . . He will plant it in the direction of the northeast, upon the holy place -
in the direction of the house of the Lord, the Eternal King.
7 At that moment, I blessed the God of Glory, the Eternal King, . . .
1 Enoch 27:3b (Greek)326

- - - ab bildplrpfk l pb_bt qk hoflk qt aget+ qk
_^pfi^ ql ^klt9
Translation of 1 Enoch 27:3b (based on the Ethiopic)327

The merciful will bless the Lord of Glory, the Eternal King, all the day.
These verses of 1 Enoch are from the The Book of the Watchers (chs. 1-36). Because
of Aramaic fragments discovered at Qumran which have been palaeographically dated to
the early second century B.C., 1 Enoch 1-36 is generally believed to have been composed
321 Milik, (1976), The Books of Enoch, 190; Martnez and Tigchelaar, (2000), Dead Sea Scrolls Study
Edition I, 414.
322 Isaac, (1983), 1 (Ethiopic, Apocalypse of) Enoch, OTP I, 19.
323 Black, (1970), Apocalypsis, 35; Camponovo, (1984), Knigtum, 244, 245.
324 Milik, (1976), The Books of Enoch, 220; Martnez and Tigchelaar, (2000), Dead Sea Scrolls Study
Edition I, 422.
in Palestine in the third century B.C. Its original language (whether Hebrew of Aramaic or
a combination), however, is uncertain. It is extant completely only in Ethiopic.328
At the beginning of 1 Enoch, Enochs vision begins with the stirring of God. God will
come forth from heaven, march on Mount Sinai, and there appear (1:3-4, cf. 25:3).
Then judgement will take place and the righteous in particular will be preserved (1:5-9,
5:7-10).329 The picture is much like the OT day of the LORD. We may note the order of
the verbs here. God first comes from heaven to earth, and then appears, suggesting
not only that to come is non-theophanic but that the verbs are essentially different in
meaning. God must be present before he can reveal himself. The implications of this for
the present task are explored in Section 3.7.
1 Enoch 9:4 depicts the intercession of four archangels to the Most High on behalf of
humankind. The location is literally the sanctuary in heaven (v. 1), which probably
refers to the heavenly temple of God rather than to heaven itself (cf. 14:10-16).330 It is
from there that God is king of everything (v. 5), a sentiment embedded in the two-fold
title king of kings, with its implication that God is king of all (earthly) kings and
nations.331 There is an emphasis on the divine kingship lasting for all time (cf. 22:14).
1 Enoch 12:3, God is king of the universe, though other translations place the emphasis on
time, e.g. King of Eternity and King of the ages.332
1 Enoch 25:3,5,7. Michael responds to Enoch. The tall mountain (v. 3) which is at
present the vacant throne of God is most likely Mount Zion rather than Sinai.333 It is to
there that God will descend (from heaven) as king to judge (v. 4, cf. 1:3, 91:7334).
328 Schrer, (19732), Age III.1, 256; Isaac, (1983), 1 (Ethiopic, Apocalypse of) Enoch, OTP I, 7; R.
E. Brown, (1990), Jewish Apocrypha, NJBC, 1057b.
329 Wicks, (1915), The Doctrine of God, 37; Ladd, (1953), The Kingdom of God in I Enoch 1-36,
32-33; VanderKam, (1973), The Theophany of Enoch I, 139, the heaven of heavens; cf. Jude
14-15.
330 Black, (1985), The Book of Enoch, 129. See also Section 2.2.1.1 under Ps 29:10. 1 Enoch 14:8-
25 is an elaborate vision of the heavenly house of God where his throne is set.
331 See also: 1 Enoch 84:2 (2-fold), Sir 51:12.n, Aleinu, m. Sanh. 4:5N, Abot 3:1E, 4:22O (all 3-
fold. On the two-fold title, see: Beale, (1985), King of Kings and Lord of Lords, 18-20.
332 King of Eternity, Knibb, (1978), The Ethiopic Book of Enoch II, 92. King of the ages:
Charles, (1913), Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha II, 195; Black, (1985), The Book of Enoch, 31,
142. At 1 Enoch 22:14, one MS reads who rules forever, another who rules over the world, cf.
Weisenberg, (1964), melekh ha-olam, 12.
333 1 Enoch 26:1, has the center of the earth, an occasional circumlocution for Mount Zion or
Jerusalem, see Charles, (1913), Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha II, 205.
334 Cf. Mic 1:3, Isa 26:21, As. Mos. 10:3.
1 Enoch 27:3. Uriel replies to a question from Enoch. The accursed valley (v. 2) is
probably Gehenna (a valley south of Jerusalem) the place where those condemned by the
Divine King will be gathered for judgement (54:1-2, 90:25-27).335 The righteous/merciful
will be nearby on Mount Zion continually blessing the Divine King.
1 Enoch 81:3
Translation of 1 Enoch 81:3a (based on the Ethiopic)336

At that very moment, I blessed the Great Lord, the King of Glory for ever,
for he has created all the phenomena in the world.
1 Enoch 81:3 is from The Book of Astronomical Writings (chs. 72-82). For similar
reasons to 1 Enoch 1-36, the original was written in Palestine and can be dated to the third
century B.C.337 Within the immediate context, there are no indications of Divine Royal
Presence. As creator of all the phenomena in the world we may merely assume that the
writer thought of God as king of the world.
1 Enoch 84:2,3,5
Translation of 1 Enoch 84:2,3,5 (based on the Ethiopic)338

2 Blessed are you, O Great King, you are mighty in your greatness, O Lord
of all the creation of heaven, King of kings and God of the whole world.
Your authority and kingdom abide forever and ever; and your dominion
throughout all the generations of generations; all the heavens are your throne
for ever, and the whole earth is your footstool forever and ever.
3 For you have created (all), and all things you rule; not a single thing is
hard for you - (absolutely) not a single thing or wisdom; Your throne has
not retreated from her station nor from before your presence. Everything
you know, you see, and you hear; nothing exists that can be hidden from
you, for everything you expose.
5 Now, O God, and Lord and Great King, . . .
1 Enoch 84 is part of the The Book of Dream Visions (chs. 83-90). It purports to be
the response of Enoch to the first dream vision of the Flood, recounted in chapter 83, and
335 Cf. Josh 18:16, Isa 66:24, Matt 5:29-30. See Charles, (1913), Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha II,
205, 422 footnote to As. Mos. 10:10.
337 Isaac, (1983), 1 (Ethiopic, Apocalypse of) Enoch, OTP I, 7; R. E. Brown, (1990), Jewish
Apocrypha, NJBC, 1057b.
338 Isaac, (1983), 1 (Ethiopic, Apocalypse of) Enoch, OTP I, 62. 4QEnGiants 9 line 6 (4Q203)
bears too little a resemblance to 1 Enoch 84:2 to be of practical interest here: Milik, (1976), The
Books of Enoch, 316-17, aymle yn]vl hktwbr twklm[ Thy kingship of glory unto
[everlasting y[ears . . .]. See too: Knibb, (1978), The Ethiopic Book of Enoch II, 193-94;
Martnez and Tigchelaar, (2000), Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition I, 410.
was most probably written shortly after Dan 7:27, during the campaigns of Judas
Maccabaeus (164-60 B.C.). Far from describing a future event, the prayer describes the
position of God in the here-and-now.
God is King of kings, i.e. king of all the kings of the nations and therefore is God of
the whole world.339 God rules over all things and is all powerful (not a single thing is
hard for you).340. He knows, sees and hears everything. His kingdom is everlasting.
Again, God does not exercise his sovereignty by intervening in the here-and-now. The
Flood was in the future for the character of Enoch and divine punishment for sinners in
the future for the writer (84:5-6).
The Divine Royal Presence is in heaven (e.g. 89:70,76, 90:14),341 so the writer was still
able to describe God as descending at the exodus to act on Israels behalf (89:16). But
such is his greatness (v. 2), that his presence extends to the whole earth.342
There is corresponding hostility towards the Zerrubbabel temple. It is polluted and as

good as fallen down (89:72-73). It is to be replaced by the Lord of the Sheep with a
larger and more glorious house (probably not a heavenly Jerusalem), in which he will
live (90:28-36).343
Jub. 1:28
Translation of Jub. 1:28, 16:18 (based on the Ethiopic)344

1:28 And the Lord will appear in the sight of all. And everyone will know
that I am the God of Israel and the father of all the children of Jacob and
king upon Mount Zion forever and ever. And Zion and Jerusalem will be
holy.
Purporting to be a revelation given to Moses and probably originally written in Hebrew,

the only text of Jubilees that has survived in a virtually complete form is the Ethiopic text.
One fourth is extant in Latin and fragments in Hebrew (from Qumran), Greek and Syriac.
It was written sometime after the wars of Judas Maccabaeus by a Jew who lived in
339 Also: 1 Enoch 9:4 (2-fold), Sir 51:12.n, Aleinu, m. Sanh. 4:5N, Abot 3:1E, 4:22O (all 3-fold).
340 Cf. Gen 18:14; Jer 32:17,27. Also 4QEnochGiants 9 line 4, Black, (1985), The Book of Enoch,
256.
341 Wicks, (1915), The Doctrine of God, 42.
342 Cf. Isa 66:1, 1 Enoch 89:50,66. Solomons temple was Gods house. Cf. 1 Enoch 90:26, where
house would seem to refer to Jerusalem, W. D. Davies, (1974), The Gospel and the Land, 144
n. 156.
343 Hamerton-Kelly, (1970), Temple and Origins of Apocalyptic, 2; Tan, (1997), Zion Traditions,
35-36.
344 Wintermute, (1983), Jubilees, OTP II, 42, 54, 88.
Palestine.345 He may have belonged to a priestly family, given its concern for cultic details.
Jub. 50:12 forbids war on the Sabbath, which may suggest that the writer belonged to a
similar Hasidic group as that described in 1 Macc 2:29-42 and 2 Macc 6:11.346 The
purpose of Jubilees is to instruct and exhort readers to observe the Torah (i.e. practice
torah or halakah347) faithfully through the upheavals of the period.
Gene L. Davenport claimed that Jub. 1:27-28 was the work of a later (still second century
B.C.) redactor who saw the temple as having a central place. The last phrase of v. 26, until
I descend and dwell with them in all the ages of eternity, was also apparently added by
this redactor.348
Chapter 1 is an account of the conversation between Moses and God on Mount Sinai. In it
God tells Moses what will happen to his people. After the exile (v. 15), God will return
them. Rather than the people rebuilding the sanctuary, it is God who will build his
sanctuary in their midst and so dwell with them (v. 17, cf. v. 10, 32:10). The present
one (Zerubbabels) is so defiled (23:21) that only God can build a suitable sanctuary.349
Thus for the present, the Divine King does not dwell there.
Pss. Sol. 2:30,32
LXX of Pss. Sol. 2:30,32

30 ^qt _^pfibt m qk lo^kk
h^ hoksk _^pfibt h^ out9
32 I^ kk abqb+ l jbdfpqkbt qt dt+ q hoj^ ql hrolr+
qf jd^t _^pfibt h^ ah^flt hoksk qk m' lo^kk-
Translation of Pss. Sol. 2:30,32

30 He is king over the heavens, judging even kings and rulers,
32 And now, officials of the earth, see the judgement of the Lord,
that he is a great and righteous king, judging what is under heaven.
345 Treves, (1969), The Reign of God, 240-41; VanderKam, (1977), Jubilees, 283; Wintermute,
(1983), Jubilees, OTP II, 44-45; Schrer, (19732), Age III.1, 256 n. 11, 313; Nickelsburg,
(1984), The Bible Rewritten and Expanded, 103.
346 Schrer, (19732), Age III.1, 314; Ladd, (1952), The Kingdom of God in Jubilees,165, the writer
was Pharisaic.
347 See footnote in Section 1.1 and, Lodahl, (1992), Shekhinah / Spirit, 54, for whom halakah is the
study and application of Torah.
348 Davenport, (1971), Eschatology of Jubilees, 15-16, 28.
349 Charles, (1913), Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha 12; Davenport, (1971), Eschatology of Jubilees,
29 n. 2, 30-31; cf. Exod 15:17.
Extant in Greek and a late Syriac version,350 the general consensus of scholarship is that
the Psalms of Solomon were composed in Jerusalem by various authors, originally in
Hebrew, again in response to the invasion by Pompey and the fall of the Hasmonean
dynasty in the middle of the first century B.C.351 Allusions to the fate of Pompeys body
enable a date after 48 B.C. to be given to Pss. Sol. 2.352
The Psalms of Solomon have frequently been ascribed to Pharisees and to a lesser extent
to the Essenes, though this theory is now discredited.353 The theory that they come from a
synagogue setting has been recently revived,354 and if proven, would suggest, not their
Pharisaic authorship, but that they may contain notions which reflect the influence of
Pharisees in pre-70 synagogues.355 They are representative of views, such as belief in
resurrection, prayer apart from the temple and fasting, likely to have been held by the
ordinary synagogue-going Jew of the period.
God is king over the heavens and what is under heaven. Despite the defilement of
the sanctuary (vv. 2, 3) and Gods glory (v. 5), the worshipper is still able to be in the
Lords presence (v. 22). It is from the temple that God is the universal Divine King.356
350 Trafton, (1985), The Psalms of Solomon, passim; Atkinson, (1998), Towards a Redating of the
Psalms of Solomon, 100.
351 This says nothing, of course, about the date of their collection. On their authorship, provenance
and dating see: R. Wright, (1972), The Psalms of Solomon, 136, 150 n. 8; Meier, (1994),
Marginal Jew II, 257; Schrer, (19732), Age III.1, 194-95; Nickelsburg, (1981), Jewish
Literature, 203; Charlesworth, (1981), The Pseudepigrapha and Modern Research, 195;
Flusser, (1984), Psalms, Hymns and Prayers, 573; Mack, (1987), Wisdom Makes a
Difference, 32; Lhrmann, (1989), Paul and the Pharisaic Tradition, 80; Pomykala, (1995),
Davidic Dynasty Tradition, 159.
352 R. B. Wright, (1983), Psalms of Solomon, OTP II, 651, 653; Atkinson, (1998), Towards a
Redating of the Psalms of Solomon, 97, 101.
353 Recent scholars who opt for Pharisaic composition include: Black, (1962), Pharisees, IDB III,
777b; Nickelsburg, (1981), Jewish Literature, 204, 212; Lhrmann, (1989), Paul and the
Pharisaic Tradition, 84; Pomykala, (1995), Davidic Dynasty Tradition, 160. Most, however, are
opposed, though there are beliefs in the Psalms of Solomon that are normally associated with the
Pharisees, e.g. fasting and resurrection (Pss. Sol. 3:8,12). See also: R. Wright, (1972), The
Psalms of Solomon, 136-54; Charlesworth, (1981), The Pseudepigrapha and Modern Research,
195; Dunn, (1988), Pharisees, Sinners, and Jesus, 288 n. 64. Hann, (1988), The Community
of the Pious, 169-89, suggested that the psalms were composed by a later generation of an
original movement of disenfranchised priests. According to Atkinson, (1998), Towards a
Redating of the Psalms of Solomon, 97, the earliest psalms date to just prior to Pompey, the
latest describes Herods siege of Jerusalem in 37 B.C. In any case, they still can be assigned to the
first century B .C . For a list of recent authors who support the various positions regarding the
authorship, see Trafton, (1994), The Psalms of Solomon in Recent Research, 7-8, 12.
354 E.g. the favourable mention of synagogues in Pss. Sol. 10:6-7, 17:16,43-44. See: Winter, (1962),
Psalms of Solomon, IDB III, 959a; Mack, (1987), Wisdom Makes a Difference, 37; Franklyn,
(1987), The Cultic and Pious Climax of Eschatology, 5-6; Atkinson, (1998), Towards a
Redating of the Psalms of Solomon, 109-111.
356 Cf. J. Gray, (1979), The Reign of God, 253, The Psalmist has no room for the positive and
universal prospect of the Reign of God.
Pss. Sol. 5:19
LXX of Pss. Sol. 5:19

19 bildejke ag^ hrolr+ qf ^qt _^pfibt jk-
Translation of Pss. Sol. 5:19357

19 May the glory of the Lord be praised, for he is our king.
God as king exercises his kingship in the here-and-now by protecting the poor (v. 2),
exercising judgement (v. 4) and helping those who ask him (v. 5). The Divine King
sustains the created order by feeding the birds and fish, sending rain, providing pasture
and feeding people both powerful and humble (vv. 9-11).
It is only at the last two verses (vv. 18-19) that the subject of Gods kingdom and his
kingship is introduced.358 Though God is king of the created world, he has a special place
for Israel. His kingdom extends beyond Israel.359 There is, however, no indication of the
location of the presence of the Divine King.
Pss. Sol. 17:1,34,46
LXX of Pss. Sol. 17:1,34,46

1 Iofb+ p ^qt _^pfibt jk bt qk ^k^ h^ qf9 - - -
34 Ioflt ^qt _^pfibt ^ql+ - - -
46 hoflt ^qt _^pfibt jk bt qk ^k^ h^ qf-
Translation of Pss. Sol. 17:1,34,46

1 Lord, you are our king forevermore, . . .
34 The Lord himself is his king, . . .
46 The Lord Himself is our king forevermore.
Though generally assigned with the other Psalms of Solomon to a date around the time of
Pompeys invasion, recent work has proposed a date between 37 and 30 B.C. for Pss. Sol.
17.360 In any case, a date in the first century B.C. is still generally accepted.
357 R. B. Wright, (1983), Psalms of Solomon, OTP II, 657.

358 Though the manuscript evidence is inconclusive, one is tempted to suggest that perhaps vv. 18 and
19 were latter additions designed to incorporate more familiar notions of divine sovereignty. For
the Manuscript evidence, see Hann, (1982), Psalms of Solomon, 43.
359 See Section 3.2.3 under Pss. Sol. 5:18 for more on the Divine Kingdom in this psalm.
360 Atkinson, (1998), Towards a Redating of the Psalms of Solomon, 104-107.
Pss. Sol. 17 is strongly influenced by earlier traditions, especially Isaiah and the royal
canonical psalms.361 It acknowledges the supreme kingship of God, but also calls the
eventual Messiah King of Israel (vv. 32, 42). As king, Gods location is undefined.362
As. Mos. 4:2, 10:3
As. Mos. 4:2, 10:3363

4:2 Domine, omnis rex in alta sede, qui dominaris saeculo, qui voluisti
plebem hanc esse tibi plebem [hanc] exceptam. . . .
10:3 <Exur>get enim Caelestis a sede regni sui et exiet de habitatione sancta
sua cum indignationem et iram propter filios suos.
Translation of As. Mos. 4:2, 10:3364

4:2 Lord of all, king on the lofty throne, you who rules the world, who has
willed that his people be for you a chosen people, . . .
10:3 For the Heavenly One will arise from his kingly throne. Yea, he will go
forth from his holy habitation with indignation and wrath on behalf of his
sons.
The Assumption (Testament) of Moses survives in an incomplete Latin text, with the
original language most probably Hebrew.365 It is usually dated to the first half of the first
century A.D.366 Johannes Tromp saw a two-fold purpose for the book. Its intent was to
encourage faithfulness to the law and offer comfort in the face of the disastrous state of
Israel by looking forward to the salvation coming in the near future.367
In 4:2, God is king of the world, but has a special relationship with the people of the
covenant. The immediate context does not give an indication of Divine Presence. 2:4,9 and
361 Charlesworth, (1979), The Messiah in the Pseudepigrapha, ANRW II.19.1, 198.
362 Though see further in Section 3.2.3 under Pss. Sol. 17:3.
363 Tromp, (1993), The Assumption of Moses, 10-11, 18.
364 Priest, (1983), The Testament of Moses, OTP I, 929, 932. Cf. Tromp, (1993), The Assumption
of Moses, 11,13, 19.
365 J. J. Collins, (1984), Testaments, 345.
366 Treves, (1969), The Reign of God, 242; Schrer, (19732), Age III.1, 283-84, pre-Maccabean,
reshaped in Herodian times and written in Palestine; Nickelsburg, (1981), Jewish Literature, 80;
Charlesworth, (1981), The Pseudepigrapha and Modern Research, 163; J. J. Collins, (1984),
Testaments, 347; J. J. Collins, (1973), The Date and Provenance of the Testament of Moses,
17-32, shortly after 4 B.C. and by a sect within Judaism (probably not the Essenes/Qumran). For
the view that As. Mos. (except for ch. 6) was composed during the persecution of Antiochus IV
Epiphanes, see: Nickelsburg, (1972), Resurrection, Immortality, and Eternal Life, 43-45;
Nickelsburg, (1973), An Antiochan Date for the Testament of Moses, 33-37; A. Y. Collins,
Testament of Moses 10, 183; Tromp, (1993), The Assumption of Moses, 116-17; Meier,
(1994), Marginal Jew II, 255.
367 Tromp, (1993), The Assumption of Moses, 123; J. Gray, (1979), The Reign of God, 254, anti-
Sadducee.
5:4 might suggest the temple (cf. 1:18),368 though the title God of heaven in 2:4 and
repeated with variations in 4:4 and 10:3, point to God dwelling in heaven.369
10:1-10 is a poem or hymn describing future eschatological judgement.370 In 10:3 the

Heavenly One will go forth from his holy habitation. These designations have
been met with elsewhere371 and point once again to the notion of the Divine Royal
Presence residing in heaven (cf. 10:9), but that the time will come for God to come to
earth (cf. 10:12) as the Divine Warrior.372 In v. 7 God will be seen (palam veniet, literally
come into public view) in order to execute judgement on the nations, a motif repeated
earlier at v. 1 with respect to Gods kingdom.373 One result of his appearance will be the
trembling of the earth (cf. Ps 29:6-8, 97:4-5).
L.A.E. (Apoc.) 29:4
L.A.E. (Apoc.) 29:4 (Greek)374

I^ molpbivkqbt bmlk l ddbilf q hro9 ~Gî+ ^kfb
_^pfib+ hibrplk alvk^f q ~?aj vrjfj^q^ bsa^t h ql
môâbplr-
Translation of L.A.E. (Apoc.) 29:4375

And they [the angels] came to God and said, Jael, eternal king, command
that fragrant incenses from Paradise be given to Adam.
The Life of Adam and Eve (Apocalypse) was most probably originally composed in
Hebrew in Palestine towards the end of the first century A.D. and translated directly into
the extant Greek some time later.376 Its similarities with rabbinic midrash led one
368 Cf. Tromp, (1993), The Assumption of Moses, 157.

369 Cf. 2 Chr 36:23, Ezra 1:2. 5:11, 6:9, Dan 2:18; Sib. Or. 3:19,174.
370 A. Y. Collins, Testament of Moses 10, 179; Nickelsburg, (1972), Resurrection, Immortality,
and Eternal Life, 30.
371 Heavenly One: Sib. Or. 3:247,261; go forth: Isa 26:21, Mic 1:3, 1 Enoch 1:3, 25:4, 91:7.
Holy habitation: Deut 26:15, 2 Chr 30:27, Ps 68:5, Isa 63:15, Jer 25:30, Zech 2:13. See also
Tromp, (1993), The Assumption of Moses, 233. Cf. As. Mos. 4:4.
372 Cf. A. Y. Collins, Testament of Moses 10, 182-83 n. 17; Cross, (1973), Canaanite Myth and
Hebrew Epic, 155-77.
373 palam venire is used in the Vulgate at Mark 4:22 and Luke 8:17. See Tromp, (1993), The
Assumption of Moses, 235. On the parallel here between God as king and his kingdom, see
Section 3.2.3 under As. Mos. 10:1.
374 Bertrand, (1987), Adam et ve, 92; G. A. Anderson and M. E. Stone, (1994), Adam and Eve, 57.
375 M. D. Johnson, (1983), Life of Adam and Eve, OTP II, 285.
376 Schrer, (19732), Age III.2, 759; M. D. Johnson, (1983), Life of Adam and Eve, OTP II, 252;
first century B.C.: Sharpe, (1973), Second Adam, 35.
commentator to suggest that the authors theology was that of Pharisaic Judaism,377
though that conclusion will not be considered here.
Chapters 15-30 purport to be a description by Eve of the fall and expulsion from paradise.
In 22:3 God is depicted as coming into paradise to judge Adam and Eve. When he is in
paradise his throne is near the tree of life (19:2, 22:3). At 29:4 the angels intercede to God
on behalf of Adam for incense so that Adam might be able to offer a fitting sacrifice to
God when necessary. Later, however, heaven is mentioned several times in a vision of Eve,
indicating that God can be found there (33:2, 35:2, 38:3, 42:8, cf. 34:1, 37:3). In fact
wherever Gods throne is, there is God (e.g. 32:2, 37:4).
At the end of times (v. 13:2), there will be a general resurrection of the holy people
who will be given every joy of Paradise, including the Divine Presence, God shall be
in their midst (k jp ^qk) (v. 13:4). 378 We may note that it is God who will be in
their midst rather than the holy people being in the presence of God - an indication that it
is the earth that is the place this will happen.
377 Cf. M. D. Johnson, (1983), Life of Adam and Eve, OTP II, 252.
378 Sharpe, (1973), Second Adam, 39. M. D. Johnson, (1983), Life of Adam and Eve, OTP II, 275
n. d and, Bertrand, (1987), Adam et ve, 76, both indicated that the last part of 13:2 and vv. 3-5
occur only in a few MSS.
2.3 The Presence of the Divine King : The Pharisees and Jesus 153
2.3 THE PHARISEES AND JESUS
Leaving aside for the moment the particular legacy inherited and advanced by the
Pharisees and Jesus, this section will deal with those passages in contemporary or near-
contemporary literature that purport to present a picture of what the Pharisees and Jesus
thought of God as king.
2.3.1 The Pharisees
As regards the Pharisees, just two sources contain information that may be relevant to the
present task, namely, one synagogue prayer and eight passages from the Targumim.
Questions of dating and their link to the first century Palestinian Pharisees naturally arise.
The dating of the synagogue prayer to the pre-70 period and some targumim will be
discussed under each reference below. Their link to the Pharisees has been established in
Sections 1.5.6 and 1.6.4.
2.3.1.1 A Synagogue Prayer
One synagogue prayer, the hdyme Amidah,379 despite having undergone considerable
redaction and emendation over the centuries, is commonly considered to contain traditions
going back prior to A.D. 70. It is a set of blessing prayers which today form the climax of
synagogue worship. The Babylonian recension, that used today, is more recent than the
Palestinian recension.380 The possibility, therefore, is that any traditions contained in the
earlier recension that can be traced back to the first century A.D. will reflect Pharisaic
convictions (though not necessarily beliefs exclusive to the Pharisees), on the grounds of
the established influence of the Pharisees on synagogue worship.
379 This is the modern name. It is also called Shemoneh Esreh (Eighteen) and simply The Prayer;
Schrer, (19732), Age II, 456.
380 Schrer, (19732), Age II, 455-63; Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 299-300, 363 n. 44.
154 2.3 The Presence of the Divine King : The Pharisees and Jesus
The hdyme Amidah

Benediction 11 from the Cairo Genizah381
hlxtbk wnyuewyw hnwvarbk wnyjpwv hbyvh
Kdbl hta wnyle Kwlmw
Translation382
Restore our judges as in former times and our counsellors as in the
beginning; and reign over us, thou alone. (Blessed art thou, Lord, who
lovest judgement.)
While the Palestinian recension of the Amidah can not be reconstructed in detail, it is
assumed today that the text found in the Cairo Genizah comes closest to this earlier
version. Whereas the Babylonian rendering contains eight instances of God as king and
one referring to his reign,383 the Palestinian version contains only this one reference.
In each of the Babylonian examples and in the above text, God is thought of as either king
of the worshipping community only or of one day ruling it only. Thus if Chiltons dating
method for the Targumic kingdom of God is applied here,384 a date in the Amoraic
period or later for these king additions is indicated,385 despite other attempts to date the
eleventh benediction in particular to the pre-70 period.386 The often cited parallel Matt 6:10
// Luke 11:2 in the Lords Prayer would be much more ancient if Chiltons dating method
were applied to it. The kingdom prayed for there is universal.
Thus neither recension can be used with any degree of certainty as giving an indication of
the notion of the presence of the Divine King in pre-70 synagogues or among the post-70
Tannaitic rabbis. In fact, given the lack of any such witness in the older Palestinian
recension, it is quite likely that if the prayer existed in some form prior to A.D. 70, it did
not contain any reference to God as king. Perhaps, with the destruction of Palestine and
the temple and the failure of the Bar Kochba revolt, there was the need to reassert the
kingship of God over believing Jews.
381 Schechter, (1898), Genizah Specimens, 376, 378; Finkelstein, (1925), Development of the
Amidah, 258, 261.
382 Schrer, (19732), Age I, 461. Cf. Heinemann, (1977), Prayer in the Talmud, 28 n. 16.
383 Nos. 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 11, 16, 18. See Schrer, (19732), Age II, 456-58, for a translation of the
Babylonian and Palestinian versions and, Daily Prayer Book, (1949), 81-98, for text and
translation of the Babylonian version.
385 The earlier uncritical work of Finkelstein, (1925), Development of the Amidah, 260-62, dated
each of them to one of the periods A.D. 40-70 or A.D. 117-135. See also: Heinemann, (1977),
Prayer in the Talmud, 94-95 n. 26; Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 299, who both thought it
ancient.
386 Perrin, (1967), Rediscovering, 58; Schechter, (1924), Genizah Specimens, 66; Finkelstein,
(1925), Development of the Amidah, 258, 261; Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the Kingdom
of God, 148.
2.3.1.2 The Targumim
In the search for clues to the thinking of the Pharisees regarding God as king, the Aramaic
Targumim are an indispensable source. This is because of the conclusions arrived at in
Section 1.6.5 which may be repeated here.
The Pharisees exercised some influence in the teaching conducted in first century
Palestinian synagogues, particularly in the interpretation and exposition of Scripture.387
Aramaic targumim, both oral and written, which present not only translation, but
interpretation and exposition of Scripture, were probably in use in these synagogues388
and, within the extant Aramaic Targumim, may be traced some traditions which go back to
the pre-70 period.389 Thus, given the influence the Pharisees had in the synagogue and
their predilection for tradition, it is not unreasonable to suppose that their involvement
in the targum traditions was influential. If a Targum tradition can be traced back to the first
century, we may presume that it indicates a tradition that reflects the beliefs of the
Pharisees.
Ideally, every instance of the use of the Aramaic Klm as the noun king or verb to
reign or to be king as it is applied to God in the Targumim should be canvassed. This
is neither practical nor necessary in the present work. What is needed here is to see what
the Targumists have done with the Hebrew verses that mention God as king or his reign
and to take particular note (for Section 3.7) of those associated instances in which the
verbs to come and to appear have either been preserved or inserted into the Targum.
This will provide enough information from which to draw some conclusions regarding the
understanding of God as king and the meaning and use of these verbs with regard to
God as king.
Bruce D. Chilton developed his method of dating Targum traditions using the instances of
kingdom of God in the Targumim to the Prophets.390 Though not without problems,
this method will be followed in this Section and in Section 3.5.1.3.
We shall, therefore, consider here those Targum translations from the Torah and Prophets
that may be dated to the pre-70 period, using Chiltons dating criteria. Those of the post-
70 period will be considered in Section 2.5.1.3.

Tg. Neb.
pre-70 Tannaitic Jer 46:18
(universal) Jer 48:15
Jer 51:57b
Zech 14:9r,16,17
Mal 1:14b
Tg. Neb. Jer 46:18
NRSV of Jer 46:18

As I live, says the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts, one is coming
like Tabor among the mountains and like Carmel by the sea.
Tg. Neb. Jer 46:18391

wmv twabu ywy aklm rma ana Myyq
Nyk amyb almrkkw ayrwjb tya rwbtd amgtp byuyd amk yra
:hyrbt ytyy
Translation of Tg. Neb. Jer 46:18392

I am the Living One, says the king, the Lord of Hosts is his Name; for just
as the matter is true, that Tabor is among the mountains, and like Carmel by
the sea, so shall his destruction come.
The retention of the twabu ywy Lord of Hosts suggests a universal divine kingship and
so a pre-70 origin for the tradition of interpretation of Jer 48:15.393
Despite the change in the subject of the verb to come, this targum of Jer 46:18 is a
typical base translation with a word or two altered or added (section 1.6.2).394 Of itself it
adds little to the meaning of the Hebrew and like the Hebrew, the surrounding context
gives no indication of Divine Royal Presence.395
391 Sperber, (1959), The Bible in Aramaic III, 240.

392 R. Hayward, (1987ET), The Targum of Jeremiah, 168.
393 See Section 2.2.1.1 under Ps 24:7-10.
394 The targum adds a midrash at the end of this verse, which adds nothing to the present discussion.
See R. Hayward, (1987ET), The Targum of Jeremiah, 168 n. cc, 169 n. 17.
395 There is no mention of Shekhinah, or Glory and Memra is mentioned once in passing at v.
28. hnykv Shekhinah is discussed in Section 2.5.1.3 under Tg. Neb. Isa 6:5. rqy Glory is
discussed in Section 2.2.1.1 under Ps 29:10. The targumic rmym Memra is discussed in Section
3.3.1.3 under Tg. Neb. Isa 40:10, since it is the only place where it occurs together with either
God as king or the kingdom of God.
Tg. Neb. Jer 48:15
NRSV of Jer 48:15

The destroyer of Moab and his towns has come up, and the choicest of his
young men have gone down to slaughter, says the King, whose name is the
LORD of hosts.
Tg. Neb. Jer 48:15396

Nwhywrqw yabawm wzyzbta
:wmv twabu ywy aklm rma aljql Nwromty Nwhymylwe rpvw abwrx

The Moabites have been plundered and their cities are a destruction; and the
pick of their young men have been handed over to the slaughter, says the
King, the Lord of Hosts is his Name.
Though no Divine Royal Presence indicators exist in the context of this targum, like the
Hebrew original, it is God who is in clear control of Moab and its punishment and
therefore over all nations. God as king in v. 15, is clearly contrasted with the evil king of
Moab on whom the Lord of Hosts passes judgement.
Tg. Neb. Jer 51:57
NRSV of Jer 51:57b

. . . says the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.
Tg. Neb. Jer 51:57b398

:wmv twabu ywy aklm rma . . .
Translation of Tg. Neb. Jer 51:57b399

. . . says the King; the Lord of Hosts is his Name.
As with the previously discussed targumim, the retention of the name twabu ywy Lord of
Hosts strongly points to a universalistic understanding of the nature of divine kingship
and hence to the possibility of a pre-70 origin for the tradition of this interpretation of Jer
51:57b. The presence of the explanatory addition atvnk congregation in v. 35 which
itself can be dated to the Amoraic period, should not be taken into account for dating v. 57.
It is too far removed from v. 57 for a commentator to be anywhere near certain that it
belonged to the same stream of Targum tradition.

There are no indicators for the location of the Divine Royal Presence. As universal king,
God will merely punish Babylon (Rome?) for the destruction of the temple (v. 51).
Tg. Neb. Zech 14:9,16,17
NRSV of Zech 14:9,16,17

9 And the LORD will become king over all the earth; on that day the LORD
will be one and his name one.
16 Then all who survive of the nations that have come against Jerusalem
shall go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to
keep the festival of booths.
17 If any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship
the King, the LORD of hosts, there will be no rain upon them.
Tg. Neb. Zech 14:9,16,17400

aera ybty lk le ywyd atwklm ylgttw 9
amleb byuy hymv yra dx Ptk ywy Mdq Nwxlpy awhh andyeb
:hynm rb tyl
Nwqoyw Mlvwry le Ntaw Nyvnktmd aymme lkm ratvyd lk yhyw 16
ty gxymlw twabu ywy aymle Klm Mdq dgoml anvb anv Nmzk
:ayljmd agx
ymme tyyerz Nm qoy ald yhyw 17
:arjm yhy Nwhyle alw twabu ywy aymle Klm Mdq dgoml Mlvwryl aera
Translation of Tg. Neb. Zech 14:9r,16,17401

9 And the kingdom of the Lord shall be revealed upon all the inhabitants of
the earth; at that time they shall serve before the Lord with one accord, for
his name is established in the world; there is none apart from him.
16 And it shall come to pass, everyone who is left of all the nations which
assemble and come against Jerusalem shall go up year by year to worship
before the King of the ages, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the festival of
Tabernacles.
17 And it shall come to pass, if any of the families of the nations of the earth
will not go up to Jerusalem to worship before the King of the ages, the Lord
of hosts, there shall not be rain upon them.
Probably the whole of chapter 14 can be attributed in origin to the pre-70 period.402 Not
only is there not much emendation of the Hebrew, but the universal aspect of vv. 9, 16, 17
and the retention of the Lord of hosts both point to such a dating.403 The universal
kingship of God is in the here-and-now, though it will be acknowledged and God
worshipped as king only in the eschatological future.
400 Sperber, (1959), The Bible in Aramaic III, 498-99.

401 Cathcart and Gordon, (1989ET), The Targum of the Minor Prophets, 224, 226.
402 This targum is also discussed in Section 3.3.1.3.
403 See also discussion of Tg. Neb. Zech 14:9 in Section 3.3.1.3. Chilton dated this targum to the pre-
70 period.
The Targum chapter looks forward to the mwy day (14:1) when God ylgty shall reveal
himself (14:3,4,5) to lead the nations against Jerusalem in battle and to battle against the
nations themselves. After the battle, God will reveal himself again as king, and as having
been king in and of the earth (v. 9). Only then will those who acknowledge his kingship
go to Jerusalem to worship Klm Mdq before the king, a phrase which emphasises
YHWHs presence as much as his kingship.404
ylg to reveal, uncover is used four times with God as the subject of the reflexive in
chapter 14. In v. 3 the verb translates auy will go forth, in v. 4 wylgr wdme his feet
shall stand, in v. 5 ab will come and in v. 9 Klml hyhw will become king. It is
thus abundantly clear that ylg is not simply a slavish translation of the Hebrew awb to
come without a differentiation in meaning.405
The intentional use of this verb has the effect of eliminating the movement of God so
evident in the Hebrew version406 and thus of emphasising that God as king has always
been with all the inhabitants of the earth. The Targumist has deliberately rewritten this
section of Zechariah to make it conform to a prevailing synagogue/Pharisaic doctrine of
Divine Royal Presence - a doctrine which should become increasingly clear as the data is
scrutinised. More on the implications of the use of this verb as a substitute in the
Targumim for the Hebrew awb to come will be found in Section 3.7.
Tg. Neb. Mal 1:14
NRSV of Mal 1:14b

for I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name is reverenced
among the nations.
Tg. Neb. Mal 1:14b407

:aymmeb Nyox ymvw twabu ywy rma ana br Klm yra
Translation of Tg. Neb. Mal 1:14b408

for I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name is mighty among
the nations.
404 Cf. Dalman, (1902ET), Words of Jesus, 214; Klein, (1979), The Preposition Mdq, 502-507.
Here Mdq seems to be a simple Aramaic equivalent to +l , emphasising the kingship of YHWH,
where one speaks in the presence of the king never to him. Where it is a substitute for the
Hebrew ta (direct object marker) it apparently is an expression of deference to a respectable
person or institution - a sentiment valid here.
405 Cf. McNamara, (19662), The NT and the Palestinian Targum, 250 n. 34.
408 Cathcart and Gordon, (1989ET), The Targum of the Minor Prophets, 231.
The Targum to Malachi, like all Targumim, is likely to have had a mixture of traditions
from various periods. Some, based on methods developed here, may be dated to the pre-70
period, including Tg. Neb. Mal 1:14b (because of: the universality of the divine kingship
(cf. 1:11) and the retention of the name Lord of hosts).409 Others can be clearly placed
in the post-70 period. For example in 1:9,11 prayer is substituted for temple
sacrifice. Therefore, it looks as though 1:14 has been closely surrounded by later
tradition, so can tell us little about how its tradition regarded the presence of the Divine
King. Unlike the Hebrew version, chapter 3 of the Targum is too removed in context to tell
us anything with confidence regarding the presence of the Divine King.
2.3.2 Jesus
There can be little doubt that Jesus subscribed to the tradition that located God very firmly
in heaven.410 For example, he is recorded as having used heaven as a circumlocution
for God, it was the throne of God (Matt 5:34) and particularly it was the place of the
Father.411 The Synoptic writers, too, shared this view. When Jesus prayed over the loaves
and fishes, he looked up to heaven to address the Father.412
However, there is little evidence - as will be shown - that Jesus ever used Klm or its
cognates to describe God (_^pfi+ in the Gospels). It is a curious fact that in the Gospels,
only Matthew claimed that Jesus explicitly called God a king (the great king), and that
only once in Matt 5:35. The royal metaphor for God is indirectly used for a character in
three Synoptic parables - one in Matthew and two in Luke.413 One of those occurrences in
the parables (Matt 18:23), occurs only in Matthew and will be dealt with shortly. The
409 Also, for example, the sign of the (continuing) debate over resurrection which in fact ceased after
A.D. 70 in Tg. Neb. Mal 3:6. Cf. Tgs. Neof. Gen 4:8, Ps.-J. Gen 4:8; m. Sanh. 10:1. See:
Gordon, (1978), Targumists as Eschatologists, 129-30; Cathcart and Gordon, (1989ET), The
Targum of the Minor Prophets, 236 n. 13. Both these scholars noted that the targum upholds the
Pharisaic (positive) position. Tg. Neb. Mal 2:7, has been emended to emphasise that a priest is
one who serves before the Lord of hosts - a cultic term denoting service before the presence of
God in the temple.
410 Indeed, the few examples there are which depict Jesus expressing a belief in the Divine Presence in
the temple all suffer from extensive reworking: Matt 21:13 // Mark 11:17 // Luke 19:45 // John
2:16, 23:21; Luke 2:49 (if lhlt is assumed). For a consideration of heaven as a location and
the dwelling place of God, see Section 2.2.3 under Dan 4:34.
411 Heaven as a circumlocution for God: Matt 21:25, 23:22, Mark 14:62, Luke 15:7,18,21, 19:38.
Father in heaven: Matt 5:16,45, 6:1,9, 7:11, 10:32,33, 12:50, 16:17, 18:10,14,19, Mark 11:25,
cf. m. Rosh HaSh. 3:8D, Sot. 9:15R,V,LL. Heavenly Father: Matt 6:26, Luke 11:13, cf. John
12:28.
412 Matt 28:2, Mark 6:41, Luke 9:54; cf. John 17:1. See Baird, (1963), Justice of God, 85-86.
413 Matt 18:23, 22:2,7,11,13, Luke 19:14,27. As noted by N. T. Wright, (1996), Jesus, 634, in most
parables about a king, the king stands for Israels God. Matt 25:34, 40, sometimes associated with
God, in fact refer to the Son of Man.
remaining occurrences (Luke 14:16,21 // Matt 22:2,7,11,13 and Luke 19:14,27) will be
considered in Section 2.5.2. As will be shown, none can be traced back with confidence to
Stage I.
There appear to be two obvious reasons for this lack of reliable evidence for Jesus use of
king for God.
The first is that there was a concerted and conscious effort by the writers of the Gospels to
claim for Jesus all the rights and prerogatives of God as king. When the virtual silence of
God as king is contrasted with the frequent description of Jesus as king there can be no
other explanation. When this took place in the tradition and for what reason is of no
concern here.
The second is that Jesus much preferred the phrase kingdom of God, whatever his
justification might have been. It could be that kingdom of God was a better expression
for Jesus of what he wanted to say about God as king. This will be more fully explored in
the next chapter.
Matt 5:35
NA27 of Matt 5:35

jqb k q d+ qf mlmafk pqfk qk mlak ^ql+ jqb bt
Gbolpirj^+ qf mift pqk ql jbdilr _^pfist+
NRSV of Matt 5:35

or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the
great King.
This is the only place where Jesus is purported to describe God explicitly as king, in fact
the jbdilr _^pfist great King. It is part of the Sermon on the Mount and part
of the so-called fourth antitheses, Matt 5:33-37. There are three problems with this
description that are relevant here.
First, it is likely that Matt 5:35b is not from Stage I of the tradition, and, therefore, tells us
little either of Jesus or of later Lukan influence.414 The parallel with James 5:12 gives no
clue to the origin of Matt 5:35b, since it is impossible to determine which is closer to the
original.415 Nor does the often-cited LXX Ps 48:2b, since Matthews arrangement is
414 Most scholars assume this, for example: W. D. Davies and Allison, (1988), Matthew I, 533;
Theissen and Merz, (1998ET), The Historical Jesus, 274. Duling, (1991), [Do not swear . . .] by
Jerusalem, 292, stated that there is a large consensus among scholars that Matt 5:34b-36 comes
from the pre-Matthean church and not from either Jesus or the redactor.
415 See: Davids, (1982), James, 190; Brooks, (1987), Matthews Community, 37-38; W. D. Davies
and Allison, (1988), Matthew I, 533; Ito, (1991), Authenticity of the Ban on Swearing, 10-12;
different from that of the LXX.416 That is, it is not dependent on the LXX but possibly on
oral tradition. Far more promising is Matt 23:16-22. Unlike Matt 5:33-37, it does not
reject swearing per se but rejects swearing by the various items because, despite the
supposed arguments of the Pharisees, it is effectively swearing by God. Its context thus
reflects the polemic of the early church against scribal casuistry.417 So Matt 5:35b is
likely to come from the same source. This is confirmed somewhat by the use of
hlp^qb in the introduction to five of the six antitheses in Matt 5:21-48 and the fact the
first two amplifications have k but this one has bt, destroying the symmetry and pointing
to an independent origin.418
The second problem is that it is by no means certain that Great King here refers to
God. The title certainly was applied to God,419 but it was also given to human kings,420
including kings around the time of Jesus and the time of the formation and redaction of
Matthews Gospel.421 Further, to make an oath by the name of a human king was not
unknown.422 Certainly, the qf clause it belongs to is the third in a series of four, the first
two of which refer directly to God. However, if this clause refers to a human king, it just as
easily goes with the fourth qf clause since the first two clauses would then refer to God
and the second two to a human agent.
L. T. Johnson, (1995), James, 328. Contrary to Strecker, (1988ET), The Sermon on the Mount,
79, which cited James 5:12 as evidence that the whole of 34b-35 belonged to the pre-Matthean
tradition. The early fathers followed both traditions, for example, Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 36.5
(ANF I, 516b) is closer to Matt 5:35, whereas Justin, Apology, 1.16.5 (ANF I, 168a) and Clement
of Alexandria, Stromata, 7.11 (ANF II, 542a) are closer to James 5:12 and Justin is a quote from
Jesus. See further, Bellinzoni, (1967), Sayings of Jesus, 64-67, esp. 67, which gives a list of other
references in the church fathers to Matt 5:34-37 and James 5:12.
416 Gundry, (1975), Use of the OT, 134; Duling, (1991), [Do not swear . . .] by Jerusalem, 307.
417 Guelich, (1975-76), The Antitheses of Matthew V. 21-48, 452. Suggs, (1975), Antitheses as
Redactional Products, 433-44, argued that the six antitheses of Matt 5:21-48 are all redactional on
the grounds that their precise form does not appear in Judaism, elsewhere in early Christian
documents, or in other parts of the tradition about Jesus.
418 Strecker, (1988ET), The Sermon on the Mount, 77; Duling, (1991), [Do not swear . . .] by
Jerusalem, 296.
419 See, for example: Ps 47:2, 48:2b, 95:3, Mal 1:14b, Jdt 2:5, 3:2, 1 Enoch 84:2,5, 91:13b, Pss.
Sol. 2:32, Tg. Neb. Mal 1:14b, Tob 13:15, Sib. Or. 3:56,499,560,617,808, T. Abr. A 2:6. See
too: Brettler, (1989), God is King, 32; Dahood, (1965-70), Psalms I, 284; Brettler, (1989), God is
King, 71; Duling, (1991), [Do not swear . . .] by Jerusalem, 306.
420 For example: 2 Kgs 18:19,28, Eccl 9:14, Isa 36:4, v Dan 2:10, Hos 5:13 (NRSV), Jdt 2:5, 3:2,
Add Esth 13:1, 16:1, 1 Macc 8:6, Sib. Or. 3:611, 4:119, 5:138, 11:38,141, 12:35, 14:210, 4
Macc 7:10, Ant. 10:6, 11:216. For other examples, see: Clifford, (1972), Cosmic Mountain, 143
n. 63; J. J. M. Roberts, (1973), Zion Tradition, 339 n. 66; Brettler, (1989), God is King, 68-69;
Duling, (1991), [Do not swear . . .] by Jerusalem, 298-99.
421 See Duling, (1991), [Do not swear . . .] by Jerusalem, 301-305, who noted that the title was
applied to Herod Agrippa I (A.D. 37-44), e.g. Ant. 20:104, Life 33.
422 E.g. 1 Sam 17:55, 2 Sam 11:11. Cf. 1 Sam 1:26, 20:3, 25:26, 2 Kgs 2:2. See Duling, (1991),
[Do not swear . . .] by Jerusalem, 308.
The third problem with claiming a Stage I origin for Matt 5:35 is that even if it could be
attributed to Stage I (and therefore presumably to Jesus) it tells us little regarding the
notion of Divine Royal Presence. The genitive is of possession not presence. Matt 23:21,
which points in the direction of presence, suffers from the same formation issues as does
Matt 5:35b.
Matt 18:23
NA27 Matt 18:23

Bf qlql jlfve _^pfib^ qk lo^kk kvom
_^pfib+ t viepbk prko^f idlk jbq qk alisk ^ql-
NRSV of Matt 18:23

For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who
wished to settle accounts with his slaves.
Similarly, Matt 18:23 is not likely to come from Stage I of the tradition and so is not
useful in determining Jesus attitude to God as king. Apart from the opening Bf qlql,
the verse matches almost word-for-word Matt 22:2 which, as will be shown, is a Matthaean
construction.423 Also, aside from this introduction, the rest of the parable never calls this
central character a _^pfibt. It consistently calls him hoflt (vv. 25, 27, 31, 32, 34) -
another sign of later insertion.424
423 See: Section 2.5.2; Jeremias, (19723), Parables of Jesus, 28; Gundry, (19942), Matthew, 371;
Keener, (1999), Matthew, 457. In an effort to validate the authenticity of the parable and its
introduction, Keener drew attention to rabbinic parables that feature kings. However, only two, T.
Abr. A 2 (second century A.D.) and Apoc. Ezek 1 (first century A.D.), can lay claim to an origin
prior to the redaction of the Mishnah. The fact that the large number of parables featuring kings is
a later phenomenon supports the redactional nature of Matt 18:23.
424 See: W. D. Davies and Allison, (1988), Matthew II, 797; Jeremias, (19723), Parables of Jesus,
28 n. 17, 210. Jeremias thought that the magnitude of the debt could only imply that the one to
whom the debt was owed was a king. But the size is hyperbole, emphasising the extent of the
Fathers generosity in forgiveness.
164 2.4 The Presence of the Divine King : The Pre-Lukan Community
2.4 THE PRE-LUKAN COMMUNITY
Continuing the analysis of instances of God as king and discerning notions of Divine
Royal Presence attached to them, it is very noticeable that the pre-Lukan community has
not preserved any sayings or narratives that contain references to God as king in any
form.425
In the next chapter in Section 3.4, an argument will be presented that sees the pre-Lukan
community as having reinterpreted Jesus teaching on a future kingdom of God as having
been fulfilled in and by the Holy Spirit.
425 Though it is dangerous to suggest a reason for this, since it would be arguing from silence, it is
nevertheless tempting to think that the Holy Spirit in some sense usurped the role of God as king.
Noting the presence of Pharisees in the pre-Lukan community, it is not impossible to picture that
they influenced the emerging concept of the Holy Spirit in this direction. After all, it certainly
would have fitted their concept of the here-and-now but hidden Divine King which has already
been detected (See Section 2.3.1). In Acts 2:37-40 the Holy Spirit is closely associated with
judgement (which repentance and forgiveness can avoid) and salvation - two prime functions of the
Divine King. In Acts 5:32 the Holy Spirit is given to those who obey God. In Acts 20:28 the
Holy Spirit can impart authority to rule. This model complements Pauls own soteriological
understanding of the Holy Spirit (E.g. 1 Cor 6:11, Gal 4:4-6, 5:22-24) which itself suggests a
connection with the Divine King. In other words, at times the Holy Spirit in Luke-Acts is a way
of ascribing divine presence and activity among the people of Israel or among early Christians, at
other times mkbj^ is personified (Fitzmyer, (1999), Spirit in Luke-Acts, 171, 177-78).
These cursory observations present a prima facie case for the possibility that a pre-Lukan belief
somehow connected the Holy Spirit with God as king. To explore this possibility, each instance
of Holy Spirit would have to be analysed in a similar way that examples of God as king are
being done here - a task beyond the scope of this present dissertation. It may profitably be the
subject of further study (See Section 5.3.2).
2.5 The Presence of the Divine King : Yavnean Rabbis, the Synagogue & Luke 165
2.5 THE YAVNEAN RABBIS, THE SYNAGOGUE AND LUKE
The destruction of the temple in A.D. 70 precipitated a re-examination of the Divine Royal
Presence both in Christian communities and in the newly emerging Palestinian rabbinic
schools. If, as is generally assumed,429 Luke wrote his two-volume work after A.D. 70 and
towards the end of the first century, then Luke, the Yavnean rabbis and the Palestinian
synagogues, were operating at the same time. What were their respective ideas regarding
God as king and the location of the Divine Royal Presence?
2.5.1 The Yavnean Rabbis and the Early Post-70 Synagogue
Two possible sources for the opinions of the Yavnean rabbis were canvassed: the Mishnah
and the Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum. The early post-70 Palestinian synagogue is
represented by targumim that can be dated to the period. The Tosefta and the baraitoth are
excluded from consideration, on grounds established in Section 1.2.3. Several passages in
Josephus will be canvassed, even though their author was neither a post-70 Palestinian
rabbi nor attached to a Palestinian synagogue.
2.5.1.1 The Mishnah
The foundational rabbinic text, the Mishnah, was redacted ca. A.D. 200 in Palestine from
earlier material, and thus represents the best document from which to extract traditions that
can be traced to the Yavnean rabbis.430 God as king is mentioned four times in the
Mishnah, but none can be traced definitely to the Yavnean rabbis. Nevertheless, they
provide a glimpse at what later rabbis thought the situation was before they made their
contributions. Before looking at the specific instances of God as king, some general
comments on the outlook of the Mishnah are appropriate.
Jacob Neusner made much of the observation that for the Mishnah, the presence of God
was largely assumed and implicit but thereafter played a limited, passive role, intervening
only through the Torah. He argued that although God was located in one place rather than
another, namely in the holy of holies, the overwhelming emphasis was on obedience (i.e.
practice of torah) and Gods response to human intention.431

431 Cf. m. Ber. 7:3G; Neusner, (1988), Incarnation of God, 56-62.
166 2.5 The Presence of the Divine King : Yavnean Rabbis, the Synagogue & Luke
There is no question that the belief that God was to be located in the holy of holies
describes the general belief of the post-70 rabbis regarding the situation prior to A.D. 70.
Firstly, m. Suk. 5:4M-O, though it comes from after the destruction of the temple,
describes a procession eastwards towards the east gate of the temple which could only
have taken place before the destruction. Having reached the gate, the worshippers turned to
direct their eyes wnynye hyly toward the Lord, i.e. westwards, in the direction of the holy
of holies.432
Secondly, the use of Mwqm for God in the Mishnah is probably a veiled reminiscence of
the Temple Mount as the place of Gods presence, as Mwqm was chiefly used prior to
70, though none of the Mishnah examples is explicit in this association with the temple.433
After A.D. 70, since the temple was no longer standing, the term was used by the rabbis as
a circumlocution for God Himself,434 though there is some evidence that Mwqm and qmlt
were used in this sense prior to A.D. 70.435
Before A.D. 70, too, the Divine Presence was considered to extend beyond the confines of
the holy of holies to embrace the whole land of Israel (m. Kel. 1:6-9). Such a limit of
Divine Presence, as will be noted, is not unlike the Zion traditions in the Targumim
which have been traced to the post-70 Tannaitic period.436
After A.D. 70, however, the perceived location of the Divine Presence is far from obvious.
Towards the end of the Mishnaic period, the fourth generation R. Halafta (A.D. 140-165)
432 G. I. Davies, (1991), The Presence of God, 35-36.

433 In two places, m. Eduy. 5:6C and Abot 2:13C, it occurs in the phrase Mwqmh ynpl, but the
context need not be of the temple.
434 Kster, (1972ET), qmlt, TDNT VIII, 201.
435 Though not used in the Targumim (Kster, (1972ET), qmlt, TDNT VIII, 201; Urbach,
(19792ET), The Sages I, 69), there is other evidence that Mwqm and qmlt may have been used as
a circumlocution for God prior to A.D. 70, though it is disputed. Its use in Esth 4:14 is a case in
point. Those who consider that Esth 4:14 is a circumlocution include: Josephus, Ant. 11:227;
Philo, Fug. 75, 77, Som. 1:63, 72; Urbach, (19792ET), The Sages I, 73-74; Levenson, (1997),
Esther, 81; Gamberoni, (1997ET), Mwqm maqom, TDOT VIII, 544; C. A. Moore, (1971),
Esther, 50. Those do not consider it as early evidence of a circumlocution include: Ackroyd,
(1967), Two Hebrew Notes, 82-84. In the Mishnah it occurs in unattributed sayings as well as
ascribed to sages and rabbis who lived prior to A.D. 70 and some in the Yavneh period.
Unattributed: m. Ber. 5:1C, Sheq. 3:2G, Yoma 8:9D, Sot. 1:7B,C, Abot 5:4C, Mid. 5:4J. First
century B.C.: Eduy. 5:6C. First century, before A.D. 70: Abot 2:13C, 3:3C. Yavneh: Pes. 10:5B,
Yoma 8:9F, Ned. 9;1C, Sot. 5:5F, Abot 3:10A,B. Interestingly, according to Urbach, (19792ET),
The Sages I, 67-68, it was replaced in later rabbinic periods by the phrase the Holy One, blessed
be He and so its universalistic connotations (Sandmel, (1978), Judaism and Christian Beginnings,
170) were very soon altered to take account of changing concepts.
436 Section 2.5.1.3.
thought that mere study of the Torah would be enough to secure the hnykv (m. Abot
3:2E,6A)437 - which surely implies that at other times the Divine Presence was not present.
Far more certain is the epithet Father in heaven which occurs six times in the Mishnah,
twice in attributions to Yavnean rabbis,438 but mostly from fifth generation rabbis.439 It is
possible, even likely, that the Yavnean rabbis considered the Divine Royal Presence to be
located, therefore, in heaven, after the destruction of the temple. However, such a radical
relocation of the Divine Royal Presence from the temple to heaven is neither confirmed
nor undermined by a consideration of the three places in the Mishnah that describe God as
king.
m. Sanh. 4:5N
m. Sanh. 4:5N440
awh Kwrb vwdqh lv wtlwdg dyghlw
,hzl hz Nymwd Nlwkw dxa Mtwxb twebjm hmk ebwj Mdav
awh Kwrb vwdqh Myklmh yklm Klmw
:wrbxl hmwd Nhm dxa Nyaw Nwvarh Mda lv wmtwxb Mda-lk ebj
:Mlweh arbn lybvb rmwl byyx dxaw dxa-lk Kkypl
Translation of m. Sanh. 4:5N441

And to portray the grandeur of the Holy One, blessed be He. For a person
mints many coins with a single seal, and they are all alike one another. But
the King of kings of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He, minted all human
beings with that seal of his with which he made the first person, yet not one
of them is like anyone else. Therefore everyone is obligated to maintain,
On my account the world was created.
m. Sanh. 4:5 is a mishnah on the method and reason for cautioning witnesses in cases
where the punishment is death. The reason such witnesses must be extra vigilant in telling
the truth is that the accused was created (a Divine Royal activity) by God and is unique,
possessing his or her own God-given worth.442
The usefulness of this mishnah for the present purpose is, however, questionable. The
repeated phrase awh Kwrb vwdqh the Holy One, blessed be He is Amoraic. Though it
437 Chilton, (1984), Galilean Rabbi, 19; Neusner, (1997), Knowing God, 47.
438 Aqiba, m. Yoma 8:9G. Eliezar the Great (b. Hyrcanus), Sot. 9:15V.
439 m. Kil. 9:8C, Abot 5:20A, Sot. 9:15R, (Sot. 9:15LL unattributed). For other later rabbinic
instances, see Keener, (1999), Matthew, 217-18.
442 Urbach, (19792ET), The Sages I, 217.
may be a later insertion, since it frequently replaced the Tannaitic Mwqm,443 it may also not
be, thus dating the whole mishnah to the Amoraic period.
On the other hand, the three-fold title Myklmh yklm Klm King of kings of kings, is
identical to that found in the Aleinu and Sir 51:12.n and close to the other mishnahs
considered below.444 The origin of the Aleinu prayer may be traced back to at least the
first century (though individual traditions within it are more problematic) and Sir 51:12.n
can be dated with much greater certainty to the second century B.C. The phrase certainly
expresses a universal sovereignty for God, which elsewhere is distinctive of the pre-70
period in Judaism.
Whatever the solution, apart from the obvious connection between God as the supreme
king and God as the Creator, there are no indications of Divine Royal Presence.
m. Abot 3:1E
m. Abot 3:1E445
Nwbvxw Nyd Ntyl dyte hta ym ynplw
:awh Kwrb vwdqh Myklmh yklm Klm ynpl
Translation of m. Abot 3:1E446

And before whom are you going to give a full account of yourself? Before
the King of kings of kings, the Holy One, blessed be he.
m. Abot 3:1 is a mishnah attributed to Aqabiah b. Mehallalel, a first century B.C. sage. The
three-fold title, with its universalistic implications for divine sovereignty, points to a pre-70
date for the tradition. The presence of the cultic ynpl before, suggests that after death a
person will stand before God and justify his actions during his lifetime. The images of
God as king and judge are clear, as well as the personal responsibility of man, but no
definite location of the Divine Royal Presence can be made here either.
443 Urbach, (19792ET), The Sages I, 67-68.

444 See also: 1 Enoch 9:4, 84:2 (2-fold), Sir 51:12.n, Aleinu, m. Sanh. 4:5N, Abot 3:1E, 4:22O (3-
fold).
m. Abot 4:22O
m. Abot 4:22O447
,dlwn hta Kxrk lew ruwn hta Kxrk lev
,yx hta Kxrk lew
,tm hta Kxrk lew
Nwbvxw Nyd Ntyl dyte hta Kxrk lew
:awh Kwrb vwdqh Myklmh yklm Klm ynpl
Translation of m. Abot 4:22O448

For despite your wishes were you formed, despite your wishes were you
born, despite your wishes do you live, despite your wishes do you die, and
despite your wishes are you going to give a full accounting before the King
of kings of kings, the Holy One, blessed be he.
Attributed to Eliezer Haqqappar, a fifth generation (A.D. ca. 165-200) Tannim.449 The
sentiment espoused, namely that we are born to die, can be found in Josephus (J.W.
7:381) and the context, i.e. that of giving a final account of ones life, is similar to that of
m. Abot 3:1E above, attributed to a first century B.C. sage. This, then, may be a good
example of a late attributed mishnah, the substance of which can be traced back to much
earlier times. However, for the present task, little more can be said.
m. Tam. 7:4G
m. Tam. 7:4G450
,Myrmwa wyh yvvb
:rmwgw vbl twag Klm h
Translation of m. Tam. 7:4G451

On the sixth day they did sing, The Lord is king and has put on glorious
apparel.
m. Tam. 7:4 is an unattributed mishnah listing particular psalms to be sung by the Levites
in the temple, one each day of the week, as part of the morning and evening sacrifices.
Thus on Fridays the Levites were to sing (according to the rabbis) Ps 93, of which the
above is the first five words. The mishnah thus harkens back to an earlier time and
purports to give the situation prior to A.D. 70 - as the rabbis envisaged it.
447 Blackman, (1963-64), Mishnayoth IV, 524-25.

449 Danby, (1933ET), Mishnah, 800.
450 Blackman, (1963-64), Mishnayoth V, 497.
This does not mean of course that the comments made under Ps 93 can be applied to the
post-70 rabbinic milieu.452 For the rabbis, there was no temple, no holy of holies. God as
Creator King and Judge was Mwrmb ryda majestic on high (Ps 93:4).452a
2.5.1.2 Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum
Scholarship is divided on whether Pseudo-Philos Latin Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum is

to be dated prior to or after A.D. 70. The earlier date is proposed because of 22:8 and 32:3
which assume that the temple is still standing.453 The later date is sometimes preferred
because of 19:7 which may tell of its destruction.454 However, the references that assume
the temple is standing may be later insertions and 19:7 may refer rather to the earlier
destruction by Nebuchadnezzar.
Its likely provenance is Palestine, and though no suggestion is being made here that it is
necessarily connected with the Pharisees, Daniel J. Harrington455 acknowledged its shared
milieu with the Palestinian synagogues at the turn of the common era and the new
Schrer456 places Pseudo-Philo within mainstream Jewish thought, with non-sectarian
Pharisaic thought. Given also its many similarities with both 4 Ezra and 2 Baruch,457
which themselves have much in common with the Yavnean rabbis, it deserves some
attention here, even if its status as representative of early rabbinic or synagogue thought is
uncertain.458
452 On Ps 93, see Section 2.2.1 above.

452a The interest of the rabbis in the temple, its significance and particularly its rituals, was
nevertheless more than simply antiquarian. They were concerned to preserve and provide a basis for
its meaning and a faithful and practical halakah surrounding its worship, in case it was ever rebuilt.
Nevertheless, for the moment, Gods earthly abode did not exist. Hence the uncertianty over the
perceived location of the Divine Royal Presence as noted above.
453 James, (1917), Biblical Antiquities, 29-33; D. J. Harrington, (1983), Pseudo-Philo, OTP II,
299; Schrer, (19732), Age III.1, 328-29; Stemberger, (1995), Non-Rabbinic Literature, 27-28.
454 Nickelsburg, (1984), The Bible Rewritten and Expanded, 109, because of its similarities with 4
Ezra, 2 Bar. and Josephus Antiquities. See also his earlier Nickelsburg, (1981), Jewish
Literature, 267-68 and, F. J. Murphy, (1988), God in Pseudo-Philo, 17-18 and n. 34.
455 D. J. Harrington, (1983), Pseudo-Philo, OTP II, 300. For contrary opinion, see Stemberger,
(1995), Non-Rabbinic Literature, 28.
456 Schrer, (19732), Age III.1, 328.
457 James, (1917), Biblical Antiquities, 47-58. James thus thought that the three works emanated
from the same circle. On 4 Ezra and 2 Baruch, see Section 3.5.1.2.
458 McNamara, (1983), Intertestamental Literature, 280-83. McNamara noted on p. 281 that some
scholars (unnamed) explain Pseudo-Philos lack of interest in the temple as indicative of the
books origin in a synagogue context. On p. 282 he agreed with this. For the connection of the
Pharisees with the synagogue, see Section 1.5.6.
L.A.B. 22:5
L.A.B. 22:5459
Et dixit Ihesus: Nonne fortior est rex Dominus super milia sacrificia?
Translation of L.A.B. 22:5460

And Joshua said, Is not the LORD the King more powerful than a thousand
sacrifices?
The author of the Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum did not give a systematic presentation of
God Himself, preferring rather to concentrate on divine activity in history461 and the
necessity of following his will as expressed definitively in the Torah. Nonetheless, in
Joshuas speech (22:5-6), God as king is also a witness and judge.462
At the end of time God will visit to the world (visito 19:12, 26:13).463 He is frequently
described as Fortissimus the Most Powerful (or the Most High).464 In two such
instances (32:4,13) it is possible to infer that God is in heaven, though it is far from
explicit. Nonetheless, the author probably saw the Divine Royal Presence as dwelling in
heaven, from which he will one day visit the world.
Refer to Section 2.3.1.3 for preliminary remarks about the Targumim.
The following chart represents those Targum passages that translate Hebrew passages
containing +klm (except for twklm) in reference to God and for which a date post-70 has
been tentatively ascertained. These may reasonably be quarried for additional information
as to how the Palestinian synagogues might have regarded God as king, especially the
Divine Royal Presence. Those dated to the Amoraic period and those for which a date
could not be decided are discussed in the footnotes.
459 Pseudo-Philon, (1976), Les Antiquits Bibliques, 178.

460 D. J. Harrington, (1983), Pseudo-Philo, OTP II, 331.
461 F. J. Murphy, (1988), God in Pseudo-Philo, 1.
462 Cf. F. J. Murphy, (1988), God in Pseudo-Philo, 9-12.
463 The Latin visito means to see, to visit, and in a few places in the Vulgate to punish, e.g.
Lev 18:25, Ps 88:33, Jer 14:10.
464 L.A.B. 16:5, 18:10,11, 20:4, 31:5, 32:4,8,10,13, 61:5,6, 62:4. See F. J. Murphy, (1988), God
in Pseudo-Philo, 1 n. 1.
Tgs. Torah Tg. Neb.

Post-70 Tannaitic Isa 6:5,
(Zion) Isa 33:17r,22,
Isa 41:21
Amoraic or later Deut 33:5465 Isa 43:15, 44:6, 52:7b467
(congregation) Num 23:21466 Jer 8:19b468
Mic 2:13b, 4:7b469
Zeph 3:15470
465 Aramaic Texts: Tg. Onq. Deut 33:5, Sperber, (1959), The Bible in Aramaic I, 350; Tg. Ps-J. Deut
33:5, Clarke, (1984), Targum Pseudo-Jonathan of the Pentateuch, 252; Tg. Neof. Deut 33:5,
Dez Macho, (1968), Neophyti 1 V, 285; Tg. C.G. Deut 33:5, M. L. Klein, (1986), Genizah
Manuscripts, 359; Tg. Frg. V Deut 33:5, M. L. Klein, (1980), The Fragment-Targums of the
Pentateuch I, 231. Translations respectively: Grossfeld, (1988ET), Targum Onqelos to
Deuteronomy, 104; Clarke, (1998ET), Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, Deuteronomy, 98; McNamara,
(1997ET), Targum Neofiti 1, Deuteronomy, 164, Dez Macho, (1968), Neophyti 1 V, 567; M. L.
Klein, (1986), Genizah Manuscripts, 358; M. L. Klein, (1980), The Fragment-Targums of the
Pentateuch II, 188.
Each of the targumim contain the word atvnk congregation. All, except Tg. Ps.-J. Deut 33:5,
interpret Deut 33:5 as a reference to the Davidic king (which may or may not be also the Messiah),
and so are of little use in ascertaining notions of Divine Royal Presence, cf. Drazin, (1982),
Deuteronomy, 295 n. 20. In Tg. Ps.-J. Deut 33:5, it is the law that is king. McNamara, (1997ET),
Targum Neofiti 1, Deuteronomy, 164 n. 17, thought it referred to the expected Messiah, at least in
Tg. Neof. Deut 33:5. If so, it is another example of the Amoraic pre-existent hidden Messiah.
466 Aramaic Texts: Tg. Onq. Num 23:21, Sperber, (1959), The Bible in Aramaic I, 264 and, Drazin,
(1998), Numbers, 239; Tg. Ps.-J. Num 23:21, Clarke, (1984), Targum Pseudo-Jonathan of the
Pentateuch, 189; Tg. Neof. Num 23:21, Dez Macho, (1968), Neophyti 1 IV, 227; Tg. Frg. P
Num 23:21, M. L. Klein, (1980), The Fragment-Targums of the Pentateuch I, 103; Tg. Frg. V
Num 23:21, M. L. Klein, (1980), The Fragment-Targums of the Pentateuch I, 201. Translations
respectively: Grossfeld, (1988ET), Targum Onqelos to Numbers, 134; Clarke, (1995ET), Targum
Pseudo-Jonathan, Numbers, 257; McNamara, (1995ET), Targum Neofiti 1, Numbers, 133, Dez
Macho, (1968), Neophyti 1 IV, 594; M. L. Klein, (1980), The Fragment-Targums of the
Pentateuch II, 75; M. L. Klein, (1980), The Fragment-Targums of the Pentateuch II, 160.
The Targumic verses surrounding v. 21b, vv. 20-21a and 23, are so similar that a common
tradition may be supposed. However, although each of the targumim of v. 21b has deliberately
removed anthropomorphisms (B. B. Levy, (1987), A Textual Study II, 135, on Tg. Neof. Num
23:21), they vary considerably, suggesting at least three traditions: the tradition represented by Tg.
Onq. and its Shekhinah; that of Tg. Ps-J. with its explicit replacement of the Divine King with
the King Messiah; and those of Tg. Neof., Tg. Frg. P and Tg. Frg. V, for whom the acclaim is
of the splendour of the glory of their king and which may or may not be messianic.
Tg. Ps.-J. Num 23:21b may be dismissed as Amoraic because of its explicit mention of the
Messiah in place of the Divine King. Although atvnk congregation is not used here, it is
difficult not to think that what is in mind here is a clearly defined worshipping community. Hence
all these targumim to Num 23:21 may be dated to the Amoraic period.
467 Aramaic text: Sperber, (1959), The Bible in Aramaic III, 83, 88, 89, 106. Translation: Chilton,
(1987ET), The Isaiah Targum, 85-86, 87, 102.
Tg. Neb. Isa 43:15 may be dated to the Amoraic period, along with the whole of chapter 43,
despite the lack of congregation. Zion does not appear in the chapter even though opportunity
for it abounded in the later verses. It is to be noted that YHWH is the creator of Israel, not of
everything. In 43:10 the Messiah already exists and is not a purely eschatological figure - a
development of the Amoraic period (but see, e.g. 1 Enoch 48:6. Perhaps the tradition influenced
the Targumim only from the Amoraic period). See: Chilton, (1987ET), The Isaiah Targum, 85 n.
43:1-43:28; Chilton, (1982), The Glory of Israel, 90-91, G. F. Moore, (1927), Judaism II, 349.
Cf. Tg. Neb. Mic 2:13, and the enlarged Midrash of Frg. Tg. P Exod 15:18, Frg. Tg. V Exod
12:42, Tg. Neof. Exod 12:42, Tg. Ps.-J. Exod 12:42, the fourth night. On the Messiah in the
Targumim, see: Levey, (1974), The Messiah, passim, esp. 12-13 on Exod 12:42; van der Woude,
(1974ET), uos : VI. Rabbinic Writings, TDNT IX, 524; McNamara, (19662), The NT and the
Palestinian Targum, 238-52; Gordon, (1978), Targumists as Eschatologists, 121-23; Neusner,
(1988), Messiah in Context, 239-47; Evans, (1995), Jesus and his Contemporaries, 155-81, esp.
171-72 on Frg. Tg. V Exod 12:42; Chilton, (1982), The Glory of Israel, 86-96, 112-17.
Again, Tg. Neb. Isa 44:6 is embedded in material that clearly directed the kingship of God towards
Israel exclusively, though in v. 24 God is the creator of the heavens and the earth. There is no
mention of Zion and the introduced the woman of v. 13 was applied to Eve by the Amoraim.
See Chilton, (1987ET), The Isaiah Targum, xxiv, 89 n. 44:9-44:20.
Tg. Neb. Isa 52:7b has already been assigned to the Amoraic period, because of the presence of
atvnk congregation, see Section 3.2.1.3.
468 Aramaic text: Sperber, (1959), The Bible in Aramaic III, 156. Translation: R. Hayward, (1987ET),
The Targum of Jeremiah, 74.
This particular Targumic tradition maintained the sense of the Hebrew, namely that the Shekhinah
was present in Zion at least up until the exile. It is impossible to say how the tradition was
interpreted in the post-70 period. The insertion of atvnk congregation in vv. 19a, 20 indicates
that the immediate context is Amoraic. The graphic picture of the midrash in v. 21 brings to mind
the utter devastation of A.D. 70.
469 Aramaic text: Sperber, (1959), The Bible in Aramaic III, 443, 445. Translation: Cathcart and
Gordon, (1989ET), The Targum of the Minor Prophets, 117, 120.
Tg. Neb. Mic 4:7b-8 is likely to be Amoraic because: of the presence of atvnk congregation
twice in v. 8; the inclusion of Messiah in v. 8 to whom the Divine Kingdom is about to come
(not seen elsewhere); and because v. 8 is the only place in the targumim where the kingdom is said
ata to come. For further comment on Tg. Neb. Mic 4:7b, see: Smolar, Aberach and Churgin,
(1983), Studies in Targum Jonathan, 132; Chilton, (1978), Regnum Dei Deus Est, 269;
Chilton, (1979), God in Strength, 290; Chilton, (1982), The Glory of Israel, 80, 114. The only
challenge to the lateness of the tradition in Tg. Neb. Mic 4:7-8 known to the present writer is that
of: White, (1984), Review of The Glory of Israel by Bruce D. Chilton, 107. He saw a
similarity between 1QFlor and Tg. Neb. 4:7-8 that ruled out for him Chiltons fourth century date
for Tg. Neb. Mic 4:7-8. However, there is no Florilegium from Cave 1 and 4QFlor Frag. I col. I,
21,2 line 19, although it refers to a future Davidic king, does not describe him explicitly as a
messiah, nor does it link this Davidic king with a Divine Kingdom. See Martnez and Tigchelaar,
(2000), Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition I, 352-55, where Messiah has been supposed in the
translation.
Tg. Neb. Mic 2:13 may similarly be dated to the Amoraic period but for different reasons. The
tradition has enlarged 2:13 considerably with a midrash in which God as king is replaced by a pre-
existent messiah as king and redeemer. Later rabbinic tradition considered this verse as referring to
such a figure. See footnote under Tg. Neb. Isa 43:15. Tgs. Neb. Jer 30:21, Mic 4:8, 5:1, Zech 3:8,
4:7, 6:12, refer to a hidden messiah that will finally be revealed, cf. 4 Ezra (2 Esdras) 7:28, 2
Baruch 29:3, 39:7, John 7:27, Justin Dialogue, VIII (ANF I, 199a). See too: McNamara,
(19662), The NT and the Palestinian Targum, 249-50; Levey, (1974), The Messiah, 92; G. F.
Moore, (1927), Judaism III, 344, 349.
470 Aramaic text: Sperber, (1959), The Bible in Aramaic III, 471-72. Translation: Cathcart and
Gordon, (1989ET), The Targum of the Minor Prophets, 173.
The presence of atvnk congregation twice in v. 14 points to an Amoraic dating. To be noted is
the absence of the Shekhinah in the time of the formation of the targum (also vv. 5, 17). When
the Shekhinah does dwell once again in the temple (v. 7), then the Lord will appear (ytwylgta,
v. 8). See Cathcart and Gordon, (1989ET), The Targum of the Minor Prophets, 171 n. 12, 173 n.
36. Cf. Tg. Neb. Zech 2:14, where all these elements are also present.
Tgs. Torah Tg. Neb.

Targumim for which a 1 Sam 8:7471
date could not be 1 Sam 12:12472
ascertained Ezek 20:33473
Tg. Neb. Isa 6:5
NRSV of Isa 6:5b

yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!
Tg. Neb. Isa 6:5b474

:ynye hazx twabu ywy aymle Klm tnykv rqy ty yra byty ana
Translation of Tg. Neb. Isa 6:5b475

for my eyes have seen the glory of the Shekhinah of the eternal king, the
LORD of hosts!
Tg. Neb. Isa 6:5b may be tentatively dated to the Tannaitic period, though it is embedded
in Amoraic text, with Tannaitic traditions preserved.476 The construct twabu ywy LORD
of Hosts, retained by the targum tradition, strongly points to a universal understanding of
the nature of Gods kingship. Normally, the retention of LORD of hosts in kingship
targumim is one indication of pre-70 tradition material.477 In this case, it is likely to
indicate, at the very least, preservation of Tannaitic tradition.
471 Aramaic Text: Sperber, (1959), The Bible in Aramaic II, 108. Translation: Harrington and
Saldarini, (1987ET), Targum Jonathan of the Former Prophets, 115.
Tg. Jon. 1 Sam 7:17, 8:6,21 make it clear that God spoke to Samuel in the sanctuary of Ramah. It
was ywy Mdq before the Lord, i.e. in Gods presence. The Targumist also preserved the Hebrew
understanding that God was king of Israel, able to be approached in the cultic centres of Bethel,
Gilgal, Mizpah and Ramah (e.g. Gilgal: Tg. Jon. 1 Sam 11:15, 15:21; Mizpah: Tg. Jon. 1 Sam
10:17). Apart from the insistence on the presence of God in these sanctuaries by the use of
ywy Mdq, the targum preserves the Hebrew so closely as to obscure the beliefs of the Targumist
and also any attempt at dating.
472 Aramaic Text: Sperber, (1959), The Bible in Aramaic II, 115. Translation: Harrington and
Saldarini, (1987ET), Targum Jonathan of the Former Prophets, 122.
As with Tg. Jon. 1 Sam 8:7, the text follows so closely the Hebrew that any attempt to either date
the tradition behind the targum or offer tentative proposals as to the notions of Divine Royal
Presence the Targumist might have had, would be foolish.
473 Aramaic Text: Sperber, (1959), The Bible in Aramaic III, 308. Translation: Levey, (1987ET), The
Targum of Ezekiel, 64.
Tg. Neb. Ezek 20:33 and indeed v. 34 and most of v. 32, are simple translations of the Hebrew
without expansion or explanation. The retention of the exclusive nature of Gods kingship (also
20:40) might suggest a post-70 dating, but there is no way to be sure.
475 Chilton, (1987ET), The Isaiah Targum, 14.
476 Chilton, (1997), Two in One, 559, dated Tg. Neb. Isa 6:1-6 generally to the Amoraic period with
Tannaitic traditions preserved.
477 The exception would be Tg. Neb. Isa 44:6, dated to the Amoraic period.
The use of the important term hnykv Shekhinah twice in Tg. Neb. Isa 6:1-6 is another
indication of a post-70 dating, since there is no unequivocal evidence that this term was
used prior to A.D. 70.478 It is derived from the root Nkv to dwell and in essence, is
used to express the nearness of God to humankind. It refers to God himself in an
immediate sense as present in this world, des Daseins Gottes in der Welt.479 In short, it
is a circumlocution for God, much the same as heaven can be, though Shekhinah
emphasises the Divine Presence whereas heaven highlights his location.480
478 It is commonly held that the word was not used until well into the second century as a device to
reinforce the notion of Divine Presence with Israel after the destruction of the temple. See:
Goldberg, (1969), Schekhinah, 443; Urbach, (19792ET), The Sages I, 44; C. R. Koester, (1989),
The Dwelling of God, 72; Wolters, (1997), The Shekinah in the Copper Scroll, 389.
It is possible however that 3Q15 12.10 (The Copper Scroll) contains the earliest documented
example of hnykv. The word in question has been variously deciphered as hnkv, hnykv, xubv,
bhub, xnybv and xubv, since the script of the Copper Scroll apparently makes no distinction
between b and k , nor between h and x and since a scratch or discolouration connected to the n
which has lead some scholars to read it as a u instead of a n . If the possibilities with u are
discarded, all the remaining, except hnkv, are very uncommon. The only vocalisation of hnkv
that makes sense is as Shekhinah rather than neighbour, see Wolters, (1997), The Shekinah
in the Copper Scroll, 382-91, including the five different English translations. Martnez and
Tigchelaar, (2000), Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition I, 238, has xnybv.
2 Macc 14:35 contains the word phekpbst, a feminine noun meaning of a habitation. Since
hnykv is also a feminine noun and since Nkv and its derivatives are most often translated in the
LXX by words with the stem phek++ it is possible that 2 Macc 14:35 is a translation of hnykv,
see: Goldberg, (1969), Schekhinah, 439; Sievers, (1981), Shekinah, 172.
The Mishnah mentions the Shekhinah in three attributed sayings: m. Sanh. 6:5A, Abot 3:2E,
3:6A. The earliest rabbi in this list is R. Hananiah b. Teradion (m. Abot 3:2E) who flourished
A.D. 110-135. SEE: Sievers, (1981), Shekinah, 174; C. R. Koester, (1989), The Dwelling of
God, 71 (second generation); cf. Danby, (1933ET), Mishnah, 799 (third generation).
Allusions to Shekinah may also be in Matt 18:20, John 1:14 and Rev 21:3. See: Sievers, (1981),
Shekinah, 171, 175-79; Dalman, (1902ET), Words of Jesus, 231; Sutcliffe, (1940), Shekinah,
101-10; Moody, (1962), Shekinah, IDB IV, 318-19. Cf. Urbach, (19792ET), The Sages II, 702 n.
17, who noted that Shekhinah is missing from the old recensions of m. Sanh. 6:5A. Lodahl,
(1992), Shekhinah / Spirit, 54, followed Urbach. Neusner, (1988), Incarnation of God, 56,
thought that m. Sanh. 6:5A was the only instance of Shekhinah in the Mishnah.
479 Goldberg, (1969), Schekhinah, 537, the existence of God in the world; E. P. Sanders, (1977),
Paul and Palestinian Judaism, 215; Lodahl, (1992), Shekhinah / Spirit, 52. See too: Dalman,
(1902ET), Words of Jesus, 230; Abelson, (1912), The Immanence of God, 108; G. F. Moore,
(1922), Intermediaries in Jewish Theology, 56-58; Sutcliffe, (1940), Shekinah, 102; Moody,
(1962), Shekinah, IDB IV, 317-19; Congar, (1962ET), The Mystery of the Temple, 11, 18, 93-
94; Unterman, (1972), Shekhinah, EncJud XIV, 1349-52; Sandmel, (1978), Judaism and
Christian Beginnings, 175-76; Sigal, (1980), Foundations of Judaism I.II, 117; Kadushin,
(19723), The Rabbinic Mind, 222-61; Urbach, (19792ET), The Sages I, 37-65, esp. 43; Hayward,
(1980), Memra and Shekhina, 213; Lodahl, (1992), Shekhinah / Spirit, 51-58. Extreme caution
should be exercised in using most of this material, as much of it relates to later rabbinic material
which represents considerable development from the earliest. In other words, there is the tendency
to treat all rabbinic literature as if it were timeless and so fall into the trap of anachronism. See
comments in Levenson, (1981), From Temple to Synagogue, 143-44.
480 Only in later rabbinic literature did Shekhinah occasionally become a separate entity, though all the
time dualism was avoided. See: Abelson, (1912), The Immanence of God, 80; Unterman, (1972),
Shekhinah, EncJud XIV, 1352; Sigal, (1980), Foundations of Judaism I.II, 117. Cf. Congar,
The heavens of the height is the place where: the glory of God is (v. 1); where his
sanctuary is (v. 3); and where his Shekhinah is to be found (v. 6). In Tg. Neb. Isa 5:5,
33:5,481 the Shekhinah has been taken back to heaven and is thus no longer on the Temple
Mount.482 It is to be recalled that Isaiah himself located the Divine King in the temple.483
Isaiah is now prevented not only from seeing God, but from seeing even the Shekhinah,
because it is no longer in the temple. He merely sees the rqy glory (of the Shekhinah).
In v. 2, two holy attendants cover the body of God so that he might not be seen.
Tg. Neb. Isa 33:17,22
NRSV of Isa 33:17,22

17 Your eyes will see the king in his beauty; they will behold a land that
stretches far away.
22 For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our ruler, the LORD is our king;
he will save us.
Tg. Neb. Isa 33:17,22484

hytxbvtb aymle Klm tnykv rqy ty 17
:Mnhwg era ytxnb yzxtw lktot Knye Nyzxy
Myrumm hytrwbgb anqpad annyyd ywy yra 22
ynyom hytyrwa Npla anl bhyd anplm ywy
:gwg tyrvm Nm Nyd twnerwp anl dybeyw annqrpy awh anklm ywy
Translation of Tg. Neb. Isa 33:17r,22485

17 Your eyes will see the glory of the Shekhinah of the eternal king in his
celebrity; you will consider and behold those who go down to the land of
Gehenna.
22 For the LORD is our judge, who brought us by his might out of Egypt, the
LORD is our teacher, who gave us the teaching of his law from Sinai, the
LORD is our king; he will save us and take just retribution for us from the
armies of Gog.
The tradition behind this targum may be dated to the early post-70 period. Apart from the
our king of 33:22, God is thought to punish (not merely judge as their king) all the
(1962ET), The Mystery of the Temple, 94; Kadushin, (19723), The Rabbinic Mind, 223; Urbach,
(19792ET), The Sages I, 63; Lodahl, (1992), Shekhinah / Spirit, 52, all of whom denied that the
Shekhinah ever had separate existence in rabbinic literature.
481 See also: in the heavens of the height, Tg. Neb. Isa 32:15, 33:5; above the cherubim, Tg. Neb.
Isa 37:16; in the strength of the height, Tg. Neb. Isa 40:22, 45:15; in the height he dwells and
his Shekhinah is holy, Tg. Neb. Isa 57:15.
482 Kittel and von Rad, (1964ET), ag^, TDNT II, 247; N. J. Cohen, (1982), Shekhinta Ba-
Galuta, 147; Chilton, (1982), The Glory of Israel, 70, 72; Chilton, (1987ET), The Isaiah
Targum, 15, n. 6:1-6:6; Chilton, (1997), Two in One, 557-60. It is to be noted, however, that
Chilton failed, in this last work, to distinguish between the sitz im leben of the Targums and the
Talmuds.
485 Chilton, (1987ET), The Isaiah Targum, 66, 67.
Gentiles with destruction, vv. 11-12, 23. The word Nwyu Zion is in vv. 5, 14, 20,
suggesting the possibility of a post-70 Tannaitic origin.486
As for the presence of the Divine King, his Shekhinah will be one day again in Zion (cf.
vv. 5, 14, 24).487 It is from there that God ylgta will be revealed (v. 10, cf. v. 21) and
seen, vv. 17, 20.488 Indeed, it is this revelation that will herald the punishment of
Gentiles and security for the house of Israel (v. 24).
Tg. Neb. Isa 41:21
NRSV of Isa 41:21

Set forth your case, says the LORD; bring forth your proofs, says the King
of Jacob.
Tg. Neb. Isa 41:21489

:bqeyd hyklm rma Nwktyzx wlyea ywy rma Nwknyd wbyrq
Translation of Tg. Neb. Isa 41:21490

Set forth your cause, says the LORD; bring your fitting arguments, says the
king of Jacob.
Gods Memra is used extensively in 41:1-16 and then not again until 42:1, replaced by
frequent use of the first person personal pronoun, suggesting a different tradition formed
41:17-29. Interestingly, neither Shekhinah, nor Glory occur in 41:17-29. Here, it is
God who as king of Jacob will bring from among the Gentiles (v. 18) his people. The
retention of Zion in v. 27 might indicate the post-70 Tannaitic period for this targum.
Certainly the basic translation suggests an early date. However, no comment can be made
regarding the presence of the Divine King. All is directed towards his redeeming action.
The wnyle Aleinu is a synagogue prayer that, like the hdyme Amidah, may contain
traditions that can be traced back to the pre-70 period. However, in the case of the Aleinu,
the redaction is so extensive,491 that it is better to treat the prayer here and take care not to
dwell on the details but merely to note the general thrust of any tradition within the prayer.
486 Chilton, (1987ET), The Isaiah Targum, xxiv, dated ch. 33 generally to the Amoraic period.
487 On the presence of Shekhinah in a pre A.D. 70 targum, see Tg. Neb. Isa 6:5 above, in this Section.
488 On the Aramaic ylg in the targumim associated with the Divine King or the kingdom of God, see
Section 3.7.
491 Treves, (1969), The Reign of God, 243 n. 1; Charlesworth, (1986), Jewish Hymns, 420; Reif,
(1993), Judaism and Hebrew Prayer, 208.
The wnyle Aleinu
The wnyle Aleinu492

. . . Myklmh yklm Klm ynpl Mydwmw Mywxtvmw Myeryk wnxnaw
Translation493
We bend the knee and bow and acknowledge before the supreme King of
kings, . . .
This prayer494 is a confident and triumphant proclamation of Gods universal

kingship,495 implied at the very least in the three-fold title of God as King of king of
kings.496 Because of this affirmation of universal kingship, this phrase is likely to be the
legacy of a pre-70 tradition. Considered isolated from the rest of the prayer, the presence
of ynpl before, would appear to indicate that the original composer of this phrase
considered himself or herself to be in the Divine Royal Presence anywhere the prayer is
recited, including synagogues.
However, the prayer in general has undergone such extensive redaction that the remainder
may be assumed to be post-70 and so bears no historical relationship to this phrase.
Elsewhere the divine wrqy bvwm seat of glory and wze tnykv abode of majesty are
in Mymv heaven. There is no doubt that this post-70 Divine Royal Presence is to be
found in heaven.
2.5.1.5 Josephus
Josephus wrote his works roughly at the same time Luke redacted his Gospel.497
Although he was neither a rabbi, nor, as far as we know, a synagogue official, his
references to God as king may shed light on the prevailing Jewish opinion of the time and
even on belief prior to the destruction of the temple. In any case, Josephus claimed some
sympathy with the philosophy of the Pharisees. So it is worthwhile surveying the
492 Daily Prayer Book, (1949), 135, 137.

493 Daily Prayer Book, (1949), 136, 138. Cf. Neusner, (1998), A Judaic Response, 151.
494 See also Section 3.5.1.4.
495 Lenhardt, (1997), Aleinu, ODJR, 34a.
496 Cf. King of kings, 1 Enoch 9:4, 84:2; King of king of kings, Aleinu, Sir 51:12.n, m. Sanh.
4:5N, Abot 3:1E, 4:22O.
497 Luke redacted ca. late first century A.D. Josephus wrote: J.W. ca. 75-79, Ant. ca. 95, Life after
100. See Mason, (1991), Josephus on the Pharisees, passim.
references to God as king in Josephus in order to gain an understanding of his concept of

the relationship between God as king and the Divine Royal Presence.
Ant. 6:38,60-61
LCL of Ant. 6:38,60-61, 14:24

6:38 Culkqf a lqst jc^kwbq^f q vblk h^ mô^jrvbq^f j
arpclobk c~ lt gspb q mivlt+ t lh hbklk
mboec^kp^kq^t ii~ ^rqk+ k^ j _^pfibpe jklt9 - - -
6:60 YQ^jlrilt[ qf qk ibrvbo^k ^qlt hbklr mô^pukqlt
h^ qlt mlibjlrt alrip^kqlt jkejlkpbf^k qk
bbodbpfk+ h^ qk jk vbk mlubfolqlklpf qt _^pfib^t lh
baqbt t prjcloq^qlk m ql mkqsk opqlr
molpq^qbpv^f+
6:61 vbt a mkqsk ofpqlt+ - - -
LCL Translation of Ant. 6:38,60-61, 14:24

38 Such was [Samuels] state when the Deity appeared and consoled him,
telling him not to take these demands of the multitude amiss, since it was not
him whom they had spurned, but God Himself, not wishing Him to reign
alone; . . .
60 [Samuel] said that, albeit God had granted them liberty and enslaved their
enemies, they had been unmindful of His benefits and rejected His
sovereignty, unaware that it was to their highest interest to have the best of
all rulers at their head
61 and that the best of all was God; . . .
Ant. 6:60 (// 1 Sam 8:7) recalls 6:38 (// 1 Sam 10:19) and so may be considered
together.498
It is interesting that Josephus should choose jc^kwbq^f in describing Samuels

conversation with God.499 In the middle voice and in religious contexts, as it is here, its
meaning is to appear or to manifest oneself.500 In 1 Sam 8:7 (both the BHS and
LXX) there is no such theophany, nor does God speak unsolicited but only after prayer.
The theophany takes place, according to Josephus, at Ramah and in this he agrees with 1
Sam. However, unlike 1 Sam, Josephus is silent on the existence or otherwise of an altar
or cultic site there, though he is not so silent about other similar sites such as Gilgal (Ant.
6:57). Thus, at least in the context of Samuel and the choosing of a king, Josephus gives
no indication of a permanent or semi-permanent presence of the Divine King.
498 For a discussion of 1 Sam 8:7, see Section 2.4.1.1.

499 ~Cjc^kwbq^f also occurs in LXX Wis 1:2, though it is not inapplicable to Samuel.
500 Bultmann and Lhrmann, (1974ET), c^ks, TDNT IX, 7.
Ant. 14:24
LCL of Ant. 14:24

vb _^pfib qk isk+ - - -
LCL Translation of Ant. 14:24

O God, king of the universe, . . .
These are the opening words of a prayer uttered by a man named Onias501 immediately
prior to his execution by a mob of disaffected Jews. Unfortunately, neither the context nor
the actual words of the prayer give any suggestion as to the concept of the Divine Presence
attached to this prayer.
If a slightly wider semantic net is cast, and the contexts in which God is described as a
ruler using other nouns or adjectives is considered, the picture is still the same.502 There is
no hint of Divine Presence attached to such descriptions.
That Josephus shied away from notions of God as king seems certain.503 On each of the
three occasions he does use it, it is, even for him, in the distant past - far removed from the
time of Roman rule. On the other hand, he definitely shared the notion of the primary
sovereignty of God. He described the Jewish nation as fundamentally a vblho^q^
theocracy and believed no ruler was needed other than God.504 Rather than being
unimportant to him, he probably deliberately avoided the notion of God as king for the
sake of his audience.
This is not to conclude, of course, that Josephus had no articulated notion of Divine
Presence per se. For Josephus, Gods true home was now in heaven.505 Like the great
prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, Josephus considered the Divine Presence to have
inhabited the temple, only to leave prior to its destruction because of the failure of the
people to live by the Torah.506 It would seem, too, that Josephus probably followed the
standard rabbinic line regarding the present location of the Divine Royal Presence.
501 He was not one of the Hellenistic priests of that name.

502 For example: dbjk, prince, governor, Ant. 4:185,223, 6:131, 18:23 (of the fourth sect),
Ag.Ap. 2:185; ^qlhoqso, supreme ruler, Ant. 4:297; abpmqet, lord, master, Ant.
1:20,272 2:70 (by Moses), 5:41,92 (by Joshua), 8:23,107,111 (by Solomon), 11:162,230 (by
Nehemiah), 18:23 (of the fourth sect), 20:90 (by Izates), cf. J.W. 2:18; hoflt, Ant. 13:68,
20:90.
503 A good example would be Ant. 4:223 where Josephus described God as the only dbjk, but an
earthly ruler as a _^pfibt. This reticence on the part of Josephus was hinted at by Beek, (1959),
Hasidic Conceptions of Kingship, 350.
504 Ag.Ap. 2:165. See also Section 1.5.5.4.
505 E.g. Ant. 11:64,143,162, J.W. 1:630
2.5.2 Luke
As noted in Section 2.3.2, the Gospel of Luke contains no explicit mention of God as
king. Indeed, of the 31 instances of _^pfibt in Luke-Acts, all but five refer to ordinary
earthly kings. The five refer to Jesus as king (Luke 19:38, 23:2,3,37,38, Acts 17:7).
Since Luke contains no explicit mention of God as king, evidence for the peculiar
contribution of the redactor may be sought in his alterations to Q (Mark has no references
to God as king). In the first group below, it is Matthew who adds the royal metaphor, in
the second, it is Luke, so that Q may well have contained no royal descriptions of God as
king. This confirms the picture intimated in Section 2.3.2 that Jesus did not use royal
metaphors of God, apart from kingdom of God.
Luke 14:16,21 // Matt 22:2,7
NA27 of Luke 14:16,21

16 M a bmbk ^q9 kvosmt qft mlbf abmklk jd^+ h^
hibpbk mliilt
21 - - - qqb odfpvbt lhlabpmqet - - -
NRSV of Luke 14:16,21

16 Then Jesus said to him, Someone gave a great dinner and invited many.
21 . . . Then the owner of the house became angry . . .
NA27 of Matt 22:2,7

2 jlfve _^pfib^ qk lo^kk kvom _^pfib+ pqft
mlepbk djlrt q r ^ql-
7 a _^pfibt odpve - - -
NRSV of Matt 22:2,7

2 The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding
banquet for his son.
7 The king was enraged. . . .
The Critical Edition of Q placed the parable of the Great Dinner (Matt 22:1-14, Luke
14:15-24) in Q. Verses 15, 22 and 24 were considered not to be from Q and the remaining
verses (vv. 16-21, 23) were given a lower than average probability.507 From the
507 J. M. Robinson, Hoffmann and Kloppenborg, (2000), Critical Edition of Q, 432-49; Asgeirsson
and Robinson, (1992), International Q Project, 506-507. The parable is from Q: Conzelmann,
(1961ET), Theology of St. Luke, 111, 155 n. 1; Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke X-XXIV, 1052. Matt 22:1-
14 and Luke 14:15-24: represent different parables, Geldenhuys, (1946), Luke, 395 n. 4; variant
traditions of a single story, Dodd, (1961Rev), Parables, 91.
reconstruction, Luke better preserves the original identity of the main character
(kvom in v. 16 and hro in v. 21).508
Thus it is Matthew (or the tradition from which he worked) who has altered the character
to a _^pfibt and added the extra features of wedding banquet for the kings
son.509 Although the man in Lukes version is God himself,510 since there are
no indications of royal designations in Luke or his tradition, the parable will not yield any
results regarding the notion of the presence of the Divine King in the mind of the
redactor.511
Luke 19:14,27
NA27 of Luke 19:14,27

14 - - - l viljbk qlqlk _^pfibp^f c' jt-
27 mik qlt uvolt jlr qlqlrt qlt j vbip^kqt jb
_^pfibp^f m' ^qlt - - -

14 . . . We do not want this man to rule over us.
27 But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over
them - . . .
Luke 19:11-27 (cf. Matt 25:14-30), the parable of the Ten Pounds, was thought by The
Critical Edition of Q to be from Q, though with considerable redactional activity evident in
the version extant in Luke.512 In fact, each instance of _^pfi+ in the parable (vv. 11, 12,
14, 15, 27), including the depiction of the main character as a nobleman (v. 12), is there as
a result of later redaction. In other words, they are either definitely not from Q or, as in the
case of v. 27, of such low probability that it is safer to discount it.513
508 An identity which is also preserved in the parallel Gospel of Thomas, saying 64, M. Meyer,
(1992), The Gospel of Thomas, 50-51, 94. For a discussion of the parable in relation to Gos.
Thom. 64, see: Jeremias, (19723), Parables of Jesus, 176-80; Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke X-XXIV,
1050-52.
509 On the changes in Matthew, see: Bultmann, (1963ETRev), Synoptic Tradition, 175; Jeremias,
(19723), Parables of Jesus, 28, 67; Marshall, (1978), Luke, 587; Gundry, (19942), Matthew,
433.
510 Geldenhuys, (1946), Luke, 393; Marshall, (1978), Luke, 587; C. A. Evans, (1990), Luke, 224.
511 For other discussions of the parable, see Jeremias, (19723), Parables of Jesus, 63-66.
512 J. M. Robinson, Hoffmann and Kloppenborg, (2000), Critical Edition of Q, 524-57; Moreland and
Robinson, (1995), International Q Project, 483, 485. See also the parallel in The Gospel of the
Nazaraeans, NTApoc I, 161-62 frg. 18.
513 See Sections 3.5.2 and 3.7.5. Unfortunately, in N. T. Wright, (1996), Jesus, 632-39, the
otherwise insightful discussion of the parable assumed that the character of the king originated
with Jesus and that therefore Jesus himself was speaking of the return of the Divine King in
similar terms to those of Mal 3:1-3.
Whether or not v. 27 is from Q, it is clear that the chief character, the nobleman, is for
Luke Jesus himself. Even though v. 27 is the first time that Jesus is called a king in the
Gospel, soon after, in v. 38, he is declared such. After that, he is accused of claiming to be
the Messiah-King and made fun of as a result (23:37-38).
It is noteworthy, too, that the parable of the ten pounds follows the story of Zacchaeus.
The saying at the end (Luke 19:9-10) firmly identified Jesus with salvation itself -
something that is intimately linked in the OT with God as the Shepherd-King who will also
seek the lost and save his flock (Ezek 34:16,22). Jesus is both salvation and the one
who saves.514 The very next verse introduces the parable as Jesus response to a perceived
misunderstanding regarding the timing of the appearance of the kingdom of God.515
There is thus a certain irony in their misunderstanding. For Luke the Shepherd King -
salvation itself - was standing right in front of them. In short, Luke wanted the parable to
link closely together the nobleman (king) and Jesus.516
For Jesus though, the central character of the king is a metaphor for God,517 his going
away and returning is either reminiscent of the departure of God from the temple at the
exile and his return in the future, or suggestive of the departure of God from the temple
prior to its destruction in A.D. 70. It is noteworthy that Matthew placed the parable towards
the end of a series of sayings and parables prompted by just such a prediction of the
destruction of the temple (Matt 24:2). Verse 15, in speaking of the nobleman receiving
the kingdom, need not contradict this possibility. Many OT passages picture a future time
when God will consummate or activate his kingship.518 Nor indeed should v. 14 which
spelled out the rejection of the nobleman by his citizens. One thinks immediately of 1 Sam
8:7 where the Israelites rejected the kingship of YHWH, preferring instead a human
king.519
514 Reinforced by the parallelism between vv. 5 and 9, so: W. P. Loewe, (1974), Lk 19:1-10, 325.
515 See Sections 3.4.2.6 and Excursus of Section 3.7.
516 So for example: Geldenhuys, (1946), Luke, 474; Weinert, (1977), Throne Claimant
Reconsidered, 506; L. T. Johnson, (1982), Lukan Kingship Parable, 158; C. A. Evans, (1990),
Luke, 285. Marshall, (1978), Luke, 701, thought that the element of the rejection of the king (vv.
12, 14, 15a, 27) was a secondary addition to the parable. See also: Bultmann, (1963ETRev),
Synoptic Tradition, 176 and, Weinert, (1977), Throne Claimant Reconsidered, 505-14, who
considered that two parables have been woven into one in Luke.
517 Jeremias, (19723), Parables of Jesus, 58-62, also thereby denied an original Christological
meaning to the story, but failed to articulate who the nobleman would be at the level of Jesus and
his original hearers.
518 Early Exilic: Isa 24:23, Ezek 20:33; Late Exilic: Mic 4:7; Late Post-Exilic: Ps 146:10, Zech 14:9.
519 See the discussion in Section 2.2.1.1 under 1 Sam 8:7. The delegation is usually compared with
that of Jews to Augustus against Archelaus, cf. J.W. 2:80-100, Ant. 17:299-314. For example:
Jeremias, (19723), Parables of Jesus, 59; Marshall, (1978), Luke, 701; Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke
X-XXIV, 1235; L. T. Johnson, (1991), Luke, 290. For a particularly detailed discussion of this
parallel, see Weinert, (1977), Throne Claimant Reconsidered, 508-14.
184 2.6 The Presence of the Divine King : Synthesis
2.6 SYNTHESIS
It is now possible to draw together the main findings of this chapter that will be of
relevance in supporting the hypothesis, to be demonstrated in the next chapter, that in the
time of the Pharisees and Jesus, kingdom of God meant first and foremost God
himself as king and that the Pharisees and Jesus differed not so much in the identity of the
kingdom but in their notion of Divine Royal Presence, that is, where the kingdom was
located. The scene will also be set for a modification of this understanding in subsequent
stages in the formation of Luke 17:20-21.
Given the variety and development in the understanding of the presence of the Divine
King, three features were always present to a greater or lesser degree.
The first is the fact of Gods kingship. Amidst the diversity and debates, it was always a
common belief that God was king and that except for Second Isaiah and most post-70
Jewish sources, Gods reign or kingship extended over the whole earth or the whole of
creation.520 What was argued, of course, was the effectiveness of and the evidence for that
rule or reign, i.e. whether God was actively ruling in the world as Divine King. A clear
distinction between the Divine Kings effective rule and the acknowledgment of his reign
or kingship can always be made in the literature.
The second feature is the issue of the Divine Royal Presence. Except for a few cases which
remain unclear, the motif of God as king was closely associated with a concern to locate
the Divine Royal Presence. From what location did God rule as king?
Lastly, between passages that are to be dated to roughly the same period, contrasting views
on the location of the Divine Royal Presence were noted, though significantly after A.D. 70
a great uniformity of belief in this matter can be detected. If the OT proves to reflect more
intimately the emerging and conflicting Judaisms nearer the first century, the results of the
analysis of ancient Palestinian literature will prove to be of even greater worth in
discerning streams of tradition that survived into the first century.
520 Assuming that nations, earth, world, creation, effectively are the same thing. This
observation goes far in supporting Bruce D. Chiltons chronology (see Section 1.6.3) of Targum
traditions whereby universalistic verses may be tentatively dated prior to A.D. 70. J. J. M.
Roberts, (1973), Zion Tradition, 340-41, claimed to detect a development in the conception of
YHWHs universal rule between the time of Samuel and David, but the verses used to demonstrate
this fall outside the range considered here.
2.6 The Presence of the Divine King : Synthesis 185
2.6.1 Ancient Palestinian Literature
Most scholars believe that the Israelites derived the motif of God as king from the
Canaanites after settlement and reworked it in the light of YHWHism. It was derived
from the common theology of the Near East rather than the development of the
monarchy.521 The Canaanite motif of the Divine Warrior fighting the forces of chaos
and nature, in particular, underwent historification into the events of the Exodus and
Sinai.522 In some of the post-exilic prophets, the Divine Kings arrival would be
eschatologised into a future hope.523
In pre-exilic times, the notion of Divine Royal Presence was confined to the cultic sphere,
being intimately associated with the temple.524 The temple was his palace and from there
the Divine Royal Presence judged the earth and protected his chosen people. The Divine
King lived in his kingdom. He was, nevertheless, a hidden Divine King whose
presence was at once admitted and yet lamented because such a presence did not by itself
mean action on the part of God. Divine Royal inactivity in the face of evil or misfortune
was a source of great and continuing anguish.
Within this here-and-now tradition, an extension, or more crudely an enlargement, of

the Divine Royal Presence can be detected. There were, of course, exceptions, but the
picture can be summarised thus. In the early monarchic period, the Divine King was
thought to be located above the ark. Later he was associated with the temple itself. In
the late monarchic period and the exilic period he could be found in the city of Jerusalem
or Zion.525 In the late post-exilic period the Divine Royal Presence was thought to be
present over the whole earth, in other words, to be coterminous with the extent of his reign.
The cataclysmic event of the exile, particularly the destruction of YHWHs house,
precipitated the birth of a stream of tradition regarding the Divine Royal Presence in which
it became independent and even divorced from the temple. Nevertheless, a special feature
521 Bowes, (1991), Basilomorphic Conception of Deity, 261.

522 Mettinger, (1988ET), In Search of God, 105, 107.
523 Mettinger, (1988ET), In Search of God, 111.
524 Particularly evident, for example, in the so-called enthronement psalms, Curtis, (1988), God as
Judge, 10. For a good summary of the motif of YHWH as king in the psalms, see: Mays, (1994),
The Centre of the Psalms, 231-46. Cultic references are largely, though not exclusively (e.g
Exod 15:18, 1 Chron 16:31), confined to the Psalms.
525 Fohrer, (1971ET), Xfk, TDNT VII, 310, noted a similar extension of holiness: ark - temple -
temple mount - city.
of the so-called Zion theology,526 the older here-and-now tradition, continued to

coexist as long as the second temple stood.527
Indeed, this older here-and-now tradition found an able, though only partial, ally in
Jeremiah. He believed in the presence of the Divine King on the Temple Mount, despite
the sins of the people. His only explanation for the destruction of the temple was, however,
that the Divine Royal Presence had removed itself from it.
Second Isaiah, on the other hand, saw the crisis of the exile and the events leading up to it
as indications that any dependence the Divine Royal Presence might have had with the
temple was severed by the sins of the people. Ezekiel echoed Second Isaiah theologically,
depicting the movement of the Divine Royal Presence out of the temple in graphic, almost
physical, terms.
However, slowly, over a period of several hundred years after the exile, a new stream of
tradition emerged. This may be conveniently called the heaven tradition.
It began firstly with a reluctance to locate the Divine Royal Presence anywhere, notably the
temple.
The post-exilic prophets, at least those who explicitly mentioned God as king, began this
process. While acknowledging the kingship of YHWH, they pushed the effectiveness or
consummation of that kingship into the future when the Divine King would come
(down) as judge and king.528 He was an absent king who would one day come to take up
residence in the midst of his people.529
From the Greek period onwards, the Palestinian Deuterocanonicals, Daniel and the
Palestinian Pseudepigrapha, right down to and including the first century A.D.,
demonstrate that the overwhelming preference is for God as king to reside in heaven,
from which he is king of the universe and from which he will eventually come as
526 Mettinger, (1979), Veto on Images, 15-29; Mettinger, (1982ET), Dethronement of Sabaoth, 24-
25; Ollenburger, (1987), Zion, 23-72; Mettinger, (1988ET), In Search of God, 102; Mays, (1994),
The Centre of the Psalms, 240-41; Kupp, (1996), Matthews Emmanuel, 131; Tan, (1997),
Zion Traditions, 26.
527 Clements, (1965), God and Temple, 128. Also G. I. Davies, (1991), The Presence of God, 32-
33, citing Joel 2:27, 4:17, Ps 135:21 and, Kupp, (1996), Matthews Emmanuel, 135 n. 88.
528 Kupp, (1996), Matthews Emmanuel, 135.
529 Contrary to W. H. Schmidt, (1983ET), The Faith of the OT, 148, who saw YHWHs kingship in
the late period as only a future reality.
warrior to punish his enemies and judge everyone.530 Notably, until he comes, his
inactivity as king results in a free reign of sin and evil, the perpetrators of which will be
punished when the Divine King does come. As we might expect, the hiddenness of the
Divine King is never mentioned within the context of the Divine Royal Presence located in
heaven.
It may be noted, finally, that whether considered from the perspective of the here-and-
now or heaven tradition, the Divine Royal Presence always meant for the faithful and
obedient, not personal disaster and terror, but an experience of joy and happiness as well
as salvation and redemption. In the case of the here-and-now tradition, that experience
was, like the heaven tradition, increasingly pushed into the future, when the Divine King
would reveal himself and thus initiate judgement and salvation. Divine judgement and
salvation may be considered hallmarks of the Divine Royal Presence.531
2.6.2 The Pharisees and Jesus
With regard to the Pharisees, only a few passages from the Targumim were found to
contain relevant information.531a In each such example, the Divine Royal Presence was
thought to be located in the here-and-now with its epicentre in the temple.532 He was a
hidden Divine King who would reveal himself in the future and re-establish his
position as universal Divine King.
In the case of Jesus, explicit mention of God as king or his kingship or reign cannot be
determined with any degree of certainty. The possible instances have been shown to come
either from the early church or from the final redactors of Matthew and Luke.533
Importantly, there is no reliable record of Jesus belief in the Divine Presence per se in the
temple, much less that of the Divine Royal Presence. The passages that may be quoted in
support of such a belief on his part all suffer from extensive reworking. On the contrary,
all the evidence suggests that Jesus regarded God as located in heaven.
530 Clements, (1965), God and Temple, 131; Levenson, (1981), From Temple to Synagogue, 159.
Charlesworth, (1983), Introduction, OTP II, xxxi, noted the emphasis in the Pseudepigrapha on
the transcendence of God.
531 Cf. Amirtham, (1968), To be Near to and Far away from Yahweh, 38.
531a If the deuterocanonicals Sirach and Judith (see Section 2.2.2), were composed by Palestinian
Pharisees (this, it must be noted is very unlikely), they are ambiguous enough not to contradict
the conclusion drawn in the following sentence.
532 If the Pharisees originated as a group initially connected with the temple, this position would
hardly be surprising. See Section 1.5.1.
533 Cf. Theissen and Merz, (1998ET), The Historical Jesus, 274.
It looks as though, Jesus, in other words, shared the tradition that was contained in such
writings as Daniel and the Palestinian Pseudepigrapha. For Jesus, the Divine Royal
Presence dwelt in heaven, but would one day come to execute judgement and bring joy and
salvation to the repentant.
Because of the above, it is therefore submitted that the Pharisees belonged to the here-
and-now tradition and that Jesus aligned himself with the heaven tradition with regard
to the location of the Divine Royal Presence. We know that these two traditions survived
into the first century. The Pharisees and Jesus reflect the immense variety of Judaisms
in first century Palestine.
2.6.3 The Pre-Lukan Community
Given the semantic domain designated at the beginning of this chapter, it would appear that
the pre-Lukan community left nothing to indicate that they had any concept of God as the
Divine King nor any concept of his Divine Royal Presence. Though an argument largely
from silence, it is suggested that the Pentecost event may have led to an appropriation of
the position of the Divine King on the part of the Holy Spirit for this community. This
possibility will be developed further with regard to the kingdom of God in Section 3.4.
2.6.4 The Yavnean Rabbis, the Early Post-70 Synagogue and Luke
Both the Yavnean rabbis and Luke were faced with the fact of the destruction of Jerusalem
and the temple in A.D. 70 and both struggled to confront its significance.
For the Yavnean rabbis, the symbol of the here-and-now presence of the Divine King
was destroyed and they were faced with the same dilemma that challenged Second Isaiah,
Jeremiah and Ezekiel. What did it mean as far as the location of the Divine Royal Presence
was concerned? Had the Divine King once again removed himself from the temple and the
world?
Unfortunately, the Mishnah, despite containing numerous references to God as king which
may be dated prior to A.D. 70, fails to provide any indication of the notion of Divine Royal
Presence attached to such references. There seems little doubt, however, that the rabbis
believed that God (considered, for the moment, independently of the +Klm motif) was now
located in heaven. Prior to A.D. 70 his Shekhinah was to be found in or associated with the
temple, but after 70 it was in heaven, or at least no longer bound to the site of the temple. It
could be, for example, with individuals who studied the Torah.534
Josephus may be said to confirm this general picture. Writing after A.D. 70, Josephus also
articulated no interest in the Divine Royal Presence as attached to instances of God as
king. However, he clearly located God in his own time in heaven. Further, God had
previously inhabited the temple but had physically left prior to its destruction, because the
people had failed to live by the Torah.
Finally, the Targumim containing traditions that could be dated to the early post-70 period
and therefore which reflect the position of the Palestinian Synagogues of the time, picture
the Shekhinah intimately associated with the Divine King. The Shekhinah has moved to
heaven. One day it will return to Zion and will be revealed and seen. Despite this
divine absence, God continues to reign,535 though his effectiveness will not be realised
until this revelation. This picture of the divine royal Shekhinah is consistent with that
presented in the Mishnah, though it thus need not be indicative of a later period when the
rabbis were gradually gaining an effective influence over the Palestinian Synagogues.
Luke, the redactor of the Gospel, chose another route. For him the Divine Royal Presence
resided in the person of Jesus even before the destruction of the temple. No longer present
in the here-and-now, Jesus - the Divine King - was in heaven, awaiting, as it were, the
time for his second advent. This return would bring about judgement and salvation.
Curiously, then, the tables were turned. Whereas Jesus and the Pharisees agreed on the
identity of the Divine King but not on the location of his presence, the Yavnean rabbis and
Luke agreed on the location of the Divine King, but not on his identity. Is it any wonder
then that Luke repeatedly emphasised the kingship of Jesus?
534 Cf. Sievers, (1981), Shekinah, 178; Chilton, (1982), The Glory of Israel, 75; Wolters, (1997),
The Shekinah in the Copper Scroll, 390. In later rabbinic literature there is record of a dispute
whether the Shekhinah was present in the second temple, e.g. b. Yoma 9b-10a, and a tradition that
the Shekhinah continued to be everywhere, e.g. b. B. Bat. 25a, Sanh. 39a, Exod R. 2:5. Ritual
was nevertheless to be performed as if the ark (and therefore the Shekhinah) were present, b. Yoma
52b. For an interesting discussion of later rabbinic responses to the removal of the Shekhinah, see
N. J. Cohen, (1982), Shekhinta Ba-Galuta, 147-59.
535 Smolar, Aberach and Churgin, (1983), Studies in Targum Jonathan, 132.
3 THE PRESENCE OF
THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.

(Matt 6:9, NRSV)
3.1 PREFACE
Having determined the parameters of the notion of the Divine Royal Presence as attached
to explicit instances of God as king as it sheds light on each stage of the formation of
Luke, the next step is to compare these with the notion as attached to explicit occurrences
of the kingdom of God. Such a comparison has three aims.
The first is to establish the legitimacy of the hypothesis that the phrase kingdom of
God means first and foremost God as Divine King for both the Pharisees and Jesus. A
necessary corollary of this aim will be to uncover any additional layers of meaning placed
on this by the early pre-Lukan community and subsequently by the redactor so that these
may be distinguished from those of Jesus.
Secondly, in order to draw out the parallels between God as king and the kingdom of God,
the question of the location of the kingdom of God will be asked of each passage as well
as the location of the Divine King in relation to his kingdom. By doing so, it is hoped that
the fundamental similarities and differences between the Pharisees and Jesus regarding the
kingdom of God (and the parties associated with Stages II and III) will be highlighted.
Thirdly, the perennial question of the timing of the kingdom, which cannot be ignored, will
be considered in the light of the results of the above investigations.
The conclusions reached will enable a full appreciation of the notion of the kingdom of
God to be brought to bear on that most enigmatic of passages, Luke 17:20-21.
The model proposed here for understanding the kingdom of God, namely that
kingdom of God was at least for the Pharisees and Jesus first and foremost God
himself simply as Divine King, varies in two crucial respects to another which occasionally
figures in scholarship. That model is that kingdom of God means God acting as king.
192 3.1 The Presence of the Kingdom of God : Preface
That view of the kingdom is no recent invention, though compared with other models it is
rarely mentioned.1 Adolf von Harnack sowed the seeds of this conception in modern
scholarship, calling the kingdom of God God himself in his power.2 What is
interesting is that von Harnack has been followed by only a relatively few scholars and
almost all of them have done little more than restate the principle, without demonstration,
that the kingdom of God is God as king in action.3
Two notable exceptions are Joachim Jeremias in his New Testament Theology and
Norman Perrin in his Jesus and the Language of the Kingdom. While neither book was
directly concerned with establishing the principle of the kingdom of God as the Divine
King in action, where they do discuss it, both works suffer from a lack of precision and a
failure to consider all examples. For example, Jeremias concluded that kingdom of
God can be used as a periphrasis for God as ruler . . . in the sayings of Jesus which
speak of the coming of the reign of God,4 whereas Perrins existential approach may
now be considered anachronistic when applied as an explanation of first century thought
regarding the kingdom of God.5
On the other hand, both works contain valuable insights. Jeremias was basically correct in
calling the kingdom of God a periphrasis for God as ruler, if by ruler is meant the
particular case of God as king. Perrin will be seen to be correct too in his suggestion that
kingdom of God evoked the myth of God as king, if we understand evoked the
myth not as an internal experience or a personal decision, but as a verbal reference to a
perceived concrete reality.
The model of the kingdom of God as God the Divine King in action, will need to be
modified in the light of a consideration of all relevant instances. Already we can suspect
some modification of this view, since such a model fails to explain those sayings of Jesus
1 For example, Theissen and Merz, (1998ET), The Historical Jesus, 275-79, gave a comprehensive
list, but did not include God acting as king. See also Section 3.3.2.
2 von Harnack, (1901ET), What is Christianity?, 56.
3 This list makes no claims to be exhaustive: Gerhard Gloege, (1929), Reich Gottes und Kirche im
Neuen Testament, 36 (unavailable, but quoted by Ladd, (19742), Presence of the Future, 145);
Bornkamm, (1960ET), Jesus of Nazareth, 77, 200 n. 2; Aalen, (1961), Reign and House, 221-
22; Gloege, (1963ET), The Day of His Coming, 141; Baird, (1963), Justice of God, 122, 141;
Perrin, (1963), Teaching of Jesus, 187; Perrin, (1967), Rediscovering, 55; D. Hill, (1981),
Kingdom of God, 68, 72; Goppelt, (1981ET), Theology of the NT I, 56; Borg, (1984), Conflict,
Holiness and Politics, 262-64; Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke I-IX, 155; Beasley-Murray, (1992), The
Kingdom of God in the Teaching of Jesus, 29; Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 298, 299. Cf. N.
T. Wright, (1996), Jesus, 202-203, 223. On Perrins position see particularly Section 3.6.2.
4 Jeremias, (1971ET), NT Theology I, 102.
3.1 The Presence of the Kingdom of God : Preface 193
where the action is done to the kingdom.6 If the parallel between God as king in action
and the kingdom of God is valid, how else then, too, do we explain those cases where the
believer complained that God the Divine King is not acting?
The second crucial difference between the model proposed and the older one is that no
previous consideration has been given as to how and to what extent Stages II and III of the
formation of the canonical Gospels both modified and expanded the view of the kingdom
bequeathed by Jesus. It has simply been assumed that their view coincided exactly in all
respects with that of Jesus. By asking the deceptively simple question of the whereabouts
of the kingdom as perceived in each stage, the nuances in meaning contributed by each
stage may come to light. Indeed such a question is necessary to avoid confusing such
possible contributions with those of Jesus and the Pharisees.
6 Witherington, (1990), Christology, 196, rejected this model of the kingdom as the Divine King in
action because he thought that kingdom meant the saving activity of God itself.
194 3.2 The Presence of the Kingdom of God : Ancient Palestinian Literature
3.2 ANCIENT PALESTINIAN LITERATURE
For the rationale behind the approach adopted here and in subsequent Sections of this
chapter, please refer to Sections 3.1, 1.2.2. and 1.2.3.
3.2.1 The Old Testament
Explicit references to YHWHs twklm (kingdom) or hklmm (dominion)7 occur in

the following places in the OT (excluding Daniel and its additions).8
Chronicles Psalms
1 Chr 17:14 Ps 103:19
1 Chr 28:5 Ps 145:11,12,13a
1 Chr 29:11
2 Chr 13:8
Two observations may be made immediately. Explicit reference to Gods kingdom or

dominion was originally apparently confined to cultic circles, if, as is generally agreed, the
author of Chronicles was a Levite.9 Yet this need not deter investigation. If the principle of
lex orandi, lex credendi applies here (and there is no reason why it does not), it may well
mean that they express the theology of the day and that of the general population
admirably. Secondly, as will be shown, the two psalms are probably post-exilic and given
the certain post-exilic date for the Chronicles,10 this means that explicit mention of Gods
kingdom or dominion began only after the exile.
7 twklm and hklmm are synonyms, though dominion is a common translation and will be used as
a convenient distinctive flag. See: Japhet, (1989ET), Ideology of Chronicles, 397; Ringgren,
Seybold and Fabry, (1997ET), Klm melek, TDOT VIII, 360. For the opinion that the two are not
synonyms see von Rad, (1964ET), _^pfibt : Klm and twklm in the OT, TDNT I, 570 n. 28.
von Rad was wrong in locating hklmm at Ps 22:28 and Obad 21. The word in each case is
hkwlm.
8 Ps 45:6 (cf. Heb 1:8) is often cited as an example. However, the psalm is a royal wedding psalm
and 45:6 refers to the king. See: Weiser, (1965ET), The Psalms, 363; Dahood, (1965-70), Psalms
I, 269; Gerstenberger, (1988), Psalms Part 1, 189. See Selman, (1989), The Kingdom of God in
the OT, 175-76, for the view that Ps 45:6 refers to both the Davidic and Divine Kingdom.
9 North, (1990), The Chronicler, NJBC, 364b. In the milieu of the Chronicler, Levites were the
singers of the temple: 1 Chr 6:31-32, 9:33, 16:4, 23:30, 2 Chr 8:14, 29:30. Also Ant. 20:216.
10 See discussion in: R. W. Klein, (1992), Chronicles, Book of 1-2, ABD I, 994-95.
3.2 The Presence of the Kingdom of God : Ancient Palestinian Literature 195
1 Chr 17:14
:Mlwe-de Nwkn hyhy waokw Mlweh-de ytwklmbw ytybb whytdmehw
NRSV of 1 Chr 17:14

but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his
throne shall be established forever.
In the parallel verse of 2 Sam 7:16, it is David who is the subject of the promise of God
through Nathan. Here it is Solomon.12 The promise in 1 Chr 17:10b-12 is that YHWH
will build a house or dynasty for David by choosing a son from David and establishing
his twklm kingdom and throne.13 It will be he, rather than David (cf. v. 1) who will
build YHWHs house. The relationship between God and this king (Solomon) will be that
of father to son (v. 13a).14 God will never withdraw his dox steadfast love from him
(v. 13b), but will confirm, i.e. appoint him,15 to Gods house and kingdom forever (v. 14).
YHWHs house is probably the temple that Solomon will build.16 The rewriting of
Nathans dream by the Chronicler saw YHWH build David a dynastic house and
Solomon build YHWHs house (cf. 2 Chr 13:5).
The identity of Gods kingdom is also not difficult to discern. It is coterminous with the
kingdom of Solomon, or more precisely that of the Davidic dynasty (cf. Pss. Sol. 5:18). If
my house is indeed the temple, then it is closely associated with my kingdom
because of the parallel use of the prepositional prefix b i n .17 The verb dme translated
by the NRSV as to confirm actually means to stand. That is, Solomon ruled by
divine decree both in the temple and in Gods kingdom. The permanency of both of my
kingdom and his throne also suggests an element of equality.18
It is only in Chronicles that the kingdom of God is equated directly with that of the
Davidic dynasty.19 The Chroniclers throne of the Lord is not referring to the ark, but
to the fact that Solomon and his successors are YHWHs representatives, ruling over the
11 The LXX k _^pfib^ ^ql in my kingdom is probably due to confusion between y+ (my)
and w+ (his), Camponovo, (1984), Knigtum, 388.
12 Japhet, (1993), I & II Chronicles, 335; de Vries, (1989), 1 and 2 Chronicles, 158.
13 On the promise to David generally, see Duling, (1974), The Promises to David, 55-77.
14 Ps 2:7. See Buchanan, (1970), Consequences of the Covenant, 57.
15 dme, Japhet, (1989ET), Ideology of Chronicles, 398 n. 10.
16 Selman, (1989), The Kingdom of God in the OT, 164. The house as the Davidic dynasty, Japhet,
(1989ET), Ideology of Chronicles, 398 n. 11.
17 Aalen, (1961), Reign and House, 220, 234
18 Selman, (1989), The Kingdom of God in the OT, 164.
19 Selman, (1994), 1 Chronicles, 180; Alt, (1966ET), Essays, 258; Buchanan, (1970),
Consequences of the Covenant, 58.
Divine Kingdom.20 Again, this interpretation stands in deliberate contrast to 2 Sam 7:16.
There the monarchy is strictly Davids, here it is YHWHs.
This is even more significant when it is recalled that in the Chroniclers time, the dynasty
of David/Solomon had long since disappeared. It was the temple that alone remained as
the symbol of the reality that YHWH continued to dwell in his kingdom. Because there
was no longer a Davidic viceroy21 ruling Gods kingdom, it did not mean, for the
Chronicler, that Gods kingdom had ceased to be, or that he had withdrawn his Divine
Royal Presence.
As for indicators of Divine Royal Presence, Nathans prophecy was the result of an
auditory vision (v. 3). Unlike v. 16, where David is depicted as entering before the
LORD, i.e the tent of vv. 1 and 5, here there is no indication that Nathan was within the
cultic tent. Verse 8, with the formula I have been with you is not a reference to the
Divine Presence being with David but merely an affirmation of Gods protection of David,
confirmed in the rest of the verse (cf. for Solomon in 1 Chr 28:20, also 2 Chr 13:12).22
Nevertheless, the Divine Royal Presence was thought by the Chronicler to be in the temple,
as Solomons throne and royal presence was in his palace. Prior to the temples
construction, the Divine Royal Presence was in the tent. Thus like Solomon and his
successors, YHWH dwelt in his kingdom.
1 Chr 28:5
BHS of 1 Chr 28:5

aok-le tbvl ynb hmlvb rxbyw hwhy yl Ntn Mynb Mybr yk ynb-lkmw
:larsy-le hwhy twklm
NRSV of 1 Chr 28:5

And of all my sons, for the LORD has given me many, he has chosen my son
Solomon to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.
1 Chr 28:5 forms part of the address made by David, according to the Chronicler, to the
elders of Israel. It highlights again the preference the writer had for Solomon. Solomon is
Davids rightful successor, not through the natural circumstances of history, but through
divine choice.23 Solomon too, not David, has been chosen to sit on YHWHs throne.24
20 1 Chr 29:23, 2 Chr 9:8. See: Myers, (1965), I Chronicles, 125; Selman, (1989), The Kingdom
of God in the OT, 164-65; Japhet, (1989ET), Ideology of Chronicles, 399-400.
21 For an example of the use of the word viceroy in this connection, see: G. Klein, (1972), The
Biblical Understanding, 396; Horbury, (1993), Constitutional Aspects, 65; Aalen, (1961),
Reign and House, 233.
22 See further Section 2.2.1.4 under Isa 41:21, 43:15, 44:6 and 52:7.
23 See: 1 Chr 28:5,6,10, 29:1; Myers, (1965), I Chronicles, 192.
Here, the hwhy twklm kingdom of YHWH is explicitly Israel, the area which Solomon
ruled, as is clear from v. 7, I will establish his kingdom forever.25 Together with 2 Chr
13:8, it forms the closest verbal counterpart with the NT phrase.26
Following from 1 Chr 17:14 above, the existence of the kingdom of God is not dependent
on a legitimate successor of Solomon occupying the throne. Gods kingdom of Israel, like
God himself, is forever. Joseph A. Fitzmyer27 is thus quite wrong to suggest that the
phrase here expresses an eschatological hope.
For the Chronicler, the location of the Divine Royal Presence in his kingdom was
dependent on the existence of the temple and not on the presence of a successor to
Solomon. It was, after-all, YHWHs house (vv. 6, 12, 13).
1 Chr 29:11

dwhhw xunhw trapthw hrwbghw hldgh hwhy Kl
:varl lkl asntmhw hklmmh hwhy Kl Urabw Mymvb lk-yk
NRSV of 1 Chr 29:11

Yours, O LORD, are the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the
majesty;
for all that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours; yours is the kingdom,
O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all.
1 Chr 29:11 is part of the prayer of David at the end of his life and is reminiscent both of
Ps 145:11 and the doxology to the Lords Prayer in some manuscripts of Matt 6:13.29
Like Ps 145, it is set in a cultic context: the praise of God as funds for the proposed
temple are donated. It acknowledges the greatness of God, the universal reach of his rule
24 See: 1 Chr 29:23, 2 Chr 9:8; Selman, (1994), 1 Chronicles, 250.

25 Selman, (1989), The Kingdom of God in the OT, 163; Japhet, (1989ET), Ideology of
Chronicles, 397.
26 Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke I-IX, 155. Surprisingly, some scholars still ignore 1 Chr 28:5 and 2 Chr
13:8, in their discussions of OT antecedents to the NT phrase, e.g. Goppelt, (1981ET), Theology of
the NT I, 45, wrote, Nowhere in the OT are the two elements combined into the expression reign
of God as a standard phrase.
27 Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke I-IX, 155.
28 The LXX varies in the second half and considerably in that last section: qf p mkqsk qk k
q lo^k h^ m qt dt abpmwbft+ m molpmlr plr qôppbq^f mt
_^pfibt h^ vklt for you are Lord of all in heaven and on earth, before your face every king
and nation is troubled. Kingdom of God is not mentioned at all, cf. Camponovo, (1984),
Knigtum, 389.
29 See also: Did. 8:2, 9:4, 10:5; b. Ber. 58a.
(v. 12 lkb lvwm rule over all)30 and the fact that the Davidic hklmm dominion, or
better, the one David had just bequeathed to Solomon, in reality belongs to YHWH.
Solomon will rule Gods dominion (v. 19), but it will always be God who will be the true
king of Israel.31
Again, the Divine Royal Presence was firmly in the Myhlah twb house of God (v. 7,
cf. vv. 3, 8, 16).32 The speeches of David in 1 Chr 28 and 29 were, as depicted by the
Chronicler, delivered in front of an assembled crowd of dignitaries (1 Chr 28:1). The
writer placed the dignitaries immediately near the tent, since at the conclusion all the
assembly . . . prostrated themselves before the LORD and the king (1 Chr 29:20) - the
phrase before the L ORD being a clear indication of their relative proximity to the
present house of God.
2 Chr 13:8
BHS of 2 Chr 13:8

dywd ynb dyb hwhy tklmm ynpl qzxthl Myrma Mta htew
:Myhlal Mebry Mkl hse rva bhz ylge Mkmew br Nwmh Mtaw
NRSV of 2 Chr 13:8

And now you think that you can withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the
hand of the sons of David,
because you are a great multitude and have with you the golden calves that
Jeroboam made as gods for you.
2 Chr 13:8 is a taunt that comes within the sermon of Abijah, king of Judah (913-911
B.C.) to the army of Israel and Jeroboam I (922-901 B.C.) as they prepared to attack
Abijah and his forces.33 Despite their material advantage, the people of Israel could not
possibly prevail against the hklmm dominion of YHWH34 in the hands of his
anointed.35 After all, despite Abijahs sins, the Divine Royal Presence had not withdrawn
from the Jerusalem temple, its cult or its priests and Levites (vv. 10-11).
30 I.e. Gods kingship, Gross, (1998ET), lvm masal II, TDOT IX, 70, rather than that the divine
kingdom is universal in extent, which would be contrary to the view of Chronicles. Nevertheless,
Japhet, (1989ET), Ideology of Chronicles, 397-98 n. 9, saw in this verse the complementary idea
of the divine universal kingdom.
31 Selman, (1994), 1 Chronicles, 259-60.
32 Apart from Judg 18:31 and Eccl 5:1, the phrase is confined to Ezra, Neh and 1 & 2 Chronicles.
33 de Vries, (1989), 1 and 2 Chronicles, 292.
34 Selman, (1989), The Kingdom of God in the OT, 163, claimed that 2 Chr 13:8 contains the
only example in the Old Testament of the simple phrase kingdom of Yahweh. hwhy twklm as
the exact phrase, occurs in the OT only in 1 Chr 28:5, hwhy tklmm only here in 2 Chr 13:8.
35 Myers, (1965), II Chronicles, 80. Myers thought that the passage was also directed in the writers
time to the people of Samaria. For the contrary, see: Williamson, (1977), Israel in the Book of
Here again, Gods dominion or kingdom is that of David and his anointed successors.36
Abijah is not included specifically by name here, which may indicate that the Chronicler
wished to maintain a distance between the holy God and the unholy individuals who
occupied and would occupy the throne. Yet, the Davidic kingdom is still YHWHs,
presided over by his viceroy (cf. v. 5).37 So much is this the case, that to fight against
Judah is to fight against YHWH (vv. 12, 15).
Ps 103:19
BHS of Ps 103:19
:hlvm lkb wtwklmw waok Nykh Mymvb hwhy
NRSV of Ps 103:19
The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules
over all.
Typical of many if not most psalms, Ps 103 is difficult to date but is probably post-exilic,
though whether it is early or late post-exilic cannot be determined. Its post-exilic origins
are generally considered to be indicated by the echoes to Second Isaiah in vv. 15-16 (cf.
Isa 40:7) and Third Isaiah in v. 9, (cf. Isa 57:16) and the possible Aramaic suffixes (e.g.
yk+) in vv. 3-4.38
Ps 103 is a psalm of individual thanksgiving and is divided into four sections, of which v.
19 forms the opening lines to the last. Verse 19 acknowledges the universal sovereignty of
God both in the past and in the here-and-now. Verses 20-22 call on the whole of creation
to bless YHWH. There is no hint here of eschatological expectation.
The psalm clearly places the Divine Royal Presence in heaven, v. 19a.39 From there he
rules his kingdom which extends spatially over all (heaven and earth), v. 19b.40 Because of
this, everything that God does is as a blessing to him everywhere within his hlvmm
realm (NRSV dominion), v. 22.41
Chronicles, 114; R. W. Klein, (1992), Chronicles, Book of 1-2, ABD I, 1001a. Cf. Whitelam,
(1992), Abijah, King of Judah, ABD I, 18b.
36 Japhet, (1989ET), Ideology of Chronicles, 397.
37 Myers, (1965), II Chronicles, 80; Japhet, (1993), I & II Chronicles, 692; Selman, (1994), 2
Chronicles, 380.
38 So: Treves, (1969), The Reign of God, 234; Kraus, (1993ET), Psalms 60-150, 290; A. A.
Anderson, (1972), Psalms II, 712. But see the cautionary remarks in Dahood, (1965-70), Psalms
III, 24.
39 Cf. 1 Chr 29:12, 2 Chr 20:6.
40 W. H. Schmidt, (1983ET), The Faith of the OT, 147; Horbury, (1993), Constitutional Aspects,
107.
41 Apart from two isolated cases (Gen 1:16, 2 Chr 32:9), hlvmm always referred to the spatial extent
of domination, i.e. the realm or domain: 1 Kgs 9:19, 2 Kgs 20:13 // Isa 39:2, 2 Chr 8:6, Isa
What is especially striking about v. 19b is that it is the only case in the OT where the verb
lvm to rule, to be king, has a non-living being as its subject (cf. Pss. Sol. 17:3).42
Although other explanations are possible,43 it is better to stay with the more difficult
rendering followed by the NRSV and more importantly the LXX (Ps 102:19). It is of course
not YHWHs kingdom that rules over all but the Divine King himself, so that what we
probably have here is one of the earliest examples where kingdom is used as a
circumlocution not simply for God but for God as king.
Ps 145:11-13
BHS of Ps 145:11-13a
:wrbdy Ktrwbgw wrmay Ktwklm dwbk 11
:wtwblm rdh dwbkw wytrwbg Mdah ynbl eydwhl 12
:rwdw rwd-lkb Ktlvmmw Mymle-lk twklm Ktwklm 13a
NRSV of Ps 145:11-13a
11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and tell of your power,
12 to make known to all people your mighty deeds, and the glorious
splendor of your kingdom.
13a Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures
throughout all generations.
Whereas Ps 103 emphasised the spatially universal aspect to YHWHs kingdom, in Ps

14544 it is its infinite longevity that is explicit in v. 13a, although vv. 9-10 imply a universal
dimension to it. Both YHWHs works and his faithful proclaim the glory and the
glorious splendor of his kingdom (vv. 11, 12). dwbk glory in this context is the
quality of YHWHs kingdom that demonstrates his sovereignty or majesty (cf. v. 5).45
YHWHs kingdom thus shares two attributes with YHWH himself, namely longevity and
glory.
The Divine Royal Presence is bwrq near those (within his kingdom) who are bowed
down, fear him or call on him in truth, vv. 14, 18, 19, though it must be stressed
that YHWH is good to all v. 9, for all are within his kingdom. Though not identified
with his kingdom, YHWH nevertheless dwells within it and not above it.
22:21, Jer 34:1, 51:28, Mic 4:8, Ps 103:22, 114:2, 136:8,9, 145:13, Dan 11:5. See Dahood,
(1965-70), Psalms III, 30, who saw in vv. 21-22 a parallelistic structure and that therefore
hlvmm meant men ruled by God.
42 Dahood, (1967), Lexicography V, 434; Dahood, (1965-70), Psalms III, 29-30.
43 E.g. that of Dahood above which is not followed by others and is somewhat contrived. The JB
translation avoids the problem altogether with his empire is over all, as does the NEB with his
kingly power over the whole world.
44 See also Section 2.2.1.3 under Ps 145:1 for initial comments and dating.
45 See Section 2.2.1.1 under Ps 29:10.
3.2.2 The Deuterocanonicals
There are just four times _^pfib^ occurs in connection with God in the
Deuterocanonicals (excluding the additions to Daniel which in accordance with common
practice are discussed under Pseudepigrapha46).47

Late third century B.C. Tob 13:148
Second century B.C. 2 Macc 1:749
Late second century B.C. Wis 6:4, 10:1050
to early first century A.D.
It would be unwise to offer an explanation why there is no Palestinian example of Gods

kingdom in the Deuterocanonicals. As shown below, there are such examples in the
Pseudepigrapha, and from writings which date from a similar time.
Although Wisdom, 2 Maccabees and probably Tobit originated in the Diaspora, there are
numerous allusions and verbal parallels between them and various NT passages,
particularly Paul but also from the Gospels.51 Fragments of five Tobit manuscripts were
found in Cave 4 at Qumran, indicating that it at least was known among the sectarian
circles of Qumran in Palestine before A.D. 70. On the other hand, no Jewish writer of the
first two centuries A.D. either mentions or quotes Wisdom.52
As the influence of these Diaspora writings on either the Pharisees or Jesus is either
unproven or remote, particularly with regard to Gods kingdom, it is probably safer to
disregard them.
In the same category may be placed the works of Philo of Alexandria (c20 B.C. - A.D. 50).
Along with Wis 6:20 and 4 Macc 2:23 (cf. 7:10), Philo wrote that the kingdom is given by
46 So, J. J. Collins, (1987), The Kingdom of God in the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, 81.
47 2 Macc 1:7 (cf. Jub. 50:9) is sometimes offered as an example, not because of the definite article
attached to _^pfib^ which gives it a sense of almost sacred grandeur, but because of the adjective
df^ describing the land of the Jews. It is possible on syntax grounds that it applies also to
_^pfib^, in which case it would refer either to the ownership of the land by God or at least refer
to some close connection of God with the land, see: J. J. Collins, (1987), The Kingdom of God
in the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, 87. In response, Goldstein, (1984), II Maccabees, 145,
pointed out that the kingdom in fact refers to the Seleucid empire, as this was its sole official
name.
49 See Section 2.2.2, for dating and provenance. See Section 3.2.3 under Jub. 50:9 for discussion of
similar phrase.
51 E.g. on parallels between the NT and Tobit see: UBS4, 901; C. A. Moore, (1996), Tobit, 46 n.
110; Wisdom: Gilbert, (1984), Wisdom Literature, 313 n. 100.
52 Gilbert, (1984), Wisdom Literature, 312.
God to the wise man,53 i.e. the one who practises virtue54 and observes the Torah (i.e.
practices torah or halakah).55 It is God who has an invincible and impregnable kingdom,
which is the universe itself.56 Other less direct allusions to Gods kingdom are present in
the writings of Philo.57
3.2.3 The Pseudepigrapha (and Daniel)
Numerous scholars have attempted to collate the instances where explicit references to
Gods kingdom are made in the Pseudepigrapha (and Daniel and its additions).58 None of
them listed every instance. James H. Charlesworth even claimed to have listed all of them,
though he only recorded seven.59 There are in fact five instances in Daniel and one in the
Additions to Daniel and 17 occurrences in those books or sections of books of the
Pseudepigrapha which can be dated prior to the third century A.D.60 For further
preliminary comments, see Section 2.2.3.
53 J. J. Collins, (1987), The Kingdom of God in the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, 87-88.
54 Philo, Abr. 261, Som. 2:243-44, Leg. All. 3:38-39,212, Post. 101. Cf. 4 Macc 2:23, Josephus,
Ag. Ap. 2:192.
55 Philo, Mig. 197, Sac. 49, Spec. Leg. 4:164, Post. 102. Cf. Quis. Her. 21.
56 E.g. Philo, Spec. Leg. 1:207, Post. 5. Cf. Som. 2:100.
57 E.g. Philo, Som. 2:285; K. L. Schmidt, (1964ET), @^pfib^ (ql vbl) in Hellenistic
Judaism, TDNT I, 575; J. J. Collins, (1987), The Kingdom of God in the Apocrypha and
Pseudepigrapha, 88.
58 E.g. Conzelmann, (1969ET), Outline, 109; Perrin, (1976), Language, 26-29. Cf. Lattke, (1975),
Knigsherrschaft Gottes, 15, 21-24; Camponovo, (1984), Knigtum, passim.
59 J. H. Charlesworth, (1982), The Historical Jesus, ANRW II.25.1, 464-67.
60 Sometimes Dan 4:31 (atwklm) is included with the Pseudepigrapha and Daniel, but this refers to
Nebuchadnezzars kingdom. Though of later dates than those considered here, the following may be
mentioned as they are not mentioned elsewhere in other lists: Apoc. Sedr. 15:5, Vis. Ezra 66, 3
Enoch 6:3, 35:6, 39:2, 44:7, 48A:5.

Third Century B.C. Sg Three 33 Dan 2:44, 4:3,34b, 6:26b
Second Century B.C. Dan 7:27 T. Jos. 19:12, Benj. 9:161
1 Enoch 84:2 Sib. Or. 3:767,78462
1 Enoch 91:13, 103:1
Jub. 12:19, 50:9
First Century B.C. Pss. Sol. 5:18, 17:3 Sib. Or. 3:4763
First Century A.D. As. Mos. 10:1 T Ab. 8:364
3 Bar. 11:265
2 Enoch 33:7, 34:166
Second Century A.D. Odes Sol. 8:5567
Sg Three 33
v' of Dan 3:54

bildejklt b m voklr qt _^pfib^t plr
h^ mborjkeqt h^ mbor`ljbklt bt qlt ^k^t-
NRSV of Sg Three 33
Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,
and to be extolled and highly exalted forever.
The Song of the Three Young Men was probably written and inserted into the Daniel
material by a later Palestinian author, though it is still considered to be an early
composition, or at least constructed from early material.68
What exactly is the Divine Kingdom is unclear, though it is probably the whole created
order, heaven and earth. As for the location of the Divine King, according to v. 34, God
61 For dating and provenance see Section 2.2.3 and corresponding footnote.
66 2 Enoch is very difficult to date and more so to give a location of its origin (though it is likely to
be from the Diaspora). See: Schrer, (19732), Age III.2, 748-49; Andersen, (1983), 2 (Slavonic
Apocalypse of) Enoch, OTP I, 91-97.
67 The Odes are generally considered to be of Christian origin, not much earlier if at all than the
middle of the second century A.D., Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the Kingdom of God, 347 n.
1. However, Michael Lattke would date them earlier, to the turn of the first century A.D., though
still Christian (and non-Palestinian) in origin: Lattke, (1993), Dating the Odes of Solomon, 57;
Lattke, (1998), The Odes of Solomon, 68.
68 Schrer, (19732), Age III.2, 725; Nickelsburg, (1981), Jewish Literature, 29, date uncertain;
Nickelsburg, (1984), The Bible Rewritten and Expanded, 151, well back into the third century.
dwells in the firmament of heaven, while v. 33 implies that he is on the throne of [his]
kingdom. The logical conclusion is that for the composer, the Divine King dwells on his
throne which is in heaven.
Dan 2:44
lbxtt al Nymlel yd wklm aymv hla Myqy Nwna ayklm yd Nwhymwybw
Mwqt ayhw atwklm Nyla-lk Pyotw qdt qbtvt al Nrxa Mel htwklmw
:aymlel
NRSV of Dan 2:44

And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that
shall never be destroyed, nor shall this kingdom be left to another people. It
shall crush all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand
forever;
The kingdom of God is a major theme in Daniel.69 It is contrasted with earthly kingdoms
in origin, in longevity and in power.
Part of the Aramaic section of Daniel (2:4b-7:28), Dan 2:44 comes towards the end of
Daniels interpretation of Nebuchadnezzars dream. The future wklm kingdom
(Aramaic) that God will set up after the four earthly kingdoms,70 is symbolised by the
stone of v. 35. This stone will fill the whole earth, so presumably the kingdom, which is
emphatically Gods kingdom, will be earthly and coextensive with it and will replace and
destroy the previous Gentile kingdoms.71 Unlike the other earthly kingdoms, it will last
forever. Presumably too, this kingdom does not yet exist but is for some time in the future.
Who shall rule this kingdom? The not another people is an allusion to such verses as
Dan 7:27 (see below).
69 See Section 2.2.3 under Dan 4:37 for a note on the date and provenance of Dan 1-6.
70 Cf. Tob 14, Sib. Or. 4:49-101.
71 Hartman and Di Lella, (1978), The Book of Daniel, 149; D. S. Russell, (1981), Daniel, 53; J. J.
Collins, (1987), The Kingdom of God in the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, 82; Wenham,
(1987), The Kingdom of God and Daniel, 133a.
Dan 4:3,34
BHS of Dan 3:33, 4:31b (Aramaic)
Nypyqt hmk yhwhmtw Nybrbr hmk yhwta 3:33
:rdw rd-Me hnjlvw Mle twklm htwklm
trdhw txbv amle yxlw tkrb aylelw 4:31b
:rdw rd-Me htwklmw Mle Njlv hnjlv yd
NRSV of Dan 4:3,34b

3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an
everlasting kingdom, and his sovereignty is from generation to generation.
34b I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored the one who lives
forever. For his sovereignty is an everlasting sovereignty, and his kingdom
endures from generation to generation.
In stark contrast to Dan 2:44, the wklm kingdom and Njlv sovereignty (royal
authority) is everlasting.72 The similarity is that both contrast the transience of human
kingdoms and the (future, in the case of Dan 2:44) permanence of Gods.
The other difference is that the kingdom of Dan 2:44 is clearly earthly, whereas here in
Dan 4:3,34b its location is uncertain. John J. Collins73 used Dan 4:25 to claim that it is not
an earthly kingdom being referred to in 4:3. However, Dan 4:25 states that God has
sovereignty over the kingdom of men. If anything, it reads in favour of an earthly kingdom
for God. Gods real kingdom is the kingdom of men.
Dan 6:26
BHS of Dan 6:27b (Aramaic)

Nymlel Myqw ayx ahla awh-yd
:apwo-de hnjlvw lbxtt al-yd htwklmw
NRSV of Dan 6:25b

For he is the living God, enduring forever.
His kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion has no end.
After the rescue of Daniel and his companions from the lions den, king Darius wrote a
decree extolling the virtues of respect for the God of Daniel.74 Dan 6:26b forms part of
this. Again, Gods kingdom shall never be destroyed, i.e. will last forever and his
dominion or sovereignty is also everlasting, cf. Dan 4:3,34. Divine Royal Presence is not
as important as the longevity of the Divine Kingdom.
72 Cf. Section 2.2.3 under Dan 4:37.

73 J. J. Collins, (1987), The Kingdom of God in the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, 82-83.
74 The identity of this Darius is much disputed, see Koch, (1992), Darius the Mede, ABD II, 38-39.
Dan 7:27
aymv-lk twxt twklm yd atwbrw anjlvw htwklmw
Nwnwyle yvydq Mel tbyhy
:Nwemtvyw Nwxlpy hl aynjlv lkw Mle twklm htwklm
NRSV of Dan 7:27

The kingship and dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the
whole heaven
shall be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High;
their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve
and obey them.
John J. Collins described the genre of Daniel 7 as a symbolic dream vision. It was
written early in the persecution of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, probably late 167 B.C., to give
hope to the Jews in the face of this persecution.75 Dan 7:27 comes at the end of a section
(Dan 7:19-27) which is a clarification regarding the fourth beast (Dan 7:7).
The kingdom that will be given to the people is Gods, since it is everlasting.76 Because it
is manifested by the dominance of Israel over all nations,77 it indicates that the writer
believed that Gods kingdom would encompass the whole earth and that one day the
people of Israel (the people of the holy ones) would rule it.78 It cannot then in any
sense be a purely heavenly kingdom.79
The future kingdom here and in Dan 2:44, contrasts markedly with a present kingdom in
earlier parts of Daniel. It may be explained by suggesting that though the Divine Kings
kingdom was indeed the whole earth, he is not yet (in the writers mind) acting as a king
should over his kingdom. Such a theme is, as we have already seen in the previous chapter,
a typical one, especially in the psalms.
75 Schrer, (19732), Age III.1, 246-47; Nickelsburg, (1981), Jewish Literature, 19, 90; J. J.
Collins, (1984), Daniel, 78-82; Charlesworth, (1987), The NT Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha,
55; Nickelsburg, (1984), Stories of Biblical and Early Post-Biblical Times, 34; Hartman and Di
Lella, (1990), Daniel, NJBC, 408a; J. J. Collins, (1993), Daniel, 324a; J. J. Collins, (1993),
Stirring up the Great Sea, 135, Daniel 7 comes from a different time and historical context than
chaps. 1-6; Hartman and Di Lella, (1978), The Book of Daniel, 13.
76 1 Chr 10:14, 14:2, 22:10, 28:7, 29:25, 2 Chr 7:18, 13:5, Dan 7:18,27; cf. 4 Macc 12:11, where
Antiochus kingdom was said to be given to him by God; 1 Cor 6:2; cf. Jub. 32:19, Wis 3:8,
Buchanan, (1970), Consequences of the Covenant, 64, for Gods kingdom being ruled by the
people of Israel.
77 J. J. Collins, (1977), Apocalyptic Vision, 163.
78 Philo, Op. 148; J. J. Collins, (1987), The Kingdom of God in the Apocrypha and
Pseudepigrapha, 84.
79 J. J. Collins, (1977), Apocalyptic Vision, 166.
1 Enoch 84:2
Blessed are you, O Great King, you are mighty in your greatness, O Lord of
all the creation of heaven, King of kings and God of the whole world. Your
authority and kingdom abide forever and ever; and your dominion
throughout all the generations of generations; all the heavens are your throne
for ever, and the whole earth is your footstool forever and ever.
1 Enoch 84:2 is very similar to Daniel conceptually and in phrasing. The whole of creation
is Gods kingdom which he rules from heaven, though he does not exercise that kingship
in the here-and-now - that is for the future.81
1 Enoch 91:13, 103:1
1 Enoch 91:13b (Aramaic) = 4QEng 1 iv 18 (4Q212)82

Nymle yrd lwkl hwz twbrb abr tw[k]l[m] lkyh anbtyw
Translation of 1 Enoch 91:13b, 103:1 (based on the Ethiopic)83

91:13b A house shall be built for the Great King in glory for evermore.
103:1 I now swear to you, righteous ones, by the glory of the Great One
and by the glory of his kingdom; and I swear to you (even) by the Great
One.
1 Enoch 91:13 and 103:1 are from The Book of the Epistle of Enoch (chs. 91-107),
which typically dated to second century B.C. Palestine.84 1 Enoch 91:13b is included here,
because though the English rendering of the Ethiopic is king, the older Qumran
fragment has tw[k]l[m] kingdom.85
In 1 Enoch 91, Enoch recounts to his sons his prediction for a future when, as the result of
sin, God will come from heaven bringing wrath and plague as judgement (v. 7).86
Afterwards the sinners will be destroyed by fire, and a house built for God.

81 See the discussion in Section 2.2.3 under 1 Enoch 84:2,3,5.
82 Milik, (1976), The Books of Enoch, 266; Camponovo, (1984), Knigtum, 251 n. 67; Martnez and
Tigchelaar, (2000), Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition I, 444.
83 Isaac, (1983), 1 (Ethiopic, Apocalypse of) Enoch, OTP I, 73, 83.
84 Schrer, (19732), Age III.1, 256; Isaac, (1983), 1 (Ethiopic, Apocalypse of) Enoch, OTP I, 7; R.
E. Brown, (1990), Jewish Apocrypha, NJBC, 1057b.
85 Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 254, 284 n. 90, translated the Qumran text as The temple of the
kingdom of the great One will be built in greatness for all generations.
86 Isaac, (1983), 1 (Ethiopic, Apocalypse of) Enoch, OTP I, 72, shall emerge; Black, (1985), The
Book of Enoch, 84, will come forth; Knibb, (1978), The Ethiopic Book of Enoch II, 217, will
come.
The house is no doubt the Jerusalem temple.87 That it needs to be built, may indicate that
the writer (second century B.C.) considered the temple of Zerubbabel unsatisfactory. In
any case, the Divine King resided, for the writer, in heaven, not in the existing temple.
The oracle encompassed by 1 Enoch 102-104 and delineated by In those days at 102:1
and 105:1 concerns the final judgement. Sinners will dwell in Sheol, the righteous will live
in heaven, including those who died and first went to Sheol. This tiered cosmos and the
promise that the righteous will be remembered by the angels in heaven before the glory
of the Great One (104:1), confirms that the writer considered the Divine King to be in
heaven. His kingdom is no doubt heaven and earth.
Jub. 12:19, 50:9b
Translation of Jub. 12:19, 50:9b (based on the Ethiopic)88

12:19 My God, the Most High God, you alone are God to me. And you
created everything, and everything which is the work of your hands, and you
and your kingdom I have chosen.
50:9b And a day of the holy kingdom for all Israel is this day among their
days always.
Jub. 12:1989 is the first part of a prayer of Abraham while he was in Haran prior to his
journey into Canaan. In rejecting astrology as little more than idolatry, Abram
acknowledged that the Most High God is the creator of everything and the god he has
chosen. Abram chose Gods kingdom, which in this case probably means little more
than his power and authority, especially over the evil spirits of v. 20, i.e. his sovereignty.
Jub. 50:9b occurs in the midst of laws concerning observance of the Sabbath. The d a y
is the Sabbath. Since holy kingdom (cf. 2 Macc 1:7, 2 Bar. 71:1) and Israel are
separate notions here, they cannot easily be equated. The sentence probably implies that
proper observance of the Sabbath means that the holy kingdom exists for that day.90 If
so, there is a clear connection between observance of the Torah and the kingdom of
God.91. Unlike the later rabbinic notion, however, this is much more communal than
individual, given the presence of Israel here and elsewhere in Jub. 50.
87 Charles, (1913), Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha II, 264. Contrary: J. Gray, (1979), The Reign of
God, 216, a new heaven.
88 Wintermute, (1983), Jubilees, OTP II, 81, 142.
89 For discussion of the date and provenance of Jubilees, see Section 2.2.3 under Jub. 1:28.
90 Cf. Theissen and Merz, (1998ET), The Historical Jesus, 251, who interpreted it as implying that
proper observance of the Sabbath is a confession of the kingdom.
91 Though the kingdom of God is not mentioned specifically in L.A.B., Torah observance is (cf.
Section 1.5.5.4). Frequently the Torah is described as light (e.g. 9:8, 15:6, 19:4, 33:3. Cf. 9:8,
19:9, James, (1917), Biblical Antiquities, 49b), i.e. the light of guidance provided by God for
right behaviour, to be learned and observed by Israel because it is everlasting (11:2,5). By it they
Pss. Sol. 5:18

bco^kvbep^k l cl_ljbklf hoflk k d^vlt+
h^ uoepqqet plr mf Gpoêi k q _^pfib& plr-

Those who fear the Lord are happy with good things.
In your kingdom your goodness (is) upon Israel.
Given the context,93 v. 18 cannot imply that Gods kingdom is Israel, merely that within
his kingdom his goodness (or favour) is on Israel. As with 1 Chr 17:14,94 the use of the
preposition in implies that Gods kingdom is something which one can be in, that
is, it is considered in a locative or spatial sense. It is Israel that is in Gods kingdom.95
Unlike the Chronicler, there is no indication that what God does in providing food and rain
etc. is confined to the borders of Israel. The location of the Divine Royal Presence is
unstated.
Pss. Sol. 17:3

jbt a imfljbk m qk vbk psqo^ jk9
qf q hoqlt ql vbl jk bt qk ^k^ jbq' ilrt+
h^ _^pfib^ ql vbl jk bt qk ^k^ mf q vke k hopbf-

But we [will] hope in God our savior,
for the strength of our God is forever with mercy.
And the kingdom of our God is forever over the nations in judgement.
Pss. Sol. 17:3 contains the only explicit reference in the pseudepigraphal literature to the
precise phrase the kingdom of God. As in Daniel, God's kingdom has existed forever,
is eternal and is over all nations. It is a here-and-now kingdom, not a future hope.
There is no sense in which God's kingdom comes into existence with the Messiah nor is
will be judged (11:2, 15:6). Idolatry and mixed marriages are the most serious violations of the
Torah (e.g. 9:5, 25:9-13, 44:6-7), probably because they deny the exclusive sovereignty of God
over Israel. For example, in 18:13 the sin of fornication leads to defeat at the hands of their
enemies. In 19:4, transgression results in the withdrawal of divine aid, he will cut us off.
93 See Section 2.2.3 under Pss. Sol. 5:19 for introductory remarks.
95 Aalen, (1961), Reign and House, 220. On Jesus use of in the kingdom, see below, Section
3.3.2.
there any hint of its revelation. Sometime in the future, a Davidic Messiah will be raised up
by God (verses 21ff) to mediate his kingdom, not to bring it about.
John P. Meier97 noticed a parallelism between parts b and c of v. 3, i.e. that strength
parallels kingdom, so that in this case kingdom must be taken to mean the
powerful exercise of the kings rule through judgement. Given the influence of the
royal psalms, this must be taken as a distinct possibility. It is more likely, however, that we
have here a similar notion to that of Ps 103:19b where Gods kingdom rules, since it is the
kingdom of God that sits in judgement cf. v. 10. The kingdom (of God) is being
used here as a circumlocution for God himself. As such, Divine Royal Presence is to be
located among the nations, though probably centred on the temple, cf. v. 31.
As. Mos. 10:1
As. Mos. 10:198

Et tunc parebit regnum illius in omni creatura illius. Et tunc zabulus finem
habebit, et tristitia[m] cum eo adducetur.
Translation of As. Mos. 10:199

Then his kingdom will appear throughout his whole creation.
Then the devil will have an end.
Yea, sorrow will be led away with him.
Following the death of Taxo and his sons (9:6),100 Gods kingdom parebit will
appear101 in his omnia creatura whole creation. This will result in the end of the devil
and of sadness. Gods kingdom already exists prior to its revelation and is as real as the
Roman occupation was to the writer. What will be made clear is the fact that the entire
creation is Gods kingdom, notwithstanding the fact that in v. 8 it is only Israel that will be
exalted.102
The appearance of Gods kingdom (v. 1) and the manifestation of God himself (v.
7) are one and the same, since they effect the same result, namely justice (in the form of
punishment of the nations and the destruction of their idols) and salvation (vv. 8-10).
Especially noteworthy is the connection between this event and exorcism (v. 1). The
97 Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 258.

98 Tromp, (1993), The Assumption of Moses, 18.
99 Priest, (1983), The Testament of Moses, OTP I, 931.
100 For preliminary remarks and context, see Section 2.2.3 under As. Mos. 4:2, 10:3.
101 Cf. Sib. Or. 3:47, 2 Bar. 39:7, and some of the prophetic Targums. See Sections 3.3.1.3 and
3.5.1.3.
102 Wicks, (1915), The Doctrine of God, 209; Tromp, (1993), The Assumption of Moses, 236.
kingdom of God and exorcism were probably closely linked in the teaching of the
historical Jesus.103
The Assumption of Moses also counsels faithfulness to the commandments (3:12, 12:10-
11). Observance brings good things, disregard for them will result in punishment.
However, contrary to the statements of Robert H. Charles,104 there is no connection here
between keeping or observing the Torah and Gods kingdom. The writers kingdom is
thoroughly eschatological. It is brought by God in the future, not by any human activity or
agent - not even by a messiah (cf. Pss. Sol. 17).105
103 See Section 3.3.2 under Luke 11:20.

104 Charles, (1913), Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha II, 412.
105 J. J. Collins, (1987), The Kingdom of God in the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, 90.
212 3.3 The Presence of the Kingdom of God : The Pharisees and Jesus
3.3 THE PHARISEES AND JESUS
While two probable examples of the kingdom of God as a periphrasis for God as king
were detected in literature more or less contemporary with the Pharisees and Jesus,106 in
this Section other contemporary or near-contemporary literature will be analysed to see
what it may tell us.
3.3.1 The Pharisees
Three contemporary sources are of possible relevance here: the works of Josephus; two
synagogue prayers; and the extant Aramaic Targumim.
3.3.1.1 Josephus
Josephus does not explicitly mention any kingdom associated with God in any of his
writings, much less in connection with the Pharisees.107 It would be idle speculation to
offer reasons for this. In a chapter devoted to consideration of explicit instances of the
Divine Kingdom, further consideration of Josephus stance is out of place. Nevertheless,
as discussed in Section 1.5.5.4, there is every reason to suspect that, according to
Josephus, the Pharisees saw the observance of torah as the only appropriate response to
the universally and here-and-now present kingdom of God. This is in keeping with
Jub. 50:9 (cf. L.A.B.).
3.3.1.2 Synagogue Prayers
One Aramaic synagogue prayer, whose extant version was redacted in the third century or
later, but which is commonly considered to contain traditions going back to the first
century, contains explicit references to the kingdom of God. That it reflects Pharisaic
convictions (though not necessarily beliefs exclusive to the Pharisees) will be assumed on
the grounds of the influence of the Pharisees in the pre-70 synagogue.108
106 Pss. Sol. 17:3, As. Mos. 10:1. See also the earlier Ps 103:19.
107 Duling, (1992), Kingdom of God, ABD IV, 63.
3.3 The Presence of the Kingdom of God : The Pharisees and Jesus 213
The vydq Kaddish
The vydq Kaddish109

;htwerk arb yd amleb abr hmv vdqtyw ldgty
,Nwkymwybw Nwkyyxb htwklm Kylmyw
,larsy tyb lkd yyxbw
.Nma wrmaw ,byrq Nmzbw algeb
Translation110
Glorified and sanctified be Gods great name throughout the world which
he has created according to his will.
May he establish his kingdom in your lifetime and during your days,
and within the life of the entire house of Israel,
speedily and soon; and say, Amen.
The K(Q)addish prayer is properly a doxology, a short prayer added to the end of
principal sections of the Jewish liturgy. The traditions it embodies, if not the exact
wording, go back to at least before A.D. 70.111 It expresses hope that God
hytwklm Kylmyw may reign over his kingdom soon,112 within the lifetime of the
worshipper, i.e. that his kingdom may be effective. Contrary to numerous writers, the verb
here is neither to come nor to establish and so is not a good parallel to the similar
petition in the Our Father (Matt 6:10, Luke 11:2).113
The kingdom here is likely to be the divine sovereignty lived out by those who observe the
Torah (practice torah). This is not to say that Gods kingdom exists only for such people,
but that by observing the Torah they live out the reality of the here-and-now kingdom. The
previous sentence, like that of the next petition in Jesus prayer, refers to Gods will,
which to the hearer would mean little else than the Torah. The following petition of the
Kaddish asks that God may soon rule in the lives of all Israel,114 no doubt through diligent

111 For a general discussion, see: Graubard, (1978ET), The Kaddish Prayer, 59-72; Weinfeld, (1986),
The Day of the Lord, 349, 368.
112 Dalman, (1902ET), Words of Jesus, 99; Jeremias, (1971ET), NT Theology I, 198; J. H.
Charlesworth, (1982), The Historical Jesus, ANRW II.25.1, 467; Buchanan, (1984), Jesus, 36;
Duling, (1992), Kingdom of God, ABD IV, 52; Buchanan, (1970), Consequences of the
Covenant, 65; C. A. Evans, (1997), Early Rabbinic Sources and Jesus Research, 52.
113 The two principal Hebrew words meaning to come (Aramaic: ata) hta and awb never occur in
Jewish literature of the period under study in connection with twklm - a fact which will be
explored and exploited in Section 3.7. The establishment (Mwq to establish) of a kingdom occurs
with twklm in 2 Chr 7:18 and with wklm in Dan 2:39,44 (Aramaic). Nwk to be established
occurs with twklm in: 1 Sam 20:31, 1 Kgs 2:12, 1 Chr 17:11, 28:7, 2 Chr 12:1. doy to
establish does not occur in connection with twklm. Meyer, (1999), Appointed Deed, Appointed
Doer, 171, saw a parallel between this and the parallels to Luke 10:9,11 (see Section 3.3.2) and
Isa 52:7 (see Section 2.2.1.2).
114 Buchanan, (1970), Consequences of the Covenant, 65, apparently interpreted this to mean that to
pray for Gods kingdom was the same as praying for the restoration of the Davidic kingdom.
However there is nothing in the prayer that points clearly to this.
observance of his will (Torah). If this is the case, the Kaddish prayer was not originally
interpreted eschatologically.115
Targumim will be considered here which explicitly mention the Divine Kingdom and
which may be dated to the pre-70 period, using Chiltons dating criteria.116 Those of the
post-70 period will be considered in Section 3.5.1.3.
Tgs. Pentateuch Tg. Neb.

pre-70 Tannaitic Neof. Exod 15:18 Jer 10:7
(universal) C.G. Exod 15:18 Jer 49:38
Frg. P Exod 15:18 Obad 21br
Zech 14:9ar
115 Contrary to: Weinfeld, (1986), The Day of the Lord, 341-72, esp. 369.
116 For preliminary comments on the choice of targumim, see Sections 1.6.5 and 2.3.1.2.
Tgs. Neof., C.G., Frg. P Exod 15:18

NRSV of Exod 15:18
The LORD will reign for ever and ever.
Tg. Neof.,117 Tg. C.G.,118 Frg. Tg. P119 Exod 15:18

. . . yyy atwklm lylk Kl awh hay hm larsy ynb Nyrma Neof.
:aymle Mle dew amle Mdq Nm atwklm awh yyyd
amleb atwklm ayh yyd rsy <ynb> Nyrma :Kwlmy yy C.G.
Kwlmy yy :ytad amlel ayh hydydw Nydh
:dew Ml[wl]
hytwklm awh yyd larsy ynb Frg. P
:awh hylyd ytad amlebw Nydh amleb
Translation of Tgs. Neof.,120 C.G.,121 Frg. P122 Exod 15:18

Neof. The children of Israel said: How the crown of kingship becomes you,
O Lord! . . . Of the Lord is the kingship before the world and for all ages.
C.G. The Lord shall reign : The Israel<ites> said: Kingship is the Lords, in
this world; and it is His in the world-to-come. The Lord will reign forever
and ever.
Frg. P and the Israelites will say: (His) kingship is the Lords, in this world
and in the world to come - it is His.
These three may be considered together because each represents a targum on Exod 15:18
with the use of the equivalent of ynda123 and because each betrays universalistic
associations of kingdom, which point to a pre-70 genesis for their tradition(s).
Tg. C.G. is structured like a midrash with the Hebrew literally translated, in between which
is the targumic explanation. The explanation of Tg. C.G. is effectively the same as Frg.
Tg. P. The first half of Tg. Neof. agrees in substance with the first part of what the
Israelites say in Tg. C.G. and Frg. Tg. P.
In each case, the Lord possesses the atwklm kingdom (in the translation
kingship). But whereas Tg. Neof. has before the world and for all ages, Tg. C.G.
and Frg. Tg. P have in this world and the world to come. Tg. Neof. anchors
kingdom firmly and only in this present earthly world, whereas Tg. C.G. and Frg. Tg.
P see the Divine Kingdom as extending into the new world brought about by God.
117 Dez Macho, (1968), Neophyti 1 II, 101.

118 M. L. Klein, (1986), Genizah Manuscripts, 247. See also: Baars, (1961), A Targum on Exod.
XV 7-21, 340-42.
119 M. L. Klein, (1980), The Fragment-Targums of the Pentateuch I, 80. See also McNamara,
(19662), The NT and the Palestinian Targum, 207.
120 McNamara, (1994ET), Targum Neofiti 1, Exodus, 67.
121 M. L. Klein, (1986), Genizah Manuscripts, 246.
122 M. L. Klein, (1980), The Fragment-Targums of the Pentateuch II, 48.
123 Dalman, (1902ET), Words of Jesus, 182-83.
John P. Meier124 claimed that in each case of targumim to Exod 15:18, the Hebrew verb is
replaced by the abstract noun kingdom. However, in the BHS, the word Klm may be
either a noun or a verb, so that an equally viable translation of the Hebrew would be: The
LORD is king for ever and ever. Thus, in these Targum examples, kingdom could just
as easily replace the noun king. The Targumist is more likely to have done this, given
the various methods of translation available to him (see Section 1.6.2). But what is the
kingdom?
Tg. Neof. Exod 15:18 has two relevant occurrences of the emphatic atwklm. The first is a
celebratory response to a redeeming action that the Lord will do, the second to a redeeming
action (Red Sea) that he has done. The emphasis is clearly on Gods saving activity both
past and eschatological, though there is no suggestion of other-worldliness. The presence
of the crown125 in the first and the addition of before the world in the second, would
indicate that it is Gods kingship or rather Gods victory as king that is being celebrated.
Tg. C.G. Exod 15:18 is a small midrash. The Lords kingdom is presently in this
world and is also his in the world-to-come. This may refer to two spatial spheres,
though it is more likely to refer to the fact of Gods kingship throughout the (two) ages.
Frg. Tg. P Exod 15:18 is another midrash, though much longer than the other targumim.
Explaining the Lord will reign, it chronicles three nights when ylgtya yy the Lord
was revealed: on the world to create it; to Abraham to tell him of the conception of Isaac;
and on the Egyptians. On the fourth night it looks forward to a future when the world
will reach its fixed time to be redeemed.126 The kingdom could refer either to the
kingdom of God which encompasses this world and the world to come, or it could mean
that God is king (his kingship) in this world and in the world to come. Neither can be
determined with certainty.

125 See also Tg. Ps.-J. Exod 15:18 and Frg. Tg. V Exod 15:18.
126 Cf. Tg. Neof. Exod 12:42 and Tg. Ps.-J. Exod 12:42. Onqelos provided a typical literal translation.
See also Chester, (1986), Divine Revelation and Divine Titles, 192-99.
Tg. Neb. Jer 10:7,10

NRSV of Jer 10:7a,10a
7 Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For that is your due;
among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is no
one like you.
10a But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting
King.
Tg. Neb. Jer 10:7,10a127

aymle lk Klm Kmdq Nm lxdy al Nm 7
Nwhtwklm lkbw aymme ymykx lkb yra atwklm ayh Klyd yra
:Knm rb tl
. . . Nymle Klmw Myyq hla awh jwvq Myhla ywyw 10a
Translation of Tg. Neb. Jer 10:7,10a128

7 Who shall not fear before you, O King of all the Ages? For the kingship is
yours; since among all the wise men of the nations and among all their
kingship there is none beside you.
10a But the Lord God is truth. He is the Living God and King of Ages.
Chilton doesnt treat Tg. Neb. Jer 10:7,129 though its universal connotations would
suggest a pre-70 origin for the tradition.130 The context is a prayer of praise.
The first kingship in v. 7 may also be translated as kingdom so that the Divine
Kingdom is all the nations / kingdoms of this and all the ages.131 The phrase there is
none beside you is a repeat from v. 6 and probably turns the Hebrew there is no one
like you into an assertion of monotheism.132 It is thus not necessarily an affirmation
that the Divine King is present in his kingdom among the nations, though that connotation
should not be ruled out. Apart from this possibility, no firm conclusion as to the notion of
the Divine Royal Presence may be drawn from this targum.

129 The list he gives of the use of kingdom of God or equivalents in Tg. Neb. in Chilton, (1978),
Regnum Dei Deus Est, 264 n. 1, omits it as it also omits Tg. Neb. Jer 49:38. In his earlier list
in Chilton, (1979), God in Strength, 87 n. 55 he included Tg. Neb. Jer 10:7 but omitted 49:38. He
included Tg. Neb. Ezek 29:3,9 but omitted Ezek 7:7,10. Tg. Neb. Ezek 29:3,9 do not refer to
Gods kingdom.
130 R. Hayward, (1987ET), The Targum of Jeremiah, 38, claimed that the foundations of Tg. Neb. Jer
were laid in the first century A.D.
131 Cf. Fitzmyer, (1997), The Syntax of lk, alk, 210, who discussed instances of lk followed by
an emphatic plural noun as is the case here.
132 R. Hayward, (1987ET), The Targum of Jeremiah, 79 n. 4.
Tg. Neb. Jer 49:38

NRSV of Jer 49:38
and I will set my throne in Elam, and destroy their king and officials, says
the LORD.
Tg. Neb. Jer 49:38133

:ywy rma Nwjlvw Klm Nmtm dybwaw Mlyeb ytwklm yorwk ywsaw

And I will set the throne of my kingdom in Elam, and I will destroy from
there king and rulers, says the Lord.
The Hebrew Jer 49:38 is part of an oracle vv. 34-39, made by Jeremiah, presumably at the
beginning of the reign of Zedekiah (ca. 597 B.C.) against Elam, which lay north east of the
Persian Gulf. At the time, Elam appeared to threaten Babylon but was turned back by
Nebuchadnezzar, thus perhaps dashing the hopes of the exiled Jews for an early return.135
Ignored completely by Chilton, Tg. Neb. Jer 49:38 may be dated to the pre-70 period
because the destruction to be wrought by the Lord is to be much wider in scope and area
than the Hebrew oracle which limits it to the key figures of Elam.
In the present verse, God is thought one day to place the seat of his power in Elam. In
BHS his motive is vengeance, but in the Targum it seems to be more a flexing of divine
muscle, exercised over a broader area than Elam. The phrase the throne of my kingdom
is reminiscent of the OT Ps 103:19, 1 Chr 17:14, 28:5, Sg Three 33 and the
Pseudepigraphal 1 Enoch 84:2, all of which associate in one way or another the divine
throne and kingdom.136
In both the BHS and Tg. Neb. versions of Jer 49:38, the throne is a symbol for the
Divine Royal Presence, so that in exacting vengeance against Elam, God will personally go
there to do it. While an area larger than Elam may be inferred as Gods kingdom and that
he himself will move there to carry out the destruction envisaged, little else may be said, as
most of the oracle is metaphorical. There could be, after all, no suggestion that the Divine
Royal Presence will one day be centred permanently in Elam.

135 Couturier, (1968), Jeremiah, JBC, 335a.
136 See Sections 3.2.1 and 3.2.3.
Tg. Neb. Obad 21

NRSV of Obad 21
Those who have been saved shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau;
and the kingdom shall be the LORDs.
Tg. Neb. Obad 21137

wsed akrk ty Ndml Nwyud arwjb Nybzyvm Nwqoyw
:aera ybty lk le ywyd atwklm ylgttw
Translation of Tg. Neb. Obad 21138

Liberators shall go up to Mount Zion to judge the citadel of Esau, and the
kingdom of the Lord shall be revealed over all the inhabitants of the earth.
Obad 21 represents the last words of a vision of Obadiah. Despite the retention of
Zion, the deliberate universalistic perspective dates this targum to the pre-70 period.139
The kingdom of the Lord in a spatial sense can mean nothing else than all the nations
and their peoples, v. 15. Yet, for the Targumist, the kingdom of the Lord clearly has an
additional meaning.
The day of the Lord will bring the destruction of all nations, v. 16. Some Nybzyvm
survivors140 will find safety on Mount Zion, v. 17. Afterwards, the Davidic kingdom
will be repossessed by the remnant people of God, vv. 18-20.141 According to the targum,
only then the kingdom of the Lord shall be revealed over all the inhabitants of the
earth. Apart from the last, this sequence of events is shared by both the Hebrew and the
Targum versions.142
If the Targum sequence is consistent, the kingdom of the Lord will be revealed only over
Mount Zion (cf. Tg. Neb. Isa 24:23b)143 since all the inhabitants of the earth will be there.
It is a clear reference to the Divine King whose presence was always centred on Mount
Zion. Interestingly, the kingdom of the Lord will be revealed after the punishment and only

139 Chilton, (1982), The Glory of Israel, 78; Chilton, (1984), Galilean Rabbi, 66.
140 Or those who has escaped, refugees, either of which is better than liberators. See: Jastrow,
(1903), Dictionary, 852a.
141 Edom, Gilead to the east of the Jordan and the Negeb to the South, were part of the Davidic
kingdom, see: Aharoni and Avi-Yonah, (19933), The Macmillan Bible Atlas, 80.
142 Raabe, (1996), Obadiah, 252.
143 See: Smolar, Aberach and Churgin, (1983), Studies in Targum Jonathan, 132; Cathcart and
Gordon, (1989ET), The Targum of the Minor Prophets, 102 n. 52. Contrary to Chilton, who saw
in the phrase a universal understanding of the kingdoms revelation, Chilton, (1982), The Glory of
Israel, 78.
when the survivors gather on Mount Zion, unlike Tg. Neb. Ezek 7:7,10,144 where it is the
revelation of the kingdom that ushers in the punishment.
Tg. Neb. Zech 14:9
NRSV of Zech 14:9

And the LORD will become king over all the earth; on that day the LORD will
be one and his name one.
Tg. Neb. Zech 14:9145

Nwxlpy awhh andyeb aera ybty lk le ywyd atwklm ylgttw
:hynm rb tyl amleb byuy hymv yra dx Ptk ywy Mdq
Translation of Tg. Neb. Zech 14:9146

And the kingdom of the Lord shall be revealed upon all the inhabitants of
the earth; at that time they shall serve before the Lord with one accord, for
his name is established in the world; there is none apart from him.
Chilton147 dated this targum to the first century because of: its universalistic application; a
statement about the kingdom ascribed to the first century rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanos in
association with Zech 14:9;148 and the reproduction of the same phrase and the kingdom
of the Lord shall be revealed upon all the inhabitants of the earth at Tg. Neb. Obad 21.149
Despite the exact verbal similarity with Tg. Neb. Obad 21, which depicts all the
inhabitants of the earth as one day gathering in one place, Mount Zion, Tg. Neb. Zech
14:9 must refer to the whole earth. For although the nations will be gathered to Jerusalem
to do battle, v. 2, this is temporary, cf. vv. 16-20. The kingdom of the Lord will be revealed
as having encompassed the earth.
As to the identity of the targumic kingdom of the Lord here, we may note that this
phrase is a substitute for the Hebrew the Lord (as king), just as the verb shall be
revealed is substituted for will become or shall be. Although there are other
factors to consider in the case of the verbs,150 one effect of the verb change is to remove
any suggestion that the Lord was ever not king of all the earth. Like Tg. Neb. Obad 21, the

147 Chilton, (1978), Regnum Dei Deus Est, 265; Chilton, (1982), The Glory of Israel, 78-79;
Chilton, (1984), Galilean Rabbi, 66; Duling, (1992), Kingdom of God, ABD IV, 53b; cf.
Schnackenburg, (1963ET), Gods Rule and Kingdom, 49-50.
148 Mekilta Exodus 17:14, 148-49. Alexander, (1985), Review of A Galilean Rabbi and His Bible
by Bruce D. Chilton, 240, accused Chilton here of anachronism because of his unquestioning
acceptance of the historicity of a dictum attributed to Eliezer b. Hyrcanus in the Mekhilta.
149 See also discussion of Tg. Neb. Zech 14:9,16,17 in Section 2.3.1.2.
kingdom of the Lord is a circumlocution for God as king. He will be revealed as

having been all along present as king among all the inhabitants of the earth.
3.3.2 Jesus
The kingdom of God formed the locus classicus of Jesus preaching151 and is a
necessary but not sufficient point of reference for a consideration of his eschatological
views. Because of this, every book, essay and article which attempts to give an account of
the message and intent of Jesus, focuses on this foundational concept.152
The vast majority of the modern works on Jesus and the kingdom of God concentrate their
attention on the timing of this kingdom. To that question, three possibilities have been put
forward.153
The oldest modern view is what has become known as consistent or thorough-
going eschatology.154 This conceives of the kingdom as being for Jesus utterly in the
future. One explanation for sayings which otherwise might naturally be interpreted in a
present sense is that they are of the prophetic present. Scholars who share this view
nevertheless argue whether Jesus thought of a kingdom in the very near future - even
during his lifetime - or whether he thought of an indeterminate or far off period.
151 See: Perrin, (1967), Rediscovering, 54; Jeremias, (1971ET), NT Theology I, 96; D. Hill, (1981),
Kingdom of God, 62; Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke I-IX, 156; Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 237-
38; Chilton, (1998), The Reign of Forceful Grace, 133, 138.
152 See the Bibliography for a representative sample.
153 There have been many attempts to present a picture and summary of scholarship on the kingdom in
the teaching of Jesus. For example, particularly helpful are the following: G. Klein, (1972), The
Biblical Understanding, 393; Camponovo, (1984), Knigtum, 11-71; Ferguson, (1987), The
Kingdom of God in Early Patristic Literature, 195; Chilton, (1994), The Kingdom of God in
Recent Discussion, 255; Theissen and Merz, (1998ET), The Historical Jesus, 242-45, 279;
Weaver, (1999), The Historical Jesus, 264-74.
154 For example: Weiss, (1971ET), Jesus Proclamation of the Kingdom, passim; Schweitzer,
(19543ET), The Quest of the Historical Jesus, passim; Loisy, (1903ET), The Gospel and the
Church, esp. 53, 61, 65, even a verse such as Matt 11:12 Loisy described as implying that the
kingdom of heaven was merely inaugurated in its preparation; Burkitt, (1910), Preface to the
First Edition, xvii-xix; Bultmann, (1958NewET), Jesus and the Word, 44; Bultmann, (1955ET),
Theology I, 22, though see p. 4 which may be classed as inaugurated eschatology, and Theissen
and Merz, (1998ET), The Historical Jesus, 244, who classified Bultmanns approach as an
existentialist form of consistent eschatology. Bultmanns pupils such as Bornkamm, Fuchs and
Conzelmann opted for an existentialist form of inaugurated eschatology, see below. Other scholars
who saw an exclusively future kingdom for Jesus include: Goppelt, (1981ET), Theology of the NT
I, 53; Ksemann, (1969ET), Questions, 111; Hiers, (1970), Kingdom of God, e.g. 4, on p. 15
Hiers described Dodds exegesis as devious; Hiers, (1973), The Historical Jesus and the Kingdom
of God, iii, 111; Fredriksen, (1988), From Jesus to Christ, 101. For a summary of Hiers
eschatology, see J. T. Carroll, (1988), Response to the End of History, 12 and, E. P. Sanders,
(1985), Jesus and Judaism, 152.
As a reaction to this view, the realised eschatology school maintained that Jesus saw
himself as fulfilling all eschatological expectations either in his person or ministry or
both.155 In other words, the kingdom of God was very much in the present of Jesus. Any
unambiguously future sayings are either to be reinterpreted or given little weight.
The third option, which is still the consensus view today, is that Jesus uttered sayings that
indicated both a future and a present understanding.156 Sayings are categorised as either
one or the other. It is usually called inaugurated eschatology because the kingdom is
thought of as having begun with Jesus, but its full realisation or consummation is still in
the future. Scholars continue to argue about the length of time Jesus had in mind between
himself and this future consummation.
155 For example: von Harnack, (1901ET), What is Christianity?, esp. 54; Otto, (1943ET), The
Kingdom of God and the Son of Man, passim; T. W. Manson, (1957), Realized Eschatology,
209-22; Dodd, (1961Rev), Parables, 41; Dodd, (1936), Kingdom of God has Come, 138-42.
Even though Dodd coined the phrase realised eschatology, he later became dissatisfied with it, see
Dodd, (1953), The Interpretation of the Fourth Gospel, 447 n. 1. His later work, Dodd, (1971),
The Founder of Christianity, 115, would seem to hark back to his original position. For a
contrary opinion of Ottos position, see Glasson, (19633), The Second Advent, 112-13, who
labelled Ottos position as proleptic and strictly future. On pp. 106-107, 111-12 Glasson himself
wrote, In the mission of Jesus it has arrived; . . . The Kingdom will only come completely when
the will of God is done on earth as it is in heaven, but in Glasson, (1980), Jesus and the End of
the World, 127, The New Testament envisages a present reign of Christ, a future consummation,
and then an eternal world to come. See also: Hunter, (1958), Interpretation of Parables, 102;
Perrin, (1963), Teaching of Jesus, 199, cf. E. P. Sanders, (1985), Jesus and Judaism, 150;
Flusser, (1968ET), Jesus, 90; G. Klein, (1972), The Biblical Understanding, 387-418; Riches,
(1980), Jesus and the Transformation of Judaism, 103, 107; Pereira, (1983), Ephesus, 122, 124;
Mack, (1988), A Myth of Innocence, 73-74. Mack properly belongs here. He made use of a
wisdom tradition that confers on the wise person in the here-and-now a kingdom. He is one who is
ruled by God, e.g. Wis 10:10, cf. 6:3-4, 19-21. See also: hler, (1999), The Expectation of
Elijah, 461-76.
156 For example: von Dobschtz, (1910), The Eschatology of the Gospels, 150, who called it
transmuted eschatology; A. T. Cadoux, (1940), The Theology of Jesus, 45-46; Jeremias,
(19723), Parables of Jesus, 230, 230 n. 3, who preferred the description eine sich realisierende
Eschatologie - eschatology that is in process of realisation; T. W. Manson, (19352), The
Teaching of Jesus, 135-36, 140-41; T. W. Manson, (1937), Sayings of Jesus, 305; Fuller, (1954),
Mission and Achievement of Jesus, 32, 48-49, 106-107, who preferred proleptic eschatology;
Ladd, (1957), Eschatology, 269-70; Kmmel, (1961ET), Promise and Fulfilment, passim;
Cullmann, (1962ETRev), Christ and Time, 83-84; Schnackenburg, (1963ET), Gods Rule and
Kingdom, e.g. 197; Berkey, (1963), CEEGXCGL, DW?LCGL, and Realized Eschatology, 177-87,
esp. 186; Ladd, (1968), Pattern of NT Truth, 56; Ladd, (19742), Presence of the Future, esp. e.g.
218; Ladd, (1993Rev), A Theology of the NT, 60-61, eschatology of biblical realism; B. C.
Butler, (1977), Gods Kingdom, 164-75; E. P. Sanders, (1982), Jesus, Paul and Judaism, 419;
Allison, (1985), The End of the Ages has Come, 106, 114; Marshall, (1985), Hope of a New
Age, 5-14, e.g. 8b; Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the Kingdom of God, 338, The decisive
shift of eschatology from the future alone to the future-in-the-present was the work of Jesus, not of
Paul and John; Beasley-Murray, (1994), The Kingdom of God and Christology in the Gospels,
27, 35, Jesus is the Mediator of the kingdom of God; Viviano, (1988), The Kingdom of God in
History, 29; Chilton, (1994), The Kingdom of God in Recent Discussion, 263; Chilton, (1996),
Pure Kingdom, 12; N. T. Wright, (1996), Jesus, 272, 472; Theissen and Merz, (1998ET), The
Historical Jesus, 275.
A fourth option in current favour in many circles is the existentialist or non-eschatological

explanation.157 It is not dissimilar to the earlier short-lived spiritual kingdom of so-
called liberal theologians and may be considered as a development of realised
eschatology.158 Far from preaching a future reality, Jesus was concerned with the
present. Jesus himself demythologised any future kingdom and reinterpreted it as the
experience of God in the present. This view has peculiar problems of its own, not least of
which is its anachronism and its failure to take seriously the perceived objective reality of
eschatological images in the first century A.D.
In much of the scholarship that may be classified in one of the above categories,
surprisingly little consideration has been given to what Jesus thought the kingdom of God
actually was. A notable exception is those few scholars who see the kingdom of God as
God the king in action.159 Many simply prefer to ignore the issue on the grounds that
Jesus also ignored it, that is, the Gospels have left no record of Jesus supplying anywhere
near a definition of the kingdom of God.160 Many others, however, either assume that it
meant Gods dynamic royal rule or will, or quickly pass from a demonstration of that to
the supposedly more important issue of timing.161 A few see the OT use of kingdom of
God as normative for Jesus and go on to claim that Jesus actually meant a dynamic reign
or sovereignty within a territorial or spatial kingdom.162
157 Inspired by but going beyond the writings of Bultmann, e.g. Bultmann, (1955ET), Theology I, 22.
Some would want to separate this into two options, but they have enough in common to be placed
together. Key figures include: Bornkamm, (1960ET), Jesus of Nazareth, e.g. 68, 93; Conzelmann,
(1961ET), Theology of St. Luke, passim; Fuchs, (1964ET), Studies of the Historical Jesus, 137-38;
Jngel, (1972), Paulus and Jesus, 154; Breech, (1983), The Silence of Jesus, 38-39; E. P.
Sanders, (1985), Jesus and Judaism, 237; Borg, (1988), A Temperate Case for a
Noneschatological Jesus, 521-35. Norman Perrin also tended to an existential view. The sayings
normally regarded as future he regarded not as temporal but as experiential: Perrin, (1963),
Teaching of Jesus, 193; Perrin, (1967), Rediscovering, esp. 67, 74, 82, 89, 161, 205; Perrin,
(1974), Eschatology and Hermeneutics, 13, Perrin, (19741), Introduction, 290-91, 300; Perrin,
(1976), Language, 199. See Perrin, (1984), Theology of the NT, 422-24, for Perrins own
distinctions between his stance and that of Bultmann. Note also Perrin, (19823), The NT, 534. Cf.
Kee, (1977), Community of the New Age, 209-10. See also Section 3.6.2.
158 E.g. von Harnack, (1901ET), What is Christianity?, 56, 61. See Section 3.1 and especially Section
4.3.4.1 under Recent Exegetical Comment.
160 Many have made such an observation, for example: Goppelt, (1981ET), Theology of the NT I, 67;
Scott, (1981), Symbol-Maker, 126; Ricoeur, (1981), Kingdom in the Parables of Jesus, 166.
161 The overwhelming emphasis on the dynamic aspect of the kingdom is usually traced back to:
Dalman, (1902ET), Words of Jesus, 135. See: Jeremias, (1971ET), NT Theology I, 98; Buchanan,
(1970), Consequences of the Covenant, 44 n. 5; Camponovo, (1984), Knigtum, 443; Buchanan,
(1984), Jesus, 19 n. 19; ONeill, (1993), The Kingdom of God, 130. For a succinct summary of
the modern consensus view, see Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 240.
162 C. J. Cadoux, (1941), The Historic Mission of Jesus, 113; Aalen, (1961), Reign and House,
215-40, esp. 220 (on Aalen, see J. Marcus, (1988), Entering into the Kingly Power of God,
664-65 n. 13); Lohmeyer, (1961ET), Lord of the Temple, 63-65; Baird, (1963), Justice of God,
89, in part; Buchanan, (1970), Consequences of the Covenant, 42-90; Buchanan, (1984), Jesus,
The approach adopted here is unique in several respects. Questions regarding the timing
of the kingdom will not be asked of individual instances in Luke-Acts directly but will be
considered in the light of the question of the location of the kingdom. The issue of the
identity of the kingdom that may be behind an individual example will be considered from
the perspective of whether and to what extent the proposed definition of the kingdom of
God as the Divine Royal Presence may be admitted.
Given the mass of material regarding the kingdom of God in the Gospels, scholars have
adopted several methods of dealing with the material. Many deal with future sayings and
parables and present sayings and parables separately.163 Others divide the material form-
critically,164 still others according to the verbs or phrases associated with it.165
Again, the method chosen here will be unique. While every occurrence (or absence when
compared to the source) of the Divine Kingdom in Luke-Acts was originally
considered in the order of appearance, for the sake of clarity, they are presented here and
in Sections 3.4 and 3.5.2 divided according to whether they shed more light on one of the
three stages of formation of the Gospel. This will enable a clearer picture of the
contributions of each stage to be made.166 In the past, the possible contribution of the
various stages in the composition history of the kingdom passages have been largely
ignored. It is possible that variations in the timing of the kingdom, for example, may be
due more to the influences of these stages than to the indecisiveness or the deliberate
obscurity of Jesus.
17; Ladd, (1962), Reign or Realm?, 230-38, esp. 236; Ladd, (19742), Presence of the Future,
195-205; Conzelmann, (1969ET), Outline, 108; Michaels, (1987), The Kingdom of God and the
Historical Jesus, 114; ONeill, (1993), The Lords Prayer, 11; ONeill, (1993), The Kingdom
of God, 131, 134; Moessner, (1989), Lord of the Banquet, 166, within the context of Luke
17:20-21, though without explanation. For a modern critique of this view see J. Marcus, (1988),
Entering into the Kingly Power of God, 663-75.
163 E.g. Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the Kingdom of God, passim; Meier, (1994), Marginal
Jew II, Chs 15, 16. A more detailed analysis based on second-century authors may be found in
Ferguson, (1987), The Kingdom of God in Early Patristic Literature, 191.
164 E.g. Chilton, (1979), God in Strength, 14, according to the form-critical categories of Charles F.
D. Moule, i.e. proclamation, catechesis and controversy.
165 E.g. Dalman, (1902ET), Words of Jesus, 102-33, six groups based on the verbs used; J. Marcus,
(1988), Entering into the Kingly Power of God, 663-75, based on the phrases used.
166 A number of kingdom sayings will not be discussed in this chapter: those that are from (special)
M, namely Matt 5:10,19,20, 13:24,38,43,44,45,47,52, 18:4,23, 20:1, 21:31,43, 24:14, 25:1,34;
and, those in which the kingdom is mentioned only by Matthew, i.e. they are Matthean insertions
and are neither dominical nor Lukan (nor Markan), i.e. Matt 4:23 // Mark 1:39 // Luke 4:44, Matt
7:21 // Luke 6:46, Matt 13:19 // Mark 4:15 // Luke 8:12, Matt 18:1 // Mark 9:34 // Luke 9:46,
Matt 23:13 // Luke 11:52. Luke 10:28 may be included in the list of omissions, though some see
a parallel with Mark 12:34, e.g. Marshall, (1978), Luke, 440-41. Most, however, see it as
separate and belonging to L, e.g. Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke X-XXIV, 877; Bock, (1996), Luke 9:51-
24:53, 1019-20.
Here, then, those instances in Luke-Acts and their parallels that shed more light on the
understanding of Jesus himself will be considered.
Luke 6:20b // Matt 5:3
NA27 of Luke 6:20b

K^hoflf l mqsul+ qf jbqo^ pqfk _^pfib^ ql vbl-
NRSV of Luke 6:20b

Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
In the first of the beatitudes, Matthew adds in spirit and alters of God to his usual
of heaven. Luke is the more ancient form and varies little from the Q passage as
reconstructed in The Critical Edition of Q.167 Both Q and Luke make the audience the
disciples (cf. v. 17), whereas in Matthew it is the crowd.168 For Luke too, it is the only
mention of the kingdom of God in the Sermon on the Plain (v. 17, Matthew: Mount),
whereas Matthew mentions it in total five times.
For present purposes, it is to be noted that the poor are blessed (natural happiness)
because they first possess the kingdom of God and not visa versa. The present tense
preserved here and in Matthew and Q over against the other beatitudes which are in the
future tense,169 makes it likely that the disciples, here called the poor, were already in
possession of the kingdom of God because they were followers of Jesus (Luke 5:27). For
Luke, the kingdom of God and Jesus are intimately connected.
However, it is asked what Jesus himself might have said, it is likely that the present tense
pqfk, which Luke wanted to preserve, in fact underlies a future Aramaic sense.170 In other
words, we are to take it, at least for the meaning intended by Jesus, as a prophetic
present.171 The opposing woe, v. 24, is addressed to those who are rich precisely because
they have already received their consolation. The poor have yet to receive their consolation,
which will be the kingdom of God.172 In addition, the only other place in Luke-Acts where
167 J. M. Robinson, Hoffmann and Kloppenborg, (2000), Critical Edition of Q, 46; Asgeirsson and
Robinson, (1992), International Q Project, 501. Contrary to Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke I-IX, 632
and, Nolland, (1993), Luke 35A, 283, who saw heaven as the more original.
168 Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke I-IX, 627, but cf. Luke 7:1.
169 Marshall, (1978), Luke, 250.
170 Bultmann, (1963ETRev), Synoptic Tradition, 109, thought it future as well, though it has nothing
to do with Messianic salvation.
171 In Luke 21:31, pqfk is associated with the kingdom of God and is clearly a prophetic present.
172 See: Conzelmann, (1961ET), Theology of St. Luke, 114 n. 3; Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and
the Kingdom of God, 162; Beasley-Murray, (1992), The Kingdom of God in the Teaching of
Jesus, 24.
j^hoflt and _^pfib^ ql vbl occur together is Luke 14:15. As a Lukan

composition, 14:15 serves merely as an introduction to the parable which follows (in
which the poor are among the ones invited to the eschatological banquet) and alludes to
13:29 which like Luke 6:20b is from Q. Luke 13:29 and 14:15 look forward to the
(future) eschatological banquet where eating in the kingdom of God is the same as being
in the presence of the Divine King.173
Luke 7:28 // Matt 11:11
NA27 of Luke 7:28

ids jk+ jbwsk k dbkkeqlt drk^fhk ~Gskklr labt pqfk9
a jfhoqbolt k q _^pfib& ql vbl jbwsk ^ql pqfk-
NRSV of Luke 7:28

I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John; yet the
least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
This verse has been and continues to be surrounded by controversy. A recent article by
Benedict T. Viviano174 conveniently summarised its exegetical history and posited a new
interpretation based on a perceived parallel between the verse and Dan 4:17. In particular,
Viviano suggested that the whole verse was a unity from the beginning - a beginning most
likely in Q and not with Jesus.175 Since Dan 4:17 speaks of the present rule of God over
the kingdom of mortals, Viviano took Luke 7:28 to indicate primarily a realised
eschatology and that the least in the kingdom of God was Jesus. In other words, the
verse is a Christological commentary.
The saying, when compared to the version of Q reconstructed in The Critical Edition of Q,
is taken over by Luke with some modification such that Matthew is closer to Q than
Luke.176 However, the meaning is the same and all three preserve the antithetical
parallelism - a feature which points to the verse having been a unity since its beginning.177
Viviano is on less certain ground when he argued that its origin can be more easily traced
back no further than Q. There is no good reason for rejecting its dominical origin, but that
it indicates a present kingdom may be rejected.
173 E.g. Exod 24:11, Zech 14:20-21. On Luke 13:29 and 14:15 see Section 3.3.2.
174 Viviano, (2000), The Least in the Kingdom, 41-54.
175 Also Kirk, (1998), The Composition of the Sayings Source, 375.
176 J. M. Robinson, Hoffmann and Kloppenborg, (2000), Critical Edition of Q, 136; Moreland and
Robinson, (1995), International Q Project, 479. Conzelmann, (1961ET), Theology of St. Luke,
115, explained that Luke was able to insert this verse from Q without alteration because it
contains no reference to time.
177 Cf. Viviano, (2000), The Least in the Kingdom, 47, 53.
Firstly, the parallel saying in Gos. Thom. 46, which betrays targumic-like expansion of the
saying, rewrites the last section to read: whoever among you becomes a child will know
the kingdom . . ..178 The writer was compelled to rewrite the saying so that the kingdom
was able to be known and therefore present. Thus he took the more original saying to be
indicating a future kingdom.
Secondly, the phrase k q _^pfib& occurs elsewhere in the Synoptics from different
sources, in every case in the context of a future kingdom.179
Thirdly, given the antithetical parallelism, those born of women stand in contrast to
the least in the kingdom of God. Earthly180 status as it is at present, bears no
relationship or is reversed (cf. Luke 6:20) to that which will pertain in the kingdom of
God.181
Fourthly, the presence of pqfk, which is normally unstated in Hebrew/Aramaic and the
fact of its position at the end of the phrase rather than at the preferred Hebrew/Aramaic
position of the beginning, is cause enough to question the implied tense.182 Either the
saying as recorded in Q is the result of manipulation, in which case we are being required
by the author(s) of Q to take it in the present tense, or it is once again an example of the
prophetic present. The latter is the most likely, given the second observation above.
If Jesus then spoke of a future kingdom of God here, we may take it to mean that status
reversal is a feature of the life to be lived in the kingdom of God. Yet, it is also a feature of
life lived in the Divine Royal Presence. Such a picture has been previously encountered in
chapter 3. Dan 4:17, which is part of a vision of future possibilities and envisages the
lowliest of human beings being set over the kingdom of mortals. Just as
importantly, it comes in the middle of two references to divine kingship, Dan 4:3 and 4:34.
Also, Zech 12:8 envisages a reversal that will take effect after YHWH has reclaimed his
kingdom and moved into the temple: On that day the LORD will shield the inhabitants of
Jerusalem so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, . . .. Could it
be that for Jesus, the kingdom of God and the Divine Royal Presence are one and the
same?
178 M. Meyer, (1992), The Gospel of Thomas, 41.

179 Mk: Mark 14:25 // Matt 26:29 // Luke 22:18. Q: Matt 8:11 // Luke 13:28. Redactor of Luke:
Luke 14:15, 22:30a. L: Luke 22:16, 23:42. M: 13:43, 18:4. Redactor of Matt: Matt 18:1.
180 Bchsel, (1964ET), dbkks : Generation by the Deity, TDNT I, 672.
181 W. D. Davies and Allison, (1988), Matthew II, 251-52; L. T. Johnson, (1991), Luke, 123, The
contrast is not between John and Jesus, but between the old and new order; Bock, (1994), Luke
1:1-9:50, 675-76, new era, old era; Uro, (1996), Apocalyptic Symbolism, 85. Mattill,
(1979), Luke and the Last Things, 159-64, opted for the older view that the contrast is between
Jesus the lesser and those born of women, i.e. between the baptisms of Jesus and John.
182 On the position of the verb in Aramaic, see Section 4.4.1 under Aramaic Retranslation.
Luke 8:10 // Mark 4:11, Matt 13:11
NA27 of Luke 8:10a

jk aalq^f dkk^f q jrpqof^ qt _^pfib^t ql vbl+
NRSV of Luke 8:10a

To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God;
Both Matthew and Luke insert to know and change the singular secret to secrets,
which suggests that Matthew and Luke rely on another tradition (Q?) in addition to (or
other than) Mark.183 The plural points to the various aspects of the teaching of Jesus on
the kingdom of God (as opposed to Marks singular use which refers to the kingdom of
God itself).184 It is the message of Jesus that is being stressed by Luke.
Krpqoflk is used in the LXX to translate the Aramaic zr in Dan 2:18-19, 27-30, 47, 4:6,
where it is God who reveals mysteries. In Wis 2:22 God has secrets unknown to
humankind. Joseph A. Fitzmyer proposed that the plural secrets of the kingdom may
reflect a contemporary use of la yzr mysteries of God which can be found in the Dead
Sea Scrolls.185 Although Fitzmyer made nothing of this, if he is right, then it amounts to
an equivalence between God and the kingdom of God by the source of Luke 8:10a and
therefore possibly by Jesus.
Luke 10:9,11b // Matt 10:7,14
NA27 of Luke 10:9,11b

9 h^ vbo^mbbqb qlt k ^q pvbkbt h^ idbqb ^qlt9 ddfhbk
c' jt _^pfib^ ql vbl-
11b mik qlql dfkphbqb qf ddfhbk _^pfib^ ql vbl-
NRSV of Luke 10:9,11b

9 cure the sick who are there, and say to them, The kingdom of God has
come near to you.
11b Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.
These verses are part of the speech given by Jesus to the seventy prior to their mission
of going to the towns and places Jesus later intended to visit, v. 1.
183 Marshall, (1978), Luke, 321.

184 Marshall, (1978), Luke, 321-22. Conzelmann, (1961ET), Theology of St. Luke, 103, saw in the
plural a timeless secrecy, that is, that it is not concerned so much with the coming of the
kingdom but with the nature of the kingdom itself.
185 E.g. 1QpHab 7:8, 1QS 3:23, 1QM 3:9, 16:11. See: Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke I-IX, 708; Bock,
(1994), Luke 1:1-9:50, 730 n. 29. Fitzmyers and Bocks lists are incorrect.
While there is no doubt that the phrase ddfhbk _^pfib^ ql vbl or its Aramaic
equivalent goes back to Jesus (given its frequency in different settings in the
Synoptics),186 its use here also betrays the hand of Luke. In Matthew 4:17 and Mark 1:15
its placement is such that there is no doubt that they considered it to be programmatic for
Jesus ministry. For Luke the programmatic message of Jesus was Luke 4:43, hence the
nearness of the kingdom is included only now. It may be legitimate to ask first then,
what did it mean for Luke?
The Critical Edition of Q assigned Luke 10:2-12 to Q, except for 11b which is a Lukan
repetition of part of v. 9 but omitting c' jt.187 Even when no healing of the sick takes
place, the kingdom of God can still be said to ddfhbk. We may note too the link with
judgement. The wiping off of the dust is a portend of the coming judgement
(reinforced by vv. 13-15) associated with the kingdom.188
Much scholarly ink has been spent on the meaning of ddfhbk, the third person singular
of the perfect indicative active of ddws.189 Its literal meaning is he/she/it has
come/drawn near. Given that the NT perfect depicts a present state of affairs of the
subject,190 it cannot mean, as many suggest, that the kingdom of God has arrived in the
sense that its coming near is at an end.191 It simply means that the coming near of the
kingdom has completed its beginning but that it is continuing to come, i.e. that it is still in
a state of coming. In other words, whether taken in a temporal or spatial sense, the
kingdom of God was not yet there.
186 Though see for example Kmmel, (1971ET), Eschatological Expectation, 37-38.
187 J. M. Robinson, Hoffmann and Kloppenborg, (2000), Critical Edition of Q, 174, 178; Moreland
and Robinson, (1995), International Q Project, 481.
188 Kirk, (1998), The Composition of the Sayings Source, 351.
189 The literature is large, quite apart from the commentaries and dictionaries. For lists and discussions
see especially: Dalman, (1902ET), Words of Jesus, 106-107; Clark, (1940), Realized
Eschatology, 367-74; Kmmel, (1961ET), Promise and Fulfilment, 22-25; Berkey, (1963),
CEEGXCGL, DW?LCGL, and Realized Eschatology, 177-87; Ambrozic, (1972), Hidden Kingdom,
15-17; Chilton, (1979), God in Strength, 56-58 n. 96; Mattill, (1979), Luke and the Last Things,
71-76; Witherington, (1990), Christology, 199-200; Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 432-34.
190 Porter, (19942), Idioms, 39-40. Porter preferred this model to the older continuance of completed
action as in: BDF, 175 340; N. Turner, (1956-76), Grammar III, 81-82; Moule, (1960), An
Idiom-Book, 13. Other scholars who also stress the stative (a state resulting from a prior action)
quality of the Greek perfect, include: K. L. McKay, (1965), The Ancient Greek Perfect, 6, 17; K.
L. McKay, (1972), Syntax in Exegesis, 47; K. L. McKay, (1980), Greek of Non-Literary
Papyri, 25; K. L. McKay, (1981), The Perfect in NT Greek, 296; Fanning, (1990), Verbal
Aspect, 104, 119-20; K. L. McKay, (1994), Syntax of the Verb, 31 n. 3.4. For a detailed
classification of the Perfect, see: Mandilaras, (1973), The Verb, 221-29.
191 E.g. as recently as Meyer, (1999), Appointed Deed, Appointed Doer, 158.
That this is so may be seen by briefly surveying the other examples of ddfhbk in the NT
that are not in association with the kingdom of God.192 Matt 26:45,46 // Mark 12:42,
depicts Jesus declaring the imminent arrival of his betrayer, Judas. Judas had not yet come
near, though he was doing so as Jesus spoke.193 Luke 21:8 has similar issues to the
kingdom examples, and cannot be considered here. Luke 21:20: When you see
Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. The desolation of
Jerusalem was not its surrounding by armies. The desolation was nevertheless soon to
follow. Rom 13:12: Paul contrasts the aorist active molhl`bk is advanced with
ddfhbk. That is, this present time or age is almost at an end and the new is about to
start.194 Jas 5:8: the coming of the Lord is near. 1 Pet 4:7 The end of all things is
near. Clearly the end of all things had not arrived at the time of writing!
Since the Lukan setting is the missionary activity of the seventy prior to the arrival of
Jesus, Luke the historian must have taken Luke 10:9,11b to mean simply that welcome or
not, the kingdom in the person of Jesus will come and is even now coming.195
Eschatologically, of course, it meant also that no matter what the response might be to the
missionary efforts of his community, Jesus, as the kingdom, will come.
When it comes to what Jesus might have meant, there seems little doubt that he saw the
arrival of the kingdom as being in the near future and that he meant the coming of the
Divine King. The element of judgement emphasised with the coming of the kingdom in v.
12,196 which is from Q, suggests that the coming kingdom is also the coming of the judge,
the Divine King - a theme frequently played out in connection with the Divine King as
noted in chapter 3. In particular, if as seems likely,197 Jesus used the Aramaic verb brq
to draw/come near, it finds an immediate parallel in the Hebrew equivalent brq used in
Mal 3:5 in the context of the Divine King coming near to judge those who commit social
evils, among which, like Luke 10:10, is inhospitality.198
192 With the kingdom of God: Matt 3:2, 4:17, 10:7, Mark 1:15, Luke 10:9,11. See Kmmel,
(1971ET), Eschatological Expectation, 38. In the LXX: Lam 4:18 (for brq), Ezek 7:4 (BHS 7:7,
brq), 9:1 (for brq); 1 Macc 9:10.
193 Cf. Kmmel, (1961ET), Promise and Fulfilment, 23.
194 Barrett, (1957), Romans, 253, 402.
195 Achtemeier, (1983), Apocalyptic Shift, 245.
196 Conzelmann, (1961ET), Theology of St. Luke, 107.
197 See references cited above.
198 See under Mal 1:14 in Section 2.2.1.3.
Luke 11:2 // Matt 6:10
NA27 of Luke 11:2b

Nqbo+ df^pvqs q klj plr9 ivqs _^pfib^ plr9
NRSV of Luke 11:2b

Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.
These are the opening words to the Lukan Lords Prayer, which Luke apparently
preserved unchanged from Q.199 Kingdom stands alone without of God in Luke or
of heaven in Matthew.200 Lukes is the more primitive version, the Matthean your will
be done either a later gloss or an addition by the redactor of Matthew.201
That this is a virtually explicit reference to the Divine King as the kingdom is indicated by
the synonymous parallelism in the two petitions,202 better seen in the Greek, and the notion
of a coming of the kingdom in the second petition.
The passive df^pvqs is a reference to the desire on the part of the one who prays that
all people may reverence the Fathers name, i.e. God Himself. The aorist imperative active
ivqs is a petition to the Father, also by the one who prays, that his eschatological
kingdom come.203 Thus your name and your kingdom stand in a synonymous
relationship to each other.
As for the coming kingdom, it is one of four places where this verb has as its subject
the kingdom of God.204 Nowhere in Jewish literature contemporary to or prior to Luke is
199 J. M. Robinson, Hoffmann and Kloppenborg, (2000), Critical Edition of Q, 206; Robinson,
(1990), International Q Project, 500. The assumption made here is that the Q (Lukes) form of
the prayer comes from Jesus, as most modern commentators agree. To the contrary, see for
example: Goulder, (1963), The Lords Prayer, 32-45, who thought it composed by Matthew
which Luke later altered; van Tilborg, (1972), Form-Criticism of the Lords Prayer, 94-105, who
claimed that it was composed by Marks community and assumed with modifications into
Matthew and Luke.
200 In some MSS and church fathers there is the alternative reading calling on the Holy Spirit to come,
see notes to Luke 11:2 in: T. W. Manson, (1937), Sayings of Jesus, 265-66; UBS4, 247; R.
Leaney, (1956), Lucan Text, 103-11; Brown, (1961), The Pater Noster, 190; NA 27, 195;
Dunn, (1970), Spirit and Kingdom, 38; Smalley, (1973), Spirit, Kingdom and Prayer, 69;
Metzger, (19942), Textual Commentary, 130-31. Scholars have drawn attention to this in their
support for a connection between the kingdom and the Spirit in Luke-Acts, though the use of the
MSS evidence in support of this is at best tenuous.
201 Chilton, (1996), Pure Kingdom, 58-59. As a commentary on your kingdom come, the phrase
your will be done is similar to the rabbinical and Pharisaic understanding that observance of the
Torah is both a sign of and brings the kingdom. See Sections 3.2.1 and 3.3.1.
202 Jeremias, (1971ET), NT Theology I, 197-98.
203 Brown, (1961), The Pater Noster, 189, There is little doubt here that God is the primary agent
in causing the kingdom to come.; Mattill, (1979), Luke and the Last Things, 115.
204 oulj^f: Matt 6:10 // Luke 11:2, Mark 9:1, Luke 17:20, Luke 22:18.
the Divine Kingdom said to come.205 On the other hand, there are numerous places where
the hope is expressed that the Divine King will one day come.206 What is often not
appreciated is that it is nowhere recorded in the Gospels that Jesus spoke of the coming of
God. He only ever spoke of the coming, drawing near,207 arriving,208 of the
kingdom. The possibility, therefore, cannot be easily dismissed that Jesus coming
kingdom is nothing less than the coming of the Divine King.
Indeed, such a possibility is strengthened by a parallel with Zechariah. The theme of

eschatological worship, connected as it is here with the Divine Kingdom, recalls Zech
14:1-21 where after the Divine Warrior cleanses Jerusalem, he will become king over all
the earth (v. 9) and all those who survive worship the Divine King (vv. 9, 16-17).209 Seen
in this light, Luke 11:2 becomes not simply a petition for the effective rule of God in the
world,210 or for the establishment of Gods territory on earth,211 but that the Divine King
himself may come.212
If so, then the petitions that follow, namely the provision of daily (not eschatological!)
bread, the forgiveness of sins and support through temptation, are not, as Norman Perrin
would have it experience of God as king.213 Rather, because God is king, he is able to
send aid to those in need while still remaining essentially remote (cf. Ps 145, Luke
11:20).214 They are indicative of an experience of divine help, not of Divine Royal
Presence. Must those we want to forgive be with us before we are able to forgive them?
205 Tg. Neb. Mic 4:8 is an apparent exception, but it is to be dated to the Amoraic period, see Section
3.5.1.3.
206 See Section 3.7.1, for a list and discussion of these.
207 ddws: Matt 4:17 // Mark 1:15, Matt 10:7 // Luke 10:9,11.
208 cvks: Matt 12:28 // Luke 11:20.
209 Jeremias, (1971ET), NT Theology I, 198, arrived at a similar conclusion, though without recourse
to Zech 14:1-21. He preferred the supposed parallels with the Kaddish, which, however, was not
likely to have been interpreted originally as eschatological. See also the following, though none
refer to Zech 14:1-21: Brown, (1961), The Pater Noster, 190; Lohmeyer, (1965ET), Lords
Prayer, 88-110; Marshall, (1978), Luke, 457-58. On the Kaddish, see Section 3.3.1.2.
210 As many suppose, e.g.: L. T. Johnson, (1991), Luke, 177.
211 ONeill, (1993), The Lords Prayer, 11.
212 Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the Kingdom of God, 151, Your kingdom come is a prayer
for God himself to come and achieve his end in creating a world.
213 Duling, (1984), Norman Perrin and the Kingdom of God, 47.
214 Franklin, (1994), Luke, 262, 271, The prayer of the disciples is for the coming of the kingdom in
the future and for a daily living out of its power meanwhile in the present (my emphasis).
Luke 11:20 // Matt 12:28
NA27 of Luke 11:20

b a k a^hqi vbl Yd[ h_iis q a^fjkf^+ o^ cv^pbk
c~ jt _^pfib^ ql vbl-
NRSV of Luke 11:20

But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of
God has come to you.
This is one of the three key passages that Charles H. Dodd used to argue for his theory of
Realised Eschatology.215 It is generally conceded, as does The Critical Edition of Q,
that Luke preserves the Q form, including the important finger of God216 as opposed to
Matthews Spirit of God.217 The saying is regarded almost universally as authentic,
that is, it is believed that it goes back to Jesus himself.218
If the addition of d, not found in Q, is Lukan, and not the result of a copyist trying to
align the text with Matthew, then Luke has attempted to place a Christological emphasis on
to the saying, since it places the emphasis of the action on Jesus himself (and not on the
finger of God).219
Without the additional d, the action is attributed to the finger of God with Jesus as
the instrument. That the finger of God is paralleled with the kingdom of God
strongly suggests that the two are somehow equated,220 but at the same time it distances
215 Dodd, (1961Rev), Parables, 36-37, the other two being Mark 1:15 and Luke 17:21.
216 Cf. Exod 8:19, 31:18, Deut 9:10, cf. Ps 8:3, Dan 5:5.
Robinson, (1993), International Q Project, 504; T. W. Manson, (1937), Sayings of Jesus, 86;
Perrin, (1967), Rediscovering, 63; Beasley-Murray, (1970), Jesus and the Spirit, 469 (who saw
no difference in meaning between finger and Spirit); Marshall, (1978), Luke, 475-76;
Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke X-XXIV, 918; Kmmel, (1961ET), Promise and Fulfilment, 106 n. 3.
Contrary to: Rodd, (1961), Spirit or Finger, 157-58; Dunn, (1975), Jesus and the Spirit, 45-46;
Menzies, (1991), Early Christian Pneumatology, 185-89; Menzies, (1993), Spirit and Power in
Luke-Acts, 16; Nolland, (1993), Luke 35B, 639-40; Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 410-11; J.
Marcus, (1999), Beelzebul Controversy, 249 n. 7; Witherington, (1990), Christology, 201. See
also Menzies, (1991), Early Christian Pneumatology, 186 n. 2, for further literature on the
subject.
218 Bultmann, (1963ETRev), Synoptic Tradition, 162; Perrin, (1967), Rediscovering, 64; Beasley-
Murray, (1986), Jesus and the Kingdom of God, 75; Dunn, (1988), A Word of Jesus?, 194-201;
Witherington, (1990), Christology, 201. Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 407-11, 414-17, argued
that Luke 11:20 should be treated as an isolated saying. Cautionary remarks may be found in: E.
P. Sanders, (1985), Jesus and Judaism, 134-36. The claim that Luke 11:20 cannot be traced back
to the Historical Jesus, but only as far as Q, may be found in: Uro, (1996), Apocalyptic
Symbolism, 82; Risnen, (1996), Exorcisms and the Kingdom, 119-42. Such doubts were
expressed even earlier. See, for example: Loisy, (1903ET), The Gospel and the Church, 60-61;
Mack, (1993), The Lost Gospel, 90, 140
219 Cf. comment by Gundry, (19942), Matthew, 235, on d in Matt 12:28.
220 Cf. Dunn, (1980), Demon Possession and Exorcism, 182 n. 30, though there is no connection
here between the Spirit and exorcism, as Dunn frequently suggested.
the kingdom from the earthly arena.221 Gods finger (e.g. Exod 8:19 NRSV) is an
anthropomorphic way of expressing the belief that the Divine King, while present in
heaven is still able to intervene miraculously as the Divine Redeemer in this world, just as
other similar expressions, such as Gods arm, e.g. Isa 51:9, do the same.222
The significance of the aorist cv^pbk of the verb cvks comes naturally to the fore at
this point.223 The natural rendering is: the kingdom of God came upon you224 in the
act of casting out demons. It can mean little else than that God the king, as the kingdom of
God, broke into the here-and-now momentarily every time Jesus cast out
demons.225
While maintaining his location in heaven, it is as if, in the exorcism, God reached down
and with his finger performed the exorcism. God is capable of acting as Divine King even
from heaven. That the kingdom of God has not come to stay, may be seen by the addition
of c~ jt. This emphasises the localised and temporary entry of the Divine King.226
There is a real sense in which the kingdom had come only to the individual on the
receiving end of the exorcism momentarily.227
221 Franklin, (1994), Luke, 267.

222 Gloege, (1963ET), The Day of His Coming, 142-43.
223 Dodd, (1936), Kingdom of God has Come, 138-42. That is, C. H. Dodd was right on at least
this point. Following Dodd: Kmmel, (1961ET), Promise and Fulfilment, 106-107; Ladd, (19742),
Presence of the Future, 142-43; Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke X-XXIV, 922; Witherington, (1990),
Christology, 202. There is a sizeable literature on this word and its present context. Apart from the
dictionaries, see also: Clark, (1940), Realized Eschatology, 374; Marshall, (1978), Luke, 476;
Mattill, (1979), Luke and the Last Things, 168-76; Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the
Kingdom of God, 78; Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 466 nn. 61, 62. Another consequence of the
aorist is that cv^pbk cannot be equated in any way with the perfect ddfhbk of Luke 10:9 and
11. It should be noted too that Luke 10:9 and 11 are not in the context of exorcisms.
224 E.g. N. T. Wright, (1996), Jesus, 469 n. 86.
225 Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the Kingdom of God, 80, saw Luke 11:20 as indicating that the
kingdom of God had occurred in the advent of Jesus. This would be Lukes perspective, not that
of Jesus himself. See also: E. P. Sanders and M. Davies, (1989), Studying the Synoptic Gospels,
296; Reese, (1992), Demons : NT, ABD II, 141a. Clark, (1940), Realized Eschatology, 381-
82, explained it as the kingdom of God has reached you, in the sense of reaching after to make
contact but not actually present. Meyer, (1999), Appointed Deed, Appointed Doer, 164, argued
that it meant that the kingdom of God had virtually come as opposed to formally come. This
scholastic distinction, though helpful, is a little anachronistic.
226 Cf. Marshall, (1978), Luke, 476. Also Luke 11:24-25, from Q, emphasises that exorcism is not a
complete defeat of Satan (cf. Jub. 10:5-9, 1 Enoch 15:11-16:1), though that will one day come
about, Luke 10:17.
227 Cf. Perrin, (1963), Teaching of Jesus, 171; Perrin, (1967), Rediscovering, 67.
Another possibility is that the verb should be understood to imply that the kingdom of
God will come upon you immediately, i.e. in the very near future. A number of LXX
examples and one NT example of the use of the aorist are to be taken in this way.228
Whatever the truth may be, neither of these possibilities supports the thesis of full-blown
realised eschatology, namely that for Jesus the kingdom is a reality permanently at work in
his here-and-now.229
Nevertheless, Jesus explained his exorcisms in terms of the kingdom of God struggling
against the kingdom of Satan (Luke 11:18230, cf. 4:6).231 He shared this with the author of
As. Mos. 10:1, who also equated a future kingdom of God with the Divine Royal
Presence.232 In an exorcism Jesus saw himself as the instrument through which the Divine
King prepared the way for the kingdom.233 Jesus saw the Divine Warrior King as doing
battle directly with the forces of evil on behalf of his people. Because the final victory was
yet to come (Satan is not yet defeated),234 there can be no sense in which Jesus considered
that the kingdom of God had come (to stay).235
228 Campbell, (1936), Kingdom of God has come, 91-94. Cf. Mattill, (1979), Luke and the Last
Things, 176.
229 Cf. Mattill, (1979), Luke and the Last Things, 176. Another possibility that Mattill mentioned is
that the aorist is a prophetic aorist. This is favoured by ONeill, (1993), The Kingdom of God,
139. However, no other example of this use of the aorist can be found in the Bible.
230 This is from Q, despite the parallel with Mark 3:26: Moreland and Robinson, (1993),
International Q Project, 503; J. M. Robinson, Hoffmann and Kloppenborg, (2000), Critical
Edition of Q, 228.
231 T. W. Manson, (1937), Sayings of Jesus, 86; Conzelmann, (1961ET), Theology of St. Luke, 107 n.
2; Perrin, (1963), Teaching of Jesus, 171; Barrett, (1966), Holy Spirit, 62; Ladd, (19742),
Presence of the Future, 149-58; Perrin, (1976), Language, 42-43; E. P. Sanders, (1982), Jesus,
Paul and Judaism, 419; Reese, (1992), Demons : NT, ABD II, 141a; J. Marcus, (1999),
Beelzebul Controversy, 247-77, esp. 250. For an excellent essay on exorcism, see Dunn, (1980),
Demon Possession and Exorcism, 170-86.
233 Mattill, (1979), Luke and the Last Things, 177. Contrary to: T. W. Manson, (1937), Sayings of
Jesus, 86; Percy, (1953), Die Botschaft Jesu, 179.
234 Otto, (1943ET), The Kingdom of God and the Son of Man, 97-104; Cullmann, (1962ETRev), Christ
and Time, 71; Maddox, (1982), Purpose of Luke-Acts, 143; Mearns, (1987), Realized
Eschatology in Q?, 203-208; Reese, (1992), Demons : NT, ABD II, 141a; Franklin, (1994),
Luke, 251. Also the following, especially the references to Qumran literature in: Perrin, (1967),
Rediscovering, 67; Ladd, (19742), Presence of the Future, 150; J. Marcus, (1999), Beelzebul
Controversy, 259.
235 Cf. Risnen, (1996), Exorcisms and the Kingdom, 127 and, Hiers, (1970), Kingdom of God,
30-35, for whom exorcisms prepare for the coming of the kingdom.
Luke 13:18,20 // Matt 13:31,33, Mark 4:30
NA27 of Luke 13:18-20

18 Cibdbk lk9 qkf jl^ pqfk _^pfib^ ql vbl h^ qkf
jlfps ^qk:
19 jl^ pqk hhh pfkmbst+ k i^_k kvosmlt _îbk bt
hmlk ^rql+ h^ egepbk h^ dkbql bt akaolk+ h^ q
mbqbfk ql lo^kl h^qbphkspbk k qlt hialft ^ql-
20 I^ mifk bmbk9 qkf jlfps qk _^pfib^k ql vbl:
21 jl^ pqk wj+ k i^_lp^ drk Yk[hor`bk bt ibolr
pq^ qo^ st l wrjve ilk-
NRSV of Luke 13:18-20

18 He said therefore, What is the kingdom of God like? And to what
should I compare it?
19 It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it
grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.
20 And again he said, To what should I compare the kingdom of God?
21 It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of
flour until all of it was leavened.
Both parables and the introductory rhetorical questions are from Q, which Luke
preserves.236 The different contexts in Matthew and Luke indicate that the parables
originally were detached, though the fact that they occur together in both Gospels suggests
that their main points are the same.237 The similarity of the parable in Luke to that in Mark
is minimal.
The main emphasis of the parables is not on the growth of the seed and the flour, but on
the contrast (or reversal, see under Luke 7:28) between the initial and final stages.238 The
last stage, namely the tree-sized mustard bush and the three measures (39.4 litres) of flour
are deliberate exaggerations, suggesting that they deal with divine realities.239
Once this is clearly seen, the parables do not contradict the picture building up of Jesus
understanding of the kingdom. Here too the emphasis is on the divine reality of the future
236 J. M. Robinson, Hoffmann and Kloppenborg, (2000), Critical Edition of Q, 400-404; Robinson,
(1991), International Q Project, 497; T. W. Manson, (1937), Sayings of Jesus, 123; McArthur,
(1971), Mustard Seed, 198-202; Crossan, (1973), The Seed Parables of Jesus, 254-55;
Conzelmann, (1961ET), Theology of St. Luke, 116.
237 Though they appear separated in the Gospel of Thomas, 20, 96, and Mark only the first. On the
Lukan context, see Shirock, (1993), Luke 13:1-35, 15-29.
238 McArthur, (1971), Mustard Seed, 207, 210; Jeremias, (19723), Parables of Jesus, 147-49;
Crossan, (1973), The Seed Parables of Jesus, 259; Marshall, (1978), Luke, 561; Shirock,
(1993), Luke 13:1-35, 26; Kirk, (1998), The Composition of the Sayings Source, 300, 303.
Those which assume the emphasis is on growth include: Dodd, (1961Rev), Parables, 142-44;
Dahl, (1976), Jesus, 154-57; Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke X-XXIV, 1016; Beasley-Murray, (1986),
Jesus and the Kingdom of God, 123-24.
239 Cf. Mattill, (1979), Luke and the Last Things, 177-82, for other suggestions. Mattill himself saw
in the parables the stress on the certainty and speediness of the coming kingdom. This too implies
a future kingdom.
kingdom. The sheltering of the birds in the branches of the mustard tree is generally
recognised as an allusion to Ezek 17:22-24 and Dan 4:12,21.240 Significantly both
passages depict God as Divine King acting in his (earthly) kingdom.241 A better parallel
might be Ps 84:3, where the sparrow and swallow make nests in the presence of the Divine
King.242 The birds in the parable are thus to be taken as people who will enjoy life in the
presence of the Divine King, i.e. the kingdom of God.243
This picture of life in the kingdom is again similar to that depicted in Zech 14:9 and even
more so in Tg. Neb. Zech 14:9, where such life will be enjoyed by all who survive the
punishment of the Divine Warrior. Dan 4:12,21, where the birds stand for Gentiles,244 fits
well into the parallel with Zech 14:1-21. In Zech 14:9,16 people from nations other than
Israel are specifically mentioned as enjoying the Divine Royal Presence.
By appending the parables after the exorcism of the crippled woman, Luke was probably
making the point that in Jesus the kingdom was already present. His ministry, particularly
that of exorcism was a manifestation of that reality. In comparison with this one-man-
kingdom, the future kingdom of God would encompass all the nations. Thus, if there is
any realised eschatology to be had in these parables, they have received this at a stage
later than that of Jesus.
Luke 13:28,29 // Matt 8:12,11
NA27 of Luke 13:28,29

28 hb pq^f hi^rvjt h^ _ordjt qk akqsk+ q^k
èpvb ~?_o^j h^ ~Gp^h h^ ~G^h_ h^ mkq^t qlt
molcq^t k q _^pfib& ql vbl+ jt a h_îiljklrt gs-
29 h^ glrpfk m k^qlik h^ arpjk h^ m _loo h^
kqlr h^ k^hifvplkq^f k q _^pfib& ql vbl-

28 there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and
Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you
yourselves thrown out.
29 Then people will come from east and west, from north and south, and will
eat in the kingdom of God.
240 Ps 104:12 is sometimes quoted here, but is merely an expression of Gods care for nature.
241 Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the Kingdom of God, 123.
242 See Ps 84:3 under Section 2.2.1.1.
243 Cf. McArthur, (1971), Mustard Seed, 208; Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke X-XXIV, 1017; Shirock,
(1993), Luke 13:1-35, 27.
244 Cf. T. W. Manson, (1937), Sayings of Jesus, 123; Uro, (1996), Apocalyptic Symbolism, 87.
The order of the sayings is reversed in Matthew and they are in quite a different context.
In Matthew they form the climax to the healing of the centurions servant, whereas in Luke
they are in response to a question about the number to be saved. There are numerous other
minor differences between the two Gospels, but The Critical Edition of Q considered Q to
be preserved in order in Matthew but in content largely in Luke.245
The future eschatological banquet is envisaged. Numerous passages in the OT and

Pseudepigrapha depict the new order as one where Gentiles and Jews share together a
banquet in the presence of the Divine King, usually on Mount Zion.246 It is not simply a
banquet arranged by the Divine King for his chosen ones. The phrase in the kingdom of
God means nothing less than in the Divine Royal Presence.
Yet again, Zech 14:1-21 forms an ideal OT parallel. Zech 14:20-21 contains a reference to a
meal in the presence of the Divine King. Crucially, vv. 16-17 are of a pilgrimage of people
of all nations to Mount Zion for this eschatological banquet, just as in Luke 13:29.
Luke 14:15,16 // Matt 22:1,2
NA27 of Luke 14:15,16

15 ~?hlp^t a qft qk prk^k^hbfjksk q^q^ bmbk ^q9
j^hoflt pqft cdbq^f oqlk k q _^pfib& ql vbl-
16 M a bmbk ^q9 kvosmt qft mlbf abmklk jd^+ h^
hibpbk mliilt
15 One of the dinner guests, on hearing this, said to him, Blessed is the one
who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!
16 Then Jesus said to him, Someone gave a great dinner and invited many.
245 J. M. Robinson, Hoffmann and Kloppenborg, (2000), Critical Edition of Q, 414; Robinson,
(1991), International Q Project, 497. The verb here is k^hifvplkq^f a future passive form
of k^hiks, i.e. neither Luke nor Q contain the Lukan pvs of Luke 14:15 and 22:16. See
also: Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 312; Perrin, (1967), Rediscovering, 161. For a thorough
analysis, see: Chilton, (1979), God in Strength, 181-201. None of the following: Beasley-Murray,
(1986), Jesus and the Kingdom of God, 169; Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 309-14; Fitzmyer,
(1983), Luke X-XXIV, 1021-22, could decide how much of the difference between Matthew and
Luke here was due to their respective redactors. For the opinion that Luke used Matthew here and
not Q, see McNicol, Dungan and Peabody, (1996), Beyond the Q Impasse, 206.
246 E.g. on the banquet image: Exod 24:9-11, Isa 25:6-10, 55:12, Ezek 39:17-20, Zech 14:20-21, 1
Enoch 62:14, 2 Enoch 42:5. Cf. Matt 22:2-14, 25:10, Mark 14:25, Luke 14:15, 22:16,29-30.
The list given by Marshall, (1978), Luke, 568, contains errors. See also: Bock, (1996), Luke
9:51-24:53, 1239 n. 19 (who followed Marshall); Kmmel, (1961ET), Promise and Fulfilment,
85; Chilton, (1998), The Reign of Forceful Grace, 139. Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the
Kingdom of God, 170, thought there was no OT parallel. T. W. Manson, (1937), Sayings of Jesus,
125, and many others wrongly described this as the Messianic banquet.
Luke 14:15 is a Lukan addition to the Q parable,247 though it is entirely plausible as an

historical reminiscence. It provides both a link to the previous dinner conversation (L) and
the subsequent parable (Q). The reference to the kingdom of God originally in v. 16 and
attributed to Jesus has been deleted by Luke.248 This was probably because of its presence
in v. 15 which made repetition superfluous.
The reference to the eschatological banquet is in keeping with the images Jesus used to
portray the kingdom of God (cf. Luke 13:29).249 The happiness is possibly an allusion
to Luke 6:20, which describes the state of one who is in the kingdom, in the presence of
the Divine King.
The fact that Luke placed this saying within the context of a meal suggests that for him
those who were there at table with Jesus already enjoyed the banquet in the presence of the
kingdom, i.e. the Divine King Jesus. The expansion of the Q parable in Luke by the
second invitation to the uninvited outside the city (v. 23) may indicate Lukes own
contemporary concern to include Gentiles in the eschatological kingdom of God250 - the
same point made in 13:29.
Luke 18:16,17 // Mark 10:14,15, Matt 19:14, 18:3
NA27 of Luke 18:16,17

16 a ~Geplt molpbhîp^ql ^q idsk9 cbqb q m^fa^
oubpv^f mot jb h^ j hsibqb ^q+ qk do qlflqsk pqfk
_^pfib^ ql vbl-
17 jk ids jk+ t k j ageq^f qk _^pfib^k ql vbl t
m^falk+ l j bpiv bt ^qk-

16 But Jesus called for them and said, Let the little children come to me,
and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God
belongs.
17 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little
child will never enter it.
Robinson, (1992), International Q Project, 506; Conzelmann, (1961ET), Theology of St. Luke,
111; Nolland, (1993), Luke 35B, 755; McNicol, Dungan and Peabody, (1996), Beyond the Q
Impasse, 212. To the contrary: T. W. Manson, (1937), Sayings of Jesus, 129; Marshall, (1978),
Luke, 587; Bock, (1996), Luke 9:51-24:53, 1272.
Robinson, (1992), International Q Project, 506; Conzelmann, (1961ET), Theology of St. Luke,
155 n. 1.
249 Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke X-XXIV, 1054.
250 Jeremias, (19723), Parables of Jesus, 64; L. T. Johnson, (1991), Luke, 232; Bock, (1996), Luke
9:51-24:53, 1277.
The antiquity, if not the genuineness, of these sayings from Mark need not be doubted,
though Luke has slightly altered the wording.251 Their meaning is probably similar to the
negative implication of Luke 16:16 (and Luke 6:20), the last time the motif of entering the
kingdom was used in Luke. Entry into the Divine Royal Presence is dependent not on
ones own merits, for example by scrupulous observance of the Torah (cf. Luke 10:21),252
but on total surrender or dependence on the one in whose gift it is.253
For the redactor, the parallel between the little children coming to Jesus and a little child
entering the kingdom of God would have been a none too subtle reminder that in Jesus the
kingdom of God was already present to those children.254
Again, we may note that the kingdom of God is entirely passive. There is no hint of action
on its part. The kingdom of God is not solely the Divine King in action. It is first and
fundamentally simply the Divine Royal Presence.
Luke 18:24,25,29 // Mark 10:23,25,29, Matt 19:23,24,29
NA27 of Luke 18:24,25,29

24 ~Gak a ^qk ~Geplt Ymboirmlk dbkjbklk[ bmbk9 mt
arphist l q uoj^q^ ulkqbt bt qk _^pfib^k ql vbl
bpmloblkq^f9
25 bhlmqbolk do pqfk hjeilk af qoj^qlt _biket
bpbivbk milpflk bt qk _^pfib^k ql vbl bpbivbk-
29 a bmbk ^qlt9 jk ids jk qf labt pqfk t chbk
lh^k drk^h^ abiclt dlkbt qhk^ kbhbk qt
_^pfib^t ql vbl+
NRSV of Luke 18:24,25,29

24 Jesus looked at him and said, How hard it is for those who have wealth
to enter the kingdom of God!
24 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for
someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.
29 And he said to them, Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house
or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of
God,
Luke 18:24,25 is identical to Mark except for a change in verb and tense, from
bpbibplkq^f to bpmloblkq^f, from a future to a present. It is possible that Luke is
251 Marshall, (1978), Luke, 682-83.

252 Pereira, (1983), Ephesus, 120.
253 Marshall, (1978), Luke, 682-83; Fowl, (1993), Children and Riches, 153-58; Bock, (1996),
Luke 9:51-24:53, 1471. At least two scholars maintained that the phrase as a little child in v. 17
described the kingdom of God, though it is hard to see how, given the parallel noted between vv.
16 and 17: Schilling, (1965), Receiving the Kingdom of God, 56-58; L. T. Johnson, (1991),
Luke, 276.
254 Cf. Pereira, (1983), Ephesus, 123.
using the present in a future sense,255 though if that is the case why the need to change the
already future tense to a present? The answer is probably that there is a real sense in which
those who wish to enter continually strive to enter.
The older Markan future tense is in keeping with Jesus understanding of the kingdom
that is emerging, just as the use of the motif of entering the kingdom is a future reality and
one in which dependence on anything other than God (e.g. wife etc.) prevents.256 The
kingdom is not yet, and one must continually make preparations, so that when it - the
Divine King, the saviour (v. 26) - comes, one will be fit to enter into the Divine Royal
Presence. The phrase to enter the kingdom of God is the equivalent of being
saved,257 because by entering into the Divine Royal Presence we are saved by Him.
Luke 18:29 contains a significant insertion by Luke of for the sake of the kingdom of
God. Mark has for my sake and for the sake of the good news, Matthew simply for
my names sake. Luke saw the kingdom of God as intimately associated with Jesus
himself, just as he saw the good news as being that of the kingdom of God.258
255 Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke X-XXIV, 1204; Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the Kingdom of God,
177; Marshall, (1978), Luke, 687. Perrin, (1967), Rediscovering, 143, suggested that both
present and future might be possible.
256 Bock, (1996), Luke 9:51-24:53, 1485-86.
257 Pereira, (1983), Ephesus, 123; OToole, (1987), The Kingdom of God in Luke-Acts, 155.
258 Cf. Marshall, (1978), Luke, 688; Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke I-IX, 154; Pereira, (1983), Ephesus,
122; OToole, (1987), The Kingdom of God in Luke-Acts, 151.
3.4 The Presence of the Kingdom of God : The Pre-Lukan Community 241
3.4 THE PRE-LUKAN COMMUNITY
For comments on the method of approach, see Section 3.3.2.
Luke 4:15 // Mark 1:15, Matt 4:17
NA27 of Luke 4:15

h^ ^qt aa^phbk k q^t prk^dsd^t ^qk alg^wjbklt m
mkqsk-
NRSV of Luke 4:15

He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.
Despite the noted parallels, Luke 4:14-15 is probably neither from Mark nor Q but is
rather a summary statement written by Luke himself and typical of others in his
work.259
His source however is disputed.260 Although it is likely to have been inspired by the
Markan parallel, either it early received independent form in the pre-Lukan community and
was later moulded by Luke (effectively L), or Luke composed it directly, based on his
reading of Mark.
The omission of kingdom of God and repentance in v. 15 and the inclusion of the
Spirit in v. 14 suggest that Luke moulded this summary from existing material. On the
one hand, it is not likely that he would have deliberately removed references to the
kingdom of God, nor on the other, would he have inserted himself references to the Holy
Spirit.
The presence of the Spirit in 4:14 comes between two other instances. In 4:1 Jesus is
led by the Spirit and in v. 18 the Spirit compels Jesus to preach. Both of these
passages show signs of composition prior to Luke.261 That Jesus was filled with the
power of the Spirit in v. 14 (and cf. 4:1) suggests that Jesus was subject to the Spirit,
259 The International Q project did not include Luke 1:14-15 in their final list: J. M. Robinson,
Hoffmann and Kloppenborg, (2000), Critical Edition of Q, vi; Moreland and Robinson, (1997),
International Q Project, 524. Those who suggest that Luke 1:14-15 is a summary statement
include: Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke I-IX, 521-22; Bock, (1994), Luke 1:1-9:50, 390. To the contrary
McNicol, Dungan and Peabody, (1996), Beyond the Q Impasse, 82, gave numerous parallels to
Matthew from which they claimed Luke composed 4:15. Other summary statements in Luke
include: Luke 4:31-32,40-41, 6:17-19, 8:1-3, 19:47-48, 21:37-38. For those in Acts, see: Acts
1:14, 2:42-47, 4:32-35, 5:11-16, 6:7, 9:31, 12:24, 16:5, 19:20, 28:30-31.
260 Marshall, (1978), Luke, 177; Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke I-IX, 522.
261 Luke 4:1 is from Mark, 4:18 from L.
242 3.4 The Presence of the Kingdom of God : The Pre-Lukan Community
not simply empowered by it262 - an unlikely picture from the redactor, who took pains to
portray Jesus as always the one in control (e.g. Luke 23:46).
The omission of kingdom of God fits the emerging picture that the redactor saw Jesus
himself as embodying the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God could not be taught (as
opposed to proclaimed) by Jesus because he was the kingdom of God.
As for the omission of repentance, this is in keeping with the fact that while both
Matthew and Mark associate the approach of the kingdom of God with the need for
repentance, a connection that is probably from Jesus, Luke nowhere associates the two.
Why? Could it be because for Luke, Jesus as the kingdom of God, was already present
and thus repentance was superfluous? An affirmative answer to that question is indicated
by Luke 3:3, a summary of the preaching made by John the Baptist. It included a call for
repentance in preparation for the coming of the Lord (3:4). Jesus had not yet arrived on
the scene.
Luke 9:60,62 // Matt 8:22
NA27 of Luke 9:60-62

60 bmbk a ^q9 cbt qlt kbholt v`^f qlt ^rqk kbholt+
p a mbivk afddbiib qk _^pfib^k ql vbl-
61 Cmbk a h^ qbolt9 hlilrvps plf+ hofb9 moqlk a
mqob`k jlf mlqg^pv^f qlt bt qk lhlk jlr-
62 bmbk a Ymot ^qk[ ~Geplt9 labt mf_îk qk ubo^ m'
olqolk h^ _imsk bt q mps bvbqt pqfk q _^pfib& ql
vbl-

60 But Jesus said to him, Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you,
go and proclaim the kingdom of God.
61 Another said, I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to
those at my home.
62 Jesus said to him, No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back
is fit for the kingdom of God.
The Critical Edition of Q excluded the second part of v. 60 and vv. 61-62 from Q after
initially including verse 62.263 Thus Luke 9:60b comes from the hand of the redactor and
is typical of his insistence that Jesus and his disciples proclaim the kingdom of God.264
262 Contrary to: Conzelmann, (1961ET), Theology of St. Luke, 180. Fitzmyer, (1999), Spirit in
Luke-Acts, 179, listed other instances in Luke-Acts where persons were said to be filled with or
full of the Spirit, Luke 1:15,41,67, Acts 2:4, 4:8,31, 6:3,5, 7:55, 9:17, 13;9, 11:24, 13:52.
and Robinson, (1993), International Q Project, 503; McNicol, Dungan and Peabody, (1996),
Beyond the Q Impasse, 157.
264 Kmmel, (1961ET), Promise and Fulfilment, 125 n. 75; Perrin, (1967), Rediscovering, 144.
Verses 61-62 do not appear in either Matthew or Mark and so could either be editorial
addition or from Lukes special source. Considering the length, the latter is more likely to
be the case,265 and so vv. 61-62 betray the influence of the pre-Lukan community.
Thought by some to be reminiscent of the conversation between Elisha and Elijah in 1 Kgs
19:20,266 the saying emphasises the ethical prerequisites of the kingdom. Whereas Elijah
granted the request, following Jesus in discipleship is an all or nothing effort demanding
single-mindedness and detachment from ones previous way of life.267
A better parallel can be found which supports this conclusion and provides a hint to its
milieu within the community. The NRSV of 2 Thess 1:4-5 reads:
4 Therefore we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your
steadfastness and faith during all your persecutions and the afflictions that
you are enduring.
5 This is evidence of the righteous judgement of God, and is intended to make
you worthy (h^q^gfsvk^f) of the kingdom of God, for which you are also
suffering.
The verb h^q^gfs is also found in Luke 20:35 where it refers to the age to come.268
It is similar in meaning to the verb bvbqs, from which bvbqt in Luke 9:62 is derived.
As already suspected, Luke 9:62 may well be a construction of the pre-Lukan community
encouraging faithfulness (steadfastness and faith) to the demands of belief in Jesus in the
face of suffering under persecution and affliction. No doubt persecution encouraged
dangerous nostalgia for ones pre-Christian life. Only those who thus remain faithful will
be worthy or fit for the kingdom. In any case, it certainly fits a pre-Lukan context better
than that of the historical Jesus, where no such persecution of the disciples was yet under
way.
Further, if, as seems likely, this saying does come from the early pre-Lukan community, it
is not impossible that the kingdom of God referred to is no less than the Holy Spirit. It is,
after all, faith in Jesus that is the essential prerequisite for its bestowal: If then God gave
265 Marshall, (1978), Luke, 408, thought that Luke 9:61-62 came from Q and was deleted by
Matthew.
266 1 Kgs 19:20 (NRSV): He [Elisha] left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, let me kiss my father
and mother, and then I will follow you. Then Elijah said to him, Go back again; for what have I
done to you?. See: Blair, (1968), Putting Ones Hand to the Plough, 342-43; Wainwright,
(1977), Restoration of the Kingdom, 77; L. T. Johnson, (1991), Luke, 163; Bock, (1996), Luke
9:51-24:53, 982; McNicol, Dungan and Peabody, (1996), Beyond the Q Impasse, 158. But cf.
Ellis, (1974Rev), Luke, 154. See comment on Acts 1:3,6.
267 Cf. Perrin, (1967), Rediscovering, 142, 144.
268 Cf. Dalman, (1902ET), Words of Jesus, 119.
them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I
that I could hinder God? (Acts 11:17).269
Luke 12:31,32 // Matt 6:33
NA27 of Luke 12:31,32

31 mik weqbqb qk _^pfib^k ^ql+ h^ q^q^ molpqbvpbq^f
jk-
32 K cl_l+ q jfhok mljkflk+ qf bahepbk m^qo jk
alk^f jk qk _^pfib^k-

31 Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as
well.
32 Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Fathers good pleasure to
give you the kingdom.
According to The Critical edition of Q,270 Luke preserved Q in v. 31 so that first and
and his righteousness in Matthew were additions by that redactor to Q.
As with Luke 9:60,62, 12:31 is better thought of as coming from the early pre-Lukan
(Christian) community. The context gives this away. The worry over food and drink (v. 29,
cf. 1 Cor 8:8) echoes Rom 14:17 (cf. Sir 30:24-25). Although Rom 14:17 is in the context
of what sort of food and drink is suitable, Paul nevertheless contrasted the worry over food
and drink with the kingdom of God.271 Concern for food and drink and of the right sort,
should not deter the Christian from living as if the kingdom of God were already present.
In fact, as will be shown, the kingdom was present in the Spirit.
Excluded from Q by The Critical edition of Q, 12:32 is an addition made by Luke.272

Whether it is from the redactor himself or an isolated saying which was inserted here by
the redactor is difficult to determine. The latter is possible on the grounds of its stand-
alone quality and from the observation that Luke 12:22-31 loses nothing by its removal. In
269 Cf. Dunn, (1970), Baptism, 93-96; Gunkel, (1979ET), Holy Spirit, 41-42; M. M. B. Turner,
(1981), Jesus and the Spirit in Luke, 39; Dunn, (19902), Unity and Diversity, 356, above all,
it is the gift of the Spirit which is decisive for entry into Christianity [in Luke-Acts]. Barrett,
(1994, 1998), Acts I, 542, commented that this must be so even in the case of Cornelius and his
friends despite the fact that faith is not explicitly mentioned.
and Robinson, (1993), International Q Project, 505; T. W. Manson, (1937), Sayings of Jesus,
113; Conzelmann, (1961ET), Theology of St. Luke, 116.
271 Morris, (1988), Romans, 488. On Rom 14:17, see Sections 1.4.3, 3.6.3 and, 4.3.4.1 and 4.4.2
under Recent Exegetical Comment.
272 J. M. Robinson, Hoffmann and Kloppenborg, (2000), Critical Edition of Q, 354-55; Moreland and
Robinson, (1993), International Q Project, 506; Kmmel, (1961ET), Promise and Fulfilment,
53 n. 111; McNicol, Dungan and Peabody, (1996), Beyond the Q Impasse, 194.
addition, the motif of the giving of the kingdom by the Father is one peculiar to the Gospel
of Luke. At the very least, Luke 12:32 was inserted by Luke because of the kingdom motif
in the previous Q verse.273
The motif of the giving of the kingdom is not confined to L, though it occurs only
elsewhere in the special Matthew saying of Matt 21:43. There is a trace of Dan 7:27 here
too.274 But what is the kingdom that is given here? That what is meant here is the Holy
Spirit was first proposed in modern times by Richard J. Sneed275 and later by James D.
G. Dunn and others.276
Dunn made the observation that Luke 11:13(Q) is the only other place in the third Gospel
where Jesus spoke of the Father giving anything (to those other than Jesus himself), and
there it is the Holy Spirit that is given. To this may be added: Luke 24:49, where it is Jesus
who will mediate this gift from the Father;277 Acts 1:4-5, 2:33, where the Fathers promise
is nothing less than the Holy Spirit; and Acts 5:32, 15:8, where the Holy Spirit is
something that God gives to those who have faith.278 In addition, there is the more difficult
manuscript variant to Luke 11:2(Q),279 which, because it is likely to be a liturgical variation
to the original Lords Prayer, may represent a pre-Lukan tradition independent of Q.
It is not unreasonable then to suppose that what the pre-Lukan community had in mind for
the kingdom was the Holy Spirit.280 Indeed, by the use of Joel 2:23-27 in the Pentecost
account, the Holy Spirit is presented in Acts as the fulfilment of eschatological hopes.281
273 Luke 22:29-30, uses af^qvejf and is about Jesus kingdom, cf. Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke X-XXIV,
1413, 1419. Chilton, (1979), God in Strength, 231, 237, thought that Luke 12:32 belonged to
Qlk. Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke I-IX, 83, excluded it from his list of L.
275 Sneed, (1962), Article, 372-74, though he based his argument largely on a parallel between Rom
14:17 and Luke 17:20-21. See Section 4.3.4.1 under Recent Exegetical Comment.
276 See Section 3.3.2 under Luke 11:2.
277 Ellis, (1974Rev), Luke, 10; Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke I-IX, 230. Cf. Acts 16:7 the Spirit of Jesus,
which refers to the Spirit which Jesus sent in Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:8, rather than the Spirit
which is Jesus or which belongs to him, Witherington, (1998), Acts, 478.
278 Cf. John 3:34, Rom 5:5, 1 Cor 12:7, 2 Cor 1:22, 5:5, 1 Thess 4:8, 2 Tim 1:7, 1 John 3:24,
4:13.
279 Dunn, (1970), Spirit and Kingdom, 38; Smalley, (1973), Spirit, Kingdom and Prayer, 69.
280 Contrary to: Franklin, (1970), Eschatology of Luke-Acts, 198; Menzies, (1991), Early
Christian Pneumatology, 184 n. 3. Their reasons are unconvincing because they failed to take into
account the possibility that the various stages of composition each contributed their own nuance,
though this criticism can be levelled at James D. G. Dunn, and Stephen S. Smalley as well.
281 Cadbury, (19582), The Making of Luke-Acts, 287; Ellis, (1974Rev), Luke, 13; Tuckett, (1996),
Luke, 44-45. Barrett, (1994, 1998), Acts I, 133 concluded that Luke composed Peters speech
making use of some traditional material. LXX Joel 3:1-5 gave to the Spirit a prominent role in
end-time events, as did Isa 44:3, Ezek 36:26-27, 37:14, 39:29, T. Levi 18:11, see J. T. Carroll,
(1988), Response to the End of History, 123 n. 16.
Since little flock are the disciples (addressed back in Luke 12:22),282 the pre-Lukan
community interpreted Luke 12:31,32 as a prophecy of the Holy Spirit.
Finally, the formula K cl_l is often recited in the context of a theophany, in the
Synoptics exclusively in Luke (except for Mark 5:36).283 In the OT the command is most
often used in the context of a divine (or angelic) theophany.284 This would indicate too that
a present Divine Presence or gift is indicated by the kingdom. The Holy Spirit was in
the present of the pre-Lukan community.
Acts 1:3,6
NA27 of Acts 1:3,6,8

3 lt h^ môpqepbk ^rqk wkq^ jbq q m^vbk ^qk k
mliilt qbhjeolft+ af~ jbok qbppbohlkq^ mq^kjbklt
^qlt h^ idsk q mbo qt _^pfib^t ql vbl9
6 M jk lk prkbivkqbt oqsk ^qk idlkqbt9 hofb+ b k q
uok qlq mlh^vfpqkbft qk _^pfib^k q ~Gpoî:
8 ii ij`bpvb ak^jfk mbivkqlt ql dlr mkbj^qlt c~
jt h^ pbpv jlr joqrobt k qb ~Gbolrpîj h^ Yk[ mp q
~Glra^& h^ Q^jôb& h^ st puqlr qt dt-
NRSV of Acts 1:3,6,8

3 After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing
proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the
kingdom of God.
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, Lord, is this the time
when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and
you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the
ends of the earth.
Acts 1:3,6 form part of the introduction to Acts.285 1:1-14 is a recapitulation of the events
in the third Gospel and so with the exception of 9-11 was composed by Luke himself,
282 Cf. Chilton, (1979), God in Strength, 246, the Church; Nolland, (1993), Luke 35B, 694, those
who have responded to the ministry of Jesus.
283 Luke 1:13,30, 5:10, 8:50 (cf. John 12:50), Acts 18:9, 27:24, and Rev 1:17.
284 LXX: Gen 15:1, 21:17, 26:24, 28:13, Judg 6:23, Dan 10:12,19 cf. Deut 31:6,8, 1 Chr 22:13, Isa
41:10,13, 43:1,5, 44:2, Jer 26:28.
285 In dealing with verses from Acts, what is not at issue is the historical accuracy of the account.
Again, it is the understanding of the pre-Lukan community that is of interest here, along with
Lukes contribution to the kingdom idea that is to be discerned from his use of sources (written or
oral). For a view of Acts as a historical novel, see Pervo, (1987), Profit with Delight, 136-38. For
a view of Acts as largely historically trustworthy, see: F. F. Bruce, (1985), The Acts of the
Apostles, ANRW II.25.3, 2569-603; Barrett, (1994, 1998), Acts II, xxxiii-lxii; Barrett, (1999),
The Historicity of Acts, 515-34. Barrett is much more carefully nuanced than Bruce. On the
relationship between Luke and Acts, see: Parsons and Pervo, (1993), Luke and Acts, 115-27;
Sterling, (1992), Historiography and Self-Definition, 331-39.
though some of it from material supplied by his sources.286 In short, we may say that the
substance is from the pre-Lukan community but the composition is Lukes.
Acts 1:3 reiterates Lukes own concept of Jesus as the first proclaimer of the kingdom of
God.287 The apostles will continue that proclamation.288 It also anticipates the question in
v. 6.289
The question asked by the apostles in Acts 1:6 is similar to the question of the Pharisees
in Luke 17:20 and concerns the timing of the kingdom. As in Luke 17:20-21, Jesus did
not answer the question immediately. He answered it in v. 8.290 The restoration of the
kingdom to Israel will not be as perhaps the apostles envisaged, a political revival,291 but
will be the Holy Spirit coming on the new Israel, the apostles and disciples of Jesus.292
The promise of the Father in v. 4, in view of Luke 11:13 and Jesus words regarding a
baptism with the Holy Spirit in v. 5, is likely to have been the Holy Spirit, especially given
the additional parallel between the power from on high promised by the Father in Luke
24:49 and the power associated with the Holy Spirit in Acts 1:8. The parallelism
between Acts 1:8 and v. 3 also strongly points to the Holy Spirit being closely associated
with, if not synonymous with, the kingdom of God.293
The use of moulj^f to describe the coming of the Holy Spirit is not insignificant. In
Luke 1:35 the Holy Spirit came upon Mary, the result of which was the conception of
Jesus - for Luke the embodiment of the kingdom. Here, the coming of the Holy Spirit, as
the answer to the question of v. 6, is itself the kingdom, at least for the pre-Lukan
community.
286 Perrin, (1967), Rediscovering, 60-61; Barrett, (1994, 1998), Acts I, 62. Wainwright, (1977),
Restoration of the Kingdom, 77, commented, The ascension of Jesus and the gift of the Spirit
at Pentecost recall the ascension of Elijah and the gift of his spirit to Elisha (Acts 1 1-11, 2 1-4, 2
K 2 1-15). See: Luke 1:17; S. G. Wilson, (1970), Lukan Eschatology, 332; and, comment on
Luke 9:61-62 above in this Section.
287 On the phrase mbo qt _^pfib^t, see comment in Section 3.5.2 under Luke 9:11.
288 Acts 8:12, 14:22, 19:8 20:25, 28:23,31.
289 Cadbury, (19582), The Making of Luke-Acts, 287-88; Munck, (1967), Acts, 5; Barrett, (1994,
1998), Acts I, 70.
290 Conzelmann, (1961ET), Theology of St. Luke, 163, noted that Acts 1:6 is answered by v. 8, but
interpreted the connection differently.
291 Barrett, (1994, 1998), Acts I, 76, 78. Maddox, (1982), Purpose of Luke-Acts, 106, didnt quite
draw a parallel between the kingdom and the Holy Spirit: not the kingdom for Israel (Acts 1:6),
but the power of the Holy Spirit for the church (v. 8).
292 Lampe, (1957), The Holy Spirit, 184; Dunn, (1970), Spirit and Kingdom, 38a; Smalley,
(1973), Spirit, Kingdom and Prayer, 66; F. F. Bruce, (1988Rev), The Book of the Acts, 36;
Fitzmyer, (1999), Spirit in Luke-Acts, 181. To the contrary: J. T. Carroll, (1988), Response to
the End of History, 123-28, who made no mention of the Holy Spirit in his discussion.
293 Witherington, (1998), Acts, 109. Cadbury, (19582), The Making of Luke-Acts, 288, pointed to
the substitution of the Holy Spirit for the kingdom in the Lukan Lords Prayer so that in that
prayer it is the coming of the Holy Spirit that is prayed for. See under Luke 11:2 Section 3.3.2.
Acts 14:22
NA27 of Acts 14:22

mfpqeowlkqbt qt `rut qk j^veqk+ mô^hîlkqbt
jjkbfk q mpqbf h^ qf af mliik vi`bsk ab jt bpbivbk
bt qk _^pfib^k ql vbl-
NRSV of Acts 14:22

There they strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to
continue in the faith, saying, It is through many persecutions that we must
enter the kingdom of God.
This has been interpreted either as simply referring to future individual reward for
persecution (cf. Luke 24:26(L))294 or to a present reality of which persecution is an
inevitable outcome.295 The themes of vi`ft affliction and afsdjt persecution,
pepper Acts.296 They are themes identified more with the writings of Paul and his
community (see under Luke 9:62),297 which make persecution the means by which one
can be made fit for (entry into) the kingdom. This suggests that this entire section (vv. 1-
23) has, as at least one of its sources, the Pauline communities mentioned.298 Nevertheless,
Luke himself has composed v. 22 along with the entire section from disparate sources and
so we may reasonably search also for a Lukan stamp.
The theme of entering the kingdom is typical of Luke (see under Luke 16:16) and always
occurs in the sense of a future kingdom.299 It cannot here for Luke refer to the Holy Spirit
for two important reasons. First, it is always the Holy Spirit that enters (comes) to the
believer, not the believer who enters the Holy Spirit. But more importantly, for Luke the
present afflictions stand in such stark contrast (reversal) to the future kingdom that it is not
possible for the kingdom to be in his present.300 Rather, faithfulness to Jesus is the
prerequisite for later entry into his presence, into the kingdom.
294 Barrett, (1994, 1998), Acts I, 686. Against this see J. T. Carroll, (1988), Response to the End of
History, 62 n. 83.
295 Maddox, (1982), Purpose of Luke-Acts, 136-37.
296 vi`ft: Acts 7:10,11, 11:19, 14:22, 20:23, Rom 5:3, 8:35, 12:12, 2 Cor 1:4,8, 6:4, 7:4, 8:2,
Col 1:24, 1 Thess 1:6, 3:3,7, 2 Thess 1:4. See Conzelmann, (1961ET), Theology of St. Luke, 98-
99. afsdjt: Acts 8:1, 13:50, Rom 8:35, 2 Cor 12:10, 2 Thess 1:4, 2 Tim 3:11.
297 Cf. 1 Thess 3:3; Witherington, (1998), Acts, 429.
298 Cities mentioned: Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, Antioch. All but one are mentioned in the Pauline
writings as being founded by or at least connected with Paul: Iconium, 2 Tim 3:11; Lystra, 2 Tim
3:11; Antioch, Gal 2:11, 2 Tim 3:11. Derbe is the one not mentioned in the Pauline writings.
299 Barrett, (1994, 1998), Acts I, 686; Franklin, (1994), Luke, 261-62.
300 Franklin, (1970), Eschatology of Luke-Acts, 198; Franklin, (1994), Luke, 272.
3.5 The Presence of the Kingdom of God : Yavnean Rabbis, the Synagogue & Luke 249
3.5 THE YAVNEAN RABBIS, THE SYNAGOGUE AND LUKE
Luke, the redactor of the third Gospel and author of Acts, wrote his two-volume work after
the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 and probably before the end of the first century.
Most scholars proceed also on the basis that he wrote outside Palestine for a largely
Gentile audience.301
These points will be assumed here, yet they beg an important series of questions. What
was the conception of the kingdom of God held by Luke and those who represented
late first century Judaism? Were they different? If so, were those differences reflected in
Luke 17:20-21? The first two questions will be answered in this Section, the third in
chapter 4.
3.5.1 The Yavnean Rabbis and the Early Post-70 Synagogue
Just four documents will be considered as of potential relevance in this section: the
Mishnah; 4 Ezra; 2 Baruch; and the Aramaic Targumim.
No attempt will be made here to equate what is said in these documents with the
understanding of pre-70 Pharisees.302 What is aimed for here is to gain a picture of what
the Yavnean rabbis and the Palestinian synagogues of Lukes time thought of the kingdom
of God, i.e. its identity and especially its location. Parallels, if any, will be drawn between
this picture and that gained in Section 2.6.4 regarding the notion and location of the Divine
King.
3.5.1.1 The Mishnah
The word kingdom occurs in just a few places in the Mishnah in reference to God,303
and they can easily be divided into three groups.304 The indications of the date of the

302 The relationship between the pre-70 Pharisees and the post-70 rabbis, for example, is not a simple
one-to-one correspondence, see Section 1.5.3.
303 Carmignac, (1979), Le Mirage de LEschatologie, 18-19. Contrary to W. D. Davies and Allison,
(1988), Matthew I, 390 n. 81.
304 Considerations of the notion of kingdom of heaven in the full corpus of rabbinic literature may
be found in: Schechter, (1895), Some Aspects of Rabbinic Theology, 195-215; Kuhn, (1964ET),
_^pfibt, TDNT I, 571-72; Dalman, (1902ET), Words of Jesus, 96-99; J. H. Charlesworth,
(1982), The Historical Jesus, ANRW II.25.1, 466 n. 62; Bchler, (1927), Studies in Sin and
Atonement, 75-118; T. W. Manson, (19352), The Teaching of Jesus, 130-32; Lattke, (1975),
Knigsherrschaft Gottes, 24-25; Urbach, (19792ET), The Sages I, 400-19.
250 3.5 The Presence of the Kingdom of God : Yavnean Rabbis, the Synagogue & Luke
traditions represented, give confidence that the phrases his kingdom and kingdom of
heaven were employed by the rabbis around the time Luke was redacted.305
m. Ber. 2:2I, 5E
m. Ber. 2:2I, 5E306

(ala) 2:2I
.twum lwe wyle lbqy Kk rxaw hlxt Mymv twklm lwe wyle lbqyv ydk
.txa hev wlypa Mymv twklm ynmm ljbl Mkl emwv ynya ,Mhl rma 2:5E
Translation of m. Ber. 2:2I, 5E307

2:2I So that one may first accept upon himself the yoke of the kingdom of
heaven and afterwards may accept the yoke of the commandments.
2:5E He said to them, I cannot heed you to suspend from myself the
kingdom of heaven [even] for one hour.
This first group yields the most for our purposes. Both sayings refer to the recitation of
the Shema (Deut 6:4-9, 11:13-21, Num 15:37-41).308 m. Ber. 2:2I distinguished this from
the twum lwe yoke of the commandments.309
m. Ber. 2:2I is attributed to rabbi Joshua b. Qorha who flourished in the middle of the
second century.310 That the term yoke occurs in Matthew and Acts311 in a similar
context would suggest that the terminology was current in the first century,312 an
observation confirmed by the fact that yoke is used in a similar way in Jeremiah (2:20,
305 Neusner, (1980), The Use of the Mishnah, 177-85; Neusner, (1995), Evaluating the
Attributions of Sayings to Named Sages, 93-111.
306 Blackman, (1963-64), Mishnayoth I, 40, 43.
307 Neusner, (1988ET), Mishnah, 5, 6.
308 E.g. m. Ber. 1:1-3:6, m. Tam. 5:1B; Lattke, (1984), On the Jewish Background, 87. G. F.
Moore, (1921), Christian Writers on Judaism, 218 n. 29, noted that the rabbinical phrase is
always mymv twklm and not Mymvh twklm. See also: Black, (19673), Aramaic Approach, 234;
Buchanan, (1970), Consequences of the Covenant, 23-24.
309 Bchler, (1927), Studies in Sin and Atonement, 86; Urbach, (19792ET), The Sages I, 400; G. F.
Moore, (1927), Judaism I, 465. Contrary to J. G. Williams, (1989), Neither Here Nor There, 16
n. 22; Chilton and McDonald, (1987), Jesus and the Ethics of the Kingdom, 58; E. P. Sanders,
(1977), Paul and Palestinian Judaism, 93, 237.
310 DJBP, 343a.
311 Matt 11:29-30, cf. Did. 6:2, 1 Clem. 16:17; Acts 15:10, cf. Barn. 2:6; Rengstorf, (1964ET),
wret, TDNT II, 899, 901. At a slightly later date see: Gos. Thom. 90; cf. Betz, (1967), The
Logion of the Easy Yoke, 19-21.
312 J. Marcus, (1988), Entering into the Kingly Power of God, 672 n. 50. For a general background
to wrdt, lwe, see: Bertram, (1964ET), wret, TDNT II, 896-98.
5:5) and Zephaniah (LXX 3:9) and of the wisdom which comes from God in Sirach
(51:26). There are other examples of similar phrases in Jewish literature to c A.D. 100.313
According to the early rabbis, recitation of the Shema meant that the reciter acknowledged
the uniqueness and oneness of God314 and thus placed himself under the sovereignty of
God, since heaven is often merely a circumlocution for God.315 Once under that
sovereignty, life consisted of observance of the commandments or the Torah, or to put it
another way, experience of the kingdom of God could be had through the practice of
torah,316 through submission to the will of God as king. Although use of the word
yoke tends to conjure up notions of burden and monotonous drudgery, carrying out
the demands of torah was, on the contrary, a joyful privilege.317 In fact, to accept the
hrwt lwe yoke of torah meant freedom from other yokes, namely that of the state and
the normal cares and vicissitudes of life.318
There is no eschatological thread with respect to Gods kingdom in the Mishnah, nor does
there seem to be any obvious spatial element.319 God is able to exercise his sovereignty
and guidance in the here-and-now through the Torah.320 In short, one is in the
kingdom of God if and wherever one accepts the Shema and observes the Torah (cf. Matt
7:21321).322
313 Pss. Sol. 7:9, m. Abot 3:5, 2 Bar. 41:3 (yoke of the Torah); Aleinu prayer, see Section 3.3.1.2.
Cf. Bchler, (1927), Studies in Sin and Atonement, 89; 3 Enoch 35:6 (yoke of the kingdom),
which, in its final redaction, is fifth or sixth century.
314 Urbach, (19792ET), The Sages I, 400; G. F. Moore, (1927), Judaism II, 173; Finkel, (1964), The
Pharisees and the Teacher of Nazareth, 115 n. 4; Finkel, (1993), Prayer of Early Rabbinic
Tradition, 798.
315 See Section 2.2.3 under Dan 4:37.
316 C. J. Cadoux, (1941), The Historic Mission of Jesus, 112; Ladd, (1993Rev), A Theology of the
NT, 59; Riches, (1980), Jesus and the Transformation of Judaism, 95; Neusner, (1998), Living
under the Yoke, 101, 117-18, when we speak of life in the kingdom of heaven, we mean life in
accord with the halakah, the rules and regulations of the holy life.
317 Rengstorf, (1964ET), wret, TDNT II, 900.
318 Also m. Abot 3:6, 6:2. Josephus picture of the Pharisees would seem to imply that the Pharisees
saw observance of the Torah as (among other things) freedom from fate, see Section 1.5.5.3.
319 In fact, there seems to be no spatial element as such in any of the other rabbinic literature from a
later period, which would tend to confirm the tradition. See T. W. Manson, (19352), The Teaching
of Jesus, 130-32. To the contrary: C. A. Evans, (1997), Early Rabbinic Sources and Jesus
Research, 46-47. Evans cited Manson in support of his claim, but in fact Manson does the exact
opposite.
320 Lauterbach, (1951), The Pharisees and their Teachings, 158. The divine origin of the Torah is
acknowledged explicitly in the first century Diaspora work 4 Macc 5:16-18, as well as, for
example: 4 Ezra 5:27, m. Abot 1:1A, m. Eduy. 8:7A. See: G. F. Moore, (1927), Judaism I, 235,
276; Westerholm, (1978), Jesus and Scribal Authority, 23; Riches, (1980), Jesus and the
Transformation of Judaism, 95.
321 E. P. Sanders, (1985), Jesus and Judaism, 141. Cf. J. Marcus, (1988), Entering into the Kingly
Power of God, 663-75.
There is a subtle but important distinction here between the positions of Josephus and the
Mishnah on this point. Josephus seemed to imply - at least for the days before the war -
that the kingdom of God was everywhere and that the practice of torah was merely an
acknowledgment of that fact.323 The Mishnah, on the other hand, clearly implies that even
though it is God that brings the kingdom, it is nevertheless brought to individuals who take
upon themselves the yoke of the kingdom of heaven so that it can, as it were, exist for
them.324
This change between Josephus and the Mishnah is consistent with the view that the
kingdom is nothing less that God Himself as king. Both Josephus and the Mishnah
expressed the belief that before the war the Divine Royal Presence - the kingdom of God -
was present on the earth, but after the war this presence was to be found primarily in
heaven.325 The Divine Royal Presence could be brought to earth, so to speak, wherever and
whenever the Torah was observed.
m. Yoma 3:8H, 4:1H, 4:2G, 6:2D
m. Yoma 3:8H, 4:1H, 4:2G, 6:2D326

.dew Mlwel wtwklm dwbk Mv Kwrb . . .
Translation of m. Yoma 3:8H, 4:1H, 4:2G, 6:2D327

. . . Blessed is the name of the glory of his kingdom forever and ever.
This group occurs in the tractate Yoma, a tractate which deals with the requirements for the
Day of Atonement.328 Each is in a cultic setting and originally constituted a response to
the different words and actions of the High Priest as he prepared the bull and goats. All
are unattributed. The insertion of a comment by rabbi Ishmael b. Elisha who flourished in
the early second century at 4:1G, together with its four-fold repetition, suggests that the
tradition is older than the insertion.
The emphasis of the response is on the eternal blessedness of the name of the glory of
his kingdom, a blessedness that is forever. The identity of his kingdom is unclear,
322 Neusner, (1998), A Judaic Response, 154, Gods kingdom takes place wherever, whenever,
Israel does and obeys [the Torah].
324 Cf. also m. Abot 3:2E, 3:6A.
325 See Sections 2.5.1.1 and 2.5.1.5.
326 Blackman, (1963-64), Mishnayoth II, 286, 289, 290, 300.
327 Neusner, (1988ET), Mishnah, 269, 270, 271, 275.
328 Cf. 3 Enoch 39:2.
though its association with name and glory, two attributes of God, may point to its
being also closely associated with God himself.
m. Rosh HaSh. 4:5B,E,F, 6A,C

m. Rosh HaSh. 4:5B,E,F, 6A,C329
,Nhme twyklm llwkw ,Mvh tvwdqw ,twrwbgw ,twba rmwa 4:5B
,eqwt wnyaw
?rykzm awh hml twyklml eqwt wnya Ma ,abyqe ybr wl rma 4:5E
,Mvh tvwdqw ,twrwbgw ,twba rmwa ala 4:5F
,eqwtw Mwyh tvwdq Me twyklm llwkw
.twrpwv hrsem ,twnwrkz hrsem ,twyklm hrsem Nytxwp Nya 4:6A
.twnerwp lv rpwvw twklm Nwrkz Nyrykzm Nya 4:6C
Translation of m. Rosh HaSh. 4:5B,E,F, 6A,C330

4:5B One says the Fathers, Powers, the Sanctification of the Name,
including the Sovereignty verses with them, and does not sound the shofar;
4:5E Said to him R. Aqiba, If he does not sound the shofar in connection
with the Sovereignty verses, why does he make mention [of them at all]?
4:5F But: one says the Fathers, the Powers, the Sanctification of the Name,
and includes the Sovereignty verses with the sanctification of the day, and
then sounds the shofar;
4:6A They do not say less than ten Sovereignty verses, ten Remembrance
verses, ten Shofar verses.
4:6C They do not make mention of verses of Remembrance, Sovereignty, or
Shofar, which speak of punishment.
This group merely refers to the order of blessings in the additional prayer for the New
Year.
4:5B is attributed to rabbi Yohanan b. Nuri from Beth Shearim (in Galilee), who
flourished in the first half of the second century.331 He is frequently depicted in the
Mishnah in disputes with rabbi Aqiba who was the most famous Palestinian rabbi of the
end of the first century and early second century.332 This and the fact that the group do not
refer to cultic worship but to that of the synagogue, suggests a date for the discussion
around the end of the first century.
The Sovereignty verses referred to are any verses from the Bible that allude to divine
sovereignty.333 This means that God was known and referred to as king in the Palestine of
the end of the first century. Little else can be deduced.
329 Blackman, (1963-64), Mishnayoth II, 401, 402.

331 DJBP, 683b.
332 Gottlieb, (1997), Aqiva ben Yosef, ODJR, 59a.
333 Blackman, (1963-64), Mishnayoth II, 402 n. 6.
3.5.1.2 4 Ezra and 2 Baruch (Syriac Apocalypse)
These two Jewish apocalyptic works stand apart from others in several respects. First, the
general consensus is that they can be dated to around A.D. 100, with 4 Ezra (chapters 3-
14)334 being written before 2 Baruch.335 Second, the majority of scholars maintain that
they were both originally written in Hebrew and that they come from Palestine.336 Thirdly,
and more importantly for the present purpose, a strong case can be made for their having
been written by those who were, if not part of, then closely connected with the early
Yavnean rabbis and who, like the apocalyptic writers, was struggling to redefine Judaism in
the wake of their total defeat by Rome.337
In other words, both 4 Ezra and 2 Baruch may be taken into account with some
confidence in any estimation of early rabbinic notions of the kingdom of God that were
circulating at the time of the redaction of Luke.
Having said that, while kingdom references have been detected in other contemporary
Jewish/rabbinic literature, none occurs in 4 Ezra and 2 Bar.338 The absence is especially
334 Metzger, (1983), The Fourth Book of Ezra, OTP I, 520; Schrer, (19732), Age III.1, 300; Stone,
(1984), Apocalyptic Literature, 412; Charlesworth, (1981), The Pseudepigrapha and Modern
Research, 112; Stone, (1989), Features of the Eschatology of IV Ezra, 11; Stone and F. M.
Cross, (1990), Fourth Ezra, 10b; Stemberger, (1995), Non-Rabbinic Literature, 18.
335 Klijn, (1983), 2 (Syriac, Apocalypse of) Baruch, OTP I, 616-17; Schrer, (19732), Age III.2,
752-53; Stone, (1984), Apocalyptic Literature, 410; Charlesworth, (1981), The Pseudepigrapha
and Modern Research, 84. For the two: Lattke, (1984), On the Jewish Background, 78;
Stemberger, (1995), Non-Rabbinic Literature, 20.
336 4 Ezra: Metzger, (1983), The Fourth Book of Ezra, OTP I, 520; Stone, (1984), Apocalyptic
Literature, 414 (but see his earlier Stone, (1984), Apocalyptic Literature, 200, written in
Babylon); Stone and F. M. Cross, (1990), Fourth Ezra, 10b-11a; Stemberger, (1995), Non-
Rabbinic Literature, 19.
2 Bar.: Dalman, (1902ET), Words of Jesus, 27-29, 36-40, before A.D. 70; Klijn, (1983), 2
(Syriac, Apocalypse of) Baruch, OTP I, 617; Stone, (1984), Apocalyptic Literature, 409;
Hobbins, (1998), Summing up of History in 2 Baruch, 47 n. 4, 48.
For both: Charlesworth, (1981), The Pseudepigrapha and Modern Research, 84, 112; F. J.
Murphy, (1985), The Structure and Meaning of Second Baruch, 2; Stemberger, (1995), Non-
Rabbinic Literature, 21.
337 This is generally accepted for 2 Bar. See the list of parallels between 2 Bar. and rabbinic literature
in: Grintz, (1971), Baruch, Apocalypse of (Syriac), EncJud IV, 271, e.g yoke of your law in
41:3. Though it is contested for 4 Ezra. Those in favour of 4 Ezra having a close connection with
the Yavnean rabbis include: Grabbe, (1981), Chronography in 4 Ezra and 2 Baruch, 60; Knibb,
(1982), Apocalyptic and Wisdom in 4 Ezra , 73 n. 48; Stone and F. M. Cross, (1990), Fourth
Ezra, 39; Esler, (1994), The Social Function of 4 Ezra, 121; B. W. Longenecker, (1995), 2
Esdras, 98-104; Stone, (1984), Apocalyptic Literature, 414. Those in favour of a sectarian
origin include: Kee, (1981), The Man in Fourth Ezra, 199-208; Overman, (1990), Matthews
Gospel and Formative Judaism, 27-34; P. R. Davies, (1989), The Social World of Apocalyptic
Writings, 269; Stemberger, (1995), Non-Rabbinic Literature, 23.
338 Lattke, (1984), On the Jewish Background, 78.
noteworthy in 4 Ezra, for like the Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum,339 it has a strong and
consistent emphasis on the Torah,340 a primary element in the rabbinic understanding of
the kingdom of heaven.
This absence can best be explained by observing that notions of the Torah in 4 Ezra are
closely associated with future events. Indeed, the whole direction of 4 Ezra is to the future
rather than to the present, whereas the opposite is the case in the earliest of rabbinic
literature, the Mishnah (apart from such exceptions as m. Sot. 9:15 and other so-called
apocalyptic passages341). Nevertheless, obedience to the Torah is called for in the here-
and-now.
The writer of 4 Ezra acknowledged the divine origin of the Torah (lex)342 and its eternal
nature, 9:37.343 In 4:23 and 14:21 he lamented the destruction of the written Torah in the
catastrophe of 587 B.C., and the failure to observe it.344 By divine inspiration Ezra was able
to dictate it once again, 14:37-48. Careful obedience to the Torah or commandments is the
sure way of avoiding any further punishment345 and of receiving reward after death.346
The Torah is the embodiment of Gods will, given not to individuals,347 but to Israel.348
Indeed, we might say that the kingdom of God is the Israel that keeps his Torah - a
sentiment perfectly in keeping with post-70 Tannaitic Targumim which limit the kingdom
of God to Zion.
With regard to 2 Bar., the central message is the same, namely that one has to live
according to the Law.349 It is a message similar to that of Deuteronomy.350 It views the
Torah as having effectively replaced the temple: Zion has been taken away from us, and
we have nothing now apart from the Mighty One and his Law (85:3b). Like

340 Myers, (1974), I and II Esdras, 126.
341 Apocalyptic and rabbinic literature are not mutually incompatible as many suppose. See: Saldarini,
(1975), Apocalyptic and Rabbinic Literature, 348-58; Saldarini, (1977), Uses of Apocalyptic,
396-409. The last conveniently listed and briefly commented on each apocalyptic passage in the
Mishnah and Tosefta.
342 4 Ezra 3:19-22, 5:27, 8:12, 9:31-32, 14:22.
343 Cf. Wis 18:4, 2 Bar. 59:2; Stone and F. M. Cross, (1990), Fourth Ezra, 308 n. 7.
344 4 Ezra 3:7, 7:37, 9:31-32, 14:30; Stone and F. M. Cross, (1990), Fourth Ezra, 307.
345 4 Ezra 7:20-21,24,72,79-81, 8:55-56, 9:11-12,36.
346 4 Ezra 7:17,89,94,133, 8:29, 13:54; Stone and F. M. Cross, (1990), Fourth Ezra, 426a.
347 Contrary to: Overman, (1990), Matthews Gospel and Formative Judaism, 27-30; E. P. Sanders,
(1977), Paul and Palestinian Judaism, 409-18.
348 Esler, (1994), The Social Function of 4 Ezra, 119-20.
349 Klijn, (1989), Study of the Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch, 5.
350 D. J. Harrington, (1973), Interpreting Israels History, 63-66; F. J. Murphy, (1985), The
Structure and Meaning of Second Baruch, 28, 120-26.
Deuteronomy, in 2 Bar. trespass against the Torah results in punishment (15:5), but those
who believe will be rewarded (59:2).
Tgs. Pentateuch Tg. Neb.

Post-70 Tannaitic Isa 24:23r
(Zion) Isa 31:4r,5
Isa 40:9dr,10
Ezek 7:7r,10r
Amoraic or later Neof. Gen 49:2end351 Isa 52:7br354
(congregation) C.G. Exod 15:3 Mic 4:7br,8c355
Frg. P Exod 15:3352
Frg. V Exod 15:18
Ps.-J. Exod 15:18
Onq. Exod 15:18353
351 Aramaic text: Neof. Gen 49:2end: Dez Macho, (1968), Neophyti 1 I, 327.
Translation: McNamara, (1992ET), Neofiti 1, Genesis, 217.
The whole of Tg. Neof. 49:2 represents non-translation material inserted into the literal rendering
of Jacobs farewell discourse (B. B. Levy, (1987), A Textual Study 274-75). The end represents the
response made by Jacob to the opening words of the Shema uttered by his twelve sons. John P.
Meier (Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 263, tried to argue that since kingdom is parallel both to
name and glory here, it must refer to the mode of Gods being, i.e. his sovereignty or kingship
rather than to a spatial kingdom. In fact, far from being in parallel, glory is possessed by Gods
kingdom. It is the glory that will last forever, not necessarily the kingdom, though it is
difficult to envisage the glory of the kingdom without the kingdom. It would be tempting to
conclude that because of the use of glory, which is often associated with the being of God, that
kingdom must then refer to the Divine Presence. However, glory is not an exclusive attribute
of God. The parallel between this and the mishnaic (see Section 3.5.1.1) Blessed is the name of
the glory of his kingdom forever and ever, is noteworthy, as is also the fact that the Hebrew word
for glory is used (dwbk), rather than the Aramaic rqy (Note also the Hebrew Mv rather than the
Aramaic Mwv. However, since Mv is unpointed, it could also be the alternative Aramaic spelling,
Bietenhard, (1967ET), klj^, TDNT V, 267 n. 158). Ps 145:11,12 also associates dwbk as a
present possession of the divine kingdom, though without the refrain for ever and ever. We may
conclude then that the writer of this targum believed that God had a kingdom which possessed
glory. It is possible that it is echoing a similar early rabbinic belief which itself may be pre-70.
The part parallel with Ps 145:11,12 should not be dismissed in this regard. However, for the
present purpose, if Chiltons criteria for dating the targumim in Tg. Neb. Isa is applied to this
targum, the lack of any universalistic associations would place it at least in the Amoraic period, if
not later. It is, therefore, of little immediate use in determining the pre-70 kingdom Targum
tradition.
352 Aramaic texts: C.G. Exod 15:3: M. L. Klein, (1986), Genizah Manuscripts, 243; Frg. P Exod
15:3: M. L. Klein, (1980), The Fragment-Targums of the Pentateuch I, 78.
Translations respectively: M. L. Klein, (1986), Genizah Manuscripts, 242; M. L. Klein, (1980),
The Fragment-Targums of the Pentateuch II, 45.
Again, these represent non-translation material. Despite the English translations, the first part of
Tg. C.G. Exod 15:3 and Frg. Tg. P Exod 15:3 are identical. This time kingdom does stand in
parallel to name, strength and might. Thus, it more likely refers to an attribute of God rather
than to a spatial kingdom (Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 263). This is confirmed by the
context: Moses is describing the warrior-like qualities of yy , yy i.e. the Lord (Cross, (1973),
Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic, 155-77). Again, the lack of universalistic associations would,
according to Chiltons dating criteria, place these targumim at least in the Amoraic period if not
later.
353 Aramaic texts: Frg. V Exod 15:18, M. L. Klein, (1980), The Fragment-Targums of the
Pentateuch I, 172; Ps.-J. Exod 15:18, Clarke, (1984), Targum Pseudo-Jonathan of the
Pentateuch, 85 and, McNamara, (19662), The NT and the Palestinian Targum, 207-208; Onq.
Exod 15:18, Sperber, (1959), The Bible in Aramaic I, 114.
Translations respectively: M. L. Klein, (1980), The Fragment-Targums of the Pentateuch II, 130;
McNamara, (19662), The NT and the Palestinian Targum, 208; Maher, (1994ET), Targum Pseudo-
Jonathan, Exodus, 205; Grossfeld, (1988ET), Targum Onqelos to Exodus, 43-44.
Frg. Tg. V Exod 15:18 is a midrash on the Lord. God is proclaimed king of Israel after their
redemption from the Red Sea. The context and the crown clearly show that it is God as king that
is meant.
Tg. Ps.-J. Exod 15:18 is the longest expansion of Exod 15:18 in the Targumim, though there is
little relevant difference with Frg. Tg. V. Here, too, God is crowned king and is to be king in this
world, in the world to come and forever.
Tg. Onq. Exod 15:18 is the shortest of the Targumim on Exod 15:18 and represents little more
than a literal translation of BHS (Cranfield, (1963), Mark, 65 translated it thus: Gods kingdom
stands firm). It is easier, therefore, to see that Klm is replaced by hytwklm, similar to the
previous group of targumim to Exod 15:18. It is a proclamation of Gods kingship because of his
redeeming acts, rather than a reference to the intervention itself.353
In Frg. Tg. V Exod 15:18 and Tg. Ps.-J. Exod 15:18, Gods kingdom is not in this world but for
the world to come, whereas in Tg. Onq. Exod 15:18 it is for ever and ever.
The Targumim of the Pentateuch, even in their extended paraphrases and midrash do not add to
what could be said of the original Hebrew. There is emphasis on Gods activity as king and
redeemer. There is little or no indication that God commands a kingdom in the spatial sense.
Because of the lack of universal associations, these Targumim may be assigned, using Chiltons
dating criteria, to a late period. Interestingly though, God acted as king in the past and will do so
in the future, but despite being king in the here-and-now there is no evidence that he so acts in the
here-and-now.
354 Aramaic text: Sperber, (1959), The Bible in Aramaic III, 106.
Translation: Chilton, (1987ET), The Isaiah Targum, 102.
Refer to Section 2.2.1.2 for a separate discussion of the Hebrew text. Chilton dated this Targum
verse to the Amoraic phase of formation because of the use of the word congregation. So it is
beyond the limit of use here. Like Tg. Neb. Isa 40:9, it is an announcement. The phrase the
kingdom of your God substitutes your God and, is revealed substitutes for reigns (or (is)
king). The kingdom is associated with: the land of Israel mentioned earlier in the verse; the
congregation of Zion; and indeed with the Shekhinah of v. 8, which we are told will return to
Zion. See Chilton, (1987ET), The Isaiah Targum, 103 n. to 52:1-52:15.
355 See footnote in Section 2.5.1.2. The former dominion in Tg. Neb. Mic 4:8 is better translated as
former domination, as the Aramaic word anjlwv has nothing to do with territory but with
power or the exercise of an office. The Aramaic Njlwv appears to be similar in meaning to the
Hebrew hkwlm. Thus the targum looks forward to the restoration to pre-eminence of the kingdom
(Israel) among the nations under the Messiah. Contrary to Duling, (1992), Kingdom of God,
ABD IV, 54a who wrote that the kingdom that comes to the Messiah is equivalent to the former
dominion which comes to the kingdom of the congregation of Israel.
The fourth century rabbi Aibu offered an exegesis of Obad 21 in which God will restore the
kingdom to Israel because of her repentance (Esth. Rab. 1.2, 19-20; cf. Psalms Midrash 99.1 in the
name of another fourth century teacher R. Jehudah, see: Midrash on Psalms 145). The similarity
between this and Tg. Neb. Mic 4:8 prompted Chilton to see confirmation of his notion of the
development of the kingdom motif, Chilton, (1982), The Glory of Israel, 80. Certainly, it doesnt
rule out that possibility.
Tg. Neb. Isa 24:23

NRSV of Isa 24:23b
for the LORD of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and
before his elders he will manifest his glory.
Tg. Neb. Isa 24:23b356

hyme ybo Mdqw Mlvwrybw Nwyud arwjb twabu ywyd atwklm ylgtt
:rqyb
Translation of Tg. Neb. Isa 24:23b357

. . . for the kingdom of the LORD of hosts will be revealed on the Mount of
Zion and in Jerusalem and before the elders of his people in glory.
Similar to the scenario in Tg. Neb. Obad 21,358 this time the audience of the divine
revelation will be restricted to those in Jerusalem and the elders,359 hence its dating to the
early post-70 period.
The noun replacement, i.e. kingdom of the Lord for YHWH in this Targum passage
and others has of course been observed by numerous scholars from Gustaf Dalman360 to
Bruce D. Chilton.361
Chilton incorrectly claimed that the noun kingdom together with the verb will be
revealed renders will reign so that kingdom is Gods saving and vindicating
activity. Though he didnt state it, perhaps Chilton was thinking of the Amoraic
Pentateuchal Targumim where kingdom does render reign or is king. There the
emphasis is on Gods kingship. Here the emphasis is on the saving action of disclosure.
Seen rather as a simple noun-to-noun and verb-to-verb substitution typical of a technique

of Targumic translation,362 it is clear that the writer used the phrase kingdom of God as
a circumlocution for YHWH as the Saviour King. One day God himself will be revealed
on Mount Zion (the site of the destroyed temple) in all his majestic glory.

359 Cf. Buchanan, (1970), Consequences of the Covenant, 63, on Tg. Neb. Zech 14:9.
360 Dalman, (1902ET), Words of Jesus, 101.
361 Chilton, (1978), Regnum Dei Deus Est, 265-67; Chilton, (1982), The Glory of Israel, 77.
Tg. Neb. Isa 31:4,5

NRSV of Isa 31:4c,5
4c so the LORD of hosts will come down to fight upon Mount Zion and upon
its hill.
5 Like birds hovering overhead, so the LORD of hosts will protect Jerusalem;
he will protect and deliver it, he will spare and rescue it.
Tg. Neb. Isa 31:4c,5363

:htmr lew Nwyud arwj le yrvml twabu ywyd atwklm ylgtt Nyk 4c
Nygy Mlvwry le twabu ywyd atrwbg ylgtt Nyk oyajd apwek 5
:ydeyw lyuy byzyvyw
Translation of Tg. Neb. Isa 31:4c,5364

4c so the kingdom of the LORD of hosts will be revealed to settle upon the
Mount of Zion and upon its hill.
5 Like the bird soars, so the might of the LORD of hosts will be revealed
over Jerusalem; he will protect and deliver, rescue and remove.
Again dated to the post-70 Tannaitic period because of the continued association with Zion
(though note its presence in the Hebrew text), a similar pattern to Tg. Neb. Isa 24:23b can
be observed in the substitution of the Hebrew L ORD for the Aramaic kingdom of the
LORD.
The substitution of the Aramaic verb to settle for the Hebrew to fight emphasises
the sequence of events depicted. The kingdom of God, i.e. the Divine King, will settle (like
a bird) on Mount Zion. The verb substitution from the Hebrew dry will come down to
the Aramaic ylg will be revealed means that after this movement of the Divine King, he
will be revealed.
Verse 5 continues the sequence. After this revelation, the might of God will swing into
action to protect and deliver, rescue and remove. Thus although kingdom of the
LORD is in the context of Gods personal and dynamic intervention in the world, it does
not itself represent the very activity of God,365 since Gods mighty activity occurs after
the revelation of the kingdom.
Whatever way the verses are explained, the phrase kingdom of the LORD is a
substitution for YHWH in the context of saving action. These Targum verses emphasise
the belief that the Divine King was considered absent from Mount Zion until this sequence
of eschatological events occurred. This represents a marked change from the pre-70
Targum understanding, where the kingdom of God, God as king, is firmly present on the

365 Chilton, (1978), Regnum Dei Deus Est, 267; Chilton, (1987ET), The Isaiah Targum, 63 n. to
31:1-31:9, Gods mighty intervention . . . is called the kingdom of the Lord.
earth on Mount Zion. His absence is consistent with the findings on this period, deduced
in Section 2.6.4.
Tg. Neb. Isa 40:9,10

NRSV of Isa 40:9c,10
9c. . . say to the cities of Judah, Here is your God!
10 See, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his
reward is with him, and his recompense before him.
Tg. Neb. Isa 40:9c,10366

:Nwkhlad atwklm taylgta hdwhy tybd aywrql wrwma. . . 9c
hytrwbg erd Pwqtw ylgtm Pwqtb Myhla ywy ah 10
:yhwmdq Nlg Nwhydbwe lkd hyme hyrmym ydbe rga ah yhwmdq ajlv
Translation of Tg. Neb. Isa 40:9c,10367

9c . . . say to the cities of the house of Judah, The kingdom of your God is
revealed!
10 Behold, the LORD God is revealed with strength, and the strength of his
mighty arm rules before him; behold, the reward of those who perform his
Memra is with him, all those whose deeds are disclosed before him.
Oddly enough, although Chilton made use of Tg. Neb. Isa 40:9, he did not date it368 - an
oversight that somewhat undermines his conclusions. Dating this targum can be little more
than extremely tentative. The word atvnk congregation appears in v. 3 suggesting the
Amoraic period, yet that is a little far removed from v. 9. Verse 5 with its all the sons of
flesh shall see it [the glory of the LORD] together points to a universal (pre-70)
revelation.369 On balance, a Tannaitic post-70 dating is preferred, since the restriction to
the house of Judah has been kept, despite the fact that there is no Zion catch word.
Nowhere is it more explicit that kingdom of God means God himself as king in the
Targumim. Apart from the simple parallel between kingdom of God in v. 9d and the
LORD God in v. 10a, made clear by the two-fold use of the same verb, the use of the
adjectives in v. 10 indicates that it is God as king, that is, God as warrior, God as ruler, that
is meant.
What is revealed is God himself,370 and this simultaneously means the unfettered visible
operation of his might and strength (cf. Tg. Neb. Isa 31:4c,5). Unfortunately, where he will

367 Chilton, (1987ET), The Isaiah Targum, 77-78.
368 Chilton, (1978), Regnum Dei Deus Est, 267; Chilton, (1982), The Glory of Israel, 78.
369 Chilton failed to notice Tg. Neb. Isa 40:5 in his discussions of Tg. Neb. Isa 40:9-10.
370 Aalen, (1961), Reign and House, 221.
be revealed is not given, so nothing can be said regarding the Divine Royal Presence either
before or after this revelation.
rmym, usually simply transliterated as Memra, features only here in connection with
either the kingdom of God or God as king. It is used inconsistently in the Targumim,
which suggested to Robert Hayward that there was a development in its meaning.371
However, its basic meaning is that of the active presence of God in the world, the
Targumim originally identifying it with the biblical hyha I am. It never became a
hypostasis.372
Tg. Neb. Ezek 7:7,10
NRSV of Ezek 7:7,10

7 Your doom has come to you, O inhabitant of the land. The time has come,
the day is near - of tumult, not of revelling on the mountains.
10 See the day! See, it comes! Your doom has gone out. The rod has
blossomed, pride has budded.
Tg. Neb. Ezek 7:7,10373

byrq arbt Nde ajm aera byty Kle atwklm taylgta 7
:ayrwj ydumb abzytval tylw avwgrta Mwy
anjlv xmu atwklm taylgta ayta ah atwnerwp Mwy ah 10
:aevr epwh
Translation of Tg. Neb. Ezek 7:7,10374

7 The Kingdom has been revealed to you O inhabitant of the land! The time
of misfortune has arrived, the day of tumultuous confusion is near, and there
is no escaping to the mountain strongholds.
10 Behold, the day of retribution! Behold, it is coming! The Kingdom has
been revealed! The rulers rod has blossomed! Wickedness has sprung up.
Ezek 7:7,10 are part of another oracle. The day is not eschatological, but denotes
impending punishment for evil committed in this present world. The revelation of the
kingdom is not universal but confined as it were to the inhabitants of Judah, though this
too is governed somewhat by the similar context of the Hebrew text. Neither does it
371 Hayward, (1974), The Memra of YHWH, 418; Hayward, (1980), Memra and Shekhina, 210-
13; Hayward, (1981), Divine Name and Presence, 147; Chilton, (1982), The Glory of Israel, 56-
69. Further on rmym (which occurs only in the Targumim, the Talmudic equivalent being rmam):
Abelson, (1912), The Immanence of God, 150-73, esp. p. 153; G. F. Moore, (1922),
Intermediaries in Jewish Theology, 41-55; McNamara, (1967-68), Logos and Memra, 115-17;
Abrahams, (1972), Word, EncJud XVI, 635; Sabourin, (1976), The Memra of God, 79-85; and
the following footnote.
372 G. F. Moore, (1927), Judaism I, 419; Kuhn, (1964ET), _^pfibt, TDNT I, 571 n. 34; Urbach,
(19792ET), The Sages I, 213. Cf. E. P. Sanders, (1977), Paul and Palestinian Judaism, 215. It is
perhaps also worth recording the observation that the Hebrew rbd does not occur in connection
with either God as king or the kingdom of God.
374 Levey, (1987ET), The Targum of Ezekiel, 32.
contain the terms Zion or congregation, so the genesis of its tradition cannot be
determined absolutely, though if Chiltons dating method is strictly followed it would
possibly date from the post-70 Tannaitic period. The similarity of the Aramaic word for
adum stronghold in v. 7 and the fortress name Masada has prompted speculation
that the Targumist was an eyewitness to the events surrounding Masada towards the end
of the war with Rome.375 Even if the play on words is deliberate, it gives us no more than a
terminus a quo for the verse.
The refrain the Kingdom has been revealed appears twice, presumably prompted by the
Hebrew hrypu crown.376 In each case the kingdom brings with its revelation
misfortune, confusion and retribution, unlike Tg. Neb. Obad 21 where the kingdom is
revealed only after the punishment.377 It is an event to be feared. In vv. 4, 8 and 9 of the
Targum, it is God himself who will visit and execute the punishment for sins committed,
so that the Kingdom cannot mean anything other than God himself. The kingdom of
God will be revealed as having been in Israel, unlike the day of punishment which will
arrive, since it is not yet there in the temporal sense.
The wnyle Aleinu
The wnyle Aleinu378

. . . ,ydv twklmb Mlwe Nqtl
. . . ,Ktwklm le ta Mlk wlbqyw
. . . ,ayh Klv twklmh yk
Translation379
when the world shall be perfected under the reign of the Almighty, . . .
may they all accept the yoke of thy kingdom, . . .
For the kingdom is thine, . . .
The Aleinu prayer380 contains the hope that God will remove all idolatry and destroy all
false gods, when the world shall be perfected under the reign of the Almighty and when
375 Levey, (1987ET), The Targum of Ezekiel, 33 n. 5.

376 Cf. the Aramaic lylk crown in: Tg. Neof. 15:18, Frg. Tg. V Exod 15:18, Tg. Ps.-J. Exod
15:18.
377 See section 3.3.1.3.
380 For earlier comments, including dating issues, see Section 2.5.1.4.
everyone in the world will accept the Ktwklm lwe yoke of your kingdom.381 The
strong universal and eschatological focus of the prayer has a corollary.382 In the here-and-
now, the call is to submit to the yoke of the kingdom (the Shema), with the observance of
the Torah a natural and necessary consequence.383 This emphasis on the observance of the
Torah as acknowledgment of living here-and-now in the Divine Kingdom is similar to that
of Josephus.384
3.5.2 Luke
For comments on the method of approach, see Section 3.3.2.
Luke 4:43 // Mark 1:38
NA27 of Luke 4:43

h^ q^t qo^ft mibpfk b^ddbip^pv^ jb ab qk _^pfib^k ql
vbl+ qf m qlql mbpqiek-
NRSV of Luke 4:43

I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities
also; for I was sent for this purpose.
Though similar to Mark 1:38, Luke changed his source in two major respects. First, the
audience is not the disciples but the people. Second, the subject of Jesus preaching is
made explicit: it is the good news of the kingdom of God. Luke 4:43 is the first
mention of the kingdom in the Gospel. In Matthew it is John the Baptist who first speaks
of the kingdom of God (Matt 3:2, cf. Mark 1:4, Luke 3:3). Thus for Luke, Jesus was the
first proclaimer of the kingdom of God.385 This verse is clearly intended by the redactor to
be programmatic not only for the ministry of Jesus but for his entire Gospel and Acts.386
381 Dalman, (1902ET), Words of Jesus, 100; G. F. Moore, (1927), Judaism I, 434, II, 373; Neusner
and Green, (1996), Aleinu, DJBP I, 24b; Weinfeld, (1986), The Day of the Lord, 349. On the
phrase yoke of your kingdom, see Section 3.5.1.1 under m. Ber. 2:2I, 5E above.
382 Cf. Section 3.3.2 under Luke 11:2.
383 Chilton and McDonald, (1987), Jesus and the Ethics of the Kingdom, 58; Schnackenburg,
(1963ET), Gods Rule and Kingdom, 58-59.
384 See Sections 1.5.5.4 and 3.3.1.1.
385 Conzelmann, (1961ET), Theology of St. Luke, 20; Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke I-IX, 154; del Agua,
(1999), Evangelization, 652.
386 Merk, (1975), Reich Gottes, 220, Verkndigen des Gottesreichs ist die Predigt des
Evangeliums, the proclamation of the kingdom of God is the sermon of the Gospel; OToole,
(1987), The Kingdom of God in Luke-Acts, 152, 153; J. T. Carroll, (1988), Response to the
End of History, 81.
The saying seems to imply a present kingdom,387 since there is no mention of proclaiming
the coming or nearness of the kingdom as we have in (say) Mark 1:15. As such, it is
consistent with the view, which became evident in earlier Sections,388 that Luke regarded
Jesus as himself the kingdom of God (cf. 10:23-24).389
Luke 8:1 // Mark 6:6b, Matt 9:35
NA27 of Luke 8:1

I^ dkbql k q h^vbgt h^ ^qt afabrbk h^q mifk h^
hjek heoppsk h^ b^ddbifwjbklt qk _^pfib^k ql vbl
h^ l aabh^ pk ^q+
NRSV of Luke 8:1a

Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and
bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him,
Luke 8:1-3 is a summary, typical of Lukes work. Unlike the earlier 4:14-15, its parallels
are not strong, and it contains many words and phrases either unique to Luke or typical of
his work. Ascription to the redactor, rather than a composition of the redactor from earlier
sources, seems safest.390
That Jesus is here depicted as proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God
recalls 4:43 and anticipates 16:16 and Acts 8:12. As with 4:43, the summary statement
seems to imply a present kingdom, since there is no mention of proclaiming the coming or
nearness of the kingdom. Indeed, there is no hint in this passage of when the kingdom
might arrive - an issue vital to Matthew and Mark. We are left with the impression that
Luke regarded it as being in Jesus present. As such, it is consistent with the view that
Luke regarded Jesus as himself the kingdom of God.
387 Maddox, (1982), Purpose of Luke-Acts, 133; Nolland, (1993), Luke 35A, 216.
388 See discussions under some of the Lukan instances of kingdom of God in Sections 3.3.2 and 3.4.
389 del Agua, (1999), Evangelization, 650-51. del Agua arrived at a similar conclusion by linking
Luke 4:43 with Luke 4:16-30, with Jesus identity as Messiah and his mission as Herald-
Prophet of the kingdom. The link is not at all made obvious by del Agua.
390 Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke I-IX, 695; Bock, (1994), Luke 1:1-9:50, 712. McNicol, Dungan and
Peabody, (1996), Beyond the Q Impasse, 119-21, saw a parallel also with Matt 11:1. Marshall,
(1978), Luke, 315, claimed that Luke used material from Q and L.
Luke 9:2 // Mark 6:7, Matt 10:7
NA27 of Luke 9:2

h^ mpqbfibk ^qlt heoppbfk qk _^pfib^k ql vbl h^
pv^f Yqlt pvbkbt[+
NRSV of Luke 9:2

and he sent them [i.e. the twelve] out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to
heal [the sick].
Here Luke associates Jesus task of proclaiming the kingdom of God with the Twelve.
Again, the element of time is excluded, perhaps deliberately, if Matthew is the older
version.391 Luke turns the whole into indirect speech. The disciples are not to proclaim the
coming or the nearness of the kingdom but simply the kingdom. Together with
proclamation of the kingdom, the disciples are to heal and exorcise a^fjkf^ demons
(v. 1).392 The hand of the redactor is dominant.
The parallels between this and Ps 103 are striking.393 In Ps 103:3b, the Divine King heals
in his kingdom. The LXX word for heal in the psalm is also lj^f, a word preferred by
Luke over the other Gospel writers.394 The disciples proclaim the kingdom and are able to
heal because Jesus the kingdom is present.395
Luke 9:11 // Mark 6:33, Matt 14:14
NA27 of Luke 9:11

l a uilf dkkqbt hlilvep^k ^q9 h^ mlabgjbklt
^qlt iibf ^qlt mbo qt _^pfib^t ql vbl+ h^ qlt
uob^k ulkq^t vbo^mb^t ql-
NRSV of Luke 9:11

When the crowds found out about it, they followed him; and he welcomed
them, and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who
needed to be cured.
391 Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke I-IX, 753. Cf. Conzelmann, (1961ET), Theology of St. Luke, 114 n. 3, but
Marshall, (1978), Luke, 352.
392 A discussion of the significance of demons in relation to the kingdom of God can be found under
Luke 11:20, Section 3.3.2.
393 On Ps 103, see Section 3.2.1.
394 OToole, (1987), Luke 9:1-50, 81, Luke inserted pv^f into 9:2 so that he could draw the
parallel in 9:11 between Jesus and his disciples. Also see Bock, (1994), Luke 1:1-9:50, 814 n. 11.
395 This is prior to (independent of?) the disciples receiving the Spirit, a point noted by Menzies,
(1993), Spirit and Power in Luke-Acts, 15, 19. Menzies article is a reply to M. M. B. Turner,
(1991), The Spirit in the Lucan Conception, 124-52, who argued that the Holy Spirit in the pre-
Lukan community was associated with healing and exorcism. However, a consideration of Luke
11:20 in Section 3.3.2 found no immediate or obvious connection between the Holy Spirit and
exorcism.
The phrase mbo qt _^pfib^t occurs here and in Acts 1:3, 8:12 and 19:8, in each case
programmatically by way of a summary description of the message. Comparison with the
parallels confirms that the mention of the kingdom of God here is a redactional
addition.396
Again, there is no mention of the timing of the kingdom and as with Luke 9:2, healing by
Jesus is closely associated by Luke with the kingdom.397 For Luke, Jesus can heal
because he is the kingdom.
Luke 9:27 // Mark 9:1, Matt 16:28
NA27 of Luke 9:27

ids a jk ievt+ bpk qfkbt qk ^ql pqehqsk l l j
dbpskq^f v^kqlr st k aspfk qk _^pfib^k ql vbl-
NRSV of Luke 9:27

But truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death
before they see the kingdom of God.
Luke dropped the Markan has come with power.398 The significance of this deletion is
not easy to determine, since Luke is not shy of using the verb to come in association
with kingdom and Matthew retains it in a modified form.399 For Luke, though,
power is never associated verbally with the kingdom. It is rather much more frequently
allied either with Jesus himself, the Spirit or with God.400
By so expunging this phrase, Luke 9:27 does not eliminate the futurist eschatological
aspects as some have rightly noted,401 but it does move the emphasis to the verb aspfk,
396 Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke I-IX, 766; McNicol, Dungan and Peabody, (1996), Beyond the Q Impasse,
135.
397 Bock, (1994), Luke 1:1-9:50, 829.
398 There is a sizeable literature on the Markan version, 9:1, see: Kmmel, (1961ET), Promise and
Fulfilment, 25-29; Ambrozic, (1972), Hidden Kingdom, 203-40; Brower, (1995), Seeing the
Kingdom, 121-42; Gundry, (19942), Matthew, 466-70.
399 Luke 11:2, 17:20, 18:16, 22:18, 23:42.
400 Jesus: 4:36, 6:19, 8:46, 9:1, 19:37; Spirit: 1:17, 4:14; God: 1:35, 5:17, 22:69, 24:49. Other
occurrences: 10:13, 10:19, 21:26, 21:27. Contrary to Ellis, (1965), Present and Future
Eschatology in Luke, 34. Had Luke retained the Markan form, it would be easy to state that what
he meant was the coming of the Holy Spirit in power at Pentecost. See: Dodd, (1936), Kingdom
of God has Come, 142; Dodd, (1961Rev), Parables, 43-44, who stated incorrectly that the
kingdom was present when Jesus uttered the words but that this was only comprehended as a result
of Pentecost. See also Brower, (1995), Seeing the Kingdom, 124, 127.
401 Perrin, (1967), Rediscovering, 17; Chilton, (1979), God in Strength, 254; Fitzmyer, (1983),
Luke I-IX, 790. Contrary to Conzelmann, (1961ET), Theology of St. Luke, 104-105; S. G.
Wilson, (1970), Lukan Eschatology, 338. Conzelmann also insisted that the passage in Mark
and Luke was about the Parousia. It is not about the return of Jesus or the Son of Man (though it
is in Matthew), but simply about the kingdom of God. In any case, as Maddox, (1982), Purpose
where what is to be seen is the kingdom of God itself and not, as in Mark, the fact that
the kingdom of God has come with power.402 Only in John 3:3 is the motif of seeing the
kingdom of God repeated.403 The use of to see implies some sort of future anticipated
event,404 the result of which will be that the kingdom of God will be seen by those
listening to Jesus who will not taste death (cf. Gos. Thom. 1).
Luke 2:26 gives away the meaning intended by the redactor. Simeon had been promised
that he would not see death before he had seen Jesus. Some, listening to Jesus, would
not taste death until they saw/realised that Jesus was the kingdom. Whether it is the
transfiguration, the resurrection or Pentecost that would trigger such a response is not
clear and should not be pressed.405
If the pre-Lukan community did indeed see in the Holy Spirit the awaited kingdom, then
clearly this verse was interpreted by them as a promise that the Holy Spirit would come
before those who first listened to the words of 9:27 would die.406
But what of Jesus meaning? Assuming that the Markan version is closer to the actual
words of Jesus,407 the meaning intended by Jesus must be guessed at because the verse
originally stood as an isolated saying (cf. Mark 9:1 I^ ibdbk ^qlt as introduction).
That is, verses such as Mark 13:26,30 can only be used to ascertain the Markan
contribution.408
of Luke-Acts, 110, pointed out, the future event could not be the coming of the Holy Spirit, since
the Holy Spirit is associated with power, Luke 4:14, 24:49, Acts 1:8, 6:5,8.
402 Brower, (1995), Seeing the Kingdom, 134. Contrary to Marshall, (1978), Luke, 378.
403 There it is paralleled with entering the kingdom of God in verse 5: Brown, (1966), John I-XII, 130;
J. N. Sanders and Mastin, (1968), John, 124; Barrett, (19782), John, 207; Beasley-Murray, (1986),
Baptism, Spirit and the Kingdom, 167-70.
404 Lukes use of balk can mean perceive, as in: Conzelmann, (1961ET), Theology of St. Luke,
105; Ellis, (1965), Present and Future Eschatology in Luke, 32. But it can also refer to future
events, e.g. Luke 13:28, 21:27, see: S. G. Wilson, (1970), Lukan Eschatology, 338; Franklin,
(1975), Christ the Lord, 22; Maddox, (1982), Purpose of Luke-Acts, 110.
405 See Mattill, (1979), Luke and the Last Things, 59-70, for these and other suggestions.
406 See Marshall, (1978), Luke, 378. Mattill, (1979), Luke and the Last Things, 60, objected to this
view on the grounds that, like the transfiguration and resurrection, not enough time had elapsed.
However, it is not suggested here that this is what Jesus himself meant, merely what the early
community made of the saying in the light of the Pentecost event.
407 This is by no means certain, see for example Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the Kingdom of
God, 191-92.
408 Perrin, (1969), Composition of Mark ix I, 67-70, argued that Mark 9:1 is a Markan composition
based on Mark 13:30.
The verse is actually easy to explain if the emerging model is applied. Jesus is speaking of
the future coming of God to earth when his Divine Royal Presence and thus kingdom will
be made openly visible to all who are alive then (cf. As. Mos. 10).409
Luke 16:16 // Matt 11:12
NA27 of Luke 16:16

M kjlt h^ l molcq^f juof ~Gskklr9 m qqb _^pfib^
ql vbl b^ddbiwbq^f h^ mt bt ^qk _fwbq^f-
NRSV of Luke 16:16

The law and the prophets were in effect until John came; since then the
good news of the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone tries to enter
it by force.
The Critical Edition of Q has reconstructed this verse.410 In effect, Luke better preserves
the first part, Matthew better preserves the longer second and third parts.411 Luke has
substituted the negative the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, for the more
positive and typically Lukan the good news of the kingdom of God is proclaimed and
replaced and the violent take it by force for and everyone tries to enter it by force.
Thus, as it stands in Luke, the saying better reflects the concerns of Luke.
With the first substitution, Luke is clearly wishing to contrast the kingdom of God with
the law and the prophets, especially given v. 17. John (the Baptist) did not preach the
kingdom of God so far as Luke is concerned,412 though he did preach the good news
(Luke 3:18), so it is likely that John was considered by Luke as in the era of the law and
the prophets.413 The new era of the proclamation of the kingdom of God began with Jesus,
though this is not to say that John was ineligible to enter the kingdom (cf. Luke 13:28).
409 Cf. Kmmel, (1961ET), Promise and Fulfilment, 28, Mark 9:1 says that some of those standing
near Jesus are to experience in their lifetime the entry of the kingdom of God; Mattill, (1979),
Luke and the Last Things, 67-70, the Parousia. Gundry, (19942), Matthew, 468, also saw in it a
reference to the consummation and not to the transfiguration, resurrection, ascension, or
Pentecost, but for different reasons.
Robinson, (1994), International Q Project, 499. For earlier analyses of its composition history,
see: S. G. Wilson, (1970), Lukan Eschatology, 334-35; Chilton, (1979), God in Strength, 205-
30.
411 Kmmel, (1961ET), Promise and Fulfilment, 122. Contrary to Perrin, (1967), Rediscovering, 74-
75.
412 Though Mattill, (1979), Luke and the Last Things, 19-21, argued that the historical John may
have, in fact, preached the kingdom of God.
413 Conzelmann, (1961ET), Theology of St. Luke, 161; Ellis, (1974Rev), Luke, 202-203; cf. Marshall,
(1978), Luke, 628; Perrin, (1967), Rediscovering, 75-76; Bock, (1996), Luke 9:51-24:53, 1351.
To the contrary: S. G. Wilson, (1970), Lukan Eschatology, 335; Mattill, (1979), Luke and the
Last Things, 23; Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the Kingdom of God, 95; Franklin, (1994),
Luke, 247-48. For the theory of three epochs in Lukan history, see: Conzelmann, (1961ET),
As for the second alteration, the kingdom of heaven is the subject of the passive form of
the verb _fws in Matthew, whereas in Luke the kingdom of God is the object of the
middle form.414 John was a kingdom preacher in Matthew (3:2), so since the kingdom of
God could not have suffered violence before it was preached by and present in Jesus, Luke
needed to change this.415
What exactly is meant by everyone tries to enter it by force remains obscure.416

Whatever it may mean it cannot refer, as does the Matt 11:12 parallel, to the war of the
Divine King against the powers of evil.417 The element of proclamation in Luke has
replaced the violence suffered by the kingdom.
By way of a suggestion as to the meaning of the phrase, its similarity to Matt 22:11 may
be noted, a Matthew addition to the Parable of the Great Supper. There one guest enters
without a wedding garment and is subsequently thrown out. If the Matthean verse may be
used as a means of commentary on Luke 16:16, the Lukan verse may indicate that those
who enter the kingdom by force are those who enter, or who think they can enter, by their
own merit or terms, rather than those of the Divine King.418 The universal mt may thus
refer to the Pharisees of vv. 14-15 whom Jesus (in Lukes eyes) condemns for seeking to
justify themselves by human standards rather than those of God.419 They no doubt
encouraged others to do the same.
Theology of St. Luke, 12-17; Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke I-IX, 181-87, X-XXIV, 1115-16. For a
vigorous but unsatisfactory defence of John within the era of proclamation see Mattill, (1979),
Luke and the Last Things, 21-23.
414 Perrin, (1963), Teaching of Jesus, 172; Schrenk, (1964ET), _fwlj^f, TDNT I, 612; Marshall,
(1978), Luke, 629; Bock, (1996), Luke 9:51-24:53, 1352-53.
415 Contrary to Conzelmann, (1961ET), Theology of St. Luke, 112, who thought that the preaching
referred to in Luke 16:16 was that of John with whom the time for the preaching of the kingdom
had come. Also N. T. Wright, (1996), Jesus, 468.
416 T. W. Manson, (1937), Sayings of Jesus, 134; Marshall, (1978), Luke, 630; Fitzmyer, (1983),
Luke I-IX, 155, X-XXIV, 1117; Kmmel, (1961ET), Promise and Fulfilment, 123; Gundry,
(19942), Matthew, 210. Geldenhuys, (1946), Luke, 421, suggested that what was meant by Luke
was the eagerness and determination by which people strive to enter the kingdom, cf. C. A. Evans,
(1990), Luke, 246-47. Mearns, (1987), Realized Eschatology in Q?, 197-200, suggested that
was interpreted in an anti-Zealot sense by contemporaries of Matthew and Luke, in an anti-
enthusiasm sense by Q, and as praiseworthy men of initiative by Jesus. Beasley-Murray, (1992),
The Kingdom of God in the Teaching of Jesus, 22, offered an alternative. It is the kingdom that
is powerfully breaking into the world. For a reply to this, see Blomberg, (1992), A Response,
34.
417 Perrin, (1976), Language, 46.
418 On Matthews version, see E. Moore, (1975), Cognates in Josephus, 519-43, who made the
point that the two verbs together in Josephus always indicate physical violence and that the saying
in Matthew thus indicated that something is being strongly condemned. The sentiment is also in
Luke.
419 Some account for the mt by suggesting that it is through the force of Jesus preaching that
everyone is being urged to enter [the kingdom of God]. See: L. T. Johnson, (1991), Luke, 251;
Bock, (1996), Luke 9:51-24:53, 1353.
Elsewhere in the Synoptics (and once in John and Acts), entering the kingdom of God
is a common enough motif on the lips of Jesus to assume that it goes back to Jesus
himself.420 It is always in the context of a future kingdom421 and may be uniformly
interpreted, in Jesus case, as entering into the Divine Royal Presence. In other words, it
betrays a similar sentiment to the Hebrew hwhy ynpl awb to come/go before the
LORD,422 though with eschatological intent on the part of Jesus. The phrase is also
important because it places the action not on God as king but on those who wish to enter
his presence. The kingdom of God does not always imply the action of God the
king as many suppose.
Luke 19:11 // Matt 25:14
NA27 of Luke 19:11

~?hlrkqsk a ^qk q^q^ molpvbt bmbk mô^_lik af q
ddt bk^f ~Gbolrpîj ^qk h^ alhbk ^qlt qf môûoj^
jiibf _^pfib^ ql vbl k^c^kbpv^f-
NRSV of Luke 19:11

As they were listening to this, he went on to tell a parable, because he was
near Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to
appear immediately.
Excluded absolutely from Q by The Critical Edition of Q,423 Luke 19:11 is a Lukan
addition and serves a similar purpose to 14:15, i.e. it provides a link to the previous public
conversation with Zacchaeus (L) and the subsequent parable (Q).424
The identity of the they in this Lukan introduction is vague,425 but probably refers to
those who, as depicted by the redactor, accompanied Jesus on his journey to Jerusalem, i.e.
420 Cpoulj^f, Matt 5:20, 7:21, 18:3, 19:23,24, 23:13, Mark 9:47, 10:15,23,24,25, Luke
18:17,25, John 3:5, Acts 14:22; bpmloblj^f, Luke 18:24; molds, Matt 21:31. Coulj^f
and ddws are never used with the kingdom as their object.
421 Schnackenburg, (1963ET), Gods Rule and Kingdom, 161, 227; Ambrozic, (1972), Hidden
Kingdom, 139-40.
422 E.g. Exod 28:30,35, 34:34, Lev 15:14, 2 Sam 7:18, Ezek 44:3, 46:9.
423 J. M. Robinson, Hoffmann and Kloppenborg, (2000), Critical Edition of Q, viii; Moreland and
Robinson, (1997), International Q Project, 524-25; also: S. G. Wilson, (1970), Lukan
Eschatology, 337; Ellis, (1974Rev), Luke, 222; Jeremias, (19723), Parables of Jesus, 59, 99 n.
40.
424 T. W. Manson, (1937), Sayings of Jesus, 314; J. T. Carroll, (1988), Response to the End of
History, 97; Nolland, (1993), Luke 35C, 912; Guy, (1997), Interplay of Present and Future,
126.
the uilt crowd,426 the j^veq^ disciples,427 and others, especially the
Pharisees.428
This is the only place in the NT where the kingdom of God is said to k^c^ks
appear. In its use, the redactor displays his characteristic knowledge of contemporary
Jewish thinking. It represented a stream of tradition which anticipated not the coming of
the kingdom, but its appearance or manifestation.429 The following parable is thus given to
counteract this prevailing Jewish opinion.430 The very next verb (mlobj^f), the first of
the parable, tells of the nobleman who went away, only to return (m^koulj^f).
Allegorically, the nobleman is, for Luke, Jesus himself, who departed after his ascension
(Acts 1:9).431 Thus the appear of Luke 19:11 is in opposition to the come or
return of the parable.432 Lukes contribution to the meaning of the parable was thus in
the direction of a correspondence between Jesus and the kingdom of God. Such a
meaning cannot be attributed in any way to Jesus himself for whom the kingdom was
always and only of God.433
Luke 21:31 // Mark 13:29, Matt 24:33
NA27 of Luke 21:31

lqst h^ jbt+ q^k aeqb q^q^ dfkjbk^+ dfkphbqb qf
ddt pqfk _^pfib^ ql vbl-
NRSV of Luke 21:31

So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom
of God is near.
426 Luke 11:14,27,29, 12:1,13,54, 13:14,17, 14:25 (esp.), 18:36, 19:3.

427 Luke 9:54, 10:23, 11:1, 12:1,22, 16:1, 17:1,22, 18:15.
428 Pharisees, Luke 11:53, 13:31, 15:2, 16:14, 17:20; opponents, Luke 13:17; scribes, Luke 11:53,
15:2, etc.
429 Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the Kingdom of God, 218, and many other scholars, placed
emphasis on the immediate element. Whether it was immediate or not, it was still future and the
use of the word appear is unique and in no way characteristic of Jesus.
430 Conzelmann, (1961ET), Theology of St. Luke, 113; Guy, (1997), Interplay of Present and Future,
126.
431 J. T. Carroll, (1988), Response to the End of History, 83.
432 Contrary to L. T. Johnson, (1982), Lukan Kingship Parable, 150; who claimed that k^c^ks
here meant declare. See criticism of Johnson in: Nolland, (1993), Luke 35C, 913; J. T. Carroll,
(1988), Response to the End of History, 100-103.
433 For more on Luke 19:11, especially in the contrasting verbs to appear and to come, see
Section 3.7.4
Luke 21:31 is identical to its Markan source except that _^pfib^ ql vbl has been
substituted for Marks m vo^ft at the gates. The effect is to shift the subject from
the Son of Man (v. 27, Mark 13:26) to the kingdom of God.
This Lukan ending of the parable of the fig tree, implies that the kingdom of God is not
ddt near in the time or place that Jesus speaks, but will be near (whether in time or
place is unclear) after the Son of Man comes and the other signs mentioned in vv. 11, 25
take place.434 Therefore, despite the substitution of 21:31, it is not the Son of Man who
brings the kingdom of God,435 nor is he to be identified with the kingdom. Rather his
coming is one necessary precondition for the coming of the kingdom.436 It is only after he
comes that the kingdom of God can be said to be near.437
The parallel with v. 28 is also instructive.438 There, the time of mliqospft

redemption will be dd{ws drawing near, once the Son of Man comes. Elsewhere
Luke links redemption with salvation (cf. Luke 1:68-71) and salvation is brought by
the kingdom (cf. Luke 18:24-25, from Mark, where to enter the kingdom is paralleled to
being saved and Luke 18:29-30 where it is paralleled to eternal life). In the OT the
only redeemer is God the Divine King,439 so that when Luke parallels redemption and the
kingdom of God, the obvious inference is that the kingdom of God is redemption, is the
Divine King.
434 Maddox, (1982), Purpose of Luke-Acts, 111-15, gave an extensive discussion on the implications
of this for a perceived delay in the Parousia. Delay or not, the kingdom is not present. Maddox
himself concluded that Luke did not regard any delay - if present - as significant.
435 Contrary to OToole, (1987), The Kingdom of God in Luke-Acts, 152, 159.
436 The kingdom of the Son of Man or of the Messiah was not thought to be the same therefore, as
the kingdom of God, see: Taylor, (1926), Behind the Third Gospel, 256; Perrin, (1967),
Rediscovering, 187; Jeremias, (1971ET), NT Theology I, 267; W. H. Schmidt, (1983ET), The
Faith of the OT, 151; Borg, (1988), A Temperate Case for a Noneschatological Jesus, 528; N.
T. Wright, (1992), People of God, 307; Harrisville, (1993), In Search of the Meaning, 145-47.
Only in the latter stages of Christian tradition covered by the NT were the two equated, e.g. Rev
11:15.
437 Cf. Conzelmann, (1961ET), Theology of St. Luke, 130.
438 Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke X-XXIV, 1353; OToole, (1987), The Kingdom of God in Luke-Acts,
156; Bock, (1996), Luke 9:51-24:53, 1688.
439 See previous chapter under Exod 15:18, Ps 44:4, Isa 44:6; cf. Tg. Neb. Isa 41:21.
Luke 22:16,18 // Mark 14:25, Matt 26:29
NA27 of Luke 22:16,18

16 ids do jk qf l j cds ^q st qlr mieosv k q
_^pfib& ql vbl-
18 ids do jk+ Yqf[ l j ms m ql kk m ql
dbkj^qlt qt jmilr st l _^pfib^ ql vbl iv-

16for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
18for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until
the kingdom of God comes.
Luke 22:16 has no parallel in either Mark or Matthew, and so the entire verse is an
addition to the Markan source by Luke. Jesus told the apostles that he will not pvs
eat Passover (again) until (st) it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. The meaning
is obscure,440 but probably is similar to the vow in v. 18 which concerns drinking. The
motif of eating in the kingdom is one employed elsewhere by Luke (13:29, 14:15 and
cf. 22:30 where it is in Jesus kingdom441) and only by Luke. It looks forward to a time
(and place?) when disciples will, as it were, enjoy fully the very presence of the Divine
King (see e.g. Exod 14:11, Zech 14:20-21). The kingdom of God that Luke refers to here,
through the words of Jesus, is not in Lukes time, a present reality.442
Luke 22:18 expresses similar sentiments to verse 16, but the redactor has moved 22:18 out
of the Markan sequence (which Matthew follows) so that two cups of wine are
mentioned.443 What is of import here is the change Luke has made after the conjunction
st: Luke, until (st l) the kingdom of God comes (iv); Mark, until that day
when I drink it new in the kingdom of God. Here the use of come emphasises the
action of God in bringing the kingdom.444 Indeed, we may now say with confidence that
for Jesus it was God the king that would come.
440 Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the Kingdom of God, 261-63; C. A. Evans, (1990), Luke, 317.
441 According to J. M. Robinson, Hoffmann and Kloppenborg, (2000), Critical Edition of Q, 560 and,
Moreland and Robinson, (1995), International Q Project, 485, Luke 22:30 (from Q) did not
contain pvs.
442 Bock, (1996), Luke 9:51-24:53, 1720. L. T. Johnson, (1991), Luke, 337, suggested that it referred
to the readers recollection of the celebratory or Eucharistic meals of the first Christians. However,
Luke 24:30 is carefully worded so that Jesus does not eat and, 24:42, where the risen Jesus eats a
piece of fish, is intended merely to emphasise the reality of the resurrection, cf. v. 39, as probably
also Acts 10:41. On Acts 10:41, see Barrett, (1994, 1998), Acts I, 527.
443 Jeremias, (1966ET), Eucharistic Words, 164, 210, regarded this doubling as original and the
wording in Mark as more original than Luke.
444 Jeremias, (1966ET), Eucharistic Words, 210 n. 6. On oulj^f and the kingdom of God, see
Section 3.3.2 under Luke 11:2 and Section 3.7.
If Luke is being influenced by a similar tradition as in 1 Cor 11:26,445 (For as often as

you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lords death until he comes
(uoft l iv)) then his formulation of until (st l) the kingdom of God comes
(iv) may be more primitive than Marks and betray an early substitution of
kingdom of God for Jesus.446 Given: that Luke is breaking from the Markan sequence
at this point; that both Luke and Paul use identical forms of the verb oulj^f; that the
verb is used in both cases with the adverb l; and, especially considering that the only
other places Luke has used the verb in connection with the kingdom is in verses he has
incorporated from other sources (Luke 11:2(Q), 17:20-21(L), 18:16(Mark)),447 then the
use of kingdom of God here in Luke may indeed be a Lukan circumlocution for Jesus
himself.
Luke 23:51 // Mark 15:43, Matt 27:57, cf. John 19:38
NA27 of Luke 23:51

, lqlt lh k prdh^q^qbvbfjklt q _lri h^ q mogbf ^qk
, m ?ofj^v^^t mibst qk ~Glra^sk+ t molpbaubql qk
_^pfib^k ql vbl+
NRSV of Luke 23:51

[this one] had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from Arimathea,
and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God.
This verse, as with the whole of Luke 23:50-56a, is taken from Mark 15:42-47. The
differences are inconsequential for present purposes.448
With the use of molpaulj^f, there seems little doubt that we are meant to recall Simeon
(Luke 2:25) and Anna (Luke 2:38)449 and probably too those who await the return of their
master from the wedding banquet (Luke 12:36).
Although Simeon awaited the consolation of Israel, Luke does not explain this further
and it bears no relationship to the promise that he would not die until he saw the Messiah,
Luke 2:26. The consolation of Israel probably refers to the hope, expressed in Isaiah
445 Marshall, (1978), Luke, 799; cf. Did. 10:6. For the suggestion that Mark 14:25 is also a
community formulation, see: Perrin, (1967), Rediscovering, 38; Crawford, (1982), Near
Expectation, 235.
446 ~?m ql kk is a typically Lukan phrase: Luke 1:48, 5:10, 12:52, 22:18,69, Acts 18:6. Though
it is also in John 8:11, 2 Cor 5:16. See Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 304.
447 Nolland, (1993), Luke 35C, 1051-52 who claimed that Luke reformulated Mark.
448 Marshall, (1978), Luke, 878-79.
40:1,10, that God will come and be the Shepherd King.450 The consolation of Israel which
Simeon waited for was nothing less than the presence of the Divine King.
Anna addressed those in the crowd who awaited the redemption of Jerusalem. The
Redeemer is God the king (see under Luke 21:31).451 There is little difference therefore
between the consolation of Israel and the redemption of Jerusalem, where Jerusalem
as the capital of Israel stands for Israel.452
A consideration of Luke 12:36, with its metaphor of the watchful slaves, confirms the
above.453
The emphasis of Luke 12:35-38, from L, is also on waiting. Luke no doubt regarded the
master as Jesus himself, the Son of Man, v. 40.454 Jesus on the other hand, probably saw a
connection in the metaphor with the coming of the kingdom, especially since the saying is
within the context of a banquet as a possible reward for readiness.455
450 See Section 2.2.1.2 under Isa 41:21. Cf. Isa 49:13, 51:3, 57:18, 61:2; 2 Bar. 44:7; Luke 2:25,
môhiepft consolation; LXX Isa 40:1 mô^hîs to comfort. See: Fitzmyer, (1983),
Luke I-IX, 427; Marshall, (1978), Luke, 118, Bock, (1994), Luke 1:1-9:50, 239. Marshall and
Bock are wrong to link any of this with the messianic era since the references are to YHWH not to
the Messiah. Only much later did the rabbis refer to the Messiah as the Comforter.
451 Cf. Bock, (1994), Luke 1:1-9:50, 253.
452 Marshall, (1978), Luke, 124; Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke I-IX, 432.
453 Luke 12:36: be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so
that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks.
454 See Rev 3:20. Also Kmmel, (1961ET), Promise and Fulfilment, 55, though he confused the
coming of the Son of Man with the coming of the kingdom of God; Jeremias, (19723), Parables
of Jesus, 55, who correctly made the distinction between Jesus and Lukes meaning; Fitzmyer,
(1983), Luke I-IX, 986-87, 988.
455 Cf. Bock, (1996), Luke 9:51-24:53, 1174-75.
Acts 8:12, 19:8, 20:25, 28:23,31
NA27 of Acts 8:12, 19:8, 20:25, 28:23,31

8:12 qb a mpqbrp^k q cfimm b^ddbifwljk mbo qt
_^pfib^t ql vbl h^ ql kj^qlt ~Gepl Vofpql+
_^mqwlkql kaobt qb h^ drk^hbt-
19:8 Cpbivk a bt qk prk^dsdk môoepfwbql m jk^t
qobt afîbdjbklt h^ mbvsk Yq[ mbo qt _^pfib^t ql vbl-
20:25 I^ sk al d la^ qf lhqf cbpvb q mopsmk jlr
jbt mkqbt k lt afivlk heoppsk qk _^pfib^k-
28:23 - - - lt gbqvbql af^jôqrojbklt qk _^pfib^k ql vbl+
mbvsk qb ^qlt mbo ql ~Gepl m qb ql kjlr Ks #pst
h^ qk molceqk+ m mos st pmo^t-
28:31 heoppsk qk _^pfib^k ql vbl h^ afaphsk q mbo ql
hrolr ~Gepl Vofpql jbq mpet môoep^t hsiqst-
NRSV of Acts 8:12, 19:8, 20:25, 28:23,31

8:12 But when they believed Philip, who was proclaiming the good news
about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized,
both men and women.
19:8 He [Paul] entered the synagogue and for three months spoke out
boldly, and argued persuasively about the kingdom of God.
20:25 And now I know that none of you, among whom I have gone about
proclaiming the kingdom, will ever see my face again.
28:23 . . . From morning until evening he explained the matter to them,
testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus
from the law of Moses and from the prophets.
28:31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus
Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
Each of these verses represents the continuation of the Lukan theme of the proclamation of
the kingdom of God.456 Paul and Philip are depicted as both imitating and obeying the
command of Jesus (Luke 4:43, 9:2).457
In 28:23, the juxtaposition of the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about
Jesus with the correlative qb, means that the second is a fuller explanation of the first,458
456 Conzelmann, (1987ET), Acts, 163.

457 L. T. Johnson, (1992), Acts, 338-39; Barrett, (1994, 1998), Acts II, 973, 1252. On the phrase
mbo qt _^pfib^t, see comment under Luke 9:11.
458 Cf. BDF, 230 444(5); OToole, (1987), The Kingdom of God in Luke-Acts, 151; L. T.
Johnson, (1992), Acts, 473; Barrett, (1994, 1998), Acts II, 1243; del Agua, (1999),
Evangelization, 656-57.
and betrays Lukes now obvious intimate connection between the kingdom of God and
Jesus. Acts 8:12 and 28:31, as Lukan summaries, should also be read in this light.459
459 Though Luke may still have used sources. For example, the verb at 28:23 is af^jôqolj^f
and occurs 15 times in the NT, nine times in Acts. It is unique here in association with the
kingdom, and since it occurs four times in the Pauline letters, it is possible that it is from the
Pauline community in this instance, but taken over by Luke because of his familiarity with it. Its
meaning varies little from the idea of proclamation. On the connection here between the kingdom
of God and Jesus, see: Pereira, (1983), Ephesus, 125; Barrett, (1994, 1998), Acts II, 1252; del
Agua, (1999), Evangelization, 655, 656, [T]o be a witness of Jesus . . . is to bear witness of
the Basileia.
3.6 The Presence of the Kingdom of God : Synthesis 277
3.6 SYNTHESIS
Three questions directed the inquiry of this chapter: the identity of the kingdom of God
at each stage of formation of Luke, particularly that held by the first century Pharisees and
Jesus; the perceived location of that kingdom; and the timing of its coming or
manifestation.
The following synthesis of conclusions will pave the way for a new exegesis of that most
enigmatic of all kingdom passages, Luke 17:20-21.
3.6.1 Ancient Palestinian Literature
Although explicit mention of the kingdom of God is confined to just eight instances in the
OT, several conclusions may reasonably be drawn, since all come from post-exilic cultic
circles.
In the OT passages analysed, God was thought to dwell in his kingdom, whether that was
the whole created order as in the psalms, in which case God dwelt in heaven, or the land
originally ruled by Solomon and his successors as in Chronicles, in which case God dwelt
in the temple, even after the disappearance of the Solomonic dynasty. Importantly, in both
Chronicles and Psalms Gods kingdom was a present historical reality and not a future
promise. The writers believed that they were already living in the kingdom of God as
indeed was the Divine King himself. It was in the here-and-now. The identification of the
kingdom of God with God as king could not be made, though Ps 103:19 is a possible
exception.
The picture presented in Daniel (though Dan 4:3,34 is another exception) seems to be that
Gods kingdom does not yet exist, but one day will be brought into existence by God and
from then on will last forever. It is contrasted with human kingdoms in origin, longevity
and power. It will encompass the whole earth. In the meantime, God is in heaven as king in
name only. He is not yet acting as king. When the Divine Kingdom does come, so will
justice and salvation.
A subtle, but profound, shift may be observed between Daniel and the Palestinian
Pseudepigrapha. While both acknowledge the universal and everlasting nature of the
Divine Kingdom and the fact that the Divine King is to be located in heaven, the
Palestinian Pseudepigrapha see this kingdom as a present earthly reality like the earlier
Chronicler and Psalms. Consequently, the kingdom of God is in some cases in direct
278 3.6 The Presence of the Kingdom of God : Synthesis
opposition to earthly kingdoms which it will ultimately replace. It will be exposed not by a
person or persons but by God himself.460
The parallels between the notions of God as king and the kingdom of God now become
evident. There is the here-and-now tradition, represented in the notion of the kingdom
of God by the Chronicler, Psalms and the Palestinian Pseudepigrapha and the not-yet
(later heaven) tradition represented by Daniel.461 The two traditions, too, each in their
own way, tried to explain the present ineffectiveness of the divine kingship, though
occasionally the Divine King is seen as an active protector. The first explained it in terms
of the hiddenness of the Divine Royal Presence, the other in terms of its complete
absence (albeit temporary) from the world. These two traditions continued into the first
century A.D. and were still current in the time of the Pharisees and Jesus.
Significantly, two references in the Palestinian Pseudepigrapha, which are both effectively
contemporary with the first century Pharisees and Jesus, contain near explicit examples of
the use of the phrase kingdom of God as a circumlocution for God as king. In Pss.
Sol. 17:3 and As. Mos. 10:1, the Divine Kingdom brings judgement and salvation - two
hall-marks of the kingdom for Jesus - and two functions previously reserved for the
Divine King.
Finally, it is be noted that Jub. 50:9b (cf. L.A.B.) may provide an early example of the link
between observance of torah and the kingdom of God.462
3.6.2 The Pharisees and Jesus
The analysis of first century Jewish cases of explicit references to the Divine Kingdom
and a consideration of the likely forms of the phrase at Stage I of the formation of Luke,
indicate that kingdom of God was a well-accepted circumlocution for God as king in
the time of the Pharisees and Jesus.
Rather than being a plurisignificant or tensive symbol evoking many different

aspects of the myth of God as king in action, it is better to see kingdom of God at the
time of Jesus as a foundational metaphor, whose base or irreducible meaning is that of the
perceived concrete reality of the Divine Royal Presence, that is, God as king. This sentence
460 Which fact alone counsels extreme caution when attempts are made to link the kingdom of God
with a Messiah or Son of Man figure, cf. Conzelmann, (1961ET), Theology of St. Luke, 116-17,
118 n. 2.
462 Cf. Section 1.5.5.4.
needs to be carefully explained before we can move to highlighting the core difference in
understanding between the Pharisees and Jesus.
There is no doubt that Norman Perrin,463 in describing kingdom of God as a

plurisignificant or tensive symbol that evoked many different aspects of the myth of
God as king, did biblical scholarship a valuable and timely service.464 He thereby
emphasised its multifaceted and complex nature, something that was in danger of being
lost in the deluge of attempts to find a unifying theory.465
The problem with Perrins approach however, was that what those who used the phrase in
the first century meant was the concrete reality of God himself as king, not some
anachronistic existential experience of the fact of divine kingship, however real Perrin
thought that might be.466
463 Perrin, (1976), Language, 22, 27, 31, 69. Perrin preferred the definition of myth given by Alan
Watts, Myth is to be defined as a complex of stories - some no doubt fact, and some fantasy -
which, for various reasons, human beings regard as demonstrations of the inner meaning of the
universe and of human life, Watts, (1954), Myth and Ritual, 7. Perrin built on the groundwork
of: Wilder, (1964), The Language of the Gospel, passim; Wheelwright, (1962), Metaphor and
Reality, 45-69, 92-110; and Ricoeur, (1967ET), Symbolism of Evil, passim. There i, of course,
much confusion and disagreement over the definition of such terms as symbol and metaphor,
to say nothing of Perrins approach in general. See for example: Via, (1977), Review of Jesus
and the Language of the Kingdom by Norman Perrin, 183; D. Hill, (1981), Kingdom of God,
69; Allison, (1985), The End of the Ages has Come, 108-11; Witherington, (1990), Christology,
194-95.
464 Cf. Perrin, (1972), Wisdom and Apocalyptic, 551; Perrin, (1976), Language, 5, 16, 20-22, 197,
202; Perrin, (19823), The NT, 534; Perrin, (1984), Theology of the NT, 420-22. Excellent
summaries of Perrins position is given by: Kelber, (1984), The Work of Norman Perrin, 464-
66; Duling, (1984), Norman Perrin and the Kingdom of God, 469; Chilton, (1998), The
Historical Norman Perrin, 18-23. Theissen and Merz, (1998ET), The Historical Jesus, 276, saw
no evocation of a myth.
465 Perrins approach has been taken up and extended by such scholars as: B. F. Meyer, (1979), Aims
of Jesus, passim; Riches, (1980), Jesus and the Transformation of Judaism, 92; Scott, (1981),
Symbol-Maker, passim. esp. 10-11; Breech, (1983), The Silence of Jesus, passim, esp. 32-42,
38-39; Camponovo, (1984), Knigtum, 437-39; Uro, (1996), Apocalyptic Symbolism, 75-77;
Risnen, (1996), Exorcisms and the Kingdom, 136-41. For critiques see: E. P. Sanders, (1985),
Jesus and Judaism, 7, 125-29; Borg, (1984), Conflict, Holiness and Politics, 253-54, 261; Borg,
(1987), Jesus and the Kingdom of God, 379-80; Borg, (1988), A Temperate Case for a
Noneschatological Jesus, 527-29; Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 241, 452; Chilton, (1998),
The Historical Norman Perrin, 18-23.
466 Perrin, (1976), Language, 54, One cannot be fit for or receive or enter a symbol; one can
only respond in various ways to that which the symbol evokes, in this instance the experience of
God as king. Perrin, (1984), Theology of the NT, 422, The language of Jesus, and the fact
that it was the language of Jesus, mediated to his hearers the existential and experiential reality of
God as King. Perrins existential exegesis was evident even in his (1963) Teaching of Jesus, 171,
186-87, and can be easily traced in his subsequent works. His position was very similar to
Bultmanns understanding of the proclamation of the kingdom as the hour of decision, see:
Bultmann, (1955ET), Theology I, 22; Breech, (1983), The Silence of Jesus, 38-39, 112, 213; cf.
Theissen and Merz, (1998ET), The Historical Jesus, 244, 277. See also the criticism of Perrin in
Breech, (1978), Kingdom and Parables, 21-22.
On the other hand, there is no doubt that kingdom of God did indeed evoke in the
minds of first century A.D. hearers many aspects of the myth of God as king in action. We
have seen in passages reflective of Pharisaic understanding and especially those that reflect
Jesus use, that notions of judgement and salvation, for example, key notions in the
concept of God as king, figure intimately with kingdom of God. For first century Jews,
Jesus included, the fact of Gods kingship was no mere fantasy, no mere set of ideas to
which one responded. kingdom of God had content, separate existence, apart from its
believers, and that content was simply the objective reality of God himself as king. The
phrase was first and foremost a circumlocution for God himself as king, by the first
century A.D., in much the same way as heaven had become a circumlocution for God.
The terms kingdom of God and heaven have this in common, that both initially were
and continued to be locations of the Divine Presence. By the first century A.D. they
became more than existential signs, more than a mediation of the action or fact of divine
activity. They had indeed become separate circumlocutions for God, as for example, the
Place would become in later rabbinic literature.467 A particular nuance may have been
emphasised above another in a particular context, but every instance had as its core the
concrete Divine Royal Presence. Kingdom of God is best viewed not as a multi-faceted
gem, but as a many-branched tree with God as king as the base and trunk.
But did the Pharisees and Jesus so use it?
It is not likely that the Pharisees and Jesus, immersed as they were in the Judaism of their
time, used the phrase kingdom of God in a way other than the contemporary manner.
In fact, a consideration of kingdom passages likely to reflect pre-70 Pharisaic thought and
a consideration of passages in Luke that may be traced with confidence to the historical
Jesus, may best be explained by recourse to this model of the kingdom of God. In other
words, kingdom of God is best seen as the foundational metaphor for the Divine Royal
Presence for the Pharisees and Jesus.
With this as the common understanding of the Pharisees and Jesus regarding the kingdom
of God, the fundamental difference between them may now be considered. The deceptively
ordinary question of the location of this kingdom - the Divine Royal Presence - yielded an
important distinction in their concepts of the kingdom of God.
467 On Mwqmh the Place in rabbinic literature, see Section 2.5.1.1. On sign and metaphor see
Wilder, (1964), The Language of the Gospel, 92, Now we know that a true metaphor or symbol
is more than a sign, it is a bearer of the reality to which it refers. Yet Perrin was happy to quote
this, Perrin, (1976), Language, 56, 130. See also: E. P. Sanders, (1982), Jesus, Paul and
Judaism, 419 n. 109; OToole, (1987), The Kingdom of God in Luke-Acts, 147 n. 2, A
symbol cannot say everything, nor can it be deprived of some definite content.
Evidence of Pharisaic thinking on the kingdom of God was found in those targumim
whose traditions could be dated to before A.D. 70. In them, the kingdom of God (the
Divine Royal Presence) is a present reality in the here-and-now. At the same time, it will
one day be revealed for all to see. The centre of that revelation will be Mount Zion,
though it will extend throughout the world. It will be a true exposure of something already
present but hidden from view.468 After this, the world will be radically different. Gods
rule as king will be effective. If the Psalms of Solomon, like the Targumim, also have a
synagogue origin, Pss. Sol. 17, in particular, also supports this Pharisaic picture.469
In a non-eschatological setting, such as was found in those portions of Josephus dedicated

to the Pharisees and the synagogue Kaddish, the kingdom of God was seen to be
intimately associated with the observance of torah. Faithful obedience to the precepts of
the torah was the response to the presence of the kingdom of God. This approach can now
be seen to be based on the notion outlined in the previous paragraph.
When the question of location was applied to the analysis of Jesus utterances on the
kingdom as recorded in Luke, a very different picture emerged.
While, like the Pharisees, Jesus regarded kingdom of God to be the Divine Royal
Presence, he located the kingdom of God in heaven. At some time in the future this
kingdom will come to earth and be throughout the world. Repentance is the key means of
preparing for this event.470 The present life is not a life lived in the presence of the
kingdom but a life to be lived in anticipation of and in preparation for the arrival of the
Divine King.
There was, therefore, no dialectic in the teaching of the historical Jesus between a present
and future kingdom, between the already and the not-yet. Such nuances are indeed
present in the Gospel accounts of the words of Jesus, but these are to be attributed to later
stages of formation.471 Those who claim otherwise, must contend with the observation,
demonstrated in this and the previous chapter, that not a single writer was found who
located the Divine Royal Presence in both a heavenly and an earthly site. Never once was it
a case of both. Certainly, writers differed amongst themselves as to the location of this
presence, even writers of similar periods. But never once was it found that a single writer
468 See further, Section 3.7.6.

469 On the possible synagogue origin for the Pss. Sol., see Section 2.2.3 under Pss. Sol. 2:30,32. On
Pss. Sol. 17, see Section 2.2.3 under Pss. Sol. 17:1,34,46 and especially Section 3.2.3 under Pss.
Sol. 17:3.
470 Cf. Cranfield, (1963), The Parable of the Unjust Judge, 301; Chilton, (1988), Jesus and the
Repentance of Sanders, 4, Repentance, . . . is a necessary and inescapable aspect of entering the
Kingdom.
471 Cf. J. T. Carroll, (1988), Response to the End of History, 82; Allison, (1998), The Eschatology
of Jesus, 270.
acknowledged a duality of location with regard to the Divine Royal Presence. Jesus was no
different.
This view of Jesus is also unfashionable at present on another front, where attempts to de-
eschatologise Jesus abound.472 If the above picture is correct, Jesus cannot and should not
be rescued from an objective eschatology.473 The myth evoked by kingdom of God in
first century A.D. Palestine was no mere fairy tale designed purely to elicit an existential
response. It was as objective and other as the temple itself.
Though Jesus and the Pharisees agreed in their identity of the kingdom of God, namely
that it was God himself as king, Jesus believed in a future coming and non-present
kingdom. The Pharisees believed in a future revelation and present hidden kingdom.
This association of the verbs coming and manifesting with the beliefs of Jesus and
the Pharisees respectively, is of such importance that an Excursus in Section 3.7 will be
devoted to it.
3.6.3 The Pre-Lukan Community
Whatever the reality of the Pentecost event might have been, something special must have
happened in the days after the resurrection. The effects surrounding the event and its
aftermath were explained as being the result of the Holy Spirit.474 It would appear that the
Holy Spirit was not the redactors solution to the problem of the supposed delay in the
return of the kingdom.475 It is rather the special contribution of the pre-Lukan community
to the notion of the kingdom of God.476
For this community, of which the Lukan redactor was the inheritor, the Spirit was the
creative and prophetic presence of God (Acts 5:9, 8:39)477 and the continuing
472 This trend may be said to have been initiated if not encouraged by Borg, (1988), A Temperate
Case for a Noneschatological Jesus, 521-35, cf. Borg, (1987), Jesus and the Kingdom of God,
378-80. This is not to say Borgs work or those that follow this thinking are without merit or
usefulness. See also for example: D. Hill, (1981), Kingdom of God, 64-65, who unfortunately
based this conclusion on the assumption that the phrase kingdom of God is absent from inter-
testamental apocalypses.
473 Cf. Jeremias, (1971ET), NT Theology I, 102.
474 See Dunn, (1975), Jesus and the Spirit, 135-56, for a careful consideration of the key issues.
475 Contrary to: Conzelmann, (1961ET), Theology of St. Luke, 95, 136. Cf. Rohde, (1968ET),
Rediscovering, 168, 177; J. T. Carroll, (1988), Response to the End of History, 4.
477 Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke I-IX, 230, though no author referred to, including Fitzmyer, attributed the
Lukan Holy Spirit to the pre-Lukan community.
presence of the kingdom of God.478 The pre-Lukan community saw it, therefore, as
indeed the promise of the Father, that is, the Father himself, nothing less than the
promised kingdom of God. They reinterpreted the words of Jesus regarding the kingdom
in the light of their experience of the Holy Spirit.479
In this we find a convenient echo in the Pauline literature. Paul does not often mention the
kingdom of God, but where he does, it is almost invariably a future kingdom.480 The
exception is Rom 14:17: For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but
righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (cf. 1 Cor 4:20). Righteousness
(Justice), peace and joy in particular, are dispositions or gifts enjoyed because one is in the
presence of the Divine King (cf. Gal 5:22).481 For Paul, the Holy Spirit is this future
kingdom in the present.482
It is possible, now, to make a bold claim. To the pre-Lukan community may be attributed
the first fully worked out realised eschatology, at least insofar as that phrase may be
confined to the kingdom of God. This community saw itself as living in the period of the
Eschaton (cf. Acts 2:17), a period marked by salvation (Acts 2:21).483 For them the
478 Ellis, (1974Rev), Luke, 13. Maddox, (1982), Purpose of Luke-Acts, 137, and others say more or
less the same thing when they describe the coming of the Holy Spirit as an eschatological event.
479 M. M. B. Turner, (1994), The Spirit of Christ, 435, for whom the Spirit was a later
interpretation of Jesus ministry, i.e. it was not originally from Jesus. Jesus rather preferred to
interpret his ministry in terms of the kingdom of God. Recalling John 16:7, mkbj^ as Holy
Spirit on the lips of Jesus occurs only four times in Luke-Acts (Luke 4:18, 11:13, 12:10,12),
only once (Luke 4:18) in reference to his own ministry. In Mark 3:29, 12:36, 13:11, none are in
reference to Jesus own ministry. In Matt 10:20, 12:28,31,32, 22:43, 28:19, only 12:28 is
regarding Jesus own ministry and that is not likely to be from Jesus, cf. Luke 11:20. In John
there are 3:5,6,8, 6:63, 14:17,26, 15:26, 16:13, 20:22, none of which unequivocally refer to
Jesus perceived self-conscious attribution of his ministry to the Holy Spirit. As for Luke 4:18,
the parallel passages in Matthew and Mark do not contain this use of Isa 61:1, so it too is likely
to be a later reflection. Oddly, Dunn, (1975), Jesus and the Spirit, 43, 54, 61, though aware of the
significance and later origin of Luke 4:18, still maintained that Jesus was conscious of Gods
Spirit upon him and working through him.
480 Rom 14:17, 1 Cor 4:20, 6:9-10, 15:24,50, Gal 5:21, Eph 5:5, Col 4:11, 1 Thess 2:12, 2 Thess
1:5.
481 As we saw in Section 2.6.1.
482 Barrett, (1957), Romans, 264-65; N. Q. Hamilton, (1957), Holy Spirit and Eschatology, 23;
Knox, (1957), Sources of the Synoptic Gospels 108-109 n. 2; Cranfield, (1979), Romans 718;
Ksemann, (1980ET), Romans, 377; Johnston, (1984), Kingdom of God Sayings in Pauls
Letters, 1555; Haufe, (1985), Reich Gottes bei Paulus, 469; Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and
the Kingdom of God, 101; Donfried, (1987), The Kingdom of God in Paul, 179; Morris, (1988),
Romans, 488-89; Fitzmyer, (1993), Romans, 697. On the contrary, see: Witherington, (1992),
End of the World, 57, 72. On Rom 14:17 see Shogren, (2000), Romans 14:17, 238-56, which
is concerned with different matters; see also Section 1.4.3, Section 3.4 under Luke 12:31,32,
Section 4.3.4.1 under Recent Exegetical Comment and Section 4.4.2 under Recent Exegetical
Comment.
483 Cf. Francis, (1969), Eschatology and History in Luke-Acts, 52b.
kingdom of God was patently here-and-now. The presence of the Spirit is the already
of the kingdom. . . . Where the Spirit is there is the kingdom.484
If this is correct, it would explain why, after Pentecost, the kingdom was not central in the
preaching of the early pre-Lukan community.485 Jesus preaching of the kingdom and that
of his disciples during his ministry was, as has been shown, exclusively future. The
Pentecost event must have been so intimate and overwhelming that the future aspect of the
kingdom either faded very much into the background, or as seems likely, was answered by
the here-and-now presence of the Spirit.486
Yet, as if to echo the contemporary Pharisees who also believed in a here-and-now

kingdom, the pre-Lukan community believed that faithfulness to the teaching of Jesus
(rather than the Torah directly) made them fit for the kingdom, i.e. for the Holy Spirit. For
them however, faithfulness was a necessary precondition for reception of the kingdom and
not a response to its presence. Perseverance in the face of persecution brought with it the
reward of entry into the kingdom of God.
3.6.4 The Yavnean Rabbis, the Early Post-70 Synagogue and Luke
What did the Yavnean rabbis, the early post-70 Palestinian synagogue and Luke,
contribute to their respective traditions regarding the kingdom of God? That was the
central question of this Section.
The early Yavnean rabbis, insofar as their legacy may be isolated in the Mishnah, saw the
observance of the Torah (i.e. the practice of torah or halakah) as the means by which the
kingdom of God could be lived in the here-and-now. It could exist in the here-and-now,
but only for individuals who observed the halakot. The Divine Royal Presence for these
rabbis was in heaven, but would visit those who faithfully observe the Torah.487
The targumim that could be dated to this period and which thus represent the position of
the early post-70 Palestinian synagogue, demonstrate a divergence of opinion from the
rabbis. This difference is perhaps indicative of a situation in which the rabbis did not have
effective control over the Palestinian synagogues.488
484 Dunn, (1970), Spirit and Kingdom, 38b; Smalley, (1973), Spirit, Kingdom and Prayer, 68. If
the above conclusion is correct, it would mean that the intimate connection between Jesus and the
Spirit, so obvious in Luke, did not come from the redactor but from the early pre-Lukan
community as theological reflection on the meaning and significance of Pentecost.
485 Acts 14:22, probably has its source in a Pauline community.
486 Cf. Dunn, (1970), Spirit and Kingdom, 40a.
487 This is also consistent with the results summarised in Section 2.6.4.
The post-70 Tannaitic kingdom targumim saw the kingdom not merely as the Divine
Royal Presence, but as still present and hidden in the world. The important exception is
Tg. Neb. Isa 31:4-5, which thus probably represents an early attempt to standardise
teaching on the kingdom in line with other post-70 Tannaitic targumim which located the
Divine King somewhere other than the world.489 In Tg. Neb. Isa 31:4-5, the kingdom will
one day return to Mount Zion. In all cases however, a future revelation of the kingdom is
maintained.
Within the constraints imposed by a consideration of explicit instances of the divine

kingdom in the sources,489a we may conclude that Luke, the redactor of the third Gospel,
believed that the kingdom of God and Jesus were one and the same.490 In what we would
now call the historical Jesus, Luke located the kingdom of God, just as previously, Jesus
located the kingdom in God, the Chronicler in the Davidic kingdom and so on. To locate
the kingdom was to locate the Divine Royal Presence. It is why Lukes Jesus never
proclaimed the nearness of the kingdom. It was already present.
Yet, Luke was naturally aware, when he wrote, that Jesus was no longer present in the here-
and-now, and therefore the kingdom, for Luke, was no longer in the here-and-now. The
Ascension relocated the kingdom to heaven, one day to come in the same way you saw
him go (Acts 1:11).491 In the meantime, there was plenty to do. Because of the gift of the
Holy Spirit the kingdom was to be proclaimed,492 there were persecutions to suffer and
there was the mission to the Gentiles.493

489a See Sections 1.2.3 and 2.1.
490 See discussions in Sections 3.3.2, 3.4 and 3.5.2. So also the following, but for different reasons:
M. M. B. Turner, (1981), Jesus and the Spirit in Luke, 41 n. 152; Chilton, (1985), Gos.
Thom., 68; del Agua, (1999), Evangelization, 650, 661. This is similar to the second century
identification of the kingdom of God with Jesus, particularly in the use of the term
^ql_^pfib^, see Origen, Comm. on Matt 18:23ff, XIV.7 (ANF X, 498b). For the concept,
without the technical term, see the earlier: Justin, Dialogue XVI (ANF I, 217b); Tertullian,
Against Marcion IV.33 (ANF III, 404a). For modern works on the kingdom of God in early
patristic literature, see: K. L. Schmidt, (1964ET), @^pfib^ (ql vbl) in the Early Church,
TDNT I, 589, 593; Ferguson, (1982), The Terminology of Kingdom, 669-76; Ferguson, (1987),
The Kingdom of God in Early Patristic Literature, 191-208; Flew, (1935), Jesus and the
Kingdom of God, 216b; Lampe, (1948), Some Notes, 58-73; Walther, (1979), Late
Reflections on the Kingdom of God, 176; C. J. Cadoux, (1941), The Historic Mission of Jesus,
129; Cranfield, (1963), Mark, 66; Sneed, (1962), Dissertation, 20-21 and n. 32.
491 See the works of Eric Franklin, especially: Franklin, (1970), Eschatology of Luke-Acts, 191-
200, esp. 198. Cf. J. T. Carroll, (1988), Response to the End of History, 81.
492 Cf. Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke I-IX, 157.
493 Cf. Cranfield, (1963), The Parable of the Unjust Judge, 301. Gager, (1975), Kingdom and
Community, 43-49, suggested in fact that the very non arrival of the kingdom was the driving
force behind missionary activity.
If there is to be a present-future tension in Luke-Acts, it is to be found through the pen of

Luke the redactor. The kingdom was the same Jesus who lived long ago in Israel and who,
Luke hoped, would one day return. He is the kingdom in both its present (in the time of
Jesus) and future dimensions.494
In inheriting the notion of the Holy Spirit as Jesus future kingdom, Luke for a reason that
is not evident in the passages studied, threw up a dam against the flood of
enthusiasm.495 While not totally divorcing himself from the legacy of his community,
Luke was clearly compelled to anchor the kingdom firmly in Jesus. Luke effectively
equated the Parousia with the future coming of the kingdom. Was it because undue
emphasis was being placed on the experience of the Holy Spirit rather than faith in Jesus?
This naturally begs the question as to what Luke made of the Holy Spirit within the
context of the kingdom. On the one hand, Luke could hardly ignore, nor did he, the events
and after-effects of Pentecost. On the other hand, he embraced the legacy of his earlier
community and incorporated the intimate association of the Spirit with Jesus in his
relocation of the kingdom.496 Though the Spirit did not constitute a continuing presence
of the kingdom of God nor the anticipation of the end in the present497 for Luke, as it
did for the pre-Lukan community, its presence nevertheless quelled both eager anticipation
for and anxiety over any notion of an imminent coming of the kingdom. The Spirit
Himself is no longer the eschatological gift, but the substitute in the meantime for the
possession of ultimate salvation.498 Luke in the end, while identifying the kingdom with
Jesus, was doing little more than returning to the teaching of Jesus himself. The Divine
King would indeed return to Zion.
This synthesis of Lukes position has implications for Hans Conzelmanns justly seminal
conception of Lukes chronology. Conzelmann saw the Lukan view of salvation as divided
494 Cf. J. T. Carroll, (1988), Response to the End of History, 15, 17, cf. 82. According to Carroll,
this would seem to approximate the view of Noack, (1948), Das Gottesreich bei Lukas, 45-49,
except that Noack apparently saw the kingdom as present with the activity of Jesus. Noacks work
was unavailable to the present writer.
495 Ksemann, (1969ET), Questions, 22. This is not to deny also Conzelmann, (1961ET), Theology of
St. Luke, 123, who saw Lukes struggle as an essentially an anti-apocalyptic one, by which he
probably meant calculations of the end, p. 121. However, in the passages surveyed the
reorientation away from emphasis on the Holy Spirit is evident.
496 A similar but less precise statement might be that of Ellis, (1972), Eschatology in Luke, 19-20,
The whole of Lukan eschatology is within the context of a two-stage manifestation of the
kingdom of God present and future. But how is the age-to-come present? . . . Luke . . . combines
future eschatology and the Spirit or Jesus.
497 Cullmann, (1962ETRev), Christ and Time, 72.
498 Conzelmann, (1961ET), Theology of St. Luke, 95, cf. 136; Franklin, (1975), Christ the Lord, 272,
Life within the Christian community does not for Luke actually embody the life of the kingdom.
into three epochs: from creation to the imprisonment of John the Baptist; from the baptism
of Jesus to his ascension; and from the ascension to the parousia.499
This chapter has shown that while no evidence of any delay or concern with a delay in a
future coming of the kingdom of God could be detected, there is rather a four-fold division
of time in Lukes mind. It is: the epoch prior to the historical Jesus (kingdom absent); the
epoch of Jesus of Nazareth (kingdom present); the epoch between the ascension and a
future coming of Gods kingdom (kingdom absent); and the new epoch from the arrival of
this future kingdom (kingdom present).500 Because Jesus was the kingdom as far as the
redactor was concerned, Conzelmann can be seen more clearly to have been right in his
claim that Jesus stood, for Luke, in the middle of time. More accurately, we might say that
the person of Jesus as the kingdom stood for Luke both in the middle and at the climax of
time.
499 Conzelmann, (1961ET), Theology of St. Luke, 22-24, 95. Cf. Cullmann, (1962ETRev), Christ and
Time, 81-93. Fitzmyer, (1989), Luke the Theologian, 62-63, supported Conzelmanns chronology
with minor modifications.
500 Cf. Mattill, (1979), Luke and the Last Things, 23-25. It is in this sense that Luke separated the
period of Israel from that of Jesus and the Church, contrary to Franklin, (1994), Luke, 249.
288 3.7 The Presence of the Kingdom of God : Excursus
3.7 EXCURSUS : REVEAL AS CONVERSE OF COME
The survey of literature on God as king and the kingdom of God in the preceding two
chapters, highlights an important phenomenon, namely that in the Targumim, the Aramaic
hlg to reveal is frequently used as the translation for either the Hebrew awb to
come or the verb Klm to be, become king. Given that Luke 17:20-21 contains the verb
oulj^f twice with the kingdom of God as subject, the substitution is of potential
major relevance to an understanding of the pericope.
It will be argued here that within the specific context of the present work, there is a real
difference in intended meaning between to come and to reveal.501 This difference
highlights the conclusion drawn in chapter 3, namely that the Pharisees believed in a
realised, present kingdom of God, in contrast to Jesus who maintained that the kingdom
was not in the here-and-now but was to come some time in the future.
Firstly however, a brief consideration of the verbs is in order.
3.7.1 awb (qal) to come
In the OT, awb in the qal form exhibits a wide range of meaning.502 Nevertheless, it always
expresses movement either in space or time towards a certain goal.503 The significance of
this observation for the present enterprise cannot be overstated. The implication is that an
object or event cannot be said to come or be coming unless it is either coming from
somewhere else or will occur at some future time. The immediate consequence is that until
it has come, neither the object nor the event can be said to be present either in space or
time.
This is confirmed with respect to God by a brief survey of the OT instances in which God
is the subject of awb. For the sake of convenience, these may be divided into three
501 Contrary to such scholars as: Buchanan, (1970), Consequences of the Covenant, 67 n. 4; Chilton,
(1979), God in Strength, 89, 287; Preuss, (1995-96ET), OT Theology I, 203; Chilton, (1996),
Pure Kingdom, 60. See Section 1.4.2. Though to be fair, they considered the verbs from a wider
perspective.
502 According to Clines, (1993), DCH I, 454a, the synonym hta, has God as its subject only once in
the OT at Deut 33:5, which is curious given 1 Cor 16:22 and Rev 22:20.
503 Preuss, (1975ET), awb bo, TDOT II, 21, similar to Lohmeyer, (1965ET), Lords Prayer, 93-94,
and followed by Brown, (1961), The Pater Noster, 190 n. 62.
3.7 The Presence of the Kingdom of God : Excursus 289
categories: the so-called old narratives; those associated with the cult or temple; and its
use in the prophets.504
The coming of God in the old narratives occurs largely in night dreams and once in the
cloud (Exod 19:9).505 Even if the coming of God in these narratives is formulaic, in
each instance it is clear that until the coming, YHWH is not present with the person
concerned. Exod 19:9 is an interesting case in itself. In this J tradition YHWH comes
only to Moses and not to the people (cf. v. 21).506 He comes from Sinai to the tent of
meeting in the camp, and until he does so he is not present with Moses in the camp.
The cultic use betrays a similar movement of YHWH in space. Exod 20:24 assumes that
God will come to every Mwqm place where his name is remembered, not be at every
such place, as if he was waiting there to be remembered.507 In 1 Sam 4:7 the Philistines
believed that God had come into the camp of the Hebrews with the ark, implying that until
then God was not in the camp. Ps 24:7,9 is again a cultic use associated with the ark. Here
God moves, as it were, through space into the temple. In Ezek 43:2,4 44:2, Ezekiel looks
forward to the return of God to the new temple.
The prophetic use is the most explicit of all. In many cases, God is depicted as either
coming from somewhere on the earth, be it from Sinai, Zion, Teman, or the North,508 or
from heaven. In so-called Third-Isaiah, Isa 59:19-20, 63:1, 66:15,18 also speak of a future
coming of YHWH to Zion as Redeemer. Gods glory will not be seen, until he comes
(60:2, 66:18). In fact, for this post-exilic prophet (community?), God lives in heaven
(63:15). Zech 2:10 was probably written at a time when the second temple was yet to
become a reality.509 This verse contains the priestly Nkv to dwell. It looks forward to
the day when once again God will come from his holy dwelling (v. 13), i.e. heaven,510
504 Jenni, (1997ET), awb bo to come, TLOT I, 203-204. For other categories, see: Aalen, (1961),
Reign and House, 224; Preuss, (1975ET), awb bo, TDOT II, 44-49; Mann, (1977), Divine
Presence, 252; Clines, (1993), DCH II, 102b. It is clear that Jenni didnt account for every
instance, but the range is nevertheless conveniently accounted for by his three categories.
505 In Gen 20:3(E), 31:24(E), Num 22:9(E),20(E), 1 Sam 3:10; cf. Exod 20:20, Deut 4:34, its use is
indefinite, see Gnuse, (1995), Dreams in the Night, 36-37, 42, 43-46. The references in
Numbers bears a close resemblance to the relevant section in the Deir Alla text, see Gnuse,
(2000), Redefining the Elohist, 205, 207.
506 Hyatt, (1971), Exodus, 201.
507 Preuss, (1975ET), awb bo, TDOT II, 44, suggested that this is a late priestly redaction. Since it
varies from the Dtr formula cause my name to be remembered this is probably the case.
508 Sinai, Deut 33:2 (for battle); Zion, Ps 50:3 (for judgement); Teman, Hab 3:3 (for battle); North:
Ezek 1:4, cf. Job 37:22.
509 Meyers and Meyers, (1987), Zechariah 1-8, 168. Preuss, (1975ET), awb bo, TDOT II, 48,
thought that the context of Zech 2:10 was not cultic but military.
510 See under Ps 68:24 in Section 2.2.1.1.
to dwell in the temple in the midst of his people. In Isa 19:1, YHWH will come into Egypt
for judgement on that nation. Presumably God is not there normally.
The remainder of the examples are connected by their immediate context of God as
king.511
God as Klm king awb to come from to for

Deut 33:5 Deut 33:2 Sinai Jeshurun salvation
1 Chron 16:31 // Ps 96:10 1 Chron 16:33 // Ps 96:13 -- // -- tent / temple judgement
Ps 24:7-10 Ps 24:7,9 -- temple battle
Ps 98:6 Ps 98:9 -- temple judgement
Isa 6:5 Isa 13:5, 35:4 -- -- salvation
Isa 41:21, 43:15, 44:6, Isa 40:10 (cf. 52:8), 50:2 Zion redemption
52:7b & salvation
Zech 14:9,16,17 Zech 14:5 Mt Jerusalem worship
Olives
Mal 1:14 Mal 3:1, 4:6 --- temple judgement
Each instance was discussed in chapter 2 under the heading of the reference in the first
column. As can be seen from the above chart, even though explicit mention of the origin of
YHWH is only in two cases,512 in each instance a movement in space is indicated.
Though later literature has not been canvassed as extensively for every instance of the
coming of God, those that are associated with God as king are the following:
God as king to come from to for

1 Enoch 9:4, 12:3, 1 Enoch 1:3 his dwelling / Mt Sinai judgement
25:3,5,7, 27:3 heaven
1 Enoch 91:13b 1 Enoch 91:7 heaven earth judgement
As. Mos. 4:2, 10:3 As. Mos. holy earth judgement
10:3,7 habitation
Adam and Eve (Apoc.) Adam and heaven Paradise judgement
29:4 Eve (Apoc.)
22:3
Apart from an actual spatial movement from heaven to earth, each example of the
coming of the Divine King is a future event. The example from Adam and Eve (Apoc.),
though set in the past, is probably parabolic and thus teaches a future judgement for all.
Moving onto the NT, not once is it recorded that Jesus spoke of the coming (oulj^f) of
God (vbt). Nor, for that matter, did any of the Gospel redactors. On the other side of the
511 Isa 30:27, 31:4, could have been included here in relation to Isa 33:17,22, but were not since 30:27
refers to the coming of the name of YHWH and 31:4 used the verb dry. Ps 68:17 is mentioned by
Preuss, (1975ET), awb bo, TDOT II, 46 and, Jenni, (1997ET), awb bo to come, TLOT I, 203,
in this context but in Ps 68:18 (BHS) awb is not present. Isa 35:4 is not mentioned by Jenni.
512 Cf. the comment by: Preuss, (1975ET), awb bo, TDOT II, 47.
coin, nowhere outside the Synoptic Gospels is there any mention of the coming of the
kingdom of God.513 This begs the question whether the coming of the kingdom of God in
fact means the coming of God as king.
In chapter 3 that question was answered in the affirmative. The kingdom of God meant
for the Pharisees and Jesus first and foremost God Himself as king. In addition, it is clear
that, for whatever reason, Jesus preferred kingdom of God to any other divine royal
appellation. Therefore, the coming of the kingdom of God meant for Jesus fundamentally
the coming of God as king, whose Royal Presence was yet to be in the here-and-now.
3.7.2 hlg, ylg (niphal and ithpeel) to reveal, uncover
hlg (Aramaic ylg) has two basic meanings: the transitive to uncover, to make/become
clear, to appear; and the intransitive to proceed toward, to leave, to go forth,
to go into exile and to emigrate.
We are interested here in the Hebrew niphal form and the Aramaic ithpeel form of the
transitive verb, in which it is reflexive, with God as the subject. In such a context, the
Hebrew verb, so limited, appears in the following verses in the OT: Gen 35:7, 1 Sam 2:27,
3:21 and Isa 22:14.514
Gen 35:7(E) refers back to Gen 28:10-22, where God appears to Jacob in a dream at
Bethel. It is thus not strictly a theophany. 1 Sam 2:27 occurs in an oracle against Elis
family. Together with 1 Sam 3:7,21 which effectively constitute a fulfilment of the oracle,
these indicate a verbal revelation in prophetic fashion,515 similar to Isa 22:14, where
God literally reveals himself in the ears of the prophet (cf. Dan 10:1), by again issuing
a threat.
What is crucial for the present task is that whereas awb in the qal future form implies
something or an event that is not yet present, hlg in the niphal future form implies that the
subject is in fact present but in some sense hidden from view or knowledge, only to be
exposed to sight. In fact the common antonym of hlg is rto, which means to hide,
cover something that is already there.
513 An important observation, made often, for example: Lohmeyer, (1965ET), Lords Prayer, 90;
Perrin, (1967), Rediscovering, 59; The exception is Tg. Neb. Mic 4:8, but this is to be dated to
the Amoraic period. See Section 2.5.1.2, the footnote to Tg. Neb. Mic 4:7b, and Section 3.5.1.3,
the footnote to Tg. Neb. Mic 4:7-8.
514 Zobel, (1977ETRev), hlg galah, TDOT II, 484-85; Westermann and Albertz, (1997ET), hlg glh
to uncover, TLOT I, 318-19.
515 Westermann and Albertz, (1997ET), hlg glh to uncover, TLOT I, 318.
To reveal then is to uncover something that is present but hidden from view,516 whether
it is an object, event or secret. A brief survey of the other instances of the niphal of hlg in
the OT will confirm this view.
1 Sam 14:8,11. Jonathan, accompanied by his armour bearer, sneaked into a Philistine
camp and hid. Once there, they revealed themselves to the Philistines.
2 Sam 6:20. Michal, Sauls daughter and Davids wife, complained that David exposed
his body in public. This form is often used in a similar context.517
2 Sam 22:16 (// Ps 18:15). Part of a psalm of thanksgiving. The bottom of the ocean was
exposed to the light from heaven (cf. Ezek 13:14).
Isa 23:1. Knowledge of an event that had occurred or would occur in a prophetic future.
Isa 40:5. Gods glory will be revealed. Again, not a theophany, but an acknowledgment
that Gods act of deliverance, which had previously been effected, would be seen and stand
as a testimony to his majesty (cf. 53:1). It is a particularly interesting verse, since hlg
niphal and har to see are together implying that revelation means that such an object
or event can, in fact, be seen or acknowledged.518
Ezek 16:57, Hos 7:1, Prov 26:26. The exposure or discovery of wickedness previously
hidden, unnoticed or ignored.
1 Sam 3:7, Dan 10:1. A word of God or a divine secret told (revealed) to someone.
The Pseudepigrapha contains two instances where God as king is revealed or

appears, 1 Enoch 1:3-4 and Jub. 1:28. In each case this appearance comes only after
God first comes forth or descends from his heavenly abode. Similarly, the
Pseudepigrapha contains only one instance where the kingdom of God is said to
appear: As. Mos. 10:1.
In other words, within the context under discussion, reveal implies the exposure to
physical sight of something present but previously hidden from view. In the few instances
were God is the subject of the verb, it also implies a previously present but hidden God.
516 See Dalman, (1902ET), Words of Jesus, 100-101 (not 97 as in Chilton); G. F. Moore, (1927),
Judaism II, 374; Chilton, (1982), The Glory of Israel, 151 n. 1; Chilton, (1984), Galilean
Rabbi, 60; Moltmann, (1996ET), The Coming of God, 137; See Section 1.4.2.
517 Cf. Ezek 16:36, 23:29, Jer 13:22.
518 Cf. 1 Sam 3:21, 2 Sam 22:16 (// Ps 18:15). There are no such occurrences of hzx and hlg . Cf.
Vetter, (1997ET), hzx hzh to see, TLOT I, 401; Jub. 1:28.
3.7.3 In the Targumim
As noted at the beginning of Section 3.7, in the Targumim, a phenomenon which until now
has either escaped notice or defied full explanation, may be found. That is, that on a few
crucial occasions the Targumim substitute the Aramaic ylg to reveal for the Hebrew
awb to come. They are crucial because they occur precisely in the context of divine
kingship, or in association with kingdom of God.
The verses in the right-hand column of each chart below have been isolated as instances
where the Hebrew awb has been translated by the Aramaic ylg within the context of either
the kingship of God (first table) or directly referring to the kingdom of God (second
table).
Date God as king God as king Date for kingdom of

for see Section 2.2.1 to reveal himself targumim God to be
targumim for OT revealed
See Section 3.2.1
Pre-70 Zech 14:9,16,17 Zech 14:3,4,5 Pre-70 Isa 40:9,10
see Section see Section
2.3.1.2 Mal 1:14 Mal 3:5,24 3.3.1.3 Obad 21
Post-70 Isa 33:17,22 Isa 33:10 Zech 14:9
see Section
2.5.1.3
Post-70 Isa 24:23
see Section Isa 31:4
3.5.1.3 Ezek 7:7,10
In Section 1.6.2 the phenomenon of converse translations in the Targumim was

discussed. It is submitted that, in the Targumim, within the context under discussion, the
Aramaic ylg is not a synonym for the Hebrew awb, but is an example of this technique of
translation known as converse translation - but such a translation being made because
of theological rather than semantic reasons. This may be claimed for three reasons.
First, within the context of divine kingship, ylg translates more than simply awb, as is
shown by the following table, so that a simple translation with the same meaning cannot
be assumed.
awb to come Klm to reign Other

God as king Zech 14:3 Zech 14:9 Isa 33:10 (Mwq)
Mal 3:5,24
kingdom of Isa 40:10 Isa 24:23 Isa 31:4 (dry)
God Ezek 7:7 Zech 14:9 Isa 40:9
Ezek 7:10 (auy)
Obad 21
Second, the Targumim whose formation occurred before or soon after A.D. 70 had a
particular understanding of the presence of God as king / the kingdom of God. To have
said that it was coming would have been an absurdity since, as far as the originators of
their tradition were concerned, it was already in the here-and-now, waiting for the time of
revelation. This is confirmed not only by the conclusions drawn in section 3.6.2 and 3.6.4
but also by the simple fact that none of these targumim used the world come.
Third, the idea of to come has nothing to do with theophany or epiphany,519 whereas
to reveal does, per se. In every instance discussed above with the verb to come, it is
associated with theophany only when that is explicitly mentioned, as if the verb to come
did not on its own imply that. The event of the coming of God or the kingdom is
therefore something different from its revelation, which may or may not follow.
In short to come testifies to a future reality, to reveal to a present one.520 The two
verbs mean exactly the opposite to one another in this context.
3.7.4 Arguments against Converse Translation
The primary argument against regarding the two verbs as converse translations, at least
within the limited context of divine kingship and the kingdom of God, is that they do
sometimes occur in parallel and where they do so, they seem to indicate the same action.
Thus the verbs may in fact be synonyms.
As mentioned in Section 3.7.2, the following references have been found to contain
come and appear in close proximity when referring to the Divine King: Isa 56:1,
and other OT passages; 1 Enoch 1:3-4; Jub. 1:28; and As. Mos. 10:3,7,12.521
519 Cf. Aalen, (1961), Reign and House, 224.

520 Chilton, (1982), The Glory of Israel, 151 n. 7; Bilde, (1998), Josephus and Jewish
Apocalypticism, 42, of mlhîmqs.
521 Tg. Neb. Mal 3:1,5,24, may be relevant here, but its dating is problematic. God will send a
messenger to prepare his way (3:1a, cf. v. 24). The messenger will come and then be revealed
(3:1c,2a,3a) in order to prepare for God by purifying the sons of Levi (3:b, cf. 1:7) so that they
may be able to offer acceptable sacrifices before the Lord (3:4, cf. 1:14a). Then God himself
shall enter his temple (3:1b, cf. v. 12) and reveal himself (3:5,24) in order to judge (a kingly
activity) those who sinned. We may note the strong emphasis on Divine Presence highlighted by
the fact that God must come to be in his temple before he can reveal himself there. Thus, this
Isa 56:1
BHS of Isa 56:1
hqdu wsew jpvm wrmv hwhy rma hk
: twlghl ytqduw awbl ytewvy hbwrq-yk
NRSV of Isa 56:1

Thus says the LORD: Maintain justice, and do what is right,
for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed.
At first sight this verse from (third?) Isaiah may appear to undermine, or at least weaken,
the above argument that there is a fundamental difference between awb and hlg.522 The
verbs appear to be in synonymous parallelism and the verse mentions two key indicators
of divine sovereignty, namely hewvy salvation and hqdu deliverance. However, this
is not the case.
First, we may note the order of the verbs. If it is God himself as king that is being
described, then the order of the verbs is significant. He must first come (from heaven523)
before being revealed. Indeed, in every other case where the Divine King is said to be
revealed and there are indications of his location in heaven, the verbs come and
reveal always come in that order.524
Second, for the synonymous parallelism to be relevant here, the two nouns salvation
and deliverance need to be themselves synonyms. For the Isaian tradition, God himself
is hewvy salvation.525 His very Presence means salvation.526 On the other hand, hqdu
better translated righteousness, although an attribute belonging to God, is not exclusive
to him. God is able to impart the quality of righteousness to humans. It is also his
instrument for his act of impending redemption and salvation.527
Targumic tradition saw the house of the Shekhinah (v. 12), i.e. the temple, as currently vacant
and it awaited the time when the Lord will enter it. In the meantime, God was a rex vagus, a
king not living in his kingdom.
522 Cf. Aalen, (1961), Reign and House, 226 n. 2, but see pp. 224-26 where he rightly claimed that
coming has nothing to do with theophany. See also Preuss, (1995-96ET), OT Theology I, 203.
523 The (third) Isaian tradition maintained that YHWH lived in heaven, see Isa 63:15, 66:1.
524 Related to the verses analysed are the following: Deut 33:2 (if epy to shine were a revelatory
verb rather than a verb for battle); Mal 3:2, the messenger of YHWH, awb followed by har. In
fact, in every case where the two verbs appear together in the same verse in BHS (1 Sam 2:27,
9:15, 2 Kgs 15:29, 17:28, Isa 16:3, 23:1, 56:1, Jer 24:1, Hos 7:1, Amos 5:5), awb always
precedes hlg . The two exceptions, Jer 24:1 and Hos 7:1, do not count because the verbs have
different subjects.
525 Isa 12:2, 33:2,6, 59:17.
526 Isa 25:9, 49:6, 52:7,10.
527 In the Isaian tradition: attribute of God, 5:16, 45:8,23,24, 51:6,8, 56:1, 59:16,17; it comes from
God and some humans can have it, 5:23, 9:7, 28:17, 33:5,15, 48:18, 54:14, 57:12, 58:2, 59:9,14,
Third, the nouns occur together in four other verses: Isa 46:13, 51:6,8 and 59:17, if the
synonym to hewvy namely hewvt is taken into account. The first three confirm that
Gods righteousness is an instrument for salvation, the last depicts God as the Divine
Warrior preparing for battle (cf. 42:13, 52:10). Both righteousness and salvation come
from YHWH. He is righteousness and salvation.
1 Enoch 1:3-4
1 Enoch 1:3b-4 (Greek)528

3b h^ gbibpbq^f dft jlr jd^t h qt h^qlfhpbst
^ql+
4 h^ vbt ql ^klt m dk m^qpbf m q Qbfk olt h^
c^kpbq^f h qt môbj_lit ^ql+ h^ c^kpbq^f k q
arkjbf qt pult ^ql m ql lo^kl qk lo^kk-
1 Enoch 1:3b-4a (Aramaic) = 4QEna 1 i 5-6529

hera le txny hmle hlaw 4 hrwd]m Nm hb[r h]vydq qpny 3b
[azxtyw hrwj ynyo le Krdyw
hymv ymv Nm ht]wrbg [Pqt]b epwyw hb[r hlyx Me]
Translation of 1 Enoch 1:3b,4a (based on the Ethiopic)530

3b The God of the universe, the Holy Great One, will come forth from his
dwelling.
4a And from there he will march upon Mount Sinai and appear in his camp
emerging from heaven with a mighty power.
The sequence of events is clear.531 God will come from heaven, proceed to Mount
Sinai as the Warrior King and there appear.532 Though the whole may be one
continuous event, the sequence and order of the verbs is important. It indicates not only
that they mean different things, but that come implies a previous absence, whereas
appear implies a previous presence, no matter how short the period.
61:10,11, 64:5; for redemption, 1:27, 10:22; for salvation, 32:16,17, 45:8, 46:13, 51:6,8, 56:1,
63:1.
528 Black, (1970), Apocalypsis, 19.
529 Milik, (1976), The Books of Enoch, 142, cf. 340; Martnez and Tigchelaar, (2000), Dead Sea
Scrolls Study Edition I, 398, 400.
531 This has been previously discussed in Section 2.2.3 under 1 Enoch 9:4.
532 Black, (1985), The Book of Enoch, 106. Black explained the odd Greek rendering as being due to a
later copyist.
Jub. 1:26,28
Translation of Jub. 1:26d,28 (based on the Ethiopic)533
1:26 until I shall descend and dwell with them in all the ages of eternity.
1:28 And the Lord will appear in the sight of all. And everyone will know
that I am the God of Israel and the father of all the children of Jacob and
king upon Mount Zion forever and ever. And Zion and Jerusalem will be
holy.
This passage has been previously discussed in Section 2.2.3 under Jub. 1:28. The
sequence of events is similar to that of 1 Enoch 1:3-4. In v. 26, God will descend and
dwell in the sanctuary once the sanctuary is built. Only then will he appear in the sight
of all (v. 28, cf. Isa 40:5). Everyone will then know that God is king upon Mount Zion
forever and ever (cf. Isa 24:23). God will appear only after he descends and
dwells.534
As. Mos. 10:3,7,12
As. Mos. 10:3,7,11535

3 <Exur>get enim Caelestis a sede regni sui et exiet de habitatione sancta sua
cum indignationem et iram propter filios suos.
7 Quia exurgit summus Deus aeternus solus, et palam veniet ut vindicet
gentes et perdet omnia idola eorum.
12 Erunt enim a morte, receptione m<ea> usque ad adventum illius tempora
CCL quae fiunt.
Translation of As. Mos. 10:3,7,12536

3 For the Heavenly One will arise from his kingly throne. Yea, he will go
forth from his holy habitation with indignation and wrath on behalf of his
sons.
7 For God Most High will surge forth, the Eternal One alone. In full view
will he come to work vengeance on the nations. Yea, all their idols will be
destroyed.
12 for from my death and burial until his coming there will pass 250 times.
Aspects related to the above have been previously discussed in Sections 2.2.3 and 3.2.3.
The sequence of events is slightly mixed in chapter 10. Verses 1 and 2 describe the
appearance of the kingdom of God. How that will happen is described in subsequent
verses. God will first rise from his throne in heaven and come to earth, which will
533 Wintermute, (1983), Jubilees, OTP II, 54.

534 What relationship this event had to the day of the LORD type events of Jub. 23:22-32 is difficult
to say. Ladd, (1952), The Kingdom of God in Jubilees, suggested that Jub. 23:22-32
immediately preceded Jub. 1.
535 Tromp, (1993), The Assumption of Moses, 18, 20.
536 Priest, (1983), The Testament of Moses, OTP I, 932, 933.
suffer earthquakes and lack of light as a result (vv. 3-6). Only then God will palam veniet
manifest himself in order to punish the nations and destroy idols. Gods coming is
alluded to again in v. 12.
Thus the Divine Kings coming and manifestation are always separable events and
mean different things.
3.7.5 Parallel Examples Supporting Converse Translation
Messiah
Judaism does not speak of the coming of the Son of Man,537 nor does late Second
Temple Judaism speak of the coming of the Messiah.538 On the other hand, the
Targumim speak of a hidden messiah that will finally be revealed.539 This belief must be
an old one, since it occurs in John 7:27 and in Justin Martyr,540 as well as in such places
as 4 Ezra 7:28, 1 Enoch 48:6 and 2 Baruch 29:3, 39:7. There is no doubt that it was
believed that the Messiah would be born, but spend the first part of his life hidden or
unrecognised in the world, only to be later revealed.
537 Schweizer, (1963), The Son of Man Again, 260; Perrin, (1967), Rediscovering, 164; Glasson,
(1984), Schweitzers Influence, 118. But Jesus, of course, does, e.g. Matt 16:27, 24:30, 25:31,
26:64, and parallels.
538 Matt 11:3 // Luke 7:19 probably refer not to a coming messiah, but to a messenger of YHWH, cf.
Mal 3:1. In the NT it is used of: Elijah, Matt 11:14, 17:10,12, 27:49, Mark 9:11-13; Jesus, Matt
21:9 and par., Heb 10:37, Rev 1:4,8. See: Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke I-IX, 666; Harrington, (1991),
Matthew, 155; Gundry, (19942), Matthew, 205. 1QS 9:11 may do so indirectly though it is
unclear. In any case, its source is sectarian and probably not reflective of the contemporary
general Jewish idea. See too, 2 Bar. 72:2, where it is the time of the Messiah that comes. For
the erroneous assumption that first century Judaism did speak of a coming messiah, see: Aalen,
(1961), Reign and House, 225; Schneider, (1964ET), oulj^f, TDNT II, 670; Marshall,
(1978), Luke, 290.
539 For example: Tg. Ps.-J. Gen 35:21, Frg. Tg. P Exod 15:18, Frg. Tg. V Exod 12:42, Tg. Neof.
Exod 12:42, Tg. Ps.-J. Exod 12:42, Tgs. Neb. Isa 43:10, Jer 30:2,21, Mic 2:13, 4:8, 5:1, Zech
3:8, 4:7, 6:12, and possibly Tg. Neof. Deut 33:5. See: Aalen, (1961), Reign and House, 227 n.
2; McNamara, (19662), The NT and the Palestinian Targum, 249-50; Levey, (1974), The
Messiah, 92; G. F. Moore, (1927), Judaism III, 344, 349.
540 Justin Dialogue, VIII (ANF I, 199a).
Luke 19:11
NA27 of Luke 19:11

~?hlrkqsk a ^qk q^q^ molpvbt bmbk mô^_lik af q
ddt bk^f ~Gbolrpîj ^qk h^ alhbk ^qlt qf môûoj^
jiibf _^pfib^ ql vbl k^c^kbpv^f-
NRSV of Luke 19:11

As they were listening to this, he went on to tell a parable, because he was
near Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to
appear immediately.
This verse forms the introduction to the parable of the ten pounds (Luke 19:11-27) and
has previously been discussed in Section 3.5.2. As the parable contains five instances of
words with a _^pfi+ stem, they have been discussed in Section 2.5.2.1.
Unfortunately, exactly what Luke meant by k^c^kbpv^f, the present infinitive passive
of k^c^ks, is not at all clear.
~?k^c^ks occurs only twice in the NT - both in Luke-Acts (Luke 19:11, Acts 21:3).
The one in Acts refers to the sighting of land (Cyprus) from an approaching ship - land, as
it were, hidden from view until sighted.541 It occurs five times in the LXX: Song 6:5,
translating the verb vlg to sit, recline, which occurs only here and at BHS Song 4:1,
where it is translated by mlhîmqs to reveal; Job 11:18, translating bkv to lie
down; Job 13:18 and 40:8, combined with ah^flt, translating qdu to be righteous
and meaning to be declared righteous, in the sense that the righteousness already
present is clearly seen and declared; and Job 24:19, which bears little relationship to the
Hebrew.
In Josephus, the verb in the passive voice usually means to appear, discover either
something that seems to be the case or is found to be so.542 Again, prior presence or
existence is assumed.
Whatever the exact meaning, the picture for our purposes is clear. Luke thought that those
who followed Jesus believed that the kingdom of God was going to appear môûoj^
immediately. The verb is k^c^ks and not oulj^f. That is, the hidden kingdom
was soon to be revealed.543 Those in the caravan with Jesus, did not believe that the
kingdom of God would come, because for them it was already in the here-and-now,
only hidden.
541 Cf. BDF, 163 309(1); L. T. Johnson, (1982), Lukan Kingship Parable, 149.
542 E.g. Ant. 5:77, 17:120, B.J. 4:377, 6:414, 7:371, cf. B.J. 7:29, Ant. 2:339, 7:333. Note
especially, Ant. 6:240, where Jonathan first came into Davids presence and then David appeared
(from hiding). See L. T. Johnson, (1982), Lukan Kingship Parable, 150.
543 Some scholars give either translation for the word at Luke 19:11, for example: G. F. Moore,
(1927), Judaism II, 374; Aalen, (1961), Reign and House, 221.
The subsequent parable can be understood as a corrective to this misconception. There is

not a single word depicting the appearance or revealing of the nobleman. There are,
however, words of motion. The nobleman went to a distant country (v. 12) only
subsequently to return (vv. 12, 15). The idea was that the nobleman left the presence of
his slaves for a time. Whether one interprets the nobleman as being Jesus or God (with the
kingdom of God identified with each), the effect is the same. The kingdom is not present
in the here-and-now of the redactor, but will be when Jesus/God returns. Quite simply, the
nobleman does not hide within his territory from his slaves only to appear and demand
an account of their actions.
3.7.6 Synthesis
Within the context under discussion, namely that of God as king or the kingdom of God,
the following observations have been made:
That to come refers to the approach of an event or object that is not yet in the here-and-
now, whereas to reveal refers to the exposure to sight of something that is present but
hidden. In other words, these two verbs do not mean the same thing but refer to different
events, even when they occur together;
That in the Targumim containing traditions that can be dated to prior to and shortly after
A.D. 70 (and therefore are reflective of both Pharisaic and post-70 synagogue ideas
respectively), the Aramaic to reveal is a converse translation of the Hebrew to come.
The Pharisees therefore always referred to the revealing of the kingdom of God and
never to its coming since for them the Divine King or kingdom of God was already
present in the here-and-now but hidden.
Conversely, it should come, therefore, as no surprise that Jesus is never recorded as having
spoken of a revealing of the kingdom of God. For him to have done so would have been a
denial of his understanding of the kingdom not simply as God the king but a denial of the
kingdom which in his time he believed was fundamentally removed from the world, i.e. it
was in heaven.
4 AN EXEGESIS OF
LUKE 17:20-21
[I]f we could know (which we never can) whether Jesus really said 21, and
if so, what he meant by it, it would be intensely interesting.
(Montefiore, Synoptic Gospels II, 546)
4.1 PREFACE
The aim of this chapter is simple. Having proposed a new way of regarding the phrase
kingdom of God, the present task is to apply that understanding to Luke 17:20-21 in
order to appreciate better and to shed light on that most enigmatic of Gospel passages. The
success or otherwise of the endeavour will be an indication of the validity of the proposed
model of the kingdom of God.
The method employed will be a carefully layered consideration of each element of the
pericope.
First, to avoid circular arguments, the composition history of each element will be
ascertained, independent of exegetical considerations. To use the probable meaning of a
text in order to discern its composition history only later to conduct an exegesis on the
result, is to employ hermeneutically unsound reasoning.1
There have been earlier attempts, of course, to unravel the composition history of this
passage. The most notable was that of Josef Zmijewski in his 1972 book Die
Eschatologiereden des Lukas - Evangeliums. However, his effort suffered from three fatal
errors: he accounted for only two stages of formation, the first and the third, which meant
in effect that the second stage was absorbed into the first;2 he attempted his reconstruction
only after and in the light of his exegesis, leaving open the real possibility of false or
1 Bultmann, (1963ETRev), Synoptic Tradition, 5, was himself aware, for example, of the tempting
circularity of the form-critical method: The forms of the literary tradition must be used to
establish the influences operating in the life of the community, and the life of the community
must be used to render the forms themselves intelligible.
2 Zmijewskis approach is typical of scholars who have tackled Luke 17:20-21. Hence in this chapter
there is little to note under the headings marked Recent Exegetical Comment as related to Stage
II. Indeed, almost all Recent Exegetical Comments ought to be discussed under Stage III, though
for the sake of clarity some are reserved for Stages II and I.
302 4.1 Exegesis of Luke 17:20-21 : Preface
biased results;3 and finally, his treatment was far from comprehensive and balanced, for
example he dealt with the composition of v. 21b in half a page.4
The second methodological consideration, made in order to gauge the success of the new
model of kingdom of God as applied to the passage, will be an attempt to give as
comprehensive an account as possible of all significant work that has been carried out on
Luke 17:20-21 since Richard J. Sneeds 1962 dissertation and summary article.5 Since it
has been some 40 years since a single work has been devoted to the passage, that in itself
is sufficient justification for such a presentation.
Third, while using the positive points of the last 40 years of scholarship, the deficiencies
will be answered by using the proposed model of the kingdom of God to demonstrate
that it is the best way, perhaps the only way, of extracting the original meaning of the
passage at each of the three stages of its formation.
This chapter then is unique in several respects. It is the climax of the first separate
treatment of Luke 17:20-21 in almost 40 years; it is the first exegesis of the passage to be
based on a predetermined and independent composition history; and it is the only one to
offer an explanation founded on a perceived contrast in the understanding of the kingdom
of God not simply between the Pharisees and Jesus but at each of the three stages of its
formation.
3 Zmijewski, (1972), Die Eschatologiereden, 361-78. The methodological flaw is one typical of
much German scholarship, i.e. of providing an exegesis based on a (limited) composition history
which itself is based on the exegesis, e.g. Schnackenburg, (1970), Abschnitt, 213-34, and the
list of German works in Section 1.4.3.
4 Zmijewski, (1972), Die Eschatologiereden, 361-97, the composition history of v. 21b is on p.
386.
4.2 Exegesis of Luke 17:20-21 : The Third (Redaction) Stage 303
4.2 THE THIRD (REDACTION) STAGE
The text of Luke 17:20-21 as received (finally redacted) is as follows. It has been divided
into convenient subsections for closer analysis.
Luke 17:20-21 at the end of Stage III
Luke 17:20a 20a^ ~Cmbosqevbt a But having been asked

20a_ m qk Dôfp^sk by the Pharisees
20ad mqb oubq^f when is coming
20aa _^pfib^ ql vbl the kingdom of God
20ab mbhove ^qlt h^ bmbk9 he answered and said to them,
Luke 17:20b 20b^ lh oubq^f It is not coming
20b_ _^pfib^ ql vbl the kingdom of God
20bd jbq mô^qeopbst+ with observation,
Luke 17:21a 21a^ la olpfk9 nor will they say,
21a_ al ab 6 hb7+ 8 Behold here, or There,
Luke 17:21b 21b^ al do for behold
21bd kqt jk pqfk- is within you.
4.2.1 The Narrative Introduction
In typical chreia style,9 the so-called Narrative Introduction (Luke 17:20a) places the
more important sayings of Jesus in historical context by providing a question in indirect
speech for which the sayings are Jesus response.
4.2.1.1 ~ C m b o s q e v b t a (20a^
^)
Redactional Considerations
Of the 19 times mbosqs is used in Luke-Acts, its presence in Luke 17:20 has two
unique properties: it is the only passive use;10 and it is the only anaphoric example of the
6 The best manuscripts read as given: 75 , a , B, L, 1241. The following insert al here: A, D,
(W), A, f1,13, , lat, syc.p.h. See Aland, (19752), Synopsis, 202 and NA 27, 217, for this and the
following two footnotes.
7 The following replace hb with hbf: W.
8 The following insert j mfpqbpeqb here: D. Cf. Matt 24:23 and Mark 13:21. See ONeill,
(1980), Messiah, 21-22.
9 See Section 1.3.
10 Indeed, the only passive use of this verb in the entire NT. Its only occurrence in the LXX is at Sir
32:7. For passive verbs in the Gospels, see Deer, (1975), Constructions with a Passive
Meaning, 338-46. For other near contemporary examples of ~Cmbosqevbt, see for example:
Let. Aris. 10, 2 Clem. 12:2.
304 4.2 Exegesis of Luke 17:20-21 : The Third (Redaction) Stage
verb.11 The Lukan redactor clearly favoured the indicative active form in direct speech
referring back to the object with a pronoun. These observations would normally lead one
to suspect that the redactor had received this form from his sources and incorporated it
untouched into his work.12
On the other hand, three factors make this simple conclusion questionable: Luke clearly
preferred this word in cases of dispute, one other time in relation to Pharisees (Luke 6:9);
he used it at the beginning of two other sentences where it is followed immediately by
a;13 and on four other occasions he used it in indirect speech.14
11 Porter, (19942), Idioms, 134, a verb is anaphoric when it refers to something mentioned
previously as understood.
12 The main method used to ascertain the text received by the redactor prior to his modifications is
that known as redaction criticism. That Luke (i.e. the redactor) did in fact redact his material is
certain from the mere fact that he did not hesitate to redact Mark. Since he did so with Mark there
is no reason to suppose that he did not also do so with his other sources (whether written or oral),
including those usually designated as part of his special source (L), Gagnon, (1993),
Statistical Analysis, 711. The corresponding goal of the method is to determine the theological
and other factors that influenced the redactor, thus arriving at the redactors intended meaning. See,
for example, the classic studies which consciously employed this method: Marxen, (1969ET),
Mark the Evangelist, esp. 15-29; Bornkamm, Barth and Held, (1963ET), Tradition and
Interpretation in Matthew passim; Conzelmann, (1961ET), Theology of St. Luke, passim; Stein,
(1970), A Markan Seam, 70-94.
Criteria for differentiating between tradition and redaction will include the redactors composition
style and vocabulary, Stenger, (1993ET), NT Exegesis, 50. For a general picture of Lukan style,
see Cadbury, (1920), Style and Method of Luke, 213-38, in addition to the other works given
below. It will also involve approaching the problem as if nothing was known about the redactors
sources. See Tyson, (1978), Source Criticism of the Gospel of Luke, 39, who pointed out that
Since we do not know anything [about Lukes sources], this would appear to be not only a
necessary but also a legitimate approach.
On a practical level it will proceed by asking two fundamental and interrelated questions: is the
vocabulary what one might reasonably describe as typical of Luke; and, is the interrelationship of
the words what one might reasonably describe as typical of Luke? If the answer is no to one or
both of the questions then the probability of it being non-Lukan and therefore from a Stage prior
to redaction is increased. There are problems with this method. For example, if a word or a
stylistic feature is found to be unique or nearly unique to Luke, especially in pericopes exclusive to
Luke, it merely makes it more likely that it is a contribution from Lukes source. The possibility
must not be forgotten that it could just as easily be a feature of Luke which he considered to be
uniquely suited to the purpose and context. See, for example Gagnon, (1993), Statistical
Analysis, 712, for examples of words unique in Luke-Acts in pericope redacted from Mark.
Another caveat concerning the method to be followed in ascertaining a likely composition history
is that the use of statistics to decide probable transmission alterations may seem to be
unconvincing or indecisive in individual cases. What should be borne in mind is the totality of the
presentation, especially given the fact that, a relatively small section of the largest single corpus of
work (Luke-Acts) in the NT is being dealt with. So, Chilton, (1979), God in Strength, 33, wrote:
[I]ndividual guesses about word use are only part of the redaction critical process. When guesses
collectively form a pattern of diction which is suggestive of the deliberate work of the redactor,
then the credibility of this pattern is greater than the individual guesses which make it up. Patterns
more than particulars provide reliable insights into the governing intentions of an author.
13 Luke 8:9, 21:7. Cf. Luke 6:9, where it is at the beginning of a clause of direct speech.
14 Luke 8:9, 23:6, 23:9, Acts 23:34.
Yet, Henry J. Cadbury15 noted that Luke preferred rather the simple verb osqs,
changing Marks mbosqs to osqs on at least three occasions.16 In addition,
whereas Mark used osqs three times (Matthew four times), Luke-Acts used it 22
times. Further, Luke-Acts with its 52 chapters, used mbosqs just 19 times compared
with Marks 16 chapters and 25 times (Matthew, eight times in 28 chapters). All this,
despite Lukes otherwise penchant for compound verbs.
Did Luke then compose the question to introduce sayings material? Some commentators
suggest that the sentence is typically Greek and that therefore the entire question came
from the pen of the redactor.17
There is, of course, nothing to prevent good Greek coming from the tradition, nor
should it be forgotten that the opening verb in its passive form is unique to Luke and the
entire NT and that, had Luke composed the first verb of the sentence, he more than likely
would have chosen osqs over mbosqs.
There is, therefore, nothing conclusive to confirm that Luke composed the opening verb.
Even if there were, however, it does not follow that Luke constructed the entire sentence ex
nihilo. It could be, in fact, little more than a Hellenisation of an earlier Semitic (Hebrew
and/or Aramaic) source, whether oral or written. In short, the weight of argument is in
favour of the origin of ~Cmbosqevbt being at the non-redaction stage.18
As for a, this conjunctive particle is a favourite of Luke over h^.19 There seems little
reason not to suppose that the redactor used it to insert the passage into his Gospel after
vv. 11-19. Whether it has a copulative or adversative role will be determined below.
Recent Exegetical Comment
The context of Luke 17:20-21, sandwiched as it is between the healing of ten lepers and a
vivid description of the revealing of the Son of Man, is no accident. Although it may safely
15 Cadbury, (1920), Style and Method of Luke, 166-67. Cf. Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke X-XXIV, 1159,
who mentioned some of these statistics without recourse to Cadbury.
16 Mark 9:32 - Luke 9:45, Mark 11:29 - Luke 20:3, Mark 15:2 - Luke 23:3.
17 E.g. Creed, (1930), Luke, 218; Luce, (1933), Luke, 276; Bowie, (1952), Luke, IB VIII, 300;
Bultmann, (1963ETRev), Synoptic Tradition, 25; Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke X-XXIV, 1159, 1160; J.
T. Carroll, (1988), Response to the End of History, 77; C. F. Evans, (1990), Saint Luke, 630;
Fusco, (1992), Point of View, 1677-78; Green, (1997), Luke, 628.
18 Gos. Thom. 113, couches a similar story in direct speech. Even if independence is admitted, this
does not alter the argument given, since the direct speech of Gos. Thom. 3 merely conforms to the
style of Thomas.
19 Cadbury, (1920), Style and Method of Luke, 142-45.
be assumed that its placement is the work of the redactor, because of its self-contained
standard literary form, that still leaves the question why it is in this particular place in his
Gospel.
As noted above, the redactor added the initial a to the pericope. This has the effect of
linking it in some way with what precedes it, namely vv. 11-19, the healing of the ten
lepers. But what is the function of the link? Is the particle acting in this instance as an
adversative or merely as a copulative conjunction joining two otherwise unrelated sections?
If as an adversative, then what follows is meant by the redactor as a contrast, however faint,
to the story of the healing of the ten lepers.
Scholars who have suggested that Luke 17:20-21 is linked by way of contrast to 17:11-19
include the following: I. Howard Marshall (1978),20 Eugene LaVerdiere (1980),21 Jack T.
Sanders (1987);22 Frederick W. Danker (1988Rev),23 Luke T. Johnson, (1991),24 David
B. Gowler (1991);25 R. Alan Culpepper (1994),26 Darrell L. Bock (1996),27 Allan J.
McNicol, David L. Dungan, David P. Peabody (1996);28 Joel B. Green (1997);29 and
John T. Carroll (1999).30
Their reasons may be listed thus:
a) The faith of the leper is contrasted with the lack of faith of the Pharisees indicated by
their need to ask the question.31 A similar contrast regarding discernment of the divine in
Jesus acts can be found in Luke 5:17-26.
b) The experience of the leper is an illustration of Luke 17:21.32
c) The attitude of the nine lepers is compared to the misunderstanding of the Pharisees.33
20 Marshall, (1978), Luke, 652.

21 LaVerdiere, (1980), Luke, 216.
22 J. T. Sanders, (1987), The Jews in Luke-Acts, 205.
23 Danker, (1988Rev), Jesus and the New Age, 291.
24 L. T. Johnson, (1991), Luke, 266.
25 Gowler, (1991), Host, Guest, Enemy and Friend, 265.
26 Culpepper, (1994), Luke, NIB IX, 329a.
27 Bock, (1996), Luke 9:51-24:53, 1409, who followed Danker and Marshall.
28 McNicol, Dungan and Peabody, (1996), Beyond the Q Impasse, 233.
29 Green, (1997), Luke, 628.
30 J. T. Carroll, (1999), Luke 17:11-19, 407. Cf. the earlier J. T. Carroll, (1988), Response to the
End of History, 77 n. 151, where Carroll saw a link rather with vv. 22-37.
31 Green, (1997), Luke, 628; J. T. Carroll, (1999), Luke 17:11-19, 407.
32 Culpepper, (1994), Luke, NIB IX, 329a.
d) Confronted with a miracle, the Pharisees are prompted to ask such a question.34
While these reasons are plausible, more convincing justifications can be offered.
a) Elsewhere in Luke-Acts, mention of the kingdom of God is coupled with or follows

immediately after acts of healing on the part of Jesus.35 Significantly, three of these
(11:20, 13:18,20 and 17:20-21) occur in the travel narrative (Luke 9:51 - 19:27). Rudolf
K. Bultmann noticed that there were several other instances in the travel narrative where
dialogues were occasioned by Jesus healing.36
b) In addition, vv. 11-19 contain material largely either from L or the redactor, as do vv.
20-21,37 whereas vv. 22-37 are recognised as composite. For example, v. 22a is redactional
and vv. 23-24 are from Q.38 Because vv. 11-19 and vv. 20-21 may share the same source,
a connection is more likely than between vv. 20-21 and vv. 22-37. Even if vv. 11-19 and
vv. 20-21 were in fact presented to the redactor as a single unit, the redactors penchant for
connecting the kingdom with healing enabled him to reinforce that connection through
repetition.
c) Finally, there is neither a change of scene nor necessarily a change of audience between
the two.
Nevertheless, the vast majority of commentators look rather to a link between vv. 20-21
and vv. 22-37, seeing vv. 20-21 as an introduction to the longer discourse.
Their reasons include the following:
33 Danker, (1988Rev), Jesus and the New Age, 291; LaVerdiere, (1980), Luke, 216; Marshall, (1978),
Luke, 652; L. T. Johnson, (1991), Luke, 266.
34 J. T. Sanders, (1987), The Jews in Luke-Acts, 205; Gowler, (1991), Host, Guest, Enemy and
Friend, 265.
35 Healing: Luke 9:2,11, 10:9, 13:18,20, 17:20-21. Exorcism: Luke 11:20. Healing and Exorcism:
4:43, 6:20, Acts 8:12. Forgiveness: Luke 8:1.
36 I.e. Luke 11:14-23, 13:10-17, 14:1-6. See Bultmann, (1963ETRev), Synoptic Tradition, 12.
37 It is being assumed here that Luke 17:20-21 is not from Q. On this, see Section 4.3.1.
38 Marshall, (1978), Luke, 656-60; Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke I-IX, 84, X-XXIV, 1149, 1164-65; Butts,
(1987), Passion Apologetic, the Chreia, and the Narrative, 113; J. M. Robinson, Hoffmann and
Kloppenborg, (2000), Critical Edition of Q, 502-507; Asgeirsson and Robinson, (1992),
International Q Project, 507-508; Moreland and Robinson, (1995), International Q Project,
483; Moreland and Robinson, (1997), International Q Project, 524; J. T. Carroll, (1988),
Response to the End of History, 92; Myllykoski, (1996), Social History of Q, 189.
a) There are strong dictional parallels between v. 21a and v. 23a.39
b) Both vv. 20-21 and vv. 22-37 are from Q and were, prior to the redactor, probably
linked by their common theme. However, against this is the fact that most scholars place
Luke 17:20-21 in L since it does not appear in Matthew.40
c) The common theme is eschatological, discouraging speculation. One emphasises the

present aspects, the other the future.41 The second is an explanation to the disciples of the
first.42
d) A few years ago, Bruce D. Chilton proposed that vv. 22-37 follow vv. 20-21 because in
Lukes mind the kingdom was Jesus and the ease of transition from the kingdom to the
Son of Man is evidenced by this.43 While the link between the Son of Man and the
kingdom in Luke is nowhere near as strong as Chilton would suggest, the link between
Jesus the healer and the kingdom is much stronger and more explicit between vv. 11-19
and vv. 20-21.
Yet, not a few commentators have pointed out that there are sufficient differences between
vv. 20-21 and vv. 22-37 to suggest that there is little parallel between the two even in the
mind of the redactor.
Scholars who are explicit in their denial of a link between vv. 20-21 and vv. 22-37 include:
Joseph A. Fitzmyer (1983),44 John S. Kloppenborg (1987),45 Darrell L. Bock (1996),46
and Judith Lieu (1997).47
39 Bultmann, (1963ETRev), Synoptic Tradition, 122; Hiers, (1970), Kingdom of God, 27-28;
Zmijewski, (1972), Die Eschatologiereden, 339; G. H. P. Thompson, (1972), Luke, 219;
Schnackenburg, (1970), Abschnitt, 215; Dillon, (1978), From Eye-Witnesses to Ministers, 43
n. 123; Talbert, (1982), Reading Luke, 167; Hartman, (1992), Reading Luke 17,20-37, 1665.
Cf. Kloppenborg, (1987), Formation of Q, 155 n. 227.
41 Sneed, (1962), Article, 379-81; Beare, (1964), The Earliest Records of Jesus, 185; Ellis,
(1974Rev), Luke, 209-10; Talbert, (1982), Reading Luke, 167; C. A. Evans, (1990), Luke, 261;
Tiede, (1988), Luke, 298; Danker, (1988Rev), Jesus and the New Age, 291-92. To the contrary,
Zmijewski, (1972), Die Eschatologiereden, 338-39, who thought that both sections were
eschatological and about the future. Numerous scholars even go so far as to claim that both vv.
20-21 and vv. 22-37 are about the coming of the kingdom of God, e.g. Gooding, (1987),
According to Luke, 289.
42 Easton, (1926), Luke, 262; Conzelmann, (1961ET), Theology of St. Luke, 123.
43 Chilton, (1987), Kingdom Come, Kingdom Sung, 67, But the primary achievement of the
Lukan presentation is the practical equation of the kingdom and Christology, as effected (and
evidenced) by the ease of transition from the statement about the kingdom in verses 20 and 21 to
the statement about the Son of Man in verse 22. . . . That verses 20 and 21 refer, within the
Lukan design, to Jesus presence among the Pharisees appears a straightforward conclusion.
45 Kloppenborg, (1987), Formation of Q, 155.
46 Bock, (1996), Luke 9:51-24:53, 1409.
Where they give reasons they include:
a) Vv. 20-21 are about the kingdom of God, whereas vv. 22-37 are about the Son of Man.
Indeed, Luke took care not to mention the kingdom of God with the Messiah or the
parousia.48
b) The Son of Man is never the subject of oubq^f in Luke-Acts. Rather, he is the subject
of mlhîmqs (see especially Luke 17:30), a verb previously mentioned as standing
in contrast to oubq^f.49
c) The audience in the first consists of Pharisees and, in the second, disciples.50 Indeed,
Pharisees (and/or lawyers, scribes) and disciples are alternating audiences for Jesus in the
travel narrative.51
d) The question is where in the second (v. 37), but when in the first (v. 20ad).
e) There is no hint of vigilance in vv. 20-21 as contrasted with vv. 22-37.52
f) Assuming that jbq mô^qeopbst in v. 20bd refers to the prediction of the

when of the kingdom,53 it stands in contrast to the preliminary signs of the arrival of
the Son of Man in vv. 22-37.54
The evidence as presented here, therefore, strongly supports the primary connection, made
by the redactor, being between Luke 17:11-19 and 17:20-21 rather than between 17:20-21
and 17:22-37.
Apart from the issue of the context of Luke 17:20-21, the other issue here amongst
commentators has been whether the question was posed with a negative or hostile intent.55
47 Lieu, (1997), Luke, 136.

48 Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke X-XXIV, 1166; Myllykoski, (1996), Social History of Q, 188. On Luke
17:20-21 being not from Q, see Section 4.3.1.
49 See Section 3.7.
50 Bock, (1996), Luke 9:51-24:53, 1409.
51 J. T. Carroll, (1988), Response to the End of History, 77 n. 151; J. T. Carroll, (1988), Lukes
Portrayal of the Pharisees, 609 n. 24. Cf. the later J. T. Carroll, (1999), Luke 17:11-19, 407,
where he saw a link between vv. 11-19 and vv. 20-21. To suggest as Carroll did that therefore
Luke 17:20a is redactional is unconvincing. Others who point out the alternating audience include:
L. T. Johnson, (1977), Possessions, 108 n. 1; C. F. Evans, (1990), Saint Luke, 628; Stein,
(1992), Luke, 438; Matera, (1993), Jesus Journey to Jerusalem, 65; Green, (1997), Luke, 631.
53 Though see Section 4.2.2.3.
54 Cf. Hartman, (1992), Reading Luke 17,20-37, 1665. Curiously, Hartman used this observation
in support of his belief that vv. 20-21 and vv. 22-37 should be considered together.
55 Scholars who see a hostile intent include: Oosterzee, (1864ET), Luke II, 127; Goodwin, (1865),
Luke, 293; van Doren, (1968), Luke II, 185; Meyer, (1884ET), Mark and Luke, 490; Willcock,
~Cmbosqs is used in the LXX to translate lav to ask, demand as is also the simple
osqs and the synonym ^qs. It is largely indistinguishable in meaning from
osqs, though a special use is in asking a question the answer of which explains or
expounds a point in dispute.56
Leaving aside for the present the problem of whether the Pharisees themselves may have
intended the question to be hostile or not (or rhetorical or not), it is clear that Luke would
have regarded the question as rhetorical and therefore its motive would have been
secondary to the response (nor to what occasioned it, i.e. the healing in vv. 11-19). The use
of the passive participle form of the verb shifts the focus of the pericope very firmly from
the question to the answer. Nor should it be forgotten that Jesus response does not in fact
answer the question. If it is rhetorical, this increases the likelihood that the question was
not written by Luke in its extant form since it has been previously recognised that the
redactor tended to avoid the use of rhetorical questions.57
Nevertheless, a hint of hostility was probably conceded by Luke. Luke 11:53-54, probably
from the redactor,58 suggests that all subsequent questions by scribes or Pharisees were
designed to trap Jesus,59 despite the earlier use mbosqs on the lips of Jesus himself
in Luke 6:9.60
Proposed Exegesis
It would appear that Luke inserted a with the intention of placing vv. 20-21 as a sequel
and commentary on the healing of vv. 11-19 rather than as an introduction to vv. 22-37.
The redactor followed vv. 20-21 by vv. 22-37 probably because of the similarity between
(1896), Luke, 463; W. Manson, (1930), Luke, 196; L. T. Johnson, (1991), Luke, 263; Gowler,
(1991), Host, Guest, Enemy and Friend, 263-66; Bock, (1996), Luke 9:51-24:53, 1412; Neyrey,
(1998), Chreiai, 666, 672. Cf. Matt 12:10, 16:1, 22:35.
56 Thayer, (19014), Lexicon, 230b; LSJ, 618b; Greeven, (1964ET), osqs, TDNT II, 687;
Schenk, (1991ET), mbosqs, EDNT II, 21.
57 Cadbury, (1920), Style and Method of Luke, 81-82; Farmer, (1961), Synoptic Material Peculiar
to Luke, 313.
58 Marshall, (1978), Luke, 491. Moreland and Robinson, (1997), International Q Project, 524, did
not place 11:53-54 in Q, nor did the later J. M. Robinson, Hoffmann and Kloppenborg, (2000),
Critical Edition of Q, vii.
59 Cf. L. T. Johnson, (1991), Luke, 192; Tiede, (1988), Luke, 226; Danker, (1988Rev), Jesus and
the New Age, 243.
60 Scholars who did not see a hostile intent include: Ryle, (1896), Luke, 241; Plummer, (19225),
Luke, 405; Bretscher, (1944), Luke 17:21, 733; Geldenhuys, (1946), Luke, 442; Knox, (1957),
Sources of the Synoptic Gospels II, 107-108; Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke X-XXIV, 1160; Brawley,
(1987), Luke-Acts and the Jews, 104; Stein, (1992), Luke, 437.
v. 21a and v. 23a and introduced vv. 22-37 not by vv. 20-21 but by himself constructing
22a.
Though the primary intent for Luke of the question would have been as that which
prompted the response given by Jesus, questions in chreiai often were attempts to prove
something or score points rather than neutral requests for information.61 Given the
retention of ~Cmbosqevbt, rather than the use of a simpler synonym, some such hostile
motive cannot be wholly denied also to the redactor.
4.2.1.2 m q k D ^ o f p ^ s k (20a_
_)
Sm with the genitive following a passive verb occurs frequently enough in Luke-Acts to
warrant caution in ascribing this phrase to a source of the redactor. However, three factors
point to a genesis prior to the redactor: in the use of prepositions, Luke generally agreed
with his sources;62 rather than m he preferred to use mot with the accusative with
verbs of speaking;63 and thirdly, on the two other occasions that the Pharisees are involved
in indirect speech in Luke-Acts (Luke 7:36, 11:37), the word used is the Lukan preferred
osqs.
The question can be posed differently. Was the attribution of the question to the Pharisees
a literary device of the redactor or did he preserve it from his source?64
The arguments that have been put forward in favour of Lukan origin include the following:
a) Because Jesus could not have spoken of the kingdom of God as within the
Pharisees, the original question must have been asked by the disciples.65
61 Neyrey, (1998), Chreiai, 666, 672.

62 Cadbury, (1920), Style and Method of Luke, 202-205.
63 Cadbury, (1920), Style and Method of Luke, 202; ORourke, (1975), An Indication of Sources in
Luke, 421. See also the lists in the still valuable: Hawkins, (1899), Horae Synopticae, 36-37.
Cf. Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke I-IX, 111b, 116, who identified it as a Septuagintism since it
frequently occurs in the LXX. See also: Ldemann, (1990ET), bmlk, EDNT I, 394; BDF, 3 4;
Taylor, (1964), Rehkopfs List, 62; N. Turner, (1976), The Quality of the Greek of Luke-
Acts, 395; N. Turner, (1956-76), Grammar IV, 54.
64 Among those who merely state their position may be numbered: Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke X-XXIV,
1159; Talbert, (1970), Quest for Luke the Theologian, 178. Among those who are unsure may
be included Nolland, (1993), Luke 35B, 851 and Lieu, (1997), Luke, 136. Judith Lieu wrote,
That the Pharisees should ask when it would come fits well an understanding of Jesus as a
prophetic figure with a powerful message of warning, but it also fits Lukes picture of them as
those who could not perceive the real meaning of Jesus ministry.
65 Gilmour, (1952), Luke, IB VIII, 300; Perrin, (1963), Teaching of Jesus, 176.
b) There is a literary tendency in the Synoptics to present the opponents of Jesus as

Pharisees or some other well-known group.66
c) Luke 17:20a is an example of Lukes fondness for introducing a Saying of Jesus with a
question.67
By way of reply and in favour of the question having originated at a stage prior to the
redactor may be said the following:
a) The first argument presupposes a particular understanding of Luke 17:21b, one that is
questionable. In any case, nowhere else was Jesus asked when the kingdom of God was
coming.
b) Luke 17:20-21 is embedded in Lukes so-called travel narrative (Luke 9:51 - 19:27)
which is interspersed with dialogues involving Pharisees and disciples. As such there
would have been no pressing need to change the attribution of the question to the
Pharisees. In fact every mention of the kingdom of God by someone other than Jesus
except Luke 14:15 was uttered by disciples or followers of Jesus.68 Thus it would
be easier to account for a change in attribution from Dôfp^lf to j^veq^ than the
reverse. That Luke did not do so is a strong indication that he received the question as
coming from the Pharisees.
c) Jesus words convey the distinct impression that they were indeed a response to a
question rather than independent statements to which a question was constructed.69 In any
case, its chreia form of question and response is indicative of the preservation of the
question with manipulation by expansion of the response rather than invention of the
question.70
66 Bultmann, (1963ETRev), Synoptic Tradition, 52-54.

67 Kmmel, (1961ET), Promise and Fulfilment, 32, 34; Schnackenburg, (1970), Abschnitt, 217; J.
T. Carroll, (1988), Response to the End of History, 76-77.
68 Luke 14:15, 19:11, 23:42,51, Acts 1:6, 8:12, 14:22, 19:8, 20:25, 28:23,31.
69 Nolland, (1993), Luke 35B, 851.
70 See Section 1.3. Witherington, (1992), End of the World, 267, claimed that it was not a Lukan
trait to add the Pharisees into a narrative, citing Matt 3:7 and Luke 3:7. However, Q 3:7 as
reconstructed by the International Q Project, also does not include Pharisees, see J. M. Robinson,
Hoffmann and Kloppenborg, (2000), Critical Edition of Q, 8.
As discussed elsewhere,71 there was no identifiable group called Pharisees within the
Judaism of Lukes time or within the Lukan Christian community. However, this does not
necessarily mean that the question posed by the Pharisees was not also asked either by
some Jews or by Christians within the redactors audience. Many facets of the kingdom
of God were of interest to both groups.
Nevertheless, Luke retained the attribution. He knew that Pharisees not only existed in the
time of Jesus but that they put many questions to him which were opportunities for Jesus
to teach. Indeed, the conclusion of Section 1.5.4 was that, given the inconsistent use by
Luke of the Pharisees, the only statement that can be made with any degree of certainty is
that Luke was at least interested in the Pharisees as a historian. That is, Luke kept the
attribution of the question to the Pharisees because he had received it as such and it fitted
what he knew of the Pharisees.
Is there any significance for Luke in the Pharisees asking the question?
Several scholars, as noted above, point to the fact that Pharisees (and/or lawyers, scribes)
and disciples are alternate audiences for Jesus in the travel narrative. Presumably, the
implication is that it was the turn of the Pharisees at this point in the narrative. However,
there is not strict alternation. The Pharisees of 13:31 are followed immediately by lawyers
and Pharisees again in 14:3.
Some, such as Joel B. Green, have suggested that it was the Pharisees who asked the
question since for Luke they were the ones who had an inability to understand Jesus
preaching (cf. Lk 8:10).72 Yet, it must be said, the disciples are depicted as also
misunderstanding the message of Jesus. Luke even explicitly stated as much (18:34) in the
travel narrative itself.
Proposed Exegesis
The attribution of the question to the Pharisees was almost certainly received as such by
Luke. The chreia form mitigates against alteration of the attribution.73 Had the attribution
as Luke received it been disciples his alteration would be difficult to explain.

72 Green, (1997), Luke, 628-29. Also Cope et al., (1994), Narrative Outline, 565.
Commentators have been confused as to the purpose Luke intended to serve by preserving
the attribution to the Pharisees. But, it is possible now to say more with some degree of
certainty.
Luke believed that the kingdom was in some sense Jesus himself and this was manifested
in his ministry, especially that of healing and exorcisms.74 The Pharisees are made by
Luke to respond in ignorance to a clear example of the kingdom with the healing of the ten
lepers. Lukes primary purpose here was to retain the narrative introduction as just that,
viz. an introduction to the all-important responses of Jesus.
4.2.1.3 m q b o u b q ^ f (20ad
d)
The sequence mqb oubq^f cannot be Lukan. It is the only place in Luke-Acts where the
combination occurs.75 The use of the present tense to indicate a future (possible) action
figures strongly in the Gospels.76 Moreover, oulj^f is found 39 times in material
peculiar to Luke,77 of which Luke 17:20-21 is an instance. The weight of evidence points
to Luke preserving this phrase from his source.
Nqb is universally translated as an interrogative adverb of time so that the question refers
to an event of unknown time in the future.78
The question asked by the Pharisees regarding the when of the kingdom stands in
contrast to the where (ml) asked by the disciples in v. 37 of the revelation of the Son
of Man and indeed to the ab here and hb of there v. 21a_-79

75 Nqb occurs just four times in Luke and not at all in Acts: Luke 9:41 (// Mark 9:19, Matt 17:17),
12:36, 17:20, 21:7 (// Mark 13:4, Matt 24:3).
76 See also: Moule, (1960), An Idiom-Book, 7; Zerwick, (1963ET), Biblical Greek, 93-94; Hiers,
(1967), Why Will They Not Say, 380b; Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke X-XXIX, 1160. To the contrary,
Bock, (1996), Luke 9:51-24:53, 1412.
77 Collison, (1983), Linguistic Usages in Luke, 250.
78 Its presence in this indirect question prompted the observation by Joseph H. Thayer that it may be
a substitute for the relative mqb, which normally refers to past events but occasionally to future
actions (e.g. LXX Job 26:14), Thayer, (19014), Lexicon, 533a and also Abott-Smith, (19813),
Lexicon, 374. Mmqb occurs with the indicative (BDAG, 717a), as oubq^f is here.
79 Cf. Bengel, (1877ET), Gnomon II, 162.
Proposed Exegesis
There was widespread and long-standing agreement by first century Jews and Christians
that the place or centre of the eschatological kingdom of God would be Jerusalem. What
was in dispute was the timing and present location of that kingdom.
The presence of oubq^f here at first sight appears to be anachronistic. In none of the
sources that may reasonably be said to reflect the views of first century Pharisees on the
kingdom of God is the kingdom said to come. This was because they believed that the
kingdom in a fundamental sense was already present but hidden. In fact it would seem that
Luke himself knew of this tradition of the Pharisees. Luke 19:11 (a composition of the
redactor80) indicated that the redactor thought that the members of Jesus caravan (the
crowd of v. 3, disciples and others, including Pharisees) expected the kingdom of God to
appear (k^c^kbpv^f), and in this he was correct.
If, as seems likely, there is for Luke more than a hint of hostility in the question, this is
nowhere better seen than in the attribution of the use of the verb oulj^f to the Pharisees.
The healing of the ten lepers (at least according to Luke) would have been for them
evidence of the presence of the kingdom. As if to mock the preaching of Jesus they ask in
effect, Well then, when is the kingdom of God coming? since Jesus often said that it
was coming (i.e. not yet here).
Nevertheless, the question would have been relevant for Lukes audience, situated as they
were between kingdoms, that is, between the time of Jesus and the time of the second
coming of Jesus as the kingdom of God.
4.2.1.3 _ ^ p f i b ^ q l v b l (20aa
a)
The exact phrase _^pfib^ ql vbl occurs 21 times in the NT, 13 of those in Luke. It
is often labelled therefore as Lukan,81 though its presence in Mark and Paul as well as
Pss. Sol. 17:3 (independent witnesses), suggest that it was in wider use. There is no
detectable difference in meaning between this form and others where one or more articles
are missing or where indeed ql vbl is absent.

81 E.g. Cope et al., (1994), Narrative Outline, 566; McNicol, Dungan and Peabody, (1996),
Beyond the Q Impasse, 233.
The only other question in Luke-Acts regarding the timing of the kingdom is Acts 1:6.82
Acts 1:1-14, with the exception of vv. 9-11, was composed by the redactor, but from
material supplied by his sources.83 Given that it is posed by the apostles, it is clear that the
question may well also have been asked by certain members of Lukes community
concerned with such peripheral matters as the timing of the kingdom.84
Although both Luke 17:20a and Acts 1:6 derive from a stage earlier than the redactor, each
point in different directions for Luke. Luke 17:20a is about the timing of the coming of
the kingdom of God, Acts 1:6 is ultimately about the timing of the coming upon
(moulj^f) of the Holy Spirit. Only for the pre-Lukan community in Stage II were
these were identical concerns.85
Proposed Exegesis
The question of the timing of the kingdom must have been a question asked by certain
members of Lukes community. It was not an immediate concern for members of the
Jewish synagogue,86 especially that of Palestine, since the kingdom could be had, as it
were, by observance of the Torah. That it should also not be an immediate concern for the
Lukan community is indicated by the fact that Jesus responses treat the question as
merely rhetorical.
4.2.1.4 m b h o v e ^ q l t h ^ b m b k (20abb )
Forms of mlhoklj^f occur 66 times in Luke-Acts, all but 23 instances with a form of
ids. All but 13 are in response to a direct question, every one of which is introduced by
82 Contrary to: Conzelmann, (1961ET), Theology of St. Luke, 121; J. T. Carroll, (1988), Response to
the End of History, 77. These included Luke 19:11 (not a question) and 21:7 (not about the
kingdom of God) as well as Acts 1:6.
83 See Section 3.4 under Acts 1:3,6.
84 Zmijewski, (1972), Die Eschatologiereden, 383-84, though Zmijewski was both anachronistic
and wrong to describe this as Pharisaic tendencies within Lukes community, pharisische
Tendenzen innerhalb seiner Gemeinde.
a form of ids or another verb in association with a form of ids. 87 Further, three
occur in reply to osqs,88 while four are in reply to mbosqs.89 What is
particularly interesting about the latter is that, except for 17:20, each of the others introduce
a direct question or statement and each is also coupled with a form of ids. The use of
h^ to coordinate the two verbs occurs in the Synoptics only in L and then only twice.90 It
is John who prefers this construction.91
Nevertheless, the syntax is not unrepresentative of Luke-Acts. However, it is unique in

being an introduction to an indirect question itself ushered by mbosqs. It is likely
therefore that Luke has altered what was presented to him. Luke has replaced the
identification of the respondent (Jesus, needed because vv. 20-21 was probably
independent in the tradition) with the grand-sounding and laboured ^qlt h^ bmbk,
preparing the reader for the important replies.
It should be pointed out here that the so-called Septuagintism in the coupled use of
mlhoklj^f and the second aorist of ids (without h^), recognised by Gustaf
Dalman and others,92 is not an argument for a construction prior to redaction. It may
simply be an element of Lukan style, given the frequency of its use.93
87 See also Cadbury, (1920), Style and Method of Luke, 169-71.

88 Luke 22:68, 23:3,9.
89 Luke 3:11, 9:19, 17:20, Acts 5:29.
90 Luke 13:15, 17:20.
91 John 1:48, 2:18,19, 3:3,9,10,27, 4:10,13,17, 6:26,29,43, 7:16,21,52, 8:14,39,48, 9:20,30,34,36,
12:30, 13:7, 14:23, 18:30, 20:28; Ldemann, (1990ET), bmlk, EDNT I, 394b; Bchsel,
(1965ET), hoks : the Concept of Judgement in the NT, TDNT III, 945. Luke 17:20 and John
7:52, 8:39, 9:34, 8:30, are the only examples of the construction for which mlhoklj^f is
anaphoric. See also N. Turner, (1976), The Quality of the Greek of Luke-Acts, 393, who stated
that the two verbs (mbhove and bmbk) together are a Semitism, which is never used in secular
Greek.
92 Dalman, (1902ET), Words of Jesus, 24-25, 38; Rehkopf, (1959), Die Lukanishce Sonderquelle,
61-62; Kretzer, (1990ET), mlhoklj^f, EDNT I, 133b; Abott-Smith, (19813), Lexicon, 51;
Bchsel, (1965ET), hoks : the Concept of Judgement in the NT, TDNT III, 945; MM,, 65a;
Moule, (1960), An Idiom-Book, 184; N. Turner, (1956-76), Grammar III, 156. Fitzmyer, (1983),
Luke I-IX, 114, preferred to call it a Septuagintism rather than a Hebraism or Aramaism since he
believed that Luke is dependant on the Greek LXX rather than the Hebrew/Aramaic. Ropes, (1901),
An Observation on the Style of S. Luke, 300, attributed this distinction to Gustaf Dalman.
93 A Greek author of the Gospels probably could not help but be influenced by the style of the LXX,
considering the subject material and considering that such an author would have been familiar with
the LXX through its liturgical use. See also: Sparks, (1943), The Semitisms of St. Luke, 129-38
esp. 132-34; N. Turner, (1955), Luke I and II, 100-109, and the reply of Winter, (1956), On
Luke and Lucan Sources, 217-42; Stein, (1970), A Markan Seam, 80; Silva, (1975), Semantic
Borrowing in the NT, 104-10; N. Turner, (1976), The Quality of the Greek of Luke-Acts, 387-
400. N. Turner, (1956-76), Grammar IV, 51, noted also that the phrase occurs in T. Levi, T. Sol.,
and T. Abr. But see: Wilcox, (1994), Aramaic Background, 366, who was unsure whether the NT
writers knew any LXX. He argued that the LXX itself is a translation from the Hebrew and Aramaic,
i.e. its style was influenced by the original language(s), and since Jesus spoke Hebrew and/or
Aramaic, their translation into Greek would exhibit a similar style to the LXX.
No significant comment has been made since 1962 on v. 20ab, other than that given
immediately above.
Proposed Exegesis
The anaphoric state of v. 20ab may mean that vv. 20-21 may have been intended by Luke
to be part of vv. 11-19. Other than that, Lukes minor adjustments merely point the reader
more firmly away from the question to the replies. Overall then, Luke 17:20a was
incorporated virtually unchanged into the Gospel.94
4.2.2 The First Negative Reply
Prompted by the question of the Pharisees, Jesus made three statements by way of reply.
That they were introduced by an indirect question and by the solemn construction of 20ab
indicates that the replies far outweigh the question in importance in Lukes mind.
4.2.2.1 l h o u b q ^ f (20b^
^)
The only other places in Luke-Acts where the kingdom is attached to oulj^f is 11:2
(from Q) and 22:18 (from Mark). Like v. 20b^, both are sayings of Jesus and well
preserved from their respective sources. Thus it may reasonably be suspected that Luke
has preserved his source in this instance also.
Two questions have arisen here: what does the particle lh negate; and what is the implied
tense of the verb oubq^f.
94 Contrary to such scholars as: Zmijewski, (1972), Die Eschatologiereden, 386-87; McNicol,
Dungan and Peabody, (1996), Beyond the Q Impasse, 233. Cf. Dillon, (1978), From Eye-
Witnesses to Ministers, 43 n. 123.
The natural demands of the Greek indicate that the particle negates the verb. Thus the
literal meaning is, The kingdom of God is not coming jbq mô^qeopbst [or
with/by anything else]. However, there is no other instance where Jesus is depicted by
the gospel writers as claiming that the kingdom is not coming.
Despite its location, the particle must in fact negate jbq mô^qeopbst, as is
universally translated, so that it should be read, The kingdom of God is coming (but) not
jbq mô^qeopbst.
As for the tense of the verb, its present form echoes that of the question and is governed
by olpfk in v. 21a^. In other words, it is an example of the use of the present to
indicate a future action.95 Even if the present should be strictly interpreted as such, so that
the kingdom was in the act of coming in Lukes (and/or Jesus present), its arrival was yet
to occur.
Proposed Exegesis
Luke believed that the kingdom, as Jesus, was not in his own here-and-now, though it
could be thought of as in the process of coming or as coming in the future.96 Either way, it
was not (yet) present.
4.2.2.2 _ ^ p f i b ^ q l v b l (20b_
_)
See comments in Section 4.2.1.3 under this heading.
The question of the Lukan understanding of the kingdom of God has been closely
examined in the previous chapter. See the relevant Sections there and the summary of the
position adopted here, below.
95 See comment and footnote under Section 4.2.1.3 and: Kmmel, (1961ET), Promise and
Fulfilment, 28-29; Sneed, (1962), Dissertation, 43 n. 2; C. F. Evans, (1990), Saint Luke, 628.
To the contrary, Riesenfeld, (1972ET), mô^qoepft, TDNT VIII, 150 nn. 12, 13.
Proposed Exegesis
Luke understood this reference to the kingdom of God as referring to the future coming of
Jesus himself.97 Concern over the timing of this event that was shared by at least some of
his community was not as important as other details.
4.2.2.3 j b q m ^ o ^ q e o p b s t (20bd
d)
Redactional Comments
Kbq with the genitive is common enough in Luke and the other Gospels to be
unremarkable.98 On the other hand, mô^qoepft is one of two Lukan hapax legomena
in Luke 17:20-21, the other being kqt.99
The noun mô^qoepft does not appear anywhere else in the NT, not at all in the LXX
and with jbq rarely in ancient Greek literature.100 The frequently cited exception
(without jbq) is Aquilas translation of Exod 12:42 in which it renders the noun Myrmv
vigils.101
The single occurrence of the noun in the LXX and NT and the comparative rarity of the
combination of the preposition and the noun in ancient Greek literature generally point to
its relative obscurity and to the reasonable conclusion that the redactor did not compose
the phrase but for some reason felt compelled to retain it from his source.

98 Zmijewski, (1972), Die Eschatologiereden, 384, claimed that Luke preferred prk + dative. Given
the frequency of jbq in Luke-Acts it is not possible to say this with any certainty.
99 The compound verb mô^qeos occurs just six times in the NT, four of those in Luke-Acts.
They are briefly: Luke 6:7, which parallels Mark 3:2 where notably Luke changes the subject of
the verb to the scribes and the Pharisees; Luke 14:1, which is part of L; Luke 20:20, which is
inserted into the narrative (cf. Mark 12:13 and Matt 22:15) and where Luke changes the subject
from Pharisees to the scribes and the chief priests; and Acts 9:24. The others are Mark 3:2 and
Gal 4:10. It occurs in the LXX at: Ps 37:12, 130:3, Dan 13:12,15,16, (and p 1 Kgs 1:12, p Ps
56:7, v Dan 6:12).
100 For example, Riesenfeld, (1972ET), mô^qoepft, TDNT VIII, 149, listed only one other
instance other than Luke 17:20.
101 Field, (1975), Origenis Hexaplorum I, 102a; BDB, 1037b. A synonym to qoepft, namely
cri^h (a guard, watch) occurs 24 times in Luke-Acts, though the corresponding compound noun
mô^cri^h occurs nowhere in the NT.
The meaning of this phrase or more specifically the noun in its context has given birth to a
literature only slightly less in volume than that for kqt jk pqfk (21bd).102
To simplify the survey of opinion,103 three of the five proposed meanings will be
considered here. The other two will be tackled in later Sections because they more closely
resemble the meaning that will be suggested for the earlier stages.104
The first possible meaning is the translation with the Passover.
Some have pointed to an ancient Jewish belief that the kingdom of God will come on the
night of Passover, so that Jesus in Luke 17:20b rejected the idea that the parousia will
occur on the night of 14 Nisan.105
This view was championed by August Strobel106 and favoured by just a few scholars,
including: Roger L. Daut (1963);107 E. Earle Ellis (1974);108 and Walter Grundmann
(1974).109
Appeal is made to the following:
102 For a monograph dedicated to the word mô^qoepft, see: Mette, (1952), Parateresis, passim.
103 Surveys of opinions can be found in: Ryle, (1896), Luke, 241; A. B. Bruce, (1897), Expositors
Testament I, 594; Sneed, (1962), Dissertation, 49-65, 119-24; Sneed, (1962), Article, 364 n. 4;
Hiers, (1967), Why Will They Not Say, 381; Hiers, (1970), Kingdom of God, 24-25; Marshall,
(1978), Luke, 654; Mattill, (1979), Luke and the Last Things, 191-92; Beasley-Murray, (1986),
Jesus and the Kingdom of God, 97-100; Nolland, (1993), Luke 35B, 852; Meier, (1994),
Marginal Jew II, 424-25; Pate, (1995), Luke, 328-29; Bock, (1996), Luke 9:51-24:53, 1412-14.
104 I.e. Sections 4.3.2.2 and 4.4.2.
105 Cf. Rstow, (1960), Zur Deutung von Lukas 17 20-21, 200-201; Egelkraut, (1976), Jesus
Mission to Jerusalem, 187 n. 1; Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the Kingdom of God, 99.
106 Strobel, (1957-58), Passa-Symbolik, 210-15; Strobel, (1958), Die Passa-Erwartung in Lc 17
20f, 157-96, esp. 173; Strobel, (1960), A. Merx ber Lc 17 20f , 133-34; Strobel, (1961), In
Dieser Nacht, 16-29; Strobel, (1963), Zu Lk 17, 20f, 111-13, this last being a reply to:
Mussner, (1962), Wann kommt das Reich Gottes?, 108. According to Bock, (1996), Luke 9:51-
24:53, 1413, Strobel developed this view from A. Merx, (1905), Die 4 Kanonischen Evangelien
II.2, 345 (unavailable). For English discussions of Strobels view, see: Sneed, (1962),
Dissertation, 53-55 n. 23; Riesenfeld, (1972ET), mô^qoepft, TDNT VIII, 149 nn. 8 & 9,
151 n. 9; Egelkraut, (1976), Jesus Mission to Jerusalem, 187 n. 1; Mattill, (1979), Luke and the
Last Things, 192; Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the Kingdom of God, 99; J. T. Carroll,
(1988), Response to the End of History, 78 n. 157; Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 425, 478 n.
110; Bock, (1996), Luke 9:51-24:53, 1413.
107 Le Daut, (1963), La Nuit Pascale, 272 n. 21, 284-85.
108 Ellis, (1974Rev), Luke, 211.
109 Grundmann, (1974), Lukas, 339.
a) The translation of Exod 12:42 made by Aquila used the noun mô^qoepft twice in
the expression kg mô^qeopbst for the Hebrew Myrmv lyl.110 This denoted a night
of vigil in honour of God.
b) This memorial of the redemption from Egypt became united with a first century
rabbinic tradition which claimed that the messianic era would begin on the first night of
Passover.111
c) Josephus and an early Christian writer used the noun to designate the keeping of
religious communal rites. Passover would certainly qualify.112
d) Forms of the verb mô^qeos were similarly used to designate the observance of
religious rites and festivals.113
However, there are numerous problems with this opinion.
a) Although the context of Exod 12:42 is the Passover, there is no sense in which rmv
denotes anything other than the keeping of the feast itself.114
b) The rabbinic documents used to support the meaning come from much later than the
redaction of the Gospels, so the tradition cannot be dated with any certainty to the first
century. In short, there is no evidence that either the redactor or the Pharisees themselves
knew of the tradition.115
c) It is sometimes claimed that the idea lacks any connection with Christian tradition and
therefore could not be the meaning of Luke 17:20bd at any stage.116 Yet, although this
110 Field, (1975), Origenis Hexaplorum I, 102a; Sneed, (1962), Dissertation, 52; Reider and N.
Turner, (1966), An Index to Aquila, 184. The versions by Symmachus and Theodotion also used it
once in the second position, though these are rarely noted by modern scholars.
111 Mekilta de-Rabbi Ishmael, (1933ET), 115-16; Tgs. Exod 12:42, 15:18. See: Dalman, (1902ET),
Words of Jesus, 144 n. 2; Jeremias, (1966ET), Eucharistic Words, 206-207; Black, (19673),
Aramaic Approach, 236-38.
112 Ant. 10:72; The Epistle to Diognetus, 4.5 (ANF I, 26b). Cf. Burton, (1912), Luke 17:20-21,
275.
113 p Exod 12:42a; Ant. 11:294, 3:91; 14:264; Ag.Ap. 2:282; Dio Cassius 53.10.2; Gal 4:10. Cf.
Riesenfeld, (1972ET), mô^qoepft, TDNT VIII, 147-48. On the use of Gal 4:10 specifically,
see: Creed, (1930), Luke, 219; Schweizer, (1984ET), Luke, 272; Tiede, (1988), Luke, 299.
114 Sneed, (1962), Dissertation, 54 n. 23; Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the Kingdom of God,
99; Nolland, (1993), Luke 35B, 852.
115 Perrin, (1967), Rediscovering, 69; Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke X-XXIV, 1160; J. T. Carroll, (1988),
Response to the End of History, 78 n. 157; Nolland, (1993), Luke 35B, 852; Meier, (1994),
Marginal Jew II, 425; Bock, (1996), Luke 9:51-24:53, 1413.
116 Bock, (1996), Luke 9:51-24:53, 1413. Jeremias, (1966ET), Eucharistic Words, 206 n. 5, claimed
that the earliest Christian reference to the Christ returning at Passover is Epistula Apostolorum,
15-17 (NTApoc I, 257-59). However, Epistula Apostolorum 17, stated that he would return
between Pentecost and Passover.
criticism is given by prominent scholars, it is difficult to reconcile with the existence of Gal
4:10 and Diognetus 4.5.
On balance, although attractive because of its simplicity, this suggestion cannot be

sustained.
The second suggestion is that the phrase means in effect secretly or invisibly. That
is, that Jesus (or rather Lukes Jesus) rejected any notion that the kingdom of God would
come openly or visibly.
A surprising number of recent scholars have opted for this view,117 along with some
modern translations.118 They include: Gerald F. Hawthorne (1962);119 Alois Stger
(1969);120 Josef Zmijewski (1972);121 Ray Summers (1972);122 George H. P. Thompson
(1972);123 Leon Morris (1974);124 Richard J. Dillon (1978);125 William Hendriksen
117 Attributed originally to the nineteenth century work by Arnold Meyer, Jesu Muttersprache.
Unfortunately, this was not accessible, but is cited in: Dalman, (1902ET), Words of Jesus, 143;
Beasley-Murray, (1954), Jesus and the Future, 173-74 n. 2; Hiers, (1967), Why Will They Not
Say, 381; Hiers, (1970), Kingdom of God, 24; Marshall, (1978), Luke, 654; Bock, (1996), Luke
9:51-24:53, 1413; Casey, (1998), Aramaic Sources, 12-14.
Scholars prior to about 1960 who opted for this view include: Lightfoot, (1859), Commentary III,
182; Olshausen, (1861ET), Commentary II, 385; Oosterzee, (1864ET), Luke II, 127-28; Goodwin,
(1865), Luke, 293; Meyer, (1884ET), Mark and Luke, 490; Godet, (1887ET), Luke II, 193;
Maurice, (1893), Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven, 270; Willcock, (1896), Luke, 463, 476a;
Ryle, (1896), Luke, 237; Sadler, (1896), Luke, 455; A. B. Bruce, (1897), Expositors Testament
I, 594b; Adeney, (1901), Luke, 318; Burton, (1912), Luke 17:20-21, 275; Balmforth, (1930),
Luke, 248.
118 TEV, The Kingdom of God does not come in such a way as to be seen; JB and NJB, The coming
of the kingdom of God does not admit of observation; NAB, The coming of the kingdom of God
cannot be observed. See: Vaughan, (1967), Translations, 301b; Mattill, (1979), Luke and the
Last Things, 191; Proctor, (1982), Luke 17.20-21, 245; Meyer, (1884ET), Mark and Luke, 490;
Willcock, (1896), Luke, 463; Bruce, (1897), Expositors Testament I, 594; Adeney, (1901), Luke,
318.
119 Hawthorne, (1962), The Kingdom of God, 37.
120 Stger, (1969), Luke, 332.
121 Zmijewski, (1972), Die Eschatologiereden, 367: Das Kommen der Gottesherrschaft geschieht
im Verborgenen!, The coming of the kingdom of God happens in secret!
122 Summers, (1972), Luke, 202.
123 G. H. P. Thompson, (1972), Luke, 220.
124 Morris, (1974), Luke, 259.
125 Dillon, (1978), From Eye-Witnesses to Ministers, 43.
(1978);126 David W. Gooding (1987),127 James G. Williams (1989),128 and Roy A.

Harrisville (1993).129
As is often the case, not all commentators offered reasons for their view. Their reasons,
when given, were the following:
a) It has been proposed that mô^qeopbst is a translation of the Aramaic ryjn

observance, since this Aramaic noun translates the Hebrew rmv in Tg. Onq. Exod
12:42 and since the verb mô^qeos could be a translation of the verb rjn to observe,
guard, keep, wait. Thus jbq mô^qeopbst would be ryjnb - a word which itself
means secretly or in secret.130
b) It is claimed that the Pharisees were expecting a kingdom that would itself be obvious.
Jesus is thus saying that the kingdom would be quite different from what they expect,131
i.e. it would not be obvious.
c) These scholars see the exegesis of v. 20b as being dependent on their interpretation of
either v. 21a or v. 21b or both. Since these passages for them deny the visibility of the
kingdom per se, then v. 20b must mean that the kingdom will not come in any way visible
to the sense of physical sight.
d) Since the kingdom of God is, for them, the spiritual rule of God, it cannot be
identified with anything that can be seen or observed.132
Scholars rightly dismiss this meaning as too hypothetical.133 Three arguments may be put
against it.
a) Not only is it not necessary to base the exegesis of one phrase on that of either of the
others, the negative stance of v. 21a and the contrary positive stance of v. 21b would
equally suggest that each reply has little to do with the other except in-so-far as they deal
with the kingdom of God.
126 Hendriksen, (1978), Luke, 804, 810.

127 Gooding, (1987), According to Luke, 289.
128 J. G. Williams, (1989), Neither Here Nor There, 16.
129 Harrisville, (1993), In Search of the Meaning, 149-50.
130 Jastrow, (1903), Dictionary, 899b; Dalman, (1902ET), Words of Jesus, 143; Beasley-Murray,
(1954), Jesus and the Future, 173-74 n. 2; Hiers, (1967), Why Will They Not Say, 381; Hiers,
(1970), Kingdom of God, 24; Marshall, (1978), Luke, 654; Schwarz, (1991), Mh - - - jbq
mô^qeopbst?, 46; Bock, (1996), Luke 9:51-24:53, 1413 n. 6.
131 Balmforth, (1930), Luke, 248; Hendriksen, (1978), Luke, 804.
132 Summers, (1972), Luke, 202.
133 E.g. Beasley-Murray, (1954), Jesus and the Future, 173-74 n. 2; Marshall, (1978), Luke, 654.
b) There is nothing in the Gospels that depicts Jesus ever having spiritualised,
internalised, or denied visibility to the kingdom.134
c) Another example of this proposed use of the noun in Greek Jewish, Christian or
Classical literature has yet to be isolated.
Finally, there is the suggestion that the phrase should be understood as literally as possible
so that it should be simply translated with observation, i.e. watching, vigil, scrutiny,
(hostile or otherwise).
Those who opt for this include:135 G. Coleman Luck (1960);136 Michael D. Goulder
(1989);137 Luke T. Johnson (1977, 1991);138 David B. Gowler (1991);139 John A. Darr
(1992);140 Robert C. Tannehill (1996);141 and Judith Lieu (1997).142
Effectively, they maintain that v. 20b should be translated something like: The kingdom
of God does not (or will not, or is not) come with observation (or by watching for
it). Those who adhere strictly to the Greek decline also to provide an object of the
action implied by the noun. This is supported by the Syriac translations,143 Gos. Thom.
113.2144 and the Old Latin version,145 which are also without explicit reference to an
object.
134 See Section 4.2.4.3 below.

135 Scholars prior to about 1960 who may be placed in the category include: Dalman, (1902ET),
Words of Jesus, 143-45; Carr, (1875), Luke, 173; Farrar, (1910New), Luke, 203, but see his earlier
Farrar, (1891), Luke, 276. Not once did Dalman use the word sign in his discussion.
136 Luck, (1960), Luke, 106.
137 Goulder, (1989), Luke II, 650.
138 L. T. Johnson, (1977), Possessions, 110; L. T. Johnson, (1991), Luke, 263, 266.
139 Gowler, (1991), Host, Guest, Enemy and Friend, 265.
140 Darr, (1992), On Character Building, 112-13.
141 Tannehill, (1996), Luke, 259.
142 Lieu, (1997), Luke, 136.
143 The Syriac Peshitta translation of jbq mô^qeopbst is simply )tr{w+NB (or transliterated
into Hebrew/Aramaic script: atrwjnb), see Section 4.4.2 under Recent Exegetical Comment. For
convenience, all Syriac words have been transliterated into Hebrew/Aramaic script, based on Kiraz,
(1988), Syriac Primer, 2, 9, 14, 18, 25, 30. On Syriac translations in general, see: Brock, (1998),
Translating the NT, 371-85; Mathews, (2000), Syriac Versions, 374-77.
144 See Section 4.3.1.1, esn\nhu an 6n\ ou 2w4t ebol it will not come by waiting for it.
145 cum observatione: Sabatier, Fischer and La Rue, (1743), Bibliorum Sacrorum Latinae Versiones
Antiquae III, 342a; Jlicher, (1976), Itala III, 196.
Proposed Exegesis
That the phrase should be taken at face value when discerning the meaning intended by
Luke seems to be the best approach here. The object of the observation must be therefore
the kingdom of God.146 That it is Jesus that is the kingdom of God is confirmed by the
proposed understanding of Lukes meaning of the kingdom and by the fact that each of
the three occurrences of the verb mô^qeos in Luke has Jesus as its object and either
the Pharisees (Luke 6:7, 14:1) or scribes and chief priests (Luke 20:20) as its subject.147
In each case the watching is hostile in intent.148
Talk of the timing of the kingdom must have consumed at least some in Lukes
community so much that they needed to hear that it would not come by watching or
waiting for it (i.e. Jesus). In other words, it was pointless to watch for it. The
kingdom/Jesus would come, but there were more important things to do in the meantime.
4.2.3 The Second Negative Reply
Of all the sections in Luke 17:20-21, v. 21a has suffered the most by way of textual
emendation.149 None, however, significantly affects the following discussion and so
reference has not been made to manuscript differences.
4.2.3.1 l a o l p f k (21a^
^)
Ma occurs 33 times in Luke-Acts, in all but three cases (all in Acts)150 it is part of direct
speech and in all but 13 cases stands in opposition to l, as is the situation here.
146 In addition, there are a number of instances of the noun in classical Greek literature and one in
Josephus which also have the meaning of simple observation or observance of a person or persons:
Josephus J.W. 1:570; Aeneas Tactius 10.25, Philodemus Rh. 1.40 (S), 1.20.22, and Heraclitus
Sto. 14, where it is the watching of unreliable hostages; Plutarchus Is. et Os. 31 (363B), where
it is the examination of sacrificial animals.
147 The verb also occurs in: Mark 3:2, Acts 9:24 and Gal 4:10. The verb also occurs six times in the
LXX: Ps 36:12 (NRSV 37:12), 129:3 (NRSV 130:3), Sus 12, 15, 16, Dan 6:12 (NRSV 6:11).
148 Cf. Green, (1997), Luke, 51; L. T. Johnson, (1991), Luke, 263; J. T. Carroll, (1988), Response
to the End of History, 77. It is also significant that in each example of its use in the LXX, it also
signifies watching with hostile intent.
149 See under Section 4.2 and ONeill, (1980), Messiah, 21-22.
150 Acts 4:32,34, 9:9.
~Colpfk occurs once in Matt 7:22, three times in Luke (17:21,23, 23:29) and once in 1
Cor 14:23. The corresponding verse to Matt 7:22 is Luke 13:26. It uses ogbpvb idbfk,
a similar construction being used at 23:30 following olpfk at 23:29.
What would seem to indicate that the whole of v. 21a is out of context is the fact that
olpfk is surrounded by verbs in the present tense, yet it is surrounded by verbs in the
future tense in v. 23. Indeed, the absence of v. 21a would not be noticed.151
This raises the question whether Luke inserted v. 21a into the chreia. Rhetorically, this
procedure of expansion is in keeping with the nature and transmission of chreiai,152 yet
one must ask whether Luke would have separated two sayings linked by the topic of the
kingdom of God with another saying taken out of context and having no such link?
One theory to justify such a move by Luke is that he drew v. 21a almost verbatim from v.
23 to link vv. 20-21 and the following Son of Man passage together.153 But why would he
do this if the link is stronger between vv. 11-19 and vv. 20-21?154 In any case, v. 21a
denies that they will say Behold, . . . presumably about the kingdom, whereas v. 23
in fact says that when the days of the Son of Man come, they will in fact say that very
thing. Luke always managed to keep the kingdom of God and the Son of Man separated.
Another theory is that Luke developed v. 21a from Matt 24:23 and Mark 13:21.155 The
redactor, having al do in v. 21b already before him, searched for other material
containing al and found Matt 24:23 (or Mark 13:21), altering the subject from
Christ to kingdom of God. However, this cannot be accepted since the topic there is
the coming of the Christ and not the kingdom.156 In any case, as will be noted in
Section 4.2.4.1, the phrase al do is itself a Lukan composition.
Since there is no good reason why Luke would have destroyed the balance of vv. 20-21 by
inserting v. 21a, it is likely that the redactor found v. 21a already within vv. 20-21. That he
151 Nolland, (1993), Luke 35B, 852. Maddox, (1982), Purpose of Luke-Acts, 136, wrote, v. 21a sits
awkwardly in its context, whereas its near-twin, v. 23a, fits naturally in its setting.
153 E.g. Dalman, (1902ET), Words of Jesus, 145; Zmijewski, (1972), Die Eschatologiereden, 385;
Maddox, (1982), Purpose of Luke-Acts, 136; Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the Kingdom of
God, 100; Nolland, (1993), Luke 35B, 852.
155 E.g. Goulder, (1989), Luke II, 650; McNicol, (1990), Composition of the Synoptic
Eschatological Discourse, 168. ONeill, (1993), The Kingdom of God, 140, thought Luke
17:21a was a later gloss.
156 Montefiore, (19272), Synoptic Gospels I, 23. Marshall, (1978), Luke, 653, merely stated that v.
21a may be based on the saying of Jesus in v. 23. Also see: Witherington, (1992), End of the
World, 70. Nolland, (1993), Luke 35B, 852, stated as the closeness of the wording one
argument in favour of a Lukan repetition from verse 23. However, without further analysis the
opposite may also be the case.
chose not to remove it, indicated that he saw this as a convenient dictional link to vv. 22ff,
but little more than that.
Two questions have arisen regarding la olpfk: the identity of the subject of the verb;
and its implied tense.
The verb does not identify its subject, and is not obviously anaphoric. Since the pericope
depicts Jesus speaking either directly to or in the presence of the Pharisees it is unlikely
that Luke had them in mind otherwise he would have modified it to read something like
Nor will you say.157
More likely is the possibility that the redactor had in mind a commonly known group who
might say something like the phrase that is being denied. Some have suggested that they
were false prophets, given the anti-parallel of v. 23.158 This is not impossible.
As for the tense, three possibilities have been proposed. Some see it as a modal future,
i.e. equivalent to nor can they.159 Others see it as an implied present standing in
parallel to the true present of pqfk in v. 21b. Most, however (or at least the very few who
comment), see it as a future, resting their case not only on its actual form but on their
understanding of the preceding two instances of oubq^f being understood as implying a
future coming of the kingdom.160
The problem with the last two choices is that both oubq^f and pqfk have themselves
been taken in a present as well as in an implied future sense. Despite this, it is better to
assume that the redactor took the tense in the sense of future.
Proposed Exegesis
Contrary to some scholarship, there is no reason to suppose that Luke 17:21a was
composed by the redactor. He retained it unaltered in his otherwise modified chreia.
157 Contrary to ONeill, (1980), Messiah, 22, who claimed that Luke 17:21a was a later gloss.
158 Sneed, (1962), Dissertation, 125; Sneed, (1962), Article, 379. See also the earlier Bengel,
(1877ET), Gnomon II, 162, and Creed, (1930), Luke, 218b, both unacknowledged by Sneed.
159 Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 425, 478 n. 113; Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the Kingdom
of God, 100; Zmijewski, (1972), Die Eschatologiereden, 368-69.
160 Perrin, (1967), Rediscovering, 73 n. 1, but future because of the then in the (so-called) parallel
Mark 13:21. Also: Mattill, (1979), Luke and the Last Things, 195-96; and Hartman, (1992),
Reading Luke 17,20-37, 1667, who considered it a future that is the present of the reader.
For the redactor, la clearly stood in opposition to the Mh of v. 20b^. But it cannot
imply, as some scholars suggest, that therefore v. 21a_ is another way of phrasing the
intent of jbq mô^qeopbst, as if it were a type of synonymous parallelism common
in the psalms. Rather, it is a juxtaposing of two different but not necessarily opposing
ideas. That this must be so is indicated by the use of different verbs, namely oubq^f and
olpfk.
From this perspective, Luke maintained the future sense of the verb. The they cannot be
readily identified as the Pharisees but must refer to a group whom Luke thought would
expect to say what follows when the kingdom arrived, but will, in fact, not say it.
4.2.3.2 a l a b h b (21a_
_)
In Section 4.2.3.1 it was concluded that in all probability v. 21a is not from the hand of the
redactor.
A number of possibilities have been proposed for the meaning of this exclamation.
Though scholars have previously sought an explanation from Jesus perspective, here the
task is to identify the likely meaning of the redactor.
ONE Jesus was denying that the kingdom of God could be localised, i.e. that it could be
associated with a particular place or nation (cf. Acts 1:6-8).161 In other words, when it
comes it will be everywhere.
Recent scholars who opt for this meaning include: Richard J. Sneed (1962);162 Hans
Conzelmann (1969ET);163 Richard H. Hiers (1970);164 Joachim Jeremias (1971ET);165 I.
161 For works approximately prior to Sneed: Adeney, (1901), Luke, 318; Montefiore, (19272),
Synoptic Gospels II, 546; Kmmel, (1961ET), Promise and Fulfilment, 33; Dodd, (1961Rev),
Parables, 64 n. 4; Hawthorne, (1962), The Kingdom of God, 37, 43.
162 Sneed, (1962), Dissertation, 124-25; Sneed, (1962), Article, 378.
163 Conzelmann, (1969ET), Outline, 110.
164 Hiers, (1970), Kingdom of God, 28 n. 17, quoted the Lukan paraphrase of Isa 40:5, and all flesh
shall see the salvation of God (Luke 3:6).
Howard Marshall (1978);166 Eduard Schweizer (1984ET);167 John T. Carroll (1988);168

Craig A. Evans (1990);169 Luke T. Johnson (1991);170 John Nolland (1993);171 John P.
Meier (1994);172 and Joel B. Green (1997).173
For these scholars, the kingdom of God is not a political or geographical entity,174 but
rather the rule of God.175 Just as the calculation of a future time for the kingdom is
rejected (v. 20b), so too is a future location.176
TWO It refers to Jesus and/or his ministry which the they have failed to perceive as
the presence of the kingdom of God.177
Recent scholars in this category include Darrel L. Bock (1996)178 and Arthur A. Just
(1997).179
For them this interpretation is dependent on a particular understanding of v. 21b, namely

that in it Jesus stated that the kingdom of God is present either in his person or his
ministry.180
THREE Since the kingdom will not be accompanied by visible signs (v. 20b), either
people will not be able to point it out, or its arrival will be so obvious that such
exclamations will be unnecessary.181
166 Marshall, (1978), Luke, 655, with the variation that it refers to the ruler himself.
167 Schweizer, (1984ET), Luke, 272.
169 C. A. Evans, (1990), Luke, 261.
170 L. T. Johnson, (1991), Luke, 263.
171 Nolland, (1993), Luke 35B, 853.
173 Green, (1997), Luke, 51.
174 C. A. Evans, (1990), Luke, 263.
175 L. T. Johnson, (1991), Luke, 263.
176 Kmmel, (1961ET), Promise and Fulfilment, 33; Sneed, (1962), Dissertation, 124-25; Sneed,
(1962), Article, 378; Jeremias, (1971ET), NT Theology I, 101; Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II,
425; and Marshall, (1978), Luke, 655, who added that it referred to the ruler himself;.
177 For works approximately prior to Sneed: Darby, (1922), Notes of Addresses, 197; W. Manson,
(1930), Luke, 197; Geldenhuys, (1946), Luke, 440; Moorman, (1960), Path to Glory, 206.
178 Bock, (1996), Luke, 451.
179 Just, (1997), Luke 9:51-24:53, 658.
180 Bock, (1996), Luke, 451.
181 For works approximately prior to Sneed: Ryle, (1896), Luke, 241; Plummer, (19225), Luke, 406;
Montefiore, (19272), Synoptic Gospels II, 547; Ridderbos, (1962ET), The Coming of the Kingdom,
474.
Those who prefer this interpretation include: Richard H. Hiers (1967, 1970);182 Ray
Summers (1972);183 Harald Riesenfeld (1972ET);184 C. Leslie Mittion (1978);185 William
Hendriksen (1978);186 George R. Beasley-Murray (1986);187 R. Alan Culpepper
(1994);188 and C. Marvin Pate (1995).189
FOUR This is a slight variation on the previous suggestion. The kingdom itself will not
come in any externally visible way.190
This explanation has been championed in recent times by David W. Gooding (1987).191
FIVE This yet another variation. Jesus was affirming that the kingdom is already present
but invisible. This explanation is similar to the meaning attached to it in Gos. Thom.
113.4.192
This description was espoused by Francis W. Beare (1964).193
SIX It refers to the belief that the Messiah will be hidden, or that his identity will remain
unknown, until it is revealed.194
Those who favour this view include: Norman Perrin (1963);195 Christopher F. Evans
(1990);196 and George R. Beasley-Murray (1992).197
182 Hiers, (1967), Why Will They Not Say, 382b; Hiers, (1970), Kingdom of God, 27.
183 Summers, (1972), Luke, 202.
184 Riesenfeld, (1972ET), mô^qoepft, TDNT VIII, 150.
185 Mitton, (1978), Your Kingdom Come, 42.
186 Hendriksen, (1978), Luke, 805.
187 Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the Kingdom of God, 100.
188 Culpepper, (1994), Luke, NIB IX, 329b.
189 Pate, (1995), Luke, 326.
190 See the earlier: Meyer, (1884ET), Mark and Luke, 490.
191 Gooding, (1987), According to Luke, 289.
192 See Section 4.3.1.1 and the earlier: A. B. Bruce, (1897), Expositors Testament I, 594b; von
Harnack, (1901ET), What is Christianity?, 61.
193 Beare, (1964), The Earliest Records of Jesus, 185.
194 Cf. Mark 13:21 and Section 3.7.5.
195 Perrin, (1963), Teaching of Jesus, 175.
196 C. F. Evans, (1990), Saint Luke, 628.
197 Beasley-Murray, (1992), The Kingdom of God in the Teaching of Jesus, 23.
Suggestions THREE, FOUR and SIX may be dismissed from further consideration. The
pericope is not about signs or the Messiah. The invisibility of Jesus kingdom has also
been firmly rejected.
From previous research, it may be assumed that the rabbis and the synagogue tradition of
Lukes time believed in the here-and-now presence and future revelation of a universal
kingdom of God.198 In fact, Tg. Neb. Isa 40:10 and Tg. Neb. Ezek 7:10 both use ah
(behold) and ylg (reveal),199 indicating the possibility that these two words were associated
in Jewish circles in the context of the kingdom at the time Luke redacted his Gospel. This
is confirmed somewhat when it is observed that the normal role of al which is to
emphasise the importance of what follows or to introduce something new, is here
supplanted by its more fundamental meaning of Look! with the eyes (at here or
there).200 So the suggestions of ONE and FIVE may also be ruled out.
Proposed Exegesis
Luke quite likely saw in this saying not a denial of the universal nature of the kingdom but
a denial of its existence in the here-and-now and therefore its subsequent revelation. The
kingdom/Jesus will not one day reveal itself, as if it was until then present but hidden
from view.201
If this explanation is correct, the they of v. 21a^ that Luke had in mind were Jews who
followed the standard line of the rabbis and the synagogue which taught a future
manifestation of the kingdom.202
There is of course a certain irony in the saying. For Luke the historian, the kingdom was
visible and present to the hearers of this saying in the person of Jesus. Meaning TWO, if
applied not to Jesus but to Lukes Jesus, fits best what has been discovered. The Pharisees
in other words, could not see the kingdom standing right in front of them.

200 ~Gal is literally the second aorist imperative middle of os and serves here as a demonstrative
particle. The basic meaning of os is to see with the eyes, though the subjective sense is not
thereby ruled out.
4.2.4 The Positive Reply
The two negative replies explain what is not the case. The last response to the question is
the all-important positive emphasis that must be lived and believed.
4.2.4.1 a l d o (21b^
^)
~Gal do occurs outside of Luke-Acts only at 2 Cor 7:11.203 Nigel Turner and others,204
have identified it as a Septuagintism since it occurs a number of times in the LXX.205
On the other hand, John C. Hawkins and others206 have described this construction as
particularly characteristic of Luke.
Given Lukes predilection for Septuagintisms and for this clause in particular, it may be
wondered whether it is not a redactional insertion or alteration designed to link v. 21b with
vv. 20b-21a.
Just what sort of redactional activity it might represent is exposed by the extraordinary
observation of Henry J. Cadbury.207 He noted four instances where al without a verb,
as is the case here, takes the place of oulj^f in Lukes use of Mark.
Mark 1:40 I^ oubq^f mot ^qk Luke 5:12 h^ al ko mioet

ibmot imo^t
Mark 2:3 h^ oulkq^f colkqbt Luke 5:18 h^ al kaobt colkqbt
mot ^qk
Mark 14:3 ivbk drk Luke 7:37 h^ al drk
Mark 15:43 ivk ~Gspc Luke 23:50 I^ al ko kj^qf
~Gspc
If Luke was able to make this exchange with Markan narrative, is it also possible that he
did so here with L speech material?
203 Luke 1:44,48, 2:10, 6:23, 17:21, Acts 9:11.

204 N. Turner, (1956-76), Grammar IV, 53; Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke I-IX, 121; cf. Connolly, (1936),
Syriacisms in St Luke, 379-80; For al only: Voelz, (1984), The Language of the NT,
ANRW II.25.2, 962; Moule, (1960), An Idiom-Book, 183.
205 2 Sam 17:9, Jdt 5:23, 9:7, 12:12, Job 2:9, 33:2, Ps 51:5,6, 54:4, Job 2:9, 33:2, Isa 10:33, 13:9,
26:21, 32:1, 44:22, 62:11, 66:15, 1 Macc 9:45; Odes Sol. 9:48.
206 Hawkins, (1899), Horae Synopticae, 33; Taylor, (1964), Rehkopfs List, 59-60; N. Turner,
(1976), The Quality of the Greek of Luke-Acts, 394.
207 Cadbury, (1920), Style and Method of Luke, 178.
Not only is it possible that the redactor made this substitution at Luke 17:21b^+ it is likely
that he did. An oubq^f at the beginning of v. 21b^ would form a elegant parallel with its
occurrences in v. 20ad and v. 20b^ since in each case the subject would be _^pfib^
ql vbl. It would also fit well with the syntactical tendency in the NT for the verb to
stand at the beginning of a sentence or clause,208 as does the other instances of the verb in
vv. 20-21.
Given its close association with al in Luke-Acts, the conjunction do is also likely to
have been an insertion by Luke, though admittedly it could possibly be from Lukes
source, inserted early in the second stage to contrast the lh of v. 20b^.209
The change from two negative replies to a final positive one naturally forms the climax of
the pericope.210
Proposed Exegesis
The substitution by the redactor of oubq^f for al do admirably reinforces this

movement towards the climax of the chreia and eliminates what could have been bad
Greek, i.e. the otherwise triple repetition of oubq^f _^pfib^ ql vbl in vv. 20ad-
a, 20b^-_ and 21b^-_.
4.2.4.2 _ ^ p f i b ^ q l v b l (21b_
_)
208 BDF, 248 472(1), The verb can certainly occupy the initial position in the sentence in the
continuation of a narrative in non-biblical Greek as well, but it is very common only with verbs
of saying. In Semitic languages, on the other hand, this order is the rule with all verbs and
consequently very popular in the NT, especially in Mark (on account of Aramaic). Also: N.
Turner, (1976), The Quality of the Greek of Luke-Acts, 391; Voelz, (1984), The Language of
the NT, ANRW II.25.2, 958.
209 It is preserved in the Gospel of Mary, see: Puech and Blatz, (1991ET), The Gospel of Mary,
NTApoc I, 392, though al do is displaced by h^ in P.Oxy. IV.654.16. See also Fitzmyer,
(1959), The Oxyrhynchus Logoi, 376.
210 Reiling and Swellengrebel, (1971), Translators Handbook, 586; C. F. Evans, (1990), Saint
Luke, 629.
Recent Exegetical Comments
Proposed Exegesis
4.2.4.3 k q t j k p q f k (21bd
d)
Of all the clauses in Luke 17:20-21 this one has attracted by far the most attention and
rightly so since it represents the climax of the chreia, the point to which the previous
statements are directed.211
Work has centred around the meaning of and hence the most suitable rendering of kqt,
one of the two Lukan hapax legomena in the chreia. It occurs only at Matt 23:26 in the NT
and in the LXX just nine times.212 It usually operates as either an adverb of place or as an
(improper) preposition,213 though in Matt 23:26 it functions as a noun.
On a redaction-critical level there are just two choices. Either Luke preserved this word as
he received it, or for some reason chose to change or add to what was in front of him. Its
uniqueness in the Lukan corpus places the onus of proof on its being a Lukan insertion.
Arguments that have been put forward in favour of its being a Lukan composition have not
stood the test of time.
211 Even more attention than the jbq mô^qeopbst of v. 20bd.

212 LXX: Job 18:20, Ps 39:3, 103:1, 109:22, Cant 3:10, Sir 19:26, Isa 16:11, Dan 10:16, 1 Macc
4:48. ^: Ex 17:7, 34:9, Job 2:8, Ezek 28:16. v: Dan 10:16. p: Ps 39:4, 49:12, 66:11, 73:21,
88:6, 141:5, Cant 2:14, Isa 16:11, Jer 38:20, Lam 1:3, Ezek 1:16, 3:24, 28:16, Mic 5:5, 6:14,
Hab 3:2.
213 BDF, 56 103, 98-99 184; BDAG, 340b; J. T. Carroll, (1988), Response to the End of History,
79 n. 161; Holmn, (1996), The Alternatives of the Kingdom, 207; Mayser, (1970), Grammatik
Der Griechischen Papyri Aus Der Ptolemerzeit II.2, 530.
One suggestion has been that kqt is another example of Lukes fond choice of
Septuagintisms. That is, another similar word was sidestepped in favour of kqt.
Unfortunately, however, none of the LXX instances is in the context of the kingdom of
God.
It has been suggested, too, that the very rarity of the word and its use with a plural pronoun
leads one to suspect that an individual was responsible for it. Yet, Luke is not known for
such singular innovation, preferring rather to agree with his sources in the use of
prepositions.214
Finally, it has been proposed that because the use of kqt is a mark of sophisticated
Greek, it came from someone not only immersed in Greek culture but who wrote mainly
for Greeks. Luke the redactor fits the bill on both counts. Further, most examples of the
use of the preposition in Greek literature involve an antithetic function, that is, they point to
something outside the object of their headword and contrast with it.215 If, as seems
likely, the redactor did indeed replace oubq^f with al (do), then the contrasting
clause in this case can easily be spotted. It is jbq mô^qeopbst.
Yet, while this argument makes much sense there is a simple problem with it. It necessarily
denies the capability of composing good Greek to the pre-Lukan community and ignores
the fact that chreiai were well known both in Greek and Jewish-Palestinian circles.216
There is, then, no good reason for supposing that kqt is the work of the redactor.
The presence and location of the verb pqfk may be accounted for by using the redactional
history already developed. By substituting al (do) for oubq^f, Luke needed to insert
a verb into v. 21b. He did so in good Greek style (contrary to Semitic custom) by placing
pqfk at the end of the clause rather than at the beginning. Why he chose this particular
verb and the present tense will be considered below.
For the sake of clarity, given the amount of material written on kqt jk pqfk
(21bd), each word will be considered separately and those meanings better suited to earlier
stages will be dealt with later. This was done in the case of v. 20bd jbq
mô^qeopbst for similar reasons.

215 Holmn, (1996), The Alternatives of the Kingdom, 208. Earlier by: Godet, (1887ET), Luke II,
194.
kqt
Two traps have marred much scholarship on this difficult word.
First, examples of the meaning of kqt have been taken not simply from a wide range of
literature but from works that extend over a millennium.217 Wariness of the use and
meaning of the word should increase the further it is taken from the first century.
Second, frequently examples are quoted in support of a particular meaning that involve a
singular instead of a plural, or where the meaning is clearly impossible for Luke 17:21b.
In order to avoid such inherent problems, three limitations will be observed.
First, as with the other issues raised in the exegesis of Luke 17:20-21, reference to
examples will be limited to those prior to the fourth century (i.e. the ante-Nicene period).
A very few exceptions will be made because of their frequent appearance in scholarly
works or because of their potential importance.
Second, because to list and compare every example of the use of kqt in Greek literature
is beyond the scope of this present work, only those examples quoted or referenced in
scholarship on Luke 17:21 will be noted. Again a few exceptions will be made, notably
three examples from the Greek OT Pseudepigrapha.218
Third, although examples where the preposition qualifies a singular noun or pronoun will
be taken into consideration, these will be accompanied by examples in the plural.219
The Liddell-Scott-Jones Lexicon lists the meaning of kqt only as within.220 But to
simply translate kqt as within without further ado loses sight of the complexity of
217 E.g. from Homer to Origen. See Mattill, (1979), Luke and the Last Things, 207.
218 The largest list of such references in published works is to be found in Mattill, (1979), Luke and
the Last Things, 204. However, it is far from complete and has some glaring omissions and
misprints. Obvious omissions are: three from the Greek Pseudepigrapha namely, Ep. Arist. 68
(OTP II, 17) and Jos. Asen. 2:3,11 (OTP II, 204, 205); four from the Apostolic writers, Pol. Phil.
3:3; Ign. Trall. 7:2, Eph. 5:2; Iren. Haer. 3.21.4; and, references in Hippolytus and Origen. His
references to Job 18:19 (Codex Alexandrinus) and P. Fayum 7052.21-22 are unfortunately
misprints and his references to P.Oxy. are incomplete.
219 Note that a reference may appear more than once, since examples are not necessarily limited to one
meaning in a particular context.
220 LSJ, 577. So also BDAG, 340b preferred within. Noted by, for example: P. M. S. Allen,
(1938), Luke xvii. 21, 476; Hawthorne, (1962), The Kingdom of God, 42; A. L. Moore,
(1966), Parousia, 194-95; Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the Kingdom of God, 101; Darr,
(1992), On Character Building, 113.
the problem because both in Greek and English within has a variety of meanings - a
fact that has frequently gone unnoticed in scholarship.221
Yet, quite apart from the nuance to be placed on the word, within remains the best
translation even over among. The reasons for this may be quickly listed.
a) An interior dwelling of the kingdom is perfectly possible given the equation of the
Holy Spirit with the kingdom made by the pre-Lukan community.222
b) The kingdom can be possessed by an individual.223
c) The other alternative meaning among is elsewhere represented in Luke-Acts by k

jp. 224 In other words, had Luke wanted this meaning he would have altered his source
accordingly.225
d) The revision to the Old Syriac version, the Peshitta, translated kqt by wGL (wgl),
which itself is best translated as within.226 The older Diatessaron has within your
heart.227
e) Similarly, the older (probably second century) Old Latin version translated it by intra,
i.e. within.228
f) The Sahidic Coptic version (third century) translated it by n_6oun, which means
inside.229
221 Scholars prior to Sneed: Farrar, (1910New), Luke, 203; Lewis, (1927), Luke xvii. 21, 187-88,
but cf. Ballard, (1927), Luke xvii. 21, 331; P. M. S. Allen, (1939), Luke xvii. 21, 233-35;
Dodd, (1961Rev), Parables, 64 n. 4.
222 See Section 3.6.3. Cf. Sneed, (1962), Article, 373-74; Barrett, (1996), Luke - Acts, 90 n. 8.
223 E.g. Luke 6:20, 18:16, and parallels. See Section 3.3.2.
224 Luke 2:47, 8:7, 10:3, 21:21, 22:27,55, 24:36, Acts 1:15, 2:22, 17:22, 27:21. See: Dalman,
(1902ET), Words of Jesus, 147; Dodd, (1961Rev), Parables, 64 n. 4; Beasley-Murray, (1986),
Jesus and the Kingdom of God, 102, 364 n. 157; Darr, (1992), On Character Building, 113.
225 von Dobschtz, (1910), The Eschatology of the Gospels, 130; P. M. S. Allen, (1938), Luke
xvii. 21, 477; Rstow, (1960), Zur Deutung von Lukas 17 20-21, 213; Hawthorne, (1962),
The Kingdom of God, 39; Baird, (1963), Justice of God, 173; Zmijewski, (1972), Die
Eschatologiereden, 386.
226 Walton, (1657), Biblia Sacra Polyglotta V, 352; 33; Aramaic-English, (1988), Matthew-John,
521; Jennings and Gantillon, (1926), Syriac Lexicon, 45; von Dobschtz, (1910), The
Eschatology of the Gospels, 129 n. 1; Kmmel, (1961ET), Promise and Fulfilment, 33 n. 51;
Hawthorne, (1962), The Kingdom of God, 38; Sneed, (1962), Dissertation, 45; Baird, (1963),
Justice of God, 174.
227 Tatian, Diatessaron 40:23 (ANF X, 105); Ephraem, (1993ET), Commentary, 274.
228 Sabatier, Fischer and La Rue, (1743), Bibliorum Sacrorum Latinae Versiones Antiquae III, 342a;
Jlicher, (1976), Itala III, 196.
229 Schrage, (1964), Thomas-Evangeliums, 30; Sneed, (1962), Dissertation, 46. The Bohairic version
(which similarly translated it) is later than the Sahidic, the earliest MSS dating from the fourth
g) ~Ckqt is merely a strengthened form of k-230 Given the equation between kingdom
of God and God, the parallel between Luke 17:21b and 1 Cor 14:25 is thus especially
notable.231
h) The Coptic Gos. Thom. 3 has the word sm_petn_6oun, meaning inside of you,
contrasting it with outside of you.232 Although the extant edition of P.Oxy. IV.654.16
has not preserved the complete sentence, reconstructions have consistently contrasted the
preposition in a similar way to the Coptic version.233
While not all the above points ought to be considered relevant (because of the lateness of
the texts), it is enough to confirm that within must be considered the basic meaning of
kqt here. Its probable nuance, however, is quite another matter.
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) lists nine main meanings for the English within
as a preposition.234 The meaning is partially dependent on the identity of the jk, but
this will be dealt with separately in the following Section. Given the presence of this
dependent genitive plural pronoun, the nine basic meanings allow just three possible
interpretations of kqt in v. 21bd. All three are represented in the scholarly literature on
the verse.
century, Mills, (1992), Versions, Ancient (Coptic), ABD VI, 803a. So also the earliest Ethiopic
version, see Zuurmond, (1992), Versions, Ancient (Ethiopic), ABD VI, 808b. For a
transliteration and translation of the Ethiopic Luke 17:20-21, see Sneed, (1962), Dissertation, 45-
46.
230 Dodd, (1961Rev), Parables, 64 n. 4; Baird, (1963), Justice of God, 173.
231 Cf. Stauffer, (1965ET), vbt, TDNT III, 118, who along with the NRSV, translated the k of 1
Cor 14:25 as among.
232 See Section 4.3.4.1; Layton, (1989), Nag Hammadi Codex II,2-7, 52, 53; Guillaumont et al.,
(1959), The Gospel According to Thomas, 2, 3; Stroker, (1989), Extracanonical Sayings of
Jesus, 93; M. Meyer, (1992), The Gospel of Thomas, 22, 23; J. M. Robinson, Hoffmann and
Kloppenborg, (2000), Critical Edition of Q, 497, 498.
Dial. Sav. 16, has a similar saying: And I say [to you, what] you seek [and] inquire after, [behold
it is] within you (6n-thnou au). For the critical edition and translation, see: Emmel, Koester and
Pagels, (1984), Dialogue of the Savior, 56-57. Cf. Crossan, (1991), The Historical Jesus, 283
and, Montefiore and Turner, (1962), Thomas and the Evangelists, 103-104.
233 See: Section 4.3.4.1; Layton, (1989), Nag Hammadi Codex II,2-7, 114, 126; Grenfell and Hunt,
(1898-1904), The Oxyrhynchus Papyri IV, 5-6; Hofius, (1960), Das koptische
Thomasevangelium, 21-42, 182-92; Rstow, (1960), Zur Deutung von Lukas 17 20-21, 221;
Marcovich, (1969), Textual Criticism on Gos. Thom., 58-59; Mueller, (1973), Kingdom of
Heaven or Kingdom of God, 266-76; Fitzmyer, (1959), The Oxyrhynchus Logoi, 375.
234 Compact OED, (19912), 2329a-b,y.
Option 1: Within in the sense of inside (OED meanings 1, 2, 5) either a

particular group of individuals or all individuals.
Option 2: Within in the sense of among or in the midst of or

between (OED meanings 3, 4) either a particular group of individuals or all
individuals.
Option 3: Within in the sense of in the reach/grasp of or in the power

of (OED meanings 6, 7, 8, 9) either a particular group of individuals or all
individuals.
Of these three options, the first one is better discussed under Stage II. Option three will be
discussed here first, immediately followed by option two.
According to the third option, the intended meaning is that the kingdom of God is capable
of being possessed or seen (cf. Luke 6:20, 18:16, 12:32) and therefore is within the
power of, within the grasp, reach of individuals. Tertullian, who first proposed this
explanation, harmonised the passage with Deut 30:11-14.235 He has been followed by
numerous modern scholars who, while not necessarily using Deuteronomy, frequently
place an ethical dimension on it.236 It is also supported by similar meanings in Greek
literature.237
Recent authors who consider this understanding as the most likely include:238 Andrew J.
MattillPhr (1979);239 John A. FitzmyerPhr (1985);240 Robert E. ObachAll and Albert
235 Deut 30:14 (NRSV), No, the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for
you to observe.; Tertullian, Marc. 4.35.12. Cf. Rom 10:6-8; Origen, Hom. Num. 24.2, Comm.
Jo. 19.77, Or. 25.1.
236 Scholars prior to Sneed include: Tertullian, Against Marcion 4.35.12; Roberts, (1948), The
Kingdom of Heaven, 5-7; Cadbury, (1950), The Kingdom, 172-73; Griffiths, (1951), kqt
jsk, 30-31; Rstow, (1960), Zur Deutung von Lukas 17 20-21, 214-18, cf. Flender,
(1967ET), St Luke, 150 n. 3; A. H. Leaney, (1958), Luke, 230. Though unavailable, the
following two articles apparently refute the proposal that the papyri phrases have this meaning,
Riesenfeld, Harald. ~Cj_libbfk , ~Ckqt. Nuntius 2 (1949): 11-15 and, Wikgren, A.
CLRMQ. Nuntius 4 (1950): 27-31. See also: Bretscher, (1951), Luke 17:20-21 in Recent
Investigations, 903-906; Moule, (1960), An Idiom-Book, 84; Hawthorne, (1962), The Kingdom
of God, 41-42. Cf. Sneed, (1962), Dissertation, 71 n. 46.
237 Within a certain distance or area: Homer Iliad 12.374; p Mic 5:6 (NRSV); Xenophon Institutio
Cyri 1.4.23; Euripides The Madness of Heracles 991; Josephus J.W. 2:531,632, 4:8,564.
Within the capability/control of a person: LXX Ps 39:3 (NRSV); 109:22 (NRSV); p Ps 140:5
(NRSV); Ant. 2:304, 4:80; P.Ross.-Georg. 3.1.9. Within a certain time: p Hab 3:2; P.Oxy.
IV.724.11, 728.15, 729.20,30, 1278.28; P.Oxy. X.1274.13 (within a certain age); P.Oxy.
XXII.2342.8. See also: Mattill, (1979), Luke and the Last Things, 205.
238 The superscripts All and P h r and Aud indicate those authors who identify the jk as either all
people or the Pharisees or the wider immediate audience of Jesus respectively. The issue of identity
will be discussed below. Scholars without a superscript either did not venture a suggestion or their
decision was unclear.
239 Mattill, (1979), Luke and the Last Things, 194, 201.
240 Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke X-XXIV, 1161-62.
KirkAll (1986);241 Harald RiesenfeldAll (1991);242 George R. Beasley-MurrayAll (1986,

1992);243 John A. DarrPhr (1992);244 J. C. ONeillAll, Phr (1980, 1993);245 David Hill
(1981);246 N. Thomas Wright (1996);247 and Joel B. GreenPhr (1997).248
Against this view is the fact that it lays great emphasis on human effort, which would seem
to contradict v. 20b and indeed Luke 6:20 and 12:32, which imply if nothing else that the
kingdom is a gift from God.249
The second option, namely that kqt means that the kingdom of God is among or
in the midst of or between a particular group of individuals or all individuals, is
much more likely to reflect the intended meaning of the redactor.
Works (from around the time of Sneed) in which the authors opted for among
include:250 Werner G. Kmmel (1961ET);251 Herman Ridderbos (1962ET);252 Franz
241 Obach and Kirk, (1986), Luke, 184.

242 Riesenfeld, (1991), Le Rgne de Dieu, 190-98. Cf. criticism of this article in Meier, (1994),
Marginal Jew II, 79 n. 115.
243 Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the Kingdom of God, 102; Beasley-Murray, (1992), The
Kingdom of God in the Teaching of Jesus, 23. Cf. the criticism of Beasley-Murrays position in
Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 480 n. 118.
244 Darr, (1992), On Character Building, 113, the kingdom is within your range of perception.
245 ONeill, (1980), Messiah, 20, 24-25; ONeill, (1993), The Kingdom of God, 140-41.
246 D. Hill, (1981), Kingdom of God, 72.
247 N. T. Wright, (1996), Jesus, 469.
248 Green, (1997), Luke, 630 n. 54.
249 Morris, (1974), Luke, 259; Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 427; Zmijewski, (1972), Die
Eschatologiereden, 377-78.
250 For a useful list of scholars prior to the late nineteenth century who opted for among, see:
Bretscher, (1944), Luke 17:21, 731; Bretscher, (1951), Luke 17:20-21 in Recent
Investigations, 900.
Scholars prior to about Sneed who thought that what was meant was that the kingdom was
among the Pharisees include: Lightfoot, (1859), Commentary III, 182, within and upon your
own nation; Oosterzee, (1864ET), Luke II, 128; Goodwin, (1865), Luke, 294; Trollope, (1870),
Luke, 98; Bengel, (1877ET), Gnomon II, 163, within the whole Jewish people; Farrar, (1891),
Luke, 277; Sadler, (1896), Luke, 456; Adeney, (1901), Luke, 318; MacDermott, (1910), Luke,
105; Vincent, (1911), Word Studies I, 401; W. Manson, (1930), Luke, 197 (but note Bretscher,
(1951), Luke 17:20-21 in Recent Investigations, 908 n. 21); A. G. Smith, (1932), The
Kingdom of God is within you, 379; Sledd, (1939), Luke xvii. 21, 236; Beasley-Murray,
(1954), Jesus and the Future, 174-75; Luck, (1960), Luke, 106. Cf. Gaston, (1970), No Stone on
Another, 347-48.
Scholars prior to about Sneed who considered that the meaning was among Jesus audience
include Beasley-Murray, (1954), Jesus and the Future, 174-75.
Scholars prior to about Sneed who opted for the meaning among all people include: Meyer,
(1884ET), Mark and Luke, 491; Willcock, (1896), Luke, 463 (present in the community of
believers); Ryle, (1896), Luke, 242; A. B. Bruce, (1897), Expositors Testament I, 594b; Burton,
(1912), Luke 17:20-21, 278-83 (future); Easton, (1926), Luke, 262 (future); Montefiore,
(19272), Synoptic Gospels II, 549 (future); Otto, (1943ET), The Kingdom of God and the Son of
Mussner (1962);253 George B. CairdAll (1963);254 Francis W. BeareAll (1964);255 Karl L.

Schmidt (1964ET);256 Ethelbert StaufferPhr (1965ET);257 Martin Dibelius (1965ET);258
Helmut FlenderAll (1967ET);259 Alva J. McClainAll (1968);260 Wilfrid J. HarringtonAll
(1968);261 Alois StgerAll (1969);262 Richard H. HiersAll (1970);263 Frederick W.
DankerPhr (1972, 1988);264 Josef Zmijewski (1972);265 Harald Riesenfeld (1972ET);266 E.
Earle EllisAll (1974);267 Leon Morris (1974);268 Eric Franklin (1975);269 J. Vernon
McGeePhr (1975);270 Helmuth L. EgelkrautPhr (1976);271 Luke T. JohnsonAll (1977);272
Warren W. GloverPhr (1978);273 I. Howard MarshallAll (1978);274 Eugene LaVerdierePhr
Man, 135-36; C. J. Cadoux, (1941), The Historic Mission of Jesus, 130; Bretscher, (1944),
Luke 17:21, 735; Geldenhuys, (1946), Luke, 440.
251 Kmmel, (1961ET), Promise and Fulfilment, 34.
252 Ridderbos, (1962ET), The Coming of the Kingdom, 475 (future).
253 Mussner, (1962), Wann kommt das Reich Gottes?, 110.
254 Caird, (1963), Luke, 197, saw it as a future event.
256 K. L. Schmidt, (1964ET), The Word Group _^pfibt in the NT, TDNT I, 586.
257 Stauffer, (1965ET), vbt, TDNT III, 116.
258 Dibelius, (1965ET), From Tradition to Gospel, 162 n. 1.
259 Flender, (1967ET), St Luke, 150.
260 McClain, (1968), The Greatness of the Kingdom, 272.
261 W. J. Harrington, (1968), Luke, 210, saw the sense as essentially that of v. 24, namely that the
verb should be taken in a future sense and that therefore when the kingdom comes it will be
suddenly in the midst of all.
262 Stger, (1969), Luke, 332, in the ministry of Jesus through the Holy Spirit.
263 Hiers, (1967), Why Will They Not Say, 383; Hiers, (1970), Kingdom of God, 28. Because he
interpreted the verb in a future sense, and saw the kingdom as wholly future, Hiers did not link the
future kingdom of God with the person or work of Jesus.
264 Danker, (1972), Jesus and the New Age, 181; Danker, (1988Rev), Jesus and the New Age, 292.
Danker maintained that because it is amongst the Pharisees, the kingdom lies now within their
grasp or power. Cf. Marshall, (1978), Luke, 655.
265 Zmijewski, (1972), Die Eschatologiereden, 378, die Gottesherrschaft schon in seiner Person,
in seinem Wort und seinem Wirken, the kingdom of God is already in his person, in his word
and his works.
267 Ellis, (1974Rev), Luke, 211.
268 Morris, (1974), Luke, 259.
269 Franklin, (1975), Christ the Lord, 17-18.
270 McGee, (1975), Luke, 202.
271 Egelkraut, (1976), Jesus Mission to Jerusalem, 186.
272 L. T. Johnson, (1977), Possessions, 110.
273 Glover, (1978), The Kingdom of God in Luke, 232.
274 Marshall, (1978), Luke, 655; cf. Marshall, (1985), Hope of a New Age, 7.
(1980);275 Charles H. TalbertPhr (1982);276 Francis PereiraAll (1983);277 Eduard

SchweizerPhr (1984ET);278 Jack T. SandersPhr (1987);279 David W. GoodingPhr (1987);280
John T. CarrollPhr (1988);281 David L. TiedePhr (1988);282 Benedict T. Viviano (1988);283
Brian E. BeckPhr (1989);284 Michael D. GoulderPhr (1989);285 Christopher F. EvansAll
(1990);286 Fred B. Craddock (1990);287 Luke T. JohnsonPhr (1991);288 Robert H. SteinPhr
(1992);289 Jean Lebourlier (1992);290 Ben WitheringtonAll (1992);291 John Nolland
(1993);292 John P. Meier (1994);293 R. Alan CulpepperPhr (1994);294 C. Marvin PatePhr
(1995);295 Tom HolmnPhr (1996);296 Robert C. TannehillPhr (1996);297 Darrell L.
275 LaVerdiere, (1980), Luke, 216

276 Talbert, (1982), Reading Luke, 166, Luke would understand this to refer to the presence of the
Holy Spirit in Jesus ministry (cf. 11:20; 4:18-19,21; 3:22).
277 Pereira, (1983), Ephesus, 122.
279 J. T. Sanders, (1987), The Jews in Luke-Acts, 205.
280 Gooding, (1987), According to Luke, 289-90.
282 Goulder, (1978), Mark XVI. 1-8 and Parallels, 300.
283 Viviano, (1988), The Kingdom of God in History, 26-27.
284 Beck, (1989), Christian Character in the Gospel of Luke, 135.
285 Goulder, (1978), Mark XVI. 1-8 and Parallels, 650.
286 C. F. Evans, (1990), Saint Luke, 629.
287 Craddock, (1990), Luke, 205.
288 L. T. Johnson, (1991), Luke, 263.
289 Stein, (1992), Luke, 438.
290 Lebourlier, (1992), Entos hymon, 259-62. Lebourlier made the interesting comment that even
when kqt is best translated as inside, when it is followed by a plural noun it need not mean
inside every individual of that group but inside the group itself, see p. 259.
291 Witherington, (1992), End of the World, 72.
292 Nolland, (1993), Luke 35B, 853.
294 Culpepper, (1994), Luke, NIB IX, 330.
295 Pate, (1995), Luke, 329.
296 Holmn, (1996), The Alternatives of the Kingdom, 226-29.
297 Stein, (1992), Luke, 438; Tannehill, (1996), Luke, 259.
BockPhr (1994, 1996);298 William R. G. LoaderPhr (1997);299 Judith LieuAll (1997);300

Bruce D. Chilton (1998);301 and Agustn del Agua (1999).302
For these scholars, the phrase meant that the kingdom was already present in the person
and/or work of Jesus (cf. Luke 11:20, John 1:26, Gos. Thom. 51, 82, 113) - but a presence
it must be stressed, acknowledged by Jesus himself, not simply, as it was argued in the
previous chapter, a presence put forward by the redactor.303 LXX Isa 45:14 is often quoted
by way of explanation since it has k pl vbt pqfk for the BHS
la Kb (both literally God [is] in you).
Arguments that have been put forward for the translation of among include:
a) Two witnesses to the Old Syriac version, Sinaiticus and Curetonianus, have nwKtNYB
(Nwktnyb), which means among you.304 However, these belong properly to the fifth
century305 - too late to be of benefit in determining a likely original meaning.
b) At Exod 17:7 and 34:9, Aquila translated the Hebrew wnbrqb by kqt jk while
Theodotion rendered it by k jp jk.306 This suggests that kqt and k jp
could have been taken as synonyms on occasion, at least in the Jewish Diaspora of the
298 Bock, (1994), Luke, 287-88; Bock, (1996), Luke, 451-52; Bock, (1996), Luke 9:51-24:53, 1416-
17.
299 Loader, (1997), Jesus Attitude Towards the Law, 341.
300 Lieu, (1997), Luke, 136.
301 Chilton, (1987), Kingdom Come, Kingdom Sung, 67-68.
302 del Agua, (1999), Evangelization, 653.
303 There are of course exceptions, though very few, to this generalisation. One such is del Agua,
(1999), Evangelization, 653, who argued on quite different grounds what was deduced in the
previous chapter (see Section 3.6.4), namely that Jesus as the kingdom is a Lukan insight.
304 Cf. Walton, (1657), Biblia Sacra Polyglotta V, 352; Jennings and Gantillon, (1926), Syriac
Lexicon, 35; Otto, (1943ET), The Kingdom of God and the Son of Man, 133; Kmmel, (1961ET),
Promise and Fulfilment, 34 n. 52; K. L. Schmidt, (1964ET), The Word Group _^pfibt in the
NT, TDNT I, 586; Pate, (1995), Luke, 329. Scholars who mention this but finally exclude the
translation include: Dalman, (1902ET), Words of Jesus, 145; Balmforth, (1930), Luke, 248; Creed,
(1930), Luke, 219; Sneed, (1962), Dissertation, 45; Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke XX-XXIV, 1161;
Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the Kingdom of God, 101. Cf. Ephrems fourth century Syrian
Commentary: Ephraem, (1993ET), Commentary, 274.
305 Brock, (1992), Versions, Ancient (Syriac), ABD VI, 796a.
306 Field, (1975), Origenis Hexaplorum 111b, 144a. Noted by: Strobel, (1961), In Dieser Nacht, 28-
29; Perrin, (1967), Rediscovering, 73-74; Mattill, (1979), Luke and the Last Things, 197;
Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the Kingdom of God, 102; Lebourlier, (1992), Entos hymon,
260-61; Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 478-79 n. 115; Bock, (1996), Luke 9:51-24:53, 1416-17
n. 13. Cf. Piska 13:6 (Midrash on Psalms I, 252); Sifr to Num I:X1.B (Neusner I, 56); T. W.
Manson, (1937), Sayings of Jesus, 303; Kmmel, (1961ET), Promise and Fulfilment, 34 n. 52;
Lachs, (1987), Rabbinic Commentary, 319.
second century and therefore possibly earlier, namely in the time of the third Gospels
redaction.
c) The al at the beginning of v. 21b would seem to imply a kingdom that was
observable, i.e. not within individuals but among them.307
d) The saying should be interpreted in the light of other sayings in Luke, such as Luke
10:9,11, 11:20 where the kingdom may be said to be so near as to be among.308 These
also occur in the context of healing, as may v. 21.309
e) The word occurs with this meaning in numerous examples in Greek literature including
translations of the OT.310
f) The alternative within you cannot be right since nowhere else is there a saying of
Jesus which points to an inner spiritual kingdom within each individual.311 Or, the saying
307 Stauffer, (1965ET), vbt, TDNT III, 116 n. 369.

308 Stauffer, (1965ET), vbt, TDNT III, 116 n. 369; Goulder, (1978), Mark XVI. 1-8 and Parallels,
300; Viviano, (1988), The Kingdom of God in History, 27; Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 427;
Pate, (1995), Luke, 329.
310 Between: Herodotus, Historiae 7.100.3; Thucydides, Historiae 7.5.3; Josephus Ant. 6:315. See:
Kmmel, (1961ET), Promise and Fulfilment, 33 n. 50; Holmn, (1996), The Alternatives of the
Kingdom, 211-12.
Among individuals of a particular group: Arrianus, Anabasis 5.22.4; Thucydides, Historiae
6.67.1; Xenophon, Anabasis 1.10.3, Hellenica 2.3.19; ^ Exod 17:7, 34:9, Job 2:8; p Ps 66:11
(NRSV), 88:5 (NRSV), 141:5 (NRSV), Lam 1:3. See Holmn, (1996), The Alternatives of the
Kingdom, 212-22. Mattill, (1979), Luke and the Last Things, 206-207, distinguished another
subset of this type, namely a group within a group: Thucydides, Historiae 6.67.1; Xenophon,
Anabasis 1.10.3, Hellenica 2.3.19; p Lam 1:3. Much earlier, Andrew Sledd distinguished this
group-within-group, Sledd, (1939), Luke xvii. 21, 235-37. Cf. Kmmel, (1961ET), Promise
and Fulfilment, 33 n. 50; Baird, (1963), Justice of God, 174-76; Beasley-Murray, (1954), Jesus
and the Future, 174-75 n. 4.
311 Montefiore, (19272), Synoptic Gospels II, 547; Bretscher, (1944), Luke 17:21, 735; T. W.
Manson, (1937), Sayings of Jesus, 304; Beasley-Murray, (1954), Jesus and the Future, 176;
Kmmel, (1961ET), Promise and Fulfilment, 33-34; Conzelmann, (1961ET), Theology of St.
Luke, 122; Ridderbos, (1962ET), The Coming of the Kingdom, 473-74; Caird, (1963), Luke, 197;
Perrin, (1963), Teaching of Jesus, 175-76; Schnackenburg, (1963ET), Gods Rule and Kingdom,
136; Beare, (1964), The Earliest Records of Jesus, 185; A. L. Moore, (1966), Parousia, 195;
Perrin, (1967), Rediscovering, 74; W. J. Harrington, (1968), Luke, 210; Jeremias, (1971ET), NT
Theology I, 101; Morris, (1974), Luke, 259; Marshall, (1978), Luke, 655; Fitzmyer, (1983),
Luke X-XXIV, 1161; Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the Kingdom of God, 101; J. T. Carroll,
(1988), Response to the End of History, 79; Danker, (1988Rev), Jesus and the New Age, 292; C.
F. Evans, (1990), Saint Luke, 629; Craddock, (1990), Luke, 205; Stein, (1992), Luke, 438;
Nolland, (1993), Luke 35B, 853; Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 426, 480 n. 117; Bock, (1996),
Luke 9:51-24:53, 1415; Tannehill, (1996), Luke, 259; Green, (1997), Luke, 630 n. 54.
Jesus is said to speak of individuals entering the kingdom not the kingdom entering people:
Vincent, (1911), Word Studies I, 401; T. W. Manson, (1937), Sayings of Jesus, 304; Bretscher,
(1951), Luke 17:20-21 in Recent Investigations, 902; Marshall, (1978), Luke, 655; Breech,
(1983), The Silence of Jesus, 38; Obach and Kirk, (1986), Luke, 184; Stein, (1992), Luke, 438.
is addressed to the Pharisees who could not have possibly been described either by Luke
or Jesus as having the kingdom within them.312
The recent work of Tom Holmn stands out in the above group. In an important article he
analysed most major examples of the use of kqt that have been used in support of the
various translations. He concluded that in most cases an antithetical function can be
discerned.313
The purpose of the choice of the preposition kqt in Luke 17,20-21 is thus
obviously to articulate and emphasize the antithetical structure of the saying:
the kingdom is not this, nor is it that (v. 20-21a), for it is this (v. 21b).
That is, the preposition is better translated within in the sense of inside as opposed
to outside. He thus renders Luke 17:21b as within (the limits of) your group, using
the word within in the sense others use among in order to highlight this antithetical
function. Thus for him, the kingdom dwells in the group of questioners, that is, it is
Jesus himself.
Holmns proposal has three distinct advantages. It explains the presence of kqt, as
opposed to another word or phrase such as k jp. It is also consistent with Lukes
understanding of the kingdom and with the natural dictionary translation of the
preposition.
Against Holmn, however, is the fact that the antithetical function of kqt is unequivocal
only when it stands in explicit contrast to such words as hqt, ws or gsvbk314 and
not infrequently when it functions as an adverb. Further, in the form of pericope of which
Luke 17:20-21 is a prime example, namely the chreia, the replies of Jesus need not be
connected in the intimate way Holmn saw. Thus Luke 17:21b needs to be interpreted as a
reply to the question independently of the other negative replies. In any case, these small
criticisms of Holmns work do not detract from his conclusion, though it cannot be
conceded that this understanding reflects that of the historical Jesus.
Though Luke 18:17 (Section 3.3.2) and parallels depict Jesus as claiming that the kingdom can be
received by an individual, see also Section 4.3.4.1.
312 Oosterzee, (1864ET), Luke II, 128; Meyer, (1884ET), Mark and Luke, 491; Burton, (1912), Luke
17:20-21, 278; Montefiore, (19272), Synoptic Gospels II, 547; A. G. Smith, (1932), The
Kingdom of God is within you, 379; Bretscher, (1944), Luke 17:21, 736; Stauffer, (1965ET),
vbt, TDNT III, 116 n. 369; McClain, (1968), The Greatness of the Kingdom, 272; W. J.
Harrington, (1968), Luke, 210; Ellis, (1974Rev), Luke, 211; Goppelt, (1981ET), Theology of the
NT I, 63; Maddox, (1982), Purpose of Luke-Acts, 134; Talbert, (1982), Reading Luke, 166; J. T.
Carroll, (1988), Response to the End of History, 79; Blomberg, (1992), A Response, 33.
313 Holmn, (1996), The Alternatives of the Kingdom, 227. An observation previously made by
Godet, (1887ET), Luke II, 194, and Hawthorne, (1962), The Kingdom of God, 43, though
unacknowledged by Holmn.
314 For example: hqt, Matt 23:26, Ign. Trall. 7:2; ws, Ant. 14:60, Xenophon Hellenica 2.3.19;
gsvbk, Ant. 3:135, Euripides Medea 1312. Cf. Compact OED, (19912), 2329ay.
jk
The key issue here is the identity of the jk. Three possibilities have been suggested: all
individuals (scholars previously labelled with the superscript All) either now or when Jesus
spoke; the Pharisees (Phr), either the group who asked the question or all Pharisees; or the
wider immediate audience of Jesus (Aud).
Who Luke thought of is dependent on the implied tense of pqfk, because as has been
discerned, Luke inserted this verb himself.
pqfk
Two possibilities have been canvassed for the implied tense of pqfk: the actual present
tense as presented; or as an implied future.
Those who opt for a present tense include:315 Rudolf Schnackenburg (1963ET);316
Gerhard Gloege (1963ET);317 Ethelbert Stauffer (1965ET);318 Norman Perrin (1967);319
Helmuth L. Egelkraut (1976);320 Eric Franklin (1975);321 C. Leslie Mitton (1978);322 I.
Howard Marshall (1978);323 Eugene LaVerdiere (1980);324 Leonhard Gopplet
(1981ET);325 David L. Tiede (1988);326 Brian E. Beck (1989);327 John P. Meier (1994);328
315 Scholars prior to Sneed include: Montefiore, (19272), Synoptic Gospels II, 549; A. T. Cadoux,
(1940), The Theology of Jesus, 50-51; Otto, (1943ET), The Kingdom of God and the Son of Man,
135; Kmmel, (1961ET), Promise and Fulfilment, 35.
316 Schnackenburg, (1963ET), Gods Rule and Kingdom, 137. Cf. his 1970 work, Schnackenburg,
(1970), Abschnitt, 217-18, as noted below.
317 Gloege, (1963ET), The Day of His Coming, 144.
318 Stauffer, (1965ET), vbt, TDNT III, 116 n. 369.
319 Perrin, (1967), Rediscovering, 73.
320 Egelkraut, (1976), Jesus Mission to Jerusalem, 186.
321 Franklin, (1975), Christ the Lord, 17.
322 Mitton, (1978), Your Kingdom Come, 42.
323 Marshall, (1978), Luke, 655.
324 LaVerdiere, (1980), Luke, 216
325 Goppelt, (1981ET), Theology of the NT I, 63-64.
326 Tiede, (1988), Luke, 300.
327 Beck, (1989), Christian Character in the Gospel of Luke, 206 n. 27.
Tom Holmn (1996);329 Darrell L. Bock (1996);330 N. Thomas Wright (1996);331 Joel B.
Green (1997);332 and Gerd Ldemann (2000ET).333 The kingdom of God was already
present in the person and/or ministry of Jesus. Thus they do not need to search for it since
it is literally before them.
Those who chose a future meaning include:334 Rudolf K. Bultmann (1958NewET,

1963ET);335 George B. Caird (1963);336 Francis W. Beare (1964);337 Hans-Werner
Bartsch (1965);338 Wilfrid J. Harrington (1968);339 Richard H. Hiers (1970);340 Rudolf
Schnackenburg (1970);341 Lloyd Gaston (1970);342 Joachim Jeremias (1971ET);343
Johannes Weiss (1971ET);344 Lars Hartman (1992);345 and John Nolland (1993).346 In
virtually every case they supplement their rendering with suddenly or unexpectedly
(cf. Luke 21:34).347 Their arguments usually centre around an implied future meaning for
329 Holmn, (1996), The Alternatives of the Kingdom, 227.

330 Bock, (1996), Luke 9:51-24:53, 1417-18.
331 N. T. Wright, (1996), Jesus, 469.
332 Green, (1997), Luke, 630 n. 53.
333 Ldemann, (2000ET), Jesus, 373.
334 For a list of works in German which opt for a future meaning, see: Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus
and the Kingdom of God, 152. For scholars prior to Sneed: Montefiore, (19272), Synoptic
Gospels II, 549; Klostermann, (1929), Das Lukasevangelium, 175; Luce, (1933), Luke, 277; T.
W. Manson, (1937), Sayings of Jesus, 304; Fuller, (1958), Lukes Witness, 55 (future for Jesus);
Ridderbos, (1962ET), The Coming of the Kingdom, 475. Cf. C. J. Cadoux, (1941), The Historic
Mission of Jesus, 130 n. 2; Conzelmann, (1961ET), Theology of St. Luke, 122; BDF, 168 323;
Moule, (1960), An Idiom-Book, 7.
335 Bultmann, (1958NewET), Jesus and the Word, 37; Bultmann, (1963ETRev), Synoptic Tradition,
121-22.
336 Caird, (1963), Luke, 197.
338 Bartsch, (1965), Early Christian Eschatology, 397.
339 W. J. Harrington, (1968), Luke, 210, called it a prophetic present.
340 Hiers, (1970), Kingdom of God, 22-29, though he eschewed any sense of suddenness, 28 n. 17.
341 Schnackenburg, (1970), Abschnitt, 217-18.
342 Gaston, (1970), No Stone on Another, 349.
344 Weiss, (1971ET), Jesus Proclamation of the Kingdom, 91.
345 Hartman, (1992), Reading Luke 17,20-37, 1667.
346 Nolland, (1993), Luke 35B, 853-54.
347 Also noted by Schnackenburg, (1963ET), Gods Rule and Kingdom, 137; Beasley-Murray, (1986),
Jesus and the Kingdom of God, 102. Cf. the criticism of this by: Otto, (1943ET), The Kingdom of
God and the Son of Man,135; Rstow, (1960), Zur Deutung von Lukas 17 20-21, 212;
Kmmel, (1961ET), Promise and Fulfilment, 34-35; Ridderbos, (1962ET), The Coming of the
Kingdom, 475; Perrin, (1963), Teaching of Jesus, 176; Gaston, (1970), No Stone on Another,
349; G. H. P. Thompson, (1972), Luke, 220; Morris, (1974), Luke, 259; Meier, (1994),
the two instances of oubq^f (vv. 20ad and 20b^) as well as the natural future tense of
olpfk (v. 21a^, 23).348 It also requires the sense suddenly to be extracted from al
do.
Proposed Exegesis
Luke 17:21bd, kqt jk pqfk, has been altered by the redactor. He added pqfk to
this clause to supply a verb lost by his substitution of oubq^f with al (do).
The preposition kqt should be translated literally as within but with the nuance for
Luke of among or in the midst of.
As for the identity of jk, even though the clause was prompted by a question from the
Pharisees, Luke placed the chreia both in the travel narrative and as a natural response to
the witnessing of the healing of the ten lepers. In other words, Luke saw the audience as
being all those who accompanied Jesus to Jerusalem. Simply put, all those who were with
Jesus had the kingdom of God among them.
The present tense of pqfk is deliberate on the part of the redactor. He could have easily
chosen the future form of bj (i.e. pq^f) but did not349 and so it cannot be interpreted as
an implied future. Further, the position of pqfk at the end of the sentence shifts the focus
of the extant form of v. 21b to this verb which thus becomes all the more important. The
effective deletion of oubq^f again puts the emphasis back to the present. And the main
point, the suddenness of the arrival, otherwise has to be added with no real justification.
Marginal Jew II, 426. Note also the reference to Arnold Meyer in Hiers, (1967), Why Will They
Not Say, 381 n. 9.
348 Hiers, (1970), Kingdom of God, 28, in particular made much of this supposed connection between
v. 21a and v. 23.
349 Montefiore, (19272), Synoptic Gospels II, 549; Baird, (1963), Justice of God, 172; Maddox,
(1982), Purpose of Luke-Acts, 135, 136.
Did Luke see the present tense of pqfk as referring to his present or that of the
historical Jesus? Given the conclusion of Section 3.6.4, namely that for Luke the
kingdom was first and foremost Jesus himself (whether or not he acted as such in his
ministry), and that therefore the kingdom was not in Lukes own present, the clause
must refer in Lukes mind to the present of the historical Jesus.
In other words, the kingdom of God is within you is an accurate translation of the
meaning intended by Luke as long as the particular nuance of within is what is meant
by the English word among, since for Luke Jesus as the kingdom was within in the
sense of among, in the midst of his hearers.
4.3 Exegesis of Luke 17:20-21 : The Second (Transmission) Stage 351
4.3 THE SECOND (TRANSMISSION) STAGE
If the above redactional considerations are correct, Luke received the following chreia from
the pre-Lukan community.
Luke 17:20-21 at the end of Stage II
Luke 17:20a 20a^ ~Cmbosqevbt Having been asked

20a_ m qk Dôfp^sk by the Pharisees
20ad mqb oubq^f when is coming
20aa _^pfib^ ql vbl the kingdom of God
20ab mbhove ~Geplt9 Jesus answered,
Luke 17:20b 20b^ lh oubq^f It is not coming
20bd jbq mô^qeopbst+ with/by observation,
Luke 17:21a 21a^ la olpfk9 nor will they say,
21a_ al ab hb+ Behold here, or
There,
Luke 17:21b 21b^ oubq^f (do) (for) is coming
21bd kqt jk- within you.
4.3.1 The Narrative Introduction
It is highly likely that the above was received by Luke as an independent chreia. Its
absence in Matthew means that there is no evidence that it circulated as an isolated saying
in Q.350 Its exegesis therefore in Stages II and I must be without recourse to its gospel
context.
350 Those who have supported the claim that there is no evidence that Luke 17:20-21 was part of Q
include: Sneed, (1962), Article, 376-77; Kloppenborg, (1987), Eschatology and
Apocalypticism, 155; Nolland, (1993), Luke 35B, 851; Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 429;
Bock, (1996), Luke 9:51-24:53, 1410; Myllykoski, (1996), Social History of Q, 188.
Those who considered Luke 17:20-21 to be largely originally from Q include: Hawkins, (1899),
Horae Synopticae, 159; Streeter, (1926), The Four Gospels, 290-91; Schnackenburg, (1970),
Abschnitt, 217; Dillon, (1978), From Eye-Witnesses to Ministers, 43 n. 123; Maddox, (1982),
Purpose of Luke-Acts, 135. For discussion, see: Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke X-XXIV, 1158;
Robinson, (1988), Jesus after Nag Hammadi, 45-55; Jacobson, (1992), The First Gospel, 233.
The International Q Project initially considered that Luke 17:20-21 could only be classed as being
from Q with a probability no higher than {D}, Moreland and Robinson, (1995), International Q
Project, 483. Later it increased the probability only slightly to {C}, J. M. Robinson, Hoffmann
and Kloppenborg, (2000), Critical Edition of Q, 494-99.
352 4.3 Exegesis of Luke 17:20-21 : The Second (Transmission) Stage
4.3.1.1 ~ C m b o s q e v b t m q k D ^ o f p ^ s k (20a^
^ - 20a_
_)
Source-Critical Considerations
The use of the passive form of mbosqs strongly hints at the chreia having been
received by Luke in written form. It is absurd to think that a question would be preserved
in oral form in the passive voice. It may be assumed though that in the oral stage (Stage I)
the verb was in the aorist indicative active form: mbosqp^k. If that were the case,
~Geplk would have been its non-anaphoric object.
The attribution of the question to the Pharisees is again at issue because logion 113 of the
Gospel of Thomas, which represents a parallel saying, attributed a similar question to the
disciples of Jesus.
Gos. Thom. 113
Gos. Thom. 113351

1 peàu na3 n\2i ne3maqhths è tmn\tero esn\nhu n\a4 n\6oou
2 <peè i\s\ è> esn\nhu an 6n\ ou 2w4t ebol
3 eunaòos an è eis6hhte m\pisa h eis6hhte th
4 alla tmn\tero m\peiwt espor4 ebol 6i`m\ pka6 auw r\rwme nau
an eros
Translation of Gos. Thom. 113352

1 His disciples said to him, When will the kingdom come?
2 <Jesus said,> It will not come by waiting for it.
3 It will not be a matter of saying Here it is or There it is.
4 Rather, the kingdom of the father is spread out upon the earth, and men do
not see it.
If this logion is dependent on Luke, then of course the change in attribution is due to the
editors or the subsequent separate transmission history of the Thomas logion. If, however,
it represents an independent tradition, that leaves the question which (the Gos. Thom. or
Luke) represents the earlier form.353
351 Layton, (1989), Nag Hammadi Codex II,2-7, 92; Guillaumont et al., (1959), The Gospel
According to Thomas, 54, 56; Stroker, (1989), Extracanonical Sayings of Jesus, 41; M. Meyer,
(1992), The Gospel of Thomas, 64; J. M. Robinson, Hoffmann and Kloppenborg, (2000),
Critical Edition of Q, 495, 497.
352 Layton, (1989), Nag Hammadi Codex II,2-7, 93. Cf. Guillaumont et al., (1959), The Gospel
According to Thomas, 55, 57; Grant and Freedman, (1960), The Secret Sayings of Jesus, 185;
Perrin, (1967), Rediscovering, 67; Stroker, (1989), Extracanonical Sayings of Jesus, 40-41; M.
Meyer, (1992), The Gospel of Thomas, 65; J. M. Robinson, Hoffmann and Kloppenborg, (2000),
Critical Edition of Q, 498.
353 The question of the dependence or otherwise of the Gospel of Thomas on the canonical Gospels has
produced a large and continually growing bibliography (see the annual bibliography in Novum
Testamentum). The issue is not settled by mere reference to the fact that the Gospel of Thomas is
In the Gospel of Thomas, whenever the Pharisees are mentioned, it is always on the lips of
Jesus.354 Conversely, where a question is asked of Jesus it is invariably ascribed to his
followers or disciples, occasionally named.355 Thirdly, in the Gospel of Thomas
other attributions are altered in order to conform them to this intended style. For example
Gos. Thom. 99, The followers said to him, Your brothers and your mother are standing
outside, is paralleled in Matt 12:47, Mark 3:32 and Luke 8:20, where in each case it was
someone from the crowd who spoke the words.
usually dated to the early second century - well after the Synoptics (though some date it earlier) -
since source critical issues apply to it also. The issue is frequently confused by imprecision. Many
scholars simply adopt independence or dependence without defining what they mean, e.g.
McLean, (1995), On Gos. Thom. and Q, 322 n. 4.
The following are the most important positions that have been taken by scholars regarding the
relationship between the Gospel of Thomas and the Synoptics.
a) It is dependent on the final redaction of the Synoptics where parallel sayings exist, e.g.: Grant
and Freedman, (1960), The Secret Sayings of Jesus, 9, 102. Also Meier, (1991), Marginal Jew I,
137, who included John along with the redacted Synoptics. For further authors in this category see
the list in: H. Koester, (1971), Gnomai Diaphorai, 130 n. 45; Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke I-IX, 87.
b) It is dependent on the final redaction of the Synoptics for some parallel sayings but independent
for others, e.g.: McArthur, (1971), The Burden of Proof, 119; Tuckett, (1988), Thomas and the
Synoptics, 132-57, esp. 156-57; R. McL. Wilson, (1960), Thomas and the Synoptic Gospels,
39b.
c) It is dependent on a common shared tradition where parallel sayings exist, but independent of the
final redaction of the Gospels, e.g.: H. Koester, (1980), Apocryphal and Canonical Gospels,
112; Patterson, (1990), Gos. Thom. and the Historical Jesus, 681 n. 19, 622, 636. Also
Robbins, (1997), Rhetorical Composition and Sources, 102, where that tradition is Q.
d) It is dependent on a common shared tradition for some parallel sayings and another tradition
stream (or trajectory) for others, e.g.: Hedrick, (1989-90), Thomas and the Synoptics, 53; M.
Meyer, (1992), The Gospel of Thomas, 13.
e) It is wholly independent of the shared tradition and therefore represents another stream of
tradition, e.g.: Quispel, (1957), Gos. Thom. and the NT, 189-96; Quispel, (1958-59), Remarks
on Gos. Thom., 276-90; Quispel, (1965), Gos. Thom. and Gos. Heb., 371-82; H. Koester,
(1971), Gnomai Diaphorai, 132; H. Koester, (1980), Apocryphal and Canonical Gospels, 116;
Quispel, (1981), Gos. Thom. Revisited, 218-66; R. Cameron, (1982), The Other Gospels, 24-
25; S. Davies, (1983), Thomas, 9a; H. Koester and Patterson, (1990), Gos. Thom., 28-39,
esp. 32; Sieber, (1990), Gos. Thom. and the NT, 69; Blatz, (1991ET), The Coptic Gospel of
Thomas, NTApoc I, 113; R. Cameron, (1992), Thomas, Gospel of, ABD VI, 538a. For other
authors, see: H. Koester, (1971), Gnomai Diaphorai, 132 n. 50; Perkins, (1981),
Pronouncement Stories in Gos. Thom., 128; R. McL. Wilson, (1982), Nag Hammadi and the
NT, 297; Cameron, (1991), Christian Origins, 385; McLean, (1995), On Gos. Thom. and Q,
333; Theissen and Merz, (1998ET), The Historical Jesus, 38.
Finally, some have posited that it is at least in part dependent on the Gospel of John (though
probably not directly), e.g.: Brown, (1962), Gos. Thom. and John, 174-77; Brown, (1966), John
I-XII, liii; Marcovich, (1969), Textual Criticism on Gos. Thom., 53-74; Meier, (1991),
Marginal Jew I, 137. To the contrary, Dunderberg, (1998), Thomas and John, 33-64.
Because the scholarly debate is far from settled on the matter, the safest procedure is to err on the
side of caution and proceed initially as if d) was operative. This will allow a case by case analysis.
354 Gos. Thom. 39, 102.
355 Gos. Thom. 13, 21, 61.
Thus it is clear that the editors of the Gospel of Thomas felt the need to alter attributions
and other characters in order to conform them to this pattern. Since Luke is much freer in
his attribution of questions, the witness of the Gospel of Thomas may be discounted.
Again, the Pharisees as the intended questioners is the best option.
The significance of the attribution of the question to the Pharisees, has not been previously
explored in relation to Stage II.
Proposed Exegesis
While Pharisees, as an identifiable group, had effectively ceased to exist in Lukes

time, the same was not true for the pre-Lukan Christian community. This community had
to deal with members who still identified themselves as Pharisees as well as with Pharisees
outside it.356 It is hard to see how either group would not be in the minds of those in the
pre-Lukan community who heard/read this chreia in this period.357
As for the change from a direct to indirect question, it can be attributed to the transfer from
oral to written form, but also to a strict translation from the Aramaic oral form to a style
that conformed to the Greek literary form of chreia.358 It suggests that the change took
place when the story moved out of Palestine into the Christian communities of the
Mediterranean. The answers given to the question were no less relevant to the Greek-
speaking Christians than they were and continued to be to Palestinian Jewish Christians.
4.3.1.2 m q b o u b q ^ f _ ^ p f i b ^ q l v b l (20ad
d - 20aa
a)
Apart from altering the question from a direct to the present indirect, there is no reason to
think that it underwent alteration or indeed composition during Stage II. If Gos. Thom.

357 Cf. J. T. Sanders, (1987), The Jews in Luke-Acts, 205, Torah-observant Jewish Christians,
though he saw this as the case only from the perspective of Lukes Gentile Christianity (my
emphasis).
113,359 with its similar question, represents a separate tradition, the question as written is
even on surer ground as being left untouched by Stage II.
The significance of the question has not been previously explored in relation to Stage II.
Proposed Exegesis
For the early pre-Lukan Christian community this question would have been full of irony.
The Pharisees proper, as discerned earlier,360 believed that the kingdom of God was
already present and so in a fundamental sense could not come.361 What was future was
a revelation or exposure of the present kingdom. The use of the verb in their case
contributes to the irony and to the hostile intent of the question.362
On the other hand, the Christian Pharisees, having expressed faith in Jesus, evidently had
fulfilled the basic requirement for reception of the Holy Spirit. There is therefore no
reason to deny that they too had received the gift of the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 15:8). Why
then would they have asked such a question, considering that they believed that the
kingdom in the form of the Holy Spirit was present within them?363 It is possible that
these Pharisees misunderstood the intimate connection between the kingdom and the
Spirit, because of their continued emphasis on observance of the Torah (cf. Acts 15:5) and
that they continued to look forward to a future revelation of the kingdom.
4.3.1.3 m b h o v e ~ G e p l t (20abb )
Some such word as mbhove would normally be expected here, however the whole
phrase is uncharacteristically absent from Gos. Thom. 113.2.364 It is thus not impossible

but unlikely that no such introduction to Jesus replies existed in the oral stage. At least it
can be said that since ~Geplk would have been the explicit object of mbosqp^k at the
beginning of the chreia,365 there would during the oral stage (Stage I) have been no
~Geplt here.
Since these changes are being proposed for the first time here, there has been no previous
comment on them.
Proposed Exegesis
The changes noted above are of no exegetical significance, other than that they indicate
adaptation from an oral to written form, indicative of the movement from Stage I to Stage
II of the formation of the chreia.366
4.3.2 The First Negative Reply
It is worth repeating that the aim of the exegesis in Stage II is not to discern any prophetic
connotations in the utterances of Jesus regarding, for example, the place and meaning of
the Holy Spirit. Rather, it is to uncover the interpretation that the early pre-Lukan
community placed on the received words of Jesus. As Stage I is approached, this
interpretation may then be distinguished, along with that of Stage II, from that of Stage I,
so that the meaning probably intended by the historical Jesus may be more clearly seen.
4.3.2.1 l h o u b q ^ f _ ^ p f i b ^ q l v b l (20b^
^ - 20b_
_)
Because Jesus never said that the kingdom of God was not coming (at all), the negative
particle lh should qualify jbq mô^qeopbst rather than the verb. The resulting
construction l jbq occurs often enough in the NT and the LXX to be unremarkable.367

367 John 20:7, Acts 1:5, 5:26, 24:18. LXX: Deut 8:9, Prov 25:28, Isa 45:13, 48:1, 52:3,12, Jer
17:11, 22:13, Ezek 7:4,11, 1 Macc 8:28.
It would appear that early on in the transmission of the chreia (Stage II) the particle was
moved to its present location where it naturally modifies the verb.
This question has not previously been discussed from the perspective of the pre-Lukan
community.
Proposed Exegesis
There is deep significance in the relocation of the negative particle from jbq
mô^qeopbst to oubq^f. The effect is the statement that the kingdom of God is in
fact not coming.
This actually fits precisely what can be known of the pre-Lukan community. For them, the
kingdom of God was not coming because it was already present through and in the Holy
Spirit to those who had faith in Jesus.368
On the other hand, the Pharisees, to whom the reply is ostensibly addressed,369 believed
that the kingdom was not confined merely to those who belonged to the covenant of
Moses or indeed to those who correctly observed the Torah.370 The Divine Royal
Presence was at once everywhere and yet hidden. Interestingly, Gos. Thom. 113.4 has a
similar connotation, [T]he kingdom of the father is spread out upon the earth, and men
do not see it.371
4.3.2.2 j b q m ^ o ^ q e o p b s t (20bd
d)
As noted above, at the beginning of Stage II, the negative particle stood in the Greek at the
head of this phrase and qualified it.

369 Though see Section 4.3.1.1.
371 tmn\tero m\peiwt espor4 ebol 6i`m\ pka6 auw r\rwme nau an eros, see Section 4.3.1.1.
Though not discussed from the perspective of Stage II, previous scholarship has
highlighted one possible meaning of the phrase that would appear to fit best what has been
deduced regarding the pre-Lukan community.
This possible meaning can be conveniently divided into two distinct types: either with
signs in the sense of observable events or objects heralding the kingdom of God which
enable the observer to predict either the timing or the fact of the imminent coming; or
with signs in the sense of observable events or objects which accompany the kingdom
of God.
Scholars who see Jesus first negative reply as referring to events or objects which herald
the coming kingdom include:372 Werner G. Kmmel (1961ET);373 Norman Perrin (1963,
1967);374 Rudolf K. Bultmann (1963ET);375 Francis W. Beare (1964);376 Arthur L. Moore
(1966);377 Wilfrid J. Harrington (1968);378 J. Reiling and J. L. Swellengrebel (1971);379
Joachim Jeremias (1971ET);380 Eric Franklin (1975);381 C. Leslie Mitton (1978);382
Charles H. Talbert (1982);383 Eduard Schweizer (1984ET);384 Joseph A. Fitzmyer
(1985);385 Wah B. Khoo (1986);386 Robert E. Obach and Albert Kirk (1986);387 Samuel
372 Scholars prior to about 1960 who opted for this view include: Cadbury, (19582), The Making of
Luke-Acts, 294; Weiss, (1971ET), Jesus Proclamation of the Kingdom, 90; Str-B II, 236, (cf.
Marshall, (1978), Luke, 654; Bock, (1996), Luke 9:51-24:53, 1414); Easton, (1926), Luke, 261;
Montefiore, (19272), Synoptic Gospels II, 546; Silver, (1927), Messianic Speculation, 8;
Klostermann, (1929), Das Lukasevangelium, 175, (cited in Marshall, (1978), Luke, 654, and
Bock, (1996), Luke 9:51-24:53, 1414); Creed, (1930), Luke, 218; W. Manson, (1930), Luke,
197; Packard, (1932), Luke, 165; Luce, (1933), Luke, 277; Geldenhuys, (1946), Luke, 440;
Gilmour, (1952), Luke, IB VIII, 300; Fuller, (1954), Mission and Achievement of Jesus, 29;
Owen, (1959), The Parousia in the Synoptics, 182 n. 2.
373 Kmmel, (1961ET), Promise and Fulfilment, 32.
374 Perrin, (1963), Teaching of Jesus, 175, 177; Perrin, (1967), Rediscovering, 72-73.
375 Bultmann, (1963ETRev), Synoptic Tradition, 125.
377 A. L. Moore, (1966), Parousia, 195.
378 W. J. Harrington, (1968), Luke, 210.
379 Reiling and Swellengrebel, (1971), Translators Handbook, 586.
381 Franklin, (1975), Christ the Lord, 17.
382 Mitton, (1978), Your Kingdom Come, 41-42.
383 Talbert, (1982), Reading Luke, 166.
386 Khoo, (1986), Luke, 108.
T. Lachs (1987);388 John T. Carroll (1988);389 Orion N. Hutchinson (1988);390

Christopher F. Evans (1990);391 Fred B. Craddock (1990);392 George R. Beasley-Murray
(1954, 1986, 1992);393 Robert H. Stein (1992);394 Ben Witherington (1992);395 John
Nolland (1993);396 John P. Meier (1994);397 R. Alan Culpepper (1994);398 C. Marvin
Pate (1995);399 Darrel L. Bock (1996);400 Arthur A. Just (1997);401 and Gerd Ldemann
(2000ET).402
Their reasons include the following:
a) Jesus is depicted on numerous occasions as having rejected the speculation of the time
of the coming of the kingdom.403 Some go on to suggest that this was because Jesus
either signified or was himself the kingdom already in the world.404
b) Speculation regarding the time of the end and the techniques employed in calculating
that are evidenced in earlier literature. Such techniques were based on the premise that
387 Obach and Kirk, (1986), Luke, 183.

388 Lachs, (1987), Rabbinic Commentary, 319.
390 Hutchinson, (1988), Luke, 105.
391 C. F. Evans, (1990), Saint Luke, 628. Curiously, Evans correctly analysed the significance of
jbq as denoting the accompaniment of, but then said the phrase meant so as to be calculable.
392 Craddock, (1990), Luke, 204-205.
393 Beasley-Murray, (1954), Jesus and the Future, 175; Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the
Kingdom of God, 100; Beasley-Murray, (1992), The Kingdom of God in the Teaching of Jesus,
23.
394 Stein, (1992), Luke, 437.
395 Witherington, (1992), End of the World, 71.
396 Nolland, (1993), Luke 35B, 852.
397 Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 424-25.
399 Pate, (1995), Luke, 328.
400 Bock, (1996), Luke 9:51-24:53, 1414. Bock made no distinction between heralding and
accompanying signs.
401 Just, (1997), Luke 9:51-24:53, 658.
402 Ldemann, (2000ET), Jesus, 373.
403 Wis 8:8 (not Sir as in some commentators); Mark 13:32 (// Matt 24:36), Acts 1:7, 1 Thess 5:1-2.
See: Schweizer, (1984ET), Luke, 272; Stein, (1992), Luke, 432; Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II,
425.
404 E.g. Craddock, (1990), Luke, 205.
there was a divine plan for the world culminating in some sort of apocalyptic climax and
that this could be known by discerning and observing the signs.405
c) Similar warnings against calculating the end appear in rabbinic sources.406
d) In classical literature the noun is sometimes employed as astrological terminology to

indicate the observation of certain precursors to immanent events.407
Arguments that have been mounted against this proposal include the following:
a) Jesus was apparently not averse to giving signs of the end.408
b) Other signs were not signs of the approach of the end, but of God at work in the
world.409
c) In any case, calculating signs was designed to ascertain the appearance of the Messiah
not the appearance or coming of the kingdom of God.410
d) Finally, jbq with a dependent genitive refers to acts which occur along with
mô^qoepft.411 This leads to the other associated meaning.
Scholars who see the phrase as meaning that Jesus is condemning search for
accompanying evidence for the kingdom of God include:412 Alexander Rstow (1960);413
405 E.g.: divine plan, 1 Enoch 39:11, 92:2, 4 Ezra 4:36-37, 5:49, 14:11, 2 Bar. 69:2, As. Mos. 12:5;
there will be signs heralding the end, Dan 7, 2 Bar. 25:1-29:2, 54:2-5, 53-74 generally, 1 Enoch
91, 93, 4 Ezra 5:1-13; some have access to the divine plan and signs, Dan 10:21; 1 Enoch 103:2;
106:19-107:1; T. Levi 5:4. See: Perrin, (1963), Teaching of Jesus, 177; Mitton, (1978), Your
Kingdom Come, 41; Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the Kingdom of God, 99, 363 nn. 135-36;
J. T. Carroll, (1988), Response to the End of History, 77; Hutchinson, (1988), Luke, 104-105;
Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 425; Bock, (1996), Luke 9:51-24:53, 1414.
406 E.g. b. Sanh. 97a. See: Dalman, (1902ET), Words of Jesus, 143; Beasley-Murray, (1954), Jesus
and the Future, 175; W. J. Harrington, (1968), Luke, 210; Jeremias, (1971ET), NT Theology I,
101; Lachs, (1987), Rabbinic Commentary, 319.
407 E.g.: Diodorus Siculus, 1.9.6, 1.28.1, 1.69.5, 1.81.4, 1.81.6, 1.94.3, 2.9.4, 2.25.8, 2.30.2,
2.31.9, 3.1.2, 3.60.3, 5.67.1, 17.112.2, 19.55.8; Sextus Empiricus Math. 1.153; Polybius Fr.
16.22.8. See: Burton, (1912), Luke 17:20-21, 275; Easton, (1926), Luke, 262; W. Manson,
(1930), Luke, 197; Ridderbos, (1962ET), The Coming of the Kingdom, 474; Weiss, (1971ET),
Jesus Proclamation of the Kingdom, 90; Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke X-XXIV, 1160.
408 E.g. Mark 13:7,28-29.
409 Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the Kingdom of God, 100, 363 n. 138.
410 Dalman, (1902ET), Words of Jesus, 144.
411 Thayer, (19014), Lexicon, 404a; N. Turner, (1956-76), Grammar III, 269; Hiers, (1967), Why
Will They Not Say, 381; Hiers, (1970), Kingdom of God, 25; BDAG, 637b; C. F. Evans,
(1990), Saint Luke, 628.
412 Scholars prior to about 1960 who opted for this view include: Bengel, (1877ET), Gnomon II, 162;
MacDermott, (1910), Luke, 105; Vincent, (1911), Word Studies I, 401; Darby, (1922), Notes of
Addresses, 197; South, (1923), Luke, 101.
Franz Mussner (1962);414 Herman Ridderbos (1962);415 Gerhard Gloege (1963ET);416

Martin Dibelius 1965ET);417 Richard H. Hiers (1967, 1970);418 Harald Riesenfeld
(1972ET);419 Frederick W. Danker (1972, 1988);420 I. Howard Marshall (1978);421
William Hendriksen (1978);422 Andrew J. Mattill (1979);423 Michael Wilcock (1979);424
Eugene LaVerdiere (1980);425 Norman Price (1983);426 E. James Breech (1983);427 Craig
A. Evans (1990);428 R. Alan Culpepper (1994);429 Darrell L. Bock (1994, 1996);430
Arthur A. Just (1997);431 and Joel B. Green (1997).432
Their reasons for opting for this possibility may be summarised thus:
a) Sign watching has already been condemned in Luke (11:16,29-32).433
b) In classical Greek literature there are examples of the use of the noun mô^qoepft
to indicate symptoms of a present disease which a doctor would watch out for.434
413 Rstow, (1960), Zur Deutung von Lukas 17 20-21, 197-203, and cited in: Weiss, (1971ET),
Jesus Proclamation of the Kingdom, 363 n. 138; J. T. Carroll, (1988), Response to the End of
History, 77 n. 156.
414 Mussner, (1962), Wann kommt das Reich Gottes?, 108, and cited in: Weiss, (1971ET), Jesus
Proclamation of the Kingdom, 363 n. 138; J. T. Carroll, (1988), Response to the End of History,
77 n. 156.
415 Ridderbos, (1962ET), The Coming of the Kingdom, 473.
416 Gloege, (1963ET), The Day of His Coming, 139.
417 Dibelius, (1965ET), From Tradition to Gospel, 162 n. 2.
418 Hiers, (1967), Why Will They Not Say, 381; Hiers, (1970), Kingdom of God, 25.
420 Danker, (1972), Jesus and the New Age, 181; Danker, (1988Rev), Jesus and the New Age, 292.
421 Marshall, (1978), Luke, 654.
423 Mattill, (1979), Luke and the Last Things, 192.
424 Wilcock, (1979), Saviour, 162.
425 LaVerdiere, (1980), Luke, 216.
426 Price, (1983), Luke, 75.
427 Breech, (1983), The Silence of Jesus, 37.
428 C. A. Evans, (1990), Luke, 261, though Evans thought that what will not be observed is a
geographical, political kingdom.
430 Bock, (1994), Luke, 286-87; Bock, (1996), Luke, 451.
431 Just, (1997), Luke 9:51-24:53, 658.
432 Green, (1997), Luke, 629.
433 Green, (1997), Luke, 629.
434 E.g. Galen, (Khn 1821-33), I.131.11, I.127.8, XVIII/2.257.7. See: Hobart, (1882), Medical
Language, 153; von Harnack, (1907ET), Luke the Physician, 175-98; Burton, (1912), Luke
c) The kingdom of God will be obvious in itself when it comes.435
d) The advent of the kingdom is completely independent of human action, dependent only
on divine will (Acts 1:7).436
e) The Pharisees were expecting an unmistakable sign which would demonstrate that the
kingdom was present.437
f) As noted above, jbq with the genitive denotes association or accompaniment. So Jesus
was saying that there would be no accompanying sign to mark the arrival of the kingdom.
Proposed Exegesis
If, as is being suggested, the kingdom of God is the Holy Spirit for the pre-Lukan
community, then the kingdom comes into individuals without prior or accompanying
signs (though note Acts 2:3). The exercise of the charismatic gifts was the sign that the
Holy Spirit had already come, e.g. Acts 2:4.438 That is, charismatic gifts were neither
heralding nor accompanying signs. If one must look for a heralding sign, then it is some
act of faith on the part of the individual.439
As for their opponents, the Pharisees, they believed not so much that the (hidden) kingdom
would be revealed by practice of torah, but that by observance of the Torah one would
thereby properly and fittingly acknowledge the presence of the (hidden) kingdom.440 Thus
it is possible that in Stage II, the pre-Lukan community took the saying as a charge against
this attitude of the Pharisees as opposed to faith in Jesus. In other words, the signs
were the practice or observance of the Torah.
17:20-21, 275; Plummer, (19225), Luke, 405; Robertson, (1923), Luke, 211; Hawthorne,
(1962), The Kingdom of God, 36; Perrin, (1963), Teaching of Jesus, 175 n. 1; Bock, (1996),
Luke 9:51-24:53, 1414 n. 8. Also Nolland, (1993), Luke 35B, 852, who used this to support the
heralding concept.
435 Ridderbos, (1962ET), The Coming of the Kingdom, 474; Danker, (1988Rev), Jesus and the New
Age, 292.
436 Weiss, (1971ET), Jesus Proclamation of the Kingdom, 91; J. T. Carroll, (1988), Response to the
End of History, 87.
437 Wilcock, (1979), Saviour, 162; LaVerdiere, (1980), Luke, 216; Price, (1983), Luke, 75.
438 Horn, (1992ET), Holy Spirit, ABD III, 277-78.
4.3.3 The Second Negative Reply
4.3.3.1 l a o l p f k a l a b h b (21a)
There is every good reason to suspect that v. 21a did not originally belong to the other
sayings of Jesus in vv. 20b and 21b. It contains no mention of the kingdom and the verb is
the only explicit future in the chreia. Further, the parallels Matt 24:23,26 and Mark 13:21
and for that matter Luke 17:23 have nothing to do with the kingdom of God. This is not to
say of course that v. 21a is not authentic, especially given its multiple attestation, simply
that there is reason to deny its original location here as part of the conversation on the
kingdom Jesus had with the Pharisees.441
This first part of v. 21 is likely, then, to have been inserted into vv. 20-21 in Stage II, since
it was received by Luke in its present location.
Gos. Thom. 113.3442 may at first sight appear to undermine this conclusion, if it is
assumed that it represents a tradition independent of that of Luke 17:20-21. This very
similar saying is also flanked by sayings which parallel Luke 17:20a and 21b. However,
what can be said of Luke 17:21a can also be said of Gos. Thom. 113.3, in particular that it
too contains no explicit mention of the kingdom though it is surrounded by short sayings
that do.
This saying has not previously been discussed from the perspective of the pre-Lukan
community.
Proposed Exegesis
If this saying was inserted during Stage II, then the reason for the inclusion ought to be
explained by our model of the understanding of the kingdom of God.
441 Robinson, (1988), Jesus after Nag Hammadi, 51; E. P. Sanders, (1985), Jesus and Judaism,
149. Contrary to: Sneed, (1962), Dissertation, 130; Sneed, (1962), Article, 379.
442 eunaòos an è eis6hhte m\pisa h eis6hhte th, It will not be a matter of saying Here it
is or There it is. See Section 4.3.1.1.
~Gal ab hb is in fact precisely what would not have been said by a community who
believed that the kingdom in the form of the hidden or invisible Holy Spirit was on all
those who professed faith in Jesus. Its presence emphasises that very point.
The future tense of olpfk was a concession made by the pre-Lukan community to the
time of Jesus when the Holy Spirit had not yet come.
4.3.4 The Positive Reply
4.3.4.1 o u b q ^ f _ ^ p f i b ^ q l v b l k q t j k (21b)
What changes were made to v. 21b in Stage II to produce the form given here? Since
source-critical issues are of major importance in Stage II, special consideration ought to be
given here to Gos. Thom. 3.3 and P.Oxy. IV.654.15-16.
Gos. Thom. 3
Gos. Thom. 3a443

1 peè i\s\ è eu4aòos nhtn\ n\2i netswk 6ht thutn\ è eis6hhte
etmn\tero 6n\ tpe eeie n\6alht nar\ 4orp ertn\ n\te tpe
2 eu4anòos nhtn\ è s6n\ qalassa eeie n\tbt nar\ 4orp erwtn\
3 alla tmn\tero sm\petn\6oun auw sm\petn\bal
Translation of Gos. Thom. 3a444

1 Jesus said, If those who lead you say to you, See, the kingdom is in the
sky, then the birds of the sky will precede you.
2 If they say to you, It is in the sea, then the fish will precede you.
3 Rather, the kingdom is inside of you, and it is outside of you.
P.Oxy. IV.654.9-16
P.Oxy. IV.654.9-16445
9 idbf ~GYe(pl)t9 k[
10 l ihlkqbt jt Ybmspfk jk9 al[
11 _^pfib^ k lo^Yk+ jt cvpbq^f[
12 q mbqbfk ql loY^kl9 k a~ bmspfk ,[
13 qf m qk dk pqYfk+ bpbibplkq^f[
14 l uvbt qt vîYppet molcvp^k,[
15 qbt jt9 h^ _^pYfib^ ql vbl[
16 kqt jk Yp[qf Yhhqt- - - -[
Translation of P.Oxy. IV.654.9-16446

1 Jesus said, [If] those who lead you [say to you, See,] the kingdom is in
the sky, then the birds of the sky [will precede you.
2 If they say that] it is under the earth, then the fish of the sea [will enter it,
preceding] you.
3 And, the [kingdom of God] is inside of you, [and it is outside of you.
Unfortunately, for immediate purposes, Gos. Thom. 3.3 and P.Oxy. IV.654.16 give no
clues to the manipulation that Luke 17:21b might have undergone in Stage II. Where,
443 Layton, (1989), Nag Hammadi Codex II,2-7, 52; Guillaumont et. al., (1959), The Gospel
According to Thomas, 2; Stroker, (1989), Extracanonical Sayings of Jesus, 93; M. Meyer,
444 Layton, (1989), Nag Hammadi Codex II,2-7, 53. Cf. Guillaumont et. al., (1959), The Gospel
According to Thomas, 3; Grant and Freedman, (1960), The Secret Sayings of Jesus, 115; Perrin,
(1967), Rediscovering, 67; Stroker, (1989), Extracanonical Sayings of Jesus, 40-41; M. Meyer,
445 Layton, (1989), Nag Hammadi Codex II,2-7, 114. For differing reconstructions, see: Grenfell and
Hunt, (1898-1904), The Oxyrhynchus Papyri IV, 5-6; Marcovich, (1969), Textual Criticism on
Gos. Thom., 58-59; Fitzmyer, (1959), The Oxyrhynchus Logoi, 375; J. M. Robinson,
Hoffmann and Kloppenborg, (2000), Critical Edition of Q, 498.
446 Layton, (1989), Nag Hammadi Codex II,2-7, 126, with alterations to better conform to the
original. Cf. Grenfell and Hunt, (1898-1904), The Oxyrhynchus Papyri IV, 5; Marcovich, (1969),
Textual Criticism on Gos. Thom., 58-59; Fitzmyer, (1959), The Oxyrhynchus Logoi, 375; J.
M. Robinson, Hoffmann and Kloppenborg, (2000), Critical Edition of Q, 498.
according to the theory of independence, it might have led to an expected a closer parallel
between the above and v. 21b in Stage II, in fact this extra-canonical source at the crucial
point exhibits closer parallels to the final form of v. 21b. It is more likely, in other words,
to be dependent on the final redaction of Luke, though it may be of some help in
determining the meaning of kqt (see below).447
Thus, there seems to be no reason to suspect that v. 21b underwent modification in Stage
II.
Although this saying has not previously been discussed from the perspective of the pre-
Lukan community, it is appropriate now to discuss the literature that gives another optional
meaning for kqt.448
This meaning is the simple inside and a favourite of so-called liberal Protestants.449
It boasts among its supporters some of the ante-Nicene church fathers,450 as well as others
who would also shy away from such a label as liberal Protestant.
Recent scholars who support this meaning include the following:451 Richard J. SneedAll
(1962);452 Alfred F. LoisyAud (1962ET);453 Joseph A. BairdAll (1963);454 Charles F. D.
447 Some early church fathers posited a connection between Luke 17:20-21 and LXX Deut 30:11-14,
though the connection is stronger between Gos. Thom. 3, P.Oxy IV.654.9-16 and LXX Deut
30:11-14. See for example: Tertullian, Adv. Marcionem IV,35 (ANF III, 409a); Athanasius,
Contra Gentes, 30 (NPNF2 IV, 20a); Guillaumont et al., (1959), The Gospel According to
Thomas, 59; Sneed, (1962), Dissertation, 126-30; Sneed, (1962), Article, 379 n. 31; Glasson,
(1967), Gos. Thom., 151-52; S. Davies, (1983), Thomas, 13a.
448 Option 1, see Section 4.2.4.3.
449 von Harnack, (1901ET), What is Christianity?, 56; Wellhausen, (1904), Das Evangelium Lucae,
95, cf. Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the Kingdom of God, 101. Traced back to Ritschl by
Bretscher, (1951), Luke 17:20-21 in Recent Investigations, 902. See the criticism of this school
of thought in: McClain, (1968), The Greatness of the Kingdom, 272 n. 7.
450 Hippolytus, Haer. 5.7.20, 5.8.8; Peter I of Alexandria, Ep. Can. 5.29; Origen, Princ. 1.3.6-7;
Hom. Gen. 13.4, Hom. Mat. 12.14,35, Hom. Luc. 36.2, Or. 25.1 (cf. John 14:23).
451 Other scholars prior to Sneed who maintained this meaning may be conveniently divided.
Those who thought that the kingdom was inside the individuals of the audience include: Dalman,
(1902ET), Words of Jesus, 146.
Those who thought that the kingdom was indicated to be inside all individuals include:
Olshausen, (1861ET), Commentary II, 385; Carr, (1875), Luke, 173-74; Godet, (1887ET), Luke II,
194; von Harnack, (1901ET), What is Christianity?, 56, 61; von Dobschtz, (1910), The
Eschatology of the Gospels, 132; Robertson, (1923), Luke, 211; MacInnes, (1924), Kingdom of
God, 42, 77; Plummer, (19225), Luke, 406; Balmforth, (1930), Luke, 248; Creed, (1930), Luke,
218-19; Findlay, (1937), Luke, 187; P. M. S. Allen, (1938), Luke xvii. 21, 476-77; A. T.
Cadoux, (1940), The Theology of Jesus, 50-51; H. Martin, (1949), Lukes Portrait of Jesus, 42;
Percy, (1953), Die Botschaft Jesu, 216-23; Knox, (1957), Sources of the Synoptic Gospels 108;
MouleAll (1964);455 Ray SummersAll (1972);456 George H. P. ThompsonAll (1972);457

John DruryAll (1973);458 Norman PerrinAll (1967, 1976);459 William HendriksenAll
(1978);460 K. S. ProctorAll (1982);461 and Roy A. Harrisville (1993).462
For them, the kingdom is essentially an inner, spiritual reality given by God and
present within an individual. It is most often no more defined than that. Where arguments
are presented, they are confined to three.
a) The kingdom was not an outward reality so that people could say v. 21a, (or that it
would be heralded or accompanied by outward observable signs, v. 20b), but an inward
reality.463
b) Jesus placed this kingdom in mens hearts.464
c) For some, this inner, spiritual reality is nothing less than the Holy Spirit. That
this was one concept held by the early Christian community is evidenced by Rom 14:17,
where life in the kingdom was life in the Holy Spirit.465
Fuller, (1958), Lukes Witness, 55; Moorman, (1960), Path to Glory, 206; Dodd, (1961Rev),
Parables, 64-65 n. 4; Hawthorne, (1962), The Kingdom of God, 44.
452 Sneed, (1962), Article, 373-74, 381; Sneed, (1962), Dissertation, 72, 112 n. 29, 136.
453 Loisy, (1903ET), The Gospel and the Church, 163.
454 Baird, (1963), Justice of God, 169, 171, 176, 177.
455 Moule, (1964), Influence on Eschatological Terms, 11.
456 Summers, (1972), Luke, 202.
457 G. H. P. Thompson, (1972), Luke, 221.
458 Drury, (1973), Luke, 167.
459 Perrin, (1967), Rediscovering, 74, within the experience of an individual; Perrin, (1976),
Language, 45, It [kqt jk pqfk] means that the symbol of the kingly activity of God on
behalf of his people confronts the hearers of Jesus as a true tensive symbol with its evocation of a
whole set of meanings, and that the myth is, in the message of Jesus true myth, with its power to
mediate the experience of existential reality. Cf. Section 3.4.2.1 d); Seal, (1984), Retracing a
Pilgrimage, 101; Elmore, (1987), Linguistic Approaches to the Kingdom, 62. See Perrins
earlier work, where he opted for the NEB translation among you, Perrin, (1963), Teaching of
Jesus, 176.
461 Proctor, (1982), Luke 17.20-21, 245.
462 Harrisville, (1993), In Search of the Meaning, 149.
463 Bretscher, (1951), Luke 17:20-21 in Recent Investigations, 901; Knox, (1957), Sources of the
Synoptic Gospels 108; Hawthorne, (1962), The Kingdom of God, 44; Moule, (1964), Influence
on Eschatological Terms, 11; Hendriksen, (1978), Luke, 805. On outward and inward
generally in the Bible, see Argyle, (1957), Outward and Inward, 196-99.
464 Carr, (1875), Luke, 175; von Dobschtz, (1910), The Eschatology of the Gospels, 132; Plummer,
(19225), Luke, 406; Balmforth, (1930), Luke, 248; Creed, (1930), Luke, 219; Baird, (1963),
Justice of God, 177. Cf. Bretscher, (1951), Luke 17:20-21 in Recent Investigations, 901;
Ephraem, (1993ET), Commentary, 274.
That kqt can sustain such an interpretation is supported by the fact that examples of
this use or a similar one can be found in other Greek literature including OT translations466
and by Gos. Thom. 3.3 and P.Oxy. IV.654.16 (see above). In the last two, for example,
sm\petn\6oun and kqt jk inside you are clearly contrasted with sm\petn\bal
and hhqt Yjk[ outside you respectively.
Proposed Exegesis
The notion that the kingdom of God is the Holy Spirit for the pre-Lukan community
sheds a great deal of light at this point.
A survey of the verbs associated with the presence or the bestowal of the Holy Spirit in
Luke-Acts not only confirms that the Holy Spirit is given only to individuals but is an
independent entity that fills each of them.467 The sense of kqt, meaning within in
the connotation of inside each individual, fits Stage II perfectly.468
Since it is not the concern here to discern the meaning Jesus might have intended but
simply the meaning attached to it by the early pre-Lukan community, it does not represent
a prophecy of Jesus regarding the coming of the Holy Spirit, but is rather how the pre-
465 Sneed, (1962), Dissertation, 106-13, Sneed, (1962), Article, 370-74; Hendriksen, (1978), Luke,
805. For less defined connections between Luke 17:21b and Rom 14:17, see: K. L. Schmidt,
(1964ET), The Word Group _^pfibt in the NT, TDNT I, 586; Moule, (1964), Influence on
Eschatological Terms, 11; Morris, (1974), Luke, 259; Larson, (1983), Luke, 248. On Rom
14:17, see also Section 1.4.3, Section 3.4 under Luke 12:31,32, Section 3.6.3 and Section 4.4.2
under Recent Exegetical Comment.
466 LXX: Ps 39:3, 103:1, 109:22, Isa 16:11, Sir 19:26, 1 Macc 4:48. p Ps 39:3, 49:11, 73:21,
88:5,6, Jer 38:20, Ezek 1:16, 3:34, 28:16, Mic 6:14. ^ Ezek 28:16. Matt 23:26. All these are as
numbered in the NRSV. Also: P. Oxy. XXII.2342.8; Josephus, Ant. 5:107; Plato Leg. 789A,
Tim. 45B; Herodotus Historiae 7.47; Ep. Arist. 68 (OTP II, 17); Jos. Asen. 2:3,11 (OTP II, 204,
205). See: Mattill, (1979), Luke and the Last Things, 204-205; Fitzmyer, (1983), Luke X-XXIV,
1161; Holmn, (1996), The Alternatives of the Kingdom, 213-14. In some cases the meaning is
virtually equivalent to the adverb kalk.
467 Of the references to the mkbj^ of God in Luke-Acts, most are associated with one of the
following verbs, everyone of which indicates the bestowal of the mkbj^ of God on an individual
or individuals: oulj^f, Acts 19:6; moulj^f, Luke 1:35, Acts 1:8; mjmiejf, Luke
1:15,41,67, Acts 2:4, 4:8,31, 9:17, 13:9; mieos, Acts 13:52 (note the noun mioet, Luke
4:1 cf. 4:14, Acts 6:3,5, 7:55, 11:24); aasjf, Luke 11:13, Acts 5:32, 8:18, 15:8; i^j_ks,
Acts 2:33,38, 8:15,17,19, 10:47, 19:2; _^mqws, Luke 3:16, Acts 1:5, 11:16; h^q^_^ks,
Luke 3:22, Acts 8:15; hus, Acts 2:17,18,33; hukks, Acts 10:45; uos, Acts 10:38 (cf.
Luke 4:18); mfmmqs, Acts 10:44, 11:15.
468 It is well known that the Pauline pneumatic body of Christ is entirely absent in Luke-Acts,
Horn, (1992ET), Holy Spirit, ABD III, 278a. The one possible exception would, on an initial
reading, be Acts 9:31, where the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria was said to be in
the comfort [mô^hipbf] of the Holy Spirit (cf. Luke 2:25, Phil 2:1). However, this verse is
redactional, an editorial note. That is, it cannot represent the position of the pre-Lukan (Stage II)
community. See: Hengel, (1979ET), Acts, 76; Conzelmann, (1987ET), Acts, 75b; Barrett, (1994,
1998), Acts I, 472.
Lukan community would have interpreted it. Coubq^f would have been taken as a
prophetic present, that is, an implied future, where Jesus was interpreted as predicting the
coming of the Holy Spirit within individuals.
370 4.4 Exegesis of Luke 17:20-21 : The First (Oral) Stage
4.4 THE FIRST (ORAL) STAGE
At the end of Stage I, the following was received by the pre-Lukan community.
Luke 17:20-21 at the end of Stage I
Luke 17:20a 20a^ mbosqp^k asked

20a_ l côfp^lf ~Geplk The Pharisees Jesus,
20ad mqb oubq^f When is coming
20aa _^pfib^ ql vbl: the kingdom of God?
20ab mbhove He answered,
Luke 17:20b 20b^ oubq^f is coming
20b_ _^pfib^ ql vbl The kingdom of God
20bd l jbq mô^qeopbst+ not with observation,
Luke 17:21a 21a^
21a_
Luke 17:21b 21b^ oubq^f (do) (for) is coming
21bd kqt jk- among you.
As near as can be judged, this represents a literal translation of the Aramaic. As such it
probably never received the written form as presented here, though it might have circulated
orally in a form not dissimilar to this for a short while. Consequently, it is legitimate to ask
what might have been the oral Aramaic form.469
Any attempt to write an Aramaic retroversion is fraught with complications. From a purely
scientific perspective, there cannot be absolute certainty that the Greek from which an
Aramaic translation is derived represents a precise translation of the authentic words of
Jesus. There is not a fixed one-to-one correspondence of words between Aramaic and
Greek.470 The comparative ease with which a retranslation is made may be simply
indicative of the kind of Greek someone steeped either in Aramaic or the Septuagint would
write.471 Verbatim accounts do not exist, nor is there any certainty that composition did not
occur very early in Stage I yet after the time of Jesus. In addition, while it can be assumed
with some confidence that Jesus would have spoken Aramaic at least on most
469 It is assumed here that any Aramaic form of the passage was not committed to writing but was
transmitted orally. The comment of Black, (19673), Aramaic Approach, 271, that it is not
possible from the evidence to decide whether this Aramaic source was written or oral, is still
pertinent.
470 For the various issues surrounding Aramaic as a NT tool, see: Moule, (1960), An Idiom-Book,
171-91; N. Turner, (1964), Second Thoughts, 44-48; Horton, (1978), Semitisms of Luke-
Acts, 1-23; Stuckenbruck, (1991), Aramaic Sources: the Recent Debate, 3-29; Hurst, (1986),
The Neglected Role of Semantics, 63-80; Fitzmyer, (1997), The Semitic Background of the NT,
various essays; Black, (19673), Aramaic Approach, passim; Jeremias, (1971ET), NT Theology I,
3-37; Wilcox, (1984), Semitisms in the NT, ANRW II.25.2, 978-1029; Meier, (1991),
Marginal Jew I, 178-80. Also Casey, (1998), Aramaic Sources, 73-110, especially pp. 107-110,
where Casey gave an outline of his method.
471 See footnote in Section 4.2.1.4.
4.4 Exegesis of Luke 17:20-21 : The First (Oral) Stage 371
occasions,472 precisely which dialect he spoke is unknown. Further, the Jerusalem church
spoke both Aramaic and Greek from its beginning (cf. the Hellenists of Acts 6),473 so the
Aramaic form may not have circulated for very long or very widely before being translated
into Greek.
While these inherent problems are real in any endeavour to posit an Aramaic retranslation,
they can be mitigated to a considerable extent if two points are kept in mind.
First, by applying the so-called criteria of authenticity to the earliest possible account, these
criteria may be used most effectively,474 since there is less likelihood of the results being
confused by subsequent manipulation of the text. By taking as the point of departure not
the extant Gospel form but that arrived at after careful consideration of its transmission
history, better grounds for the resultant Aramaic may be had. Yet, like the methods
employed in Stage I, any success ought to be measured not individually but
cumulatively.475 In any case, the best that can be hoped for is a high probable degree of
antiquity if not authenticity.
Though a complete application of the criteria of authenticity to Luke 17:20-21 at each

stage of its formation including Stage I is beyond the scope of this present work, the
passage more than satisfies these criteria. Briefly, it satisfies: multiple attestation, since the
Pharisees appear in various form-critical categories and ask questions of Jesus, and since
kingdom of God is a constant motif attributed to Jesus, as is its coming;
discontinuity, since the particular question posed by the Pharisees is unique, as are Jesus
replies; coherence, since the Pharisees were a real historical group at the time of Jesus and
from what little is known of them it is possible, even likely, that they engaged in debate
with Jesus over the kingdom of God; and style, since elements of the literary style of the
pericope cohere with those that are characteristic of Jesus.
Second, by keeping in mind that any resultant Aramaic text will not necessarily be the
ipsissima verba of Jesus, a form close to that which circulated orally in Stage I may be
reached. But any certainty that it therefore represents the actual words of Jesus will remain
472 Fitzmyer, (1997), The Languages of Palestine, 46; Casey, (1998), Aramaic Sources, 79, 81,
86, 88, 255. Jesus perhaps knew how to read (and speak?) Hebrew (e.g. Luke 4:18-19) and some
Greek (e.g. his conversations with Pilate).
473 Meier, (1991), Marginal Jew I, 178.
474 Surveys of these criteria abound. Among the more useful and informative are: McEleney, (1972),
Authenticating Criteria, 431-60; Boring, (1988), The Historical-Critical Method, 9-44;
Calvert, (1972), Criteria for Distinguishing the Authentic Words of Jesus, 211-18; R. N.
Longenecker, (1975), Literary Criteria, 217-29; Meier, (1991), Marginal Jew I, 167-95; and,
particularly the following work which catalogues and assesses 25 criteria that have been proposed
and refers to works in addition to those listed here, Polkow, (1981), Historical Jesus Research,
336-56.
475 Booth, (1986), Jesus and the Laws of Purity, 112.
elusive.476 It must be said, however, that such an Aramaic text will be more likely to be
closer to the actual words of Jesus than any retroversion direct from the extant Gospel
form.
With the above in view the following is offered. Whether or not the Aramaic retranslation
is accepted, it is hoped that the comments under Recent Exegetical Comment and
Proposed Exegesis may stand independent of the retranslation. They may in that case
be considered as exegetical comment on the form of the chreia as presented at the
beginning of this Section.
4.4.1 m q b o u b q ^ f _ ^ p f i b ^ q l v b l (20ad
d -20aa
a)
Aramaic Retranslation
A simple retranslation of the question back into Aramaic would be:
ahlad atwklm atym tmya When is the kingdom of God to come?
The verb ata to come is here given in the infinitive mood atym to emphasise better
the future direction of the question. The interrogative adverb tmya when? stands first
in the sentence.477 The normal place for the verb is at the head of the sentence, followed by
its subject and object, except for example where adverbs or negations occur.478
More important, however, is that the phrase kingdom of God has been used instead of
kingdom of heaven.479 The former is to be preferred because: it was the common
phrase of Jesus; no contemporary Palestinian literature used the phrase kingdom of
heaven, preferring rather kingdom of God or kingdom of the Lord or simply
kingdom; and because the Gospel of Matthew, being the only exception, means that it
is unlikely that the other Gospel redactors changed to kingdom of God deliberately and
with absolute consistency.480
476 Hollander and de Jonge, (1985), The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, 355. There is no need
to be as sceptical as Hollander, though prudent caution regarding the limitations of the exercise is
still warranted.
477 tmya, Jastrow, (1903), Dictionary, 51b; atym, Jastrow, (1903), Dictionary, 780a.
478 Black, (19673), Aramaic Approach, 50; Stuckenbruck, (1991), Aramaic Sources: the Recent
Debate, 18.
479 Kingdom of heaven was preferred by: Dalman, (1902ET), Words of Jesus, 93; Schnackenburg,
(1963ET), Gods Rule and Kingdom, 80; Cranfield, (1963), Mark, 64; Walther, (1979), Late
Reflections on the Kingdom of God, 178.
480 Jeremias, (1971ET), NT Theology I, 9-10; Crossan, (1991), The Historical Jesus, 284; Gundry,
(19942), Matthew, 43; Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 239-40.
Recent exegetical comment has been considered in Sections 4.2.1 and 4.3.1.
Proposed Exegesis
Although the Pharisees would not naturally have used the verb to come in relation to
the kingdom of God, its use here cannot be denied. Indeed, its use by the Pharisees brings
with it a sense of mocking. They were using Jesus own words probably in an effort to
discredit him or win a point of argument. Jesus used the opportunity not to answer the
question but to undermine one of the fundamental principles of their understanding of the
kingdom of God.
4.4.2 o u b q ^ f _ ^ p f i b ^ q l v b l l j b q m ^ o ^ q e o p b s t (20b)
The proposed Aramaic retroversion is the following:
wryjnb ahlad atwklm atym tyl The kingdom of God is not coming by observance.
This reconstruction is slightly different from that of Gustaf Dalman.481 Like the Greek, the
negation at this location governs the verb, though the meaning is that the kingdom of God
is coming, but not with observance, so it has been moved back to the beginning of the
sentence along with the verb which in Aramaic usually stands at the beginning of a
clause.482 As noted above, kingdom of God has been used instead of kingdom of
heaven.
However, there seems to be no good reason for rejecting Dalmans reconstruction of the
all-important phrase by observance with wryjnb. This word was previously discussed
under Section 4.2.2.3. The use of the +b prefix has the advantage that it has a similar
nuance of meaning to jbq + genitive. They both can be used instrumentally to mean
with or by.483
481 Dalman, (1902ET), Words of Jesus, 145, wryjnb ayta ayh tyl aymvd atwklm.
482 See Section 4.2.2.1 under Recent Exegetical Comment.
483 BDB, 1083b; LSJ, 1108-109.
Recourse to the Gospel of Thomas, logion 113 and the phrase 2w4t ebol produces
inconclusive results at best.
Gilles Quispel484 followed by Norman Perrin,485 claimed that 2w4t ebol from Gos.
Thom. 113.2486 and jbq mô^qeopbst could be translated by the single Aramaic
verb rwx. However, this assumed of course that Gos. Thom. 113 had a transmission
history independent of Luke 17:20 - a possibility that is very unlikely. In any case, 2w4t
ebol also translates mlhôâlh^ in Rom 8:19 and Phil 1:20 and the participle of
molpaulj^f in Mark 15:43 of the Sahidic NT.487 Given that 2w4t ebol appears also
at Gos. Thom. 51 in the context of a question regarding a possible future, it is not
unreasonable to suppose that the redactor of Gospel of Thomas has himself penned the
phrase to drive home his opposition to any expectation of a future kingdom of God.
As noted in Section 4.2.2.3, there have been five proposed meanings of the phrase (l)
jbq mô^qeopbst that have been offered by scholars in the last 40 years. The last
to be considered is that the phrase means effectively that Jesus denied the Pharisaic belief
that the kingdom of God would come by observance of the Torah (i.e. by practice of torah
or halakah).
The following scholars adopt this view:488 Richard J. Sneed (1962),489 Josef Zmijewski
(1972),490 and J. C. ONeill (1980, 1993).491
Their reasons for doing so are the following:
a) A parallel is claimed between Luke 17:20b,21b and Rom 14:17a,17b respectively.492

Both are within the context of the kingdom of God and a negative statement is followed by
484 Quispel, (1958-59), Remarks on Gos. Thom., 288. Cf. Bartsch, (1959-61), Thomas-
Evangelium, 259.
485 Perrin, (1967), Rediscovering, 73-74.
487 Schrage, (1964), Thomas-Evangeliums, 200; Beasley-Murray, (1986), Jesus and the Kingdom of
God, 99.
488 No scholars prior to Leaney have been noted to have adopted this view. See: A. H. Leaney, (1958),
Luke, 230; A. H. Leaney, (19662), Luke, 230. Some, such as Tiede, (1988), Luke, 299,
considered it a possibility but inclined to observation of watching for signs. Whether Tiede
meant heralding or accompanying signs is unclear.
489 Sneed, (1962), Article, 112, 120, 123, 136; Sneed, (1962), Article, 374, 378.
490 Zmijewski, (1972), Die Eschatologiereden, 391-97, and cited in Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II,
478 n. 109.
491 ONeill, (1980), Messiah, 23; ONeill, (1993), The Kingdom of God, 141.
a positive. Specifically, jbq mô^qeopbst is parallel to _opft h^ mpft food

and drink. Since Paul is discussing the occasions when Christians may follow or not
follow the halakah with regard to food and drink (cf. 1 Cor 4:20, 8:8),493 the parallel in
Luke 17:20b presumably is about a similar denial of a link between halakah and the
kingdom of God.494
b) In describing Solomons temple, Josephus recorded that entry to the peoples part of
the temple was restricted to those who were ritually pure and who were in mô^qeopbf
qk kljjsk observance of the laws (Ant. 8:96).495
c) Rabbinic literature claims that certain human acts, particularly observance of the Torah,
can hasten the day of redemption.496
d) The Syriac Peshitta of jbq mô^qeopbst, namely )tr{w+NB (atrwjnb), may

be translated with observation of the law. 1 Cor 7:19 in the Peshitta used the same
word where the context is precisely that of obeying the commandments of God
(NRSV).497
e) P.Oxy. IV.654.35 used the word mô^qeop[ljbk] in the phrase What diet shall
we observe?498
f) There are examples of such a use of the noun in Christian documents in the ante-Nicene
period.499 There are examples, too, in classical literature of its use in the observance or
following of rules, especially to do with principles of rhetoric.500
492 On Rom 14:17, see Sections 1.4.3 and 3.4 under Luke 12:31,32, 3.6.3 and, 4.3.4.1 under Recent
Exegetical Comment.
493 Cf. Johnston, (1984), Kingdom of God Sayings in Pauls Letters, 152-55; Donfried, (1987),
The Kingdom of God in Paul, 178-79; Morris, (1988), Romans, 489; Fitzmyer, (1993),
Romans, 697.
494 Presumably because Sneed, who used Rom 14:17 in support of the meaning under discussion,
did not draw out the parallel to the extent done here.
495 Cf. Mattill, (1979), Luke and the Last Things, 192; ONeill, (1980), Messiah, 23.
496 b. Yoma 86b, Sanh. 97b, 99b, B. Bat. 10a. Cf. Schweizer, (1984ET), Luke, 272; Tiede, (1988),
Luke, 299; Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II, 423, 477-78 n. 108; Bock, (1996), Luke 9:51-24:53,
1413.
497 Walton, (1657), Biblia Sacra Polyglotta V, 350; 33; Aramaic-English NT I, (1988) 521; Jennings
and Gantillon, (1926), Syriac Lexicon, 139; Dalman, (1902ET), Words of Jesus, 143; Sneed,
(1962), Dissertation, 46; Mattill, (1979), Luke and the Last Things, 192. See especially ANF X,
105, which is a translation of the reconstructed Diatessaron, at this point in Arabic (which is why
it does not appear in Louis Leloirs Ephraem, (1963), Texte Syriaque, with expectation;
Ephraem, (1993ET), Commentary, 272, cannot be observed according to days.
498 Layton, (1989), Nag Hammadi Codex II,2-7, 116, 126; Grenfell and Hunt, (1898-1904), The
Oxyrhynchus Papyri IV, 9. This is translated into Coptic in Gos. Thom. 6. See also: Layton,
(1989), Nag Hammadi Codex II,2-7, 55; Sneed, (1962), Dissertation, 55; Marcovich, (1969),
Textual Criticism on Gos. Thom., 65; Riesenfeld, (1972ET), mô^qoepft, TDNT VIII,
148; Fitzmyer, (1959), The Oxyrhynchus Logoi, 385.
g) Though not employed by scholars, Tertullians exegesis of Luke 17:20 would seem to
imply that he took cum observatione to mean the commandments of God.501
The arguments that have been mounted against this view, include the following:
a) The parallel with Rom 4:17 is not close. In any case, care should be exercised in reading
Pauls understanding into Luke.502
b) The rabbinic texts used in support of the meaning are too late to be of significance.503
c) The Peshitta revision belongs to the fifth century504 and thus like the late rabbinic
references, is too far removed from first century Palestine to be of immediate relevance. In
any case, the Syriac versions may all simply be translated with observation.505
d) The context of Luke 17 does not substantiate this possibility. If v. 20b is about the law,
it is the only reference in the chapter.506 However, this objection is of relevance only if
what the reply meant for Luke is considered. It is important to recall that the passage has
had a past and a past that need not bear any relationship to the context that Luke gave to it.
e) The theological problem of the relationship between the Torah and the kingdom does
not appear to be one of concern for Christians in the time of Luke.507 Indeed, the
inconsistent attitude of Jesus towards the law as presented by Luke in his Gospel, strongly
suggests that Luke and his immediate audience saw themselves as no longer coming
within the reach of the law.508 The vocabulary that Luke used when writing about the law
499 E.g. Const. App. 6.30.7 (ANF VII, 464a).

500 E.g. Dionysius Thrax (Lallot 1989) 2.8; Scholia in Homeri Iliadem 2.294 (Dindorf, (1877),
3.136.22); Plutarchus Capitulorum descriptio 9 (2.266b).
501 Tertullian, Marc. 4.35.12 (ANF III, 409a). Cf. Sneed, (1962), The Kingdoms Coming, 15.
Michaels, (1998), Almsgiving and the Kingdom Within, 480-81, is unconvincing in positing a
parallel between this and Marc. 4.36.4-5.
502 Marshall, (1978), Luke, 654; Nolland, (1993), Luke 35B, 852; Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II,
480 n. 117.
504 Brock, (1992), Versions, Ancient (Syriac), ABD VI, 797a.
505 Jennings and Gantillon, (1926), Syriac Lexicon, 139; Dalman, (1902ET), Words of Jesus, 143;
Sneed, (1962), Dissertation, 46. See especially, ANF X, 105, which is a translation of the
reconstructed Diatessaron, at this point in Arabic, with expectation, and Ephraem, (1993ET),
Commentary, 272, cannot be observed according to days.
506 Marshall, (1978), Luke, 654; Nolland, (1993), Luke 35B, 852; Meier, (1994), Marginal Jew II,
423; Pate, (1995), Luke, 328.
508 S. G. Wilson, (1983), Luke and the Law, 57, 61, claimed that even in Acts Luke is nowhere
critical of anyone, Jewish or Christian, who choose to keep the law (with the possible exception
of Peter in Acts 10-11). Wilsons approach is consistent with the view of the Pharisees as
presented in Luke-Acts (cf. the view of Steve Mason and Barnabas Lindars, Section 1.4.1.2). Other
nowhere else included mô^qoepft or related words.509 He preferred cripps to

guard, keep (watch).510
Proposed Exegesis
The arguments against the meaning of jbq mô^qeopbst as being with/by

observance (of the law) are more arguments against such a meaning for Luke.
On the other hand, the pre-Lukan community probably placed observance of the Torah in
opposition to faith in Jesus,511 because of their conviction that the kingdom was the Holy
Spirit. It is likely, too, that while there would have been no connection with the Holy Spirit,
Jesus was also objecting to an observance of the Law connected to a particular
understanding of the kingdom of God.
It has been concluded that the Pharisees believed that the kingdom could be lived in the
here-and-now through the practice of the Law. Their desire to practise meticulously the
halakah reflected their belief that they lived with the presence of God in the here-and-
now.512
Jesus rejected this notion. He never taught that the kingdom could or would come by
human effort.513 It was Gods kingdom and would come only by and through the divine
will (cf. Luke 12:32).514 Nor was it present in his here-and-now. The kingdom ventured
briefly into the here-and-now, principally through his ministry (cf. Luke 11:20), but it was
in a fundamental sense otherwise absent from the world.
recent, more nuanced views, which nevertheless do not depart radically from that presented here
include: Banks, (1975), Jesus and the Law, 248, who claimed that Jesus is presented as the
fulfilment of the Law; Franklin, (1994), Luke, 198-209, who saw Luke as wanting to reach
beyond the law while not abandoning its outlook, a view close to Conzelmann, (1961ET),
Theology of St. Luke, 147-48, 212; Loader, (1997), Jesus Attitude Towards the Law, chapter on
Luke, esp. pp. 388-89, who saw Lukes presentation of Jesus teaching as being without specific
relation to Torah yet in no way contradicting Torah, because of his primarily Gentile setting;
Blomberg, (1984), The Law in Luke-Acts, 53-80, who saw a deliberate contrast on the part of
Luke between Jewish observance of the law and a law-free Christianity. For an earlier contrary
view, see Jervell, (1972), Luke and the People of God, 133-51, in which it is argued that Luke
insisted that Jewish Christians were to keep the law but that Gentile Christians were not so
required.
509 Cf. S. G. Wilson, (1983), Luke and the Law, 1-11.
510 Luke 11:28, 18:21, Acts 7:53, 21:24; note its use in Acts 16:4 for Christian halakah.
511 See Sections 3.6.3 and 4.3.2.2.
513 Craddock, (1990), Luke, 204. Cf. Section 4.2.4.3.
4.4.3 o u b q ^ f _ ^ p f i b ^ q l v b l k q t j k (21b)
This may be retranslated back into Aramaic in the following way:
Nwtna ta ahlad atwklm atym The kingdom of God is to come among you.
This is substantially different from Gustaf Dalmans reconstruction because he provided a

largely literal translation of the extant Greek.515
When viewed in combination with Jesus first reply three features distinctive of Aramaic
stand out in support of this retranslation. There is repetition of the main verb and subject
of the first reply,516 there is antithetic parallelism between the two sentences with the stress
falling on the second517 and there is the use of asyndeton, i.e. the lack of any connecting
particle between the two sentences.518
Most of these features are also prominent in the Greek translation with which the exercise
was started. Therefore, even without the attempt to retranslate back into Aramaic, there are
enough stylistic features of Jesus sayings to point in the direction of antiquity.
Like its Hebrew counterpart, the Aramaic preposition ta (with, among, in the
reconstruction literally (to be) with) was chosen because it denotes proximity or close
association to a stronger degree than Me.519 ~Ckqt captures this sense of intimacy better
than k jp, and it is perhaps for this reason that it was chosen and persisted in the
tradition.
Because few scholars sought a distinction in their exegesis between the various stages of
formation, comment may be found under Stages III and II.
515 Dalman, (1902ET), Words of Jesus, 146, ayh Nwkwgb aymvd atwklm ahd Behold the kingdom
of heaven is within you. See the similar criticism of Dalmans retranslations in: Casey, (1998),
Aramaic Sources, 18.
516 BDF, 261 493.
517 Jeremias, (1971ET), NT Theology I, 14-20, esp. p. 18; Segert, (1984), Semitic Poetic Structures,
ANRW II.25.2, 1449.
518 Black, (19673), Aramaic Approach, 56; Burney, (1922), Aramaic Origin, 49-56; BDF, n. 462.
519 BDB, 85b, 87a, 767a, 1107a; Jastrow, (1903), Dictionary, 132a, 1086a.
Proposed Exegesis
The masculine plural pronoun Nwtna you cannot refer to anyone other than the
Pharisees who asked the question. But like Jesus first reply, it has universal
consequences, for just as no-one can bring on the kingdom by observance of the Torah, so
too the kingdom - the Divine Royal Presence - will eventually come to be with everyone.
The Pharisees believed ultimately in a kingdom, in the Divine Royal Presence, that was
present but hidden. This presence will one day be revealed, but in the meantime
acknowledgment of its existence in the here-and-now meant observance of the Torah.520
On the other hand, Jesus, while agreeing that the kingdom was first and foremost the
Divine Royal Presence, nevertheless believed that this presence was fundamentally absent
from the world. One day it would come to be with all people on earth permanently.521

380 4.5 Exegesis of Luke 17:20-21 : Synthesis
4.5 SYNTHESIS
In Chapter three, kingdom of God was seen to have been effectively a circumlocution
for the Divine Royal Presence in first century Judaism - a belief shared by the Pharisees
and Jesus alike. In the light of this, the pre-Lukan community was seen to have interpreted
their experience of the Holy Spirit in a similar way. Likewise, the redactor of Luke-Acts
identified the kingdom with Jesus. Further, the question of the respective locations of the
kingdom of God, far from being trivial, proved to be the one which allowed such an
identity to be made and which allowed key distinctions in the understanding of the notion
to be found.
Has Divine Royal Presence proven, then, to be the exegetical key which both unlocks Luke
17:20-21 and has it passed the test for plausibility which this chreia represents? If the
measure of success is the ability of such an hypothesis to explain with ease previously
intractable issues and to place in context redactional, source-critical and other
compositional aspects, then the conclusions reached point to at least a credible attempt, if
not probable success.
4.5.1 The Third (Redaction) Stage
The redactor made modifications to the chreia, which may be summarised in the following
chart.
At the end of Stage II At the end of Stage III

As received by the Redactor As modified by the Redactor
Luke 17:20a 20a^ ~Cmbosqevbt ~Cmbosqevbt a

20a_ m qk Dôfp^sk m qk Dôfp^sk
20ad mqb oubq^f mqb oubq^f
20aa _^pfib^ ql vbl _^pfib^ ql vbl
20ab mbhove ~Geplt9 mbhove ^qlt h^ bmbk9
Luke 17:20b 20b^ lh oubq^f lh oubq^f
20b_ _^pfib^ ql vbl _^pfib^ ql vbl
20bd jbq mô^qeopbst+ jbq mô^qeopbst+
Luke 17:21a 21a^ la olpfk9 la olpfk9
21a_ al ab hb+ al ab hb+
Luke 17:21b 21b^ oubq^f (do) al do
21bd kqt jk- kqt jk pqfk-
Luke (the redactor) placed this important chreia immediately after the healing of the ten
lepers in the travel narrative because he wanted it to form a natural response of the
Pharisees to the healing. The one who healed was no less than the kingdom of God - the
Divine Royal Presence - which itself heals and saves. Yet, for Luke himself and also for
4.5 Exegesis of Luke 17:20-21 : Synthesis 381
his readers, the kingdom as Jesus was no longer present. The conversation recounted in
the chreia took place in the redactors past. The question of the timing of the coming of
the kingdom was therefore of concern to at least some members of his community since
this kingdom was now located in heaven.522
The attribution of the question to Pharisees was left untouched by Luke because of his
concern for historical accuracy. By his time there was no group that would readily identify
itself as Pharisaic.
Jesus replies provided Luke with a necessary and convenient corrective to speculation
regarding the timing of the kingdom.
In the first negative reply Luke wanted to tell his Christian community that the kingdom
would not come simply by their waiting for it, as if nothing else was required.
The second negative reply provided Luke with a convenient attack on current Jewish
synagogue thinking on the kingdom (the they of v. 21a^)+ as well as a dictional link
with vv. 22-37. Their belief that the kingdom was present but hidden in the here-and-now
but one day to be revealed stood contrary to Lukes identifying of the kingdom with
Jesus and its location in heaven.
The irony of both sayings would not have been lost on Luke the historian. The kingdom
was visible and present to the hearers of this saying in the person of Jesus. The Pharisees
could not see the kingdom already standing right in front of them. They did not have to
wait for it.
The final reply, which forms the climax to the chreia in this and every stage, was also the
one to undergo the most manipulation by the redactor. The modifications proposed are
consistent with and are explained by Lukes view of the kingdom, namely that it is to be
identified with Jesus. The kingdom could not come among the listeners of Jesus because it
was already present.
The difficult phrase kqt jk pqfk, though best translated strictly as is within
you, has the sense for Luke better conveyed by is among you. The verb in the present
tense, deliberately inserted by Luke, was for him the present of the historical Jesus. As
there is no hint either of a spiritual or eschatological kingdom for Luke in this
phrase, the jk, therefore, is firstly the Pharisees and secondly others who were in the
caravan to Jerusalem with Jesus, simply because Jesus as the kingdom was indeed among
them.

4.5.2 The Second (Transmission) Stage
The pre-Lukan community made modifications to the chreia, which may be summarised in
the following chart.
At the end of Stage I At the end of Stage II

As received by the community As received by the Redactor
Luke 17:20a 20a^ mbosqp^k ~Cmbosqevbt

20a_ l côfp^lf ~Geplk m qk Dôfp^sk
20ad mqb oubq^f mqb oubq^f
20aa _^pfib^ ql vbl: _^pfib^ ql vbl
20ab mbhove mbhove ~Geplt9
Luke 17:20b 20b^ oubq^f lh oubq^f
20bd l jbq mô^qeopbst+ jbq mô^qeopbst+
Luke 17:21a 21a^ la olpfk9
21a_ al ab hb+
Luke 17:21b 21b^ oubq^f (do) oubq^f (do)
21bd kqt jk- kqt jk-
During this period the Pentecost experience coloured and informed all reflection on Luke
17:20-21. Continuing to be assailed by questions from Pharisees both within and outside,
the early pre-Lukan community sought both to answer and take advantage of
misunderstandings surrounding their beliefs. The fact that the Pharisees were depicted as
asking the question may be an indication that the Pharisees within this Christian
community in particular misunderstood Christian teaching on the kingdom and so this
pericope served in part as catechesis.
The misunderstanding may well have arisen out of the fact that for the pre-Lukan Christian
community the kingdom of God was not entirely unlike the notion held by the Jewish
Pharisees. For both the kingdom was present but hidden in the sense that it could not be
directly seen. Unlike the Pharisees, however, the pre-Lukan community considered the
kingdom to be confined to the Christian community (the new Israel) and not a universal
fact. It was to be identified not directly as the Divine Royal Presence but with the Holy
Spirit which first came in the Pentecost experience. For the Pharisees, observance of
the Torah (i.e. practice of torah or halakah) was required because of the universal Divine
Royal Presence. For the pre-Lukan community, it was faith in Jesus that was the essential
pre-requisite to the coming of the Holy Spirit.523
In this Stage, Jesus replies should be interpreted in the light of the above.

4.5 Exegesis of Luke 17:20-21 : Synthesis 383
The first reply was confirmation of the experience of the Holy Spirit as the kingdom of
God and a veiled attack on a treasured belief of the Pharisees. The kingdom did not
come to individuals by their own observance of the Torah, it came as a gift from God
through faith in Jesus.
The second negative reply, inserted as it was during Stage II, reinforces this
understanding. ~Gal ab hb is precisely what would not have been said by a
community who believed that the kingdom in the form of the hidden or invisible Holy
Spirit was on all those who professed faith in Jesus. The future tense of olpfk,
otherwise out of place in the chreia, was a concession made by the pre-Lukan community
to the time of Jesus when the Holy Spirit had not yet come.
The final reply, Luke 17:21b, unmodified by the community, was understood by them as a
prophecy of the coming of the kingdom in the form of the Holy Spirit. The crucial word
kqt meant for them literally inside, that is, the Holy Spirit would come to each
individual (who had faith in Jesus).
4.5.3 The First (Oral) Stage
During this Stage the conversation between the Pharisees and Jesus was transmitted in
Aramaic but very soon translated and also transmitted orally in Greek. A retranslation of
the possible words exchanged was proposed.
Early (Jesus?) Stage I At the end of Stage I

As received by the community
Luke 17:20a 20a^ mbosqp^k
20a_ l côfp^lf ~Geplk
20ad atym tmya mqb oubq^f
20aa ahlad atwklm _^pfib^ ql vbl:
20ab mbhove
Luke 17:20b 20b^ atym tyl oubq^f
20b_ ahlad atwklm _^pfib^ ql vbl
20bd wryjnb l jbq mô^qeopbst+
Luke 17:21a 21a^
21a_
Luke 17:21b 21b^ atym oubq^f (do)
21b_ ahlad atwklm _^pfib^ ql vbl
21bd Nwtna ta kqt jk-
It is only here that an attempt can be made to discern the likely meaning of the replies of
the historical Jesus to the question put to him by the Pharisees.524
524 Assuming that what has been categorised as the material as it was at the end of Stage I is in effect
the actual words of the Pharisees and the historical Jesus. There is no absolute certainty in this,
however. See Section 4.4.
As the work of chapters 2 and 3 demonstrated,525 Jesus and the Pharisees shared the
common first century Jewish Palestinian custom of using the phrase kingdom of God
to refer to the Divine Royal Presence. However, they differed precisely in their location of
that presence.
The Pharisees located the kingdom in the here-and-now. Granted it was hidden, but its
presence necessitated the only logical response, careful observance of the divine will, the
Torah. Because it was already present it could not come. Rather, one day it would be
revealed for all to see. When that happened, judgement, salvation and so on would be
meted out. Jesus on the other hand, believed that the kingdom was fundamentally absent
from the world. One day this kingdom would come to be among humankind. Its arrival
will bring judgement and salvation. The natural and logical response to this scenario was
repentance.
Viewed in the light of the above, the question posed by the Pharisees is a natural
expression of curiosity mixed with some level of hostility regarding the teaching of Jesus.
It has been noted that the Pharisees were vitally interested in the kingdom of God, though
only secondarily in the when of its revelation. Jesus teaching regarding its coming
would have naturally provoked such a question from members of this group, especially if
it was preceded by a healing miracle.
Refusing to answer the question directly, Jesus undermined the whole edifice of Pharisaic
thought on the kingdom of God.
In the first reply, Jesus rejected any notion that the kingdom would come by observance of
the Torah. Implicit, too, is a rejection of the Pharisaic notion of a future revealing of the
hidden kingdom. For Jesus there was no hidden kingdom of God in the here-and-now.
For him its coming lay in the future. For the present it was located in heaven with and in
God.
In the second reply, while rejecting the Pharisaic notion of the here-and-now hidden
kingdom, Jesus did not thereby reject either the circumlocution or the shared fundamental
understanding of the identity of the kingdom of God. Jesus shared with the Pharisees the
belief that the kingdom of God was in a basic sense God Himself. But God was not
present in the here-and-now. One day in the future God would come to be with them and
all people for ever in an intimate and immediate way.
525 In particular, see Sections 2.6.2 and 3.6.2.

5 CONCLUSION
Examine the witnesses with great care. And watch what you say, lest they
learn from what you say how to lie.
(Simeon b. Shatah, 1 cent. B.C., m. Abot 1:9)
5.1 SUMMARY OF RESULTS
While a detailed synthesis of the conclusions may be found at the end of chapters 2, 3 and
4 and at the end of the excursus to chapter 3, it is appropriate to summarise here those
conclusions which more directly bear on the ultimate aim of this work, namely a new
exegesis of Luke 17:20-21.
5.1.1 The Presence of the Divine King
Attached to the explicit notion of God as king (in most cases), were clear indications that
the writer thought of a particular location for the Divine Royal Presence. By the first
century A.D., Palestinian Judaism exhibited at least two different and mutually exclusive
views of this presence of God as king. The first was that some, including Pharisees,
believed that the Divine King dwelt in the world in the here-and-now, though his
presence centred on the temple. One day the Divine Royal Presence would be revealed.
Judgement and salvation would result. The second view, to which Jesus probably
subscribed, was that the Divine Royal Presence resided in heaven. From there he would
one day come to execute judgement and bring salvation.
The early Yavnean rabbis and the Palestinian synagogues of the period after A.D. 70 had a
view not dissimilar to the heaven tradition. Because of the sins of the people, the Divine
King had literally deserted his people and retreated to heaven. His Royal Shekhinah would
only come in the present to those who observed the Torah (i.e. practiced torah or halakah).
One day, however, the Divine King would come and reveal himself, bringing judgement
and salvation.
Luke, the redactor of Luke-Acts, while also an heir to the heaven tradition, identified
Jesus as the Divine King. As Jesus, the Divine King will one day return to bring
judgement and salvation.
386 5.1 Conclusion : Summary of Results
5.1.2 The Presence of the Kingdom of God
A formal and material identity of the Divine Royal Presence with the kingdom of God
was made in first century Palestinian Judaism. Both the Pharisees and Jesus agreed with
this identification. Where they differed was precisely in their location of this presence.
The Pharisees were inheritors of a tradition which saw the kingdom of God as a present
reality hidden in the world. For them practice of torah was the natural expression of such a
belief. One day, however, this kingdom of God, this Divine Royal Presence, would reveal
himself to have been all along in and encompassing the world.
Jesus rejected this location of the kingdom of God. For him, the kingdom of God, Divine
Royal Presence, was to be found only in heaven. Its coming into the world was a future
event that again would mean judgement and salvation. The way to prepare for this event
was not by observance of the Torah but by repentance.
The pre-Lukan community identified this promised (future) kingdom of God as the Holy
Spirit. It had, in fact, come at Pentecost and could be possessed by individuals who had
faith in Jesus and persevered in that faith. Faith in Jesus rather than obedience to the Torah
could realise a present kingdom of God.
The Yavnean rabbis and, a little later the Palestinian synagogues, did not alter the
fundamental association of the kingdom of God with God himself as king. Yet the
kingdom of God was no longer present in the world per se. Obedience to the Torah would
bring the reward of the kingdom of God, which would one day permanently return to
Mount Zion and be revealed.
Luke, however, differed with this early rabbinic view, like Jesus, precisely in the location of
the kingdom of God. For him it was located in Jesus the king. It was present in the
historical Jesus and in the Jesus who was now in heaven. It was not present in Lukes own
here-and-now, but will one day come in the same way you saw him go (Acts 1:11).
5.1.3 An Exegesis of Luke 17:20-21
Such conclusions must not only be tested, they must have a purpose. Luke 17:20-21
provides both a test and a purpose. It is fertile ground for a test of the conclusions of
chapters 2 and 3 because it is the only place in the Gospels where the Pharisees and Jesus
engage in conversation regarding the kingdom of God. It fittingly gives a purpose to the
research of chapters 2 and 3 because it is generally considered to be one of the most
5.1 Conclusion : Summary of Results 387
difficult passages in the Gospels. If the conclusions shed light on this passage at each
stage of its formation, then they will have at least passed the test of plausibility.
Luke positioned the chreia as the natural response of Pharisees to the healing of the ten
lepers rather than as an introduction to the discourse on the coming Son of Man. Jesus as
the kingdom of God brought healing and salvation. He retained the attribution of the
Pharisees to the question because of his desire for historical accuracy, though the question
itself echoes the concerns of some in his community to knowing the timing of the
kingdom.
Jesus three replies, rather than answering the question, undermine the fundamental
presuppositions regarding the kingdom that lie at the basis of the question. The first reply
meant for Luke that people should not think that the kingdom would come to them merely
by waiting for it (Jesus), as if nothing else was required. The second reply attacked the
current synagogue belief (albeit slowly coming under the influence of the rabbis) that the
kingdom was present but hidden, yet one day to be revealed. There would be no revelation
so that people would say Look!. The final reply, which forms the climax of the chreia,
also underwent the most alteration by the redactor. The present tense, a deliberate alteration
by Luke, points the reader to Jesus as the kingdom, as indeed the embodiment of the
Divine Royal Presence. Jesus as the kingdom was among those who were travelling to
Jerusalem, seeing the healing of the ten lepers and listening to the conversation with the
Pharisees.
At Stage II, the chreia was manipulated to conform to the conviction that the kingdom
promised by Jesus had arrived in the form of the Holy Spirit. Because Pharisees were an
identifiable group both within and outside the fledgling Christian community, it is likely
that they still misunderstood Jesus teaching on the kingdom of God. The first reply
reminded such people within the pre-Lukan community that the kingdom could not be
acknowledged - would not come - by observance of the Torah. The Holy Spirit would
come rather because of faith, an unmerited gift from God. The second negative reply,
inserted in this stage, reinforces this understanding. The Holy Spirit, as the hidden
invisible kingdom, cannot be seen, only its effects. The final reply, as reconstructed, was
then interpreted as a prophecy by Jesus of the coming of the Holy Spirit within
individuals of faith.
At Stage I, which is that of the Pharisees and Jesus themselves (or at least the nearest we
can get to them), the question regarding the timing of the kingdom probably would have
been prompted by Jesus frequent teaching on the coming of the kingdom. That the
Pharisees did not believe that the kingdom needed to come suggests that there was a
certain hostility in the question. In the first reply, Jesus rejected any notion that observance
of the Torah was necessary. This was because the kingdom - the Divine Royal Presence -
388 5.1 Conclusion : Summary of Results
was in fact not in the here-and-now as the Pharisees believed. In the second reply, Jesus
affirmed his own view. The Divine Royal Presence, God himself as king, will one day
come to be with them. The way to prepare for this was not by observing the Torah but
by repentance.
That Jesus did not answer the question regarding the timing of the kingdom is to be seen
as the clue to the success of the proposed exegesis. The fundamental difference, and this
was at each stage of formation, was not over issues of timing, but over differences in the
location of the kingdom and thus in Stages II and III over its identity as the Divine Royal
Presence. It is submitted that only an understanding of kingdom of God, as proposed,
highlights this and so is indeed the exegetical key to Luke 17:20-21.
5.2 Conclusion : Some Implications 389
5.2 SOME IMPLICATIONS
There are a number of implications that arise as a result of the conclusions drawn in this
work. Many will only become apparent with the passage of time. However, two can be
readily seen now.
5.2.1 Jesus Maintained a Consistently Future Eschatology
The quest for the historical Jesus is dominated by the question whether Jesus own
eschatology may be described as either present, future or, present and future.1
The results of this work mount a serious attack both on the question itself and on its
answer, if such a question is asked.
Rather than seeing eschatology (or at least the subset of the kingdom of God) in terms of
timing, Jesus, along with other first century Palestinian Jews, saw it in terms of Divine
Royal Presence. Since all agreed that one day this Divine Royal Presence would be
here to exercise sovereignty, the issue was whether this Presence was in the here-and-now
or not.
If the question, however, must be asked in chronological categories, then Jesus kingdom
of God was utterly future since the Divine Royal Presence was not in the here-and-now.
This implication follows from the results on two counts. First, Luke 17:20-21 is one of the
three classical passages (the other two being Luke 11:20 // Matt 12:28 and Mark 1:15)
which Charles H. Dodd used to support his realised eschatology thesis and which
subsequent scholars have used in support of the consensus view (the both/and
eschatology, i.e. both present and future) in the light of the probability that most other
passages point to a future kingdom.2 If a thorough analysis of Luke 17:20-21, especially
v. 21b, results in a future kingdom in the mind of Jesus, then it is likely that a similarly
comprehensive treatment of the other two will also result in a future, non-present, kingdom
for Jesus.3

2 A small minority of scholars have relabelled the realised eschatology view as the
noneschatological Jesus, see Section 3.3.2.
3 That is certainly likely, given the analysis of Luke 11:20 and Mark 1:15 (under Luke 4:15)
presented here. See Sections 3.3.2 and 3.4 respectively.
390 5.2 Conclusion : Some Implications
The second reason is perhaps not immediately noticeable. For every work that was
considered in chapters 2 and 3, not a single one - except for Luke-Acts - gave any sign that
it held within it a both/and eschatology. That is, in every case it was shown that the
writer had a clear unambiguous view as to the location of the Divine Royal Presence. The
exception, Luke-Acts, on closer inspection was found to exhibit a both/and eschatology
- at least in the area of the kingdom - precisely because of the contributions made at each
stage of formation to the modification of the identity of the kingdom. At Stage III, the
kingdom was past and future because it was Jesus. At Stage II, the kingdom was present
because it was the Holy spirit. At Stage I, Jesus kingdom was future because it was the
heavenly Divine Royal Presence. At no Stage could a both/and eschatology be said to
be indicative of that Stage. In other words, a both/and eschatology was never a feature
of anyones eschatology in the first century, much less that of Jesus.
5.2.2 The Pharisees Observed Ritual Purity for the Kingdom of God
A second important implication is that the results may advance towards resolution the
debate surrounding the Pharisees and their observance of ritual purity, especially regarding
food, outside the temple.4
Jacob Neusner and Ed. P. Sanders, in disagreeing about the relative importance for the
Pharisees of maintaining ritual purity outside the temple, also disagreed about the reasons
for this behaviour.5 Neusner claimed that it was because the Pharisees believed that the
Divine Presence extended beyond the confines of the temple. Just as the priests, when they
4 See Section 1.1.

5 For example: Neusner, (1960), The Fellowship, 126-27, with regard to the members of a
hrwbx; Neusner, (1970), Traditions III, 288; Neusner, (1973), From Politics to Piety, 73, 83;
Neusner, (1975), The Idea of Purity in Ancient Judaism, 69; Neusner, (1993), Sanderss
Pharisees and Mine, 263-70.
For example: E. P. Sanders, (1983), Jesus and the Sinners, 12-13; E. P. Sanders, (1985), Jesus
and Judaism, 182-88, esp. 188; E. P. Sanders, (1990), Jewish Law, vii, 166-84, esp. p. 176, 234-
35; E. P. Sanders, (1992), Judaism, 431-37, 438-40.
It would be fair to say that Neusners position is the one that is generally followed today, for
example: S. J. D. Cohen, (1984), The Significance of Yavneh, 44; A. I. Baumgarten, (1997),
Flourishing of Jewish Sects, 69; Cohen, (1999), Temple and Synagogue, 309.
There have been some careful and extremely informative critiques of Sanders view, supporting that
of Neusner: H. K. Harrington, (1995), Did the Pharisees Eat Ordinary Food, 42-54; Fredriksen,
(1995), Did Jesus Oppose the Purity Laws?,42-47; Hengel and Deines, (1995), Common
Judaism, 1-70 esp. 41-51.
Sanders, however, is not without his supporters on this point, e.g: N. T. Wright, (1992), People
of God, 187 n. 109; and, Poirier, (1996), Why Did the Pharisees Wash their Hands?, 217-33,
who opted for a middle view, between Neusner and Sanders. Also Regev, (2000), Pure
Individualism, 186, who also supported Sanders, though the reason was a struggle for the minds
of ordinary Jews between the sages (Pharisees) and priests, p. 195.
5.2 Conclusion : Some Implications 391
were on duty in the temple, observed the highest level of ritual purity due to their proximity
to the Divine Presence, so, too, the Pharisees felt the need to observe a similar level of
ritual purity outside the temple for similar reasons. Sanders rejected this explanation
entirely. The Pharisees, for example, washed their hands not to protect their own food
from impurity but rather the priests food. While pursuing purity, they did not aspire to
that of serving priests.
The problem with this is that both Neusner and Sanders based their respective views on
rabbinic material that is either too far removed from the first century or that has no proven
connection with first century Pharisees.6 They both applied their views without due critical
process to those few Gospel accounts of Pharisees observing ritual purity laws outside the
temple.
The present work, apart from arguing from sources that have been carefully dated and
linked with first century Pharisees, has, without recourse to purity issues, arrived, first, at a
fundamental belief of the Pharisees, namely their perceived identity of the kingdom of God
and its location. Starting from this foundation, it can readily be seen that their desire to
observe ritual purity laws outside the temple is consistent with their view of the kingdom
of God. Ritual purity was an expression of the perceived awareness of the kingdom of
God, the Divine Royal Presence (cf. Exod 19:10-15, Deut 23:10-15).7
6 E.g. m. Kel. 1:6-9, Sifre to Num I:X.1.B.

7 This begs the question whether Jesus observance or otherwise of ritual purity halakot can be
explained in a similar way. It would seem that Jesus himself was not concerned with purity laws
not directly associated with the temple precisely because he did not believe that the Divine Royal
Presence was in his here-and-now. He probably observed such laws when it came to entering the
Temple Mount because this was simply the thing that any faithful Jew would do, if for no other
reason, out of respect for Him whose house it once was. b. Yoma 52b noted that ritual in the
temple was to be performed as if the ark and therefore the Shekhinah were present. Although from
a later period, it gives some indication that such justification was possible. Fredriksen, (2000),
Jesus of Nazareth, 203, argued that Jesus observed purity laws, taking them for granted as a true
Jew of his time. She failed to note that there was great argument and variety as to how purity was
to be kept and that therefore non-observance in a particular area probably was not unusual. She
failed to note, too, that the only evidence we have on Jesus, the canonical Gospels, depict him as
observing purity laws only when approach to the temple was involved (e.g. Mark 1:40-44). On
other occasions he is depicted claiming that ritual purity concerns were at best secondary to moral
purity (e.g. Mark 7:1-22).
392 5.3 Conclusion : Some Directions for Future Research
5.3 SOME DIRECTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH
Considerations of space have prevented the walking of numerous byways exposed in this
study. Five that ought to prove worthwhile, if only for the scenery that may be discovered,
are the following.
5.3.1 Luke 17:20-21 and Subsequent Christian Writers
Although Richard J. Sneed has to some extent done this, it would be highly desirable to
trace more thoroughly the use of Luke 17:20-21 through the church fathers and up to
modern times. Such a task ought to be increasingly possible given the daily digitisation of
works. It need not be a mere catena of passages, though that would be a valuable work of
reference in itself.
To be able to trace the central role that the verses have played in the formulation of the
notion of the kingdom of God in every age is in itself sufficient justification for such an
undertaking. Did, for example, the passage play a role at the Reformation, where Protestant
ideas on the invisible church were crucial?
Given the three-fold understanding of the kingdom of God inherent in the formation of
Luke 17:20-21, it begs a further question that may be answered in part by such an
analysis. If Jesus saw the kingdom of God as fundamentally God himself as king, if the
pre-Lukan community saw it first and foremost realised in the Holy Spirit and if Luke saw
it embodied in Jesus, what role did an understanding of the kingdom of God play in the
formation of the Christian doctrine of the Trinity?
5.3.2 The Holy Spirit as the Divine King
In Section 2.4 a prima facie case was made for the suggestion that the pre-Lukan
community identified the Holy Spirit as the Divine King. Section 3.4 demonstrated that
this community identified the kingdom of God with the Holy Spirit.
An avenue of research might be to look closely at each reference to the Holy Spirit in
Luke-Acts with the purpose of establishing more thoroughly thematic connections with
contemporary notions of the Divine King. For example, in Acts 2:37-40 the Holy Spirit is
closely associated with judgement (which repentance and forgiveness can avoid) and
salvation - two prime functions of the Divine King. In Acts 5:32 the Holy Spirit is given
to those who obey God. In Acts 20:28 the Holy Spirit can impart authority to rule.
5.3 Conclusion : Some Directions for Future Research 393
5.3.3 Paul, Divine Royal Presence and the Kingdom of God
Paul himself claimed once to have been a Pharisee (Phil 3:5, echoed in Acts 23:6, 26:5). Is
it possible that Pauls understanding of the kingdom of God is coloured by what has been
seen was that of the Pharisees? For example, Pauls connection between the kingdom of
God and the Holy Spirit in Rom 14:17, may betray such signs since both the Pharisaic
notion and that of the early pre-Lukan community saw the kingdom as a present but
hidden reality.
5.3.4 The Gospels and the Zechariah Tradition
Bruce D. Chilton and others have done a valuable service in re-reading much Gospel
material in the light of the Book of Isaiah and its Targum. Perhaps the time has come to
view similarly the Gospels through the book of Zechariah and its Targum, looking at a
broader picture than simply concentrating on messianism as presented in Zechariah and
the Messiah Jesus of the Gospels.8
In the case of the Gospel of Luke, for example, at least three allusions to Zechariah are
already well known.9 This study has detected others which invite a closer inspection than
that warranted here.10
5.3.5 The Uniqueness of Luke 17:20-21
If Luke 17:20-21 does reveal a central point of difference between Jesus and the Pharisees
regarding the location of Gods kingdom, it would be intriguing to pursue the question
8 E.g. C. A. Evans, (1999), Jesus and Zechariahs Messianic Hope, 373-88. He similarly lamented
the meagre list of literature on Zechariahs influence on Jesus, p. 380 n. 11.
Notwithstanding the fact that Zechariah 14, the main passage in Zechariah of interest here, displays
many parallels of various grades to other OT literature especially Isaiah, Ezekiel and Zephaniah.
See: Schaefer, (1993), The Ending of the Book of Zechariah, 165-238; Schaefer, (1995),
Zechariah 14, 66-91.
9 UBS4, 900, Zech 9:2-4 in Luke 10:13-14, Zech 9:11 in Luke 22:20, LXX Zech 12:3 in Luke
21:24. Some may want to add Zech 10:9 in Luke 15:17. There are of course better examples in the
other Gospels such as, Zech 9:9 in Matt 21:5, John 12:15, Zech 11:12-13 in Matt 27:9-10, Zech
12:10 in John 19:27, Zech 13:7 in Matt 26:31, Mark 14:27.
10 The following allusions to motifs in Zechariah 14 have been detected in Luke and depicted as
coming from Jesus: Zech 12:8 in Luke 7:28, fortune reversal in the kingdom of God; Zech
14:9,16-17 in Luke 11:2, 13:18-20,28-29, eschatological worship and banquet in the Divine Royal
Presence which is the kingdom of God. All these may be found discussed in Section 3.3.2.
394 5.3 Conclusion : Some Directions for Future Research
why is it that only one explicit reference to the dispute from both sides of the fence has
survived.
Two comments may be made that arise as a result of this present work.
The first is that the passage is not the only reference to a dispute between Jesus and the
Pharisees regarding the kingdom of God, nor has that claim been made here. There are
other places in the Synoptic gospels where Jesus attacks the Pharisees within the explicit
context of the kingdom of God, Matthew 23:13 being a notable example. Luke 17:20-21,
however, is the only place where the Pharisees themselves show any interest in Jesus
attitude to the kingdom (cf. Section 1.2).
The second is that the Pharisees themselves were far more concerned with issues of
halakah. It was suggested that their position regarding these issues arose out of their
perceived location of the kingdom of God (cf. Section 1.1), a location that compelled them
to adopt priestly-styled halakah outside the temple (cf. Section 5.2.2). Their attitude to the
kingdom was central, though admittedly rarely, made explicit.
Although a question about the silence of our extant sources, a more thorough pursuit of
this curiosity may lead to further insights.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
ANCIENT TEXTS AND INSCRIPTIONS AND THEIR TRANSLATIONS
Unless otherwise given below, all Greek and Latin texts and their translations have been
taken from the Loeb Classical Library series (LCL).
1 (Ethiopic, Apocalypse of) Enoch. Translated by E. Isaac. In The Old Testament

Pseudepigrapha : Volume 1, edited by James H. Charlesworth, 5-100.
New York: Doubleday, 1983.
2 (Slavonic Apocalypse of) Enoch. Translated by Francis I. Andersen. In The Old

Testament Pseudepigrapha : Volume 1, edited by James H.
Charlesworth, 91-221. New York: Doubleday, 1983.
2 (Syriac, Apocalypse of) Baruch. Translated by Albertus F. J. Klijn. In The Old

3 (Greek Apocalypse of) Baruch. Translated by H. E. Gaylord. In The Old Testament

3 (Hebrew Apocalypse of) Enoch. Translated by Philip S. Alexander. In The Old

3 Maccabees. Translated by H. Anderson. In The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha :

Volume 2, edited by James H. Charlesworth, 509-29. New York:
Doubleday, 1983.
An Unpublished Halakhic Letter from Qumran. Edited and translated by Elisha

Qimron and John Strugnell. In Biblical Archaeology Today :
Proceedings of the International Congress on Biblical Archaeology,
Jerusalem, April 1984, edited by J. Amitai, 403-404. Jerusalem: Israel
Exploration Society, 1984.
For this you waited 35 Years. Edited and translated by Elisha Qimron and John
Strugnell. BAR 20, no. 6 (1994): 56-61.
Genizah Specimens. Edited by Solomon Schechter. In Contributions to the Scientific
Study of Jewish Liturgy, edited by Jakob J. Petuchowski, 373-78. New
York: KTAV, 1970.
Jubilees. Translated by O. S. Wintermute. In The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha :
Doubleday, 1983.
Life of Adam and Eve. Translated by M. D. Johnson. In The Old Testament
396 Bibliography : Ancient Texts and Inscriptions and their Translations
Psalms of Solomon. Translated by Robert B. Wright. In The Old Testament

Pseudo-Philo. Translated by Daniel J. Harrington. In The Old Testament

Pseudepigrapha : Volume 2, edited by James H. Charlesworth, 297-
377. New York: Doubleday, 1983.
Pseudo-Phocylides. Translated by Pieter W. van der Horst. In The Old Testament

Sibylline Oracles. Translated by John J. Collins. In The Old Testament

Testament of Abraham. Translated by Ed P. Sanders. In The Old Testament

Testament of Moses. Translated by J. Priest. In The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha :

Doubleday, 1983.
Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs. Translated by Howard C. Kee. In The Old

The Coptic Gospel of Thomas. Translated by Beate Blatz and Robert McL. Wilson. In
New Testament Apocrypha : Volume One : Gospels and Related
Writings, edited by Wilhelm Schneemelcher, 110-33. Cambridge and
Louisville, Ky.: James Clarke and Westminster John Knox Press, 1991.
The Fourth Book of Ezra. Translated by Bruce M. Metzger. In The Old Testament
The Gospel of Mary. Translated by Henri-Charles Puech, Beate Blatz and Robert
McL. Wilson. In New Testament Apocrypha : Volume One : Gospels
and Related Writings, edited by Wilhelm Schneemelcher, 391-95.
Cambridge and Louisville, Ky.: James Clarke and Westminster John
Knox Press, 1991.
A Select Library of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church : Second
Series. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. Reprint of 1890 ed.
14 vols. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1986.
Apocalypsis Henochi Graece. Edited by Matthew Black, Pseudepigrapha Veteris

Testamenti Graece : Volume 3. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1970.
Aramaic - English Interlinear New Testament : Volume I : Matthew - John. Edited by

The Way International Research Team. 3 vols. New Knoxville:
American Christian Press, 1988.
Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. Edited by K. Elliger and W. Rudolph. 4th emended ed.
Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1990.
Bibliography : Ancient Texts and Inscriptions and their Translations 397
Biblia Sacra : Iuxta Vulgatum Versionem. Edited by Bonifatio Fischer, Iohanne

Gribomont, H. F. D. Sparks and W. Thiele. 3rd emended ed. Stuttgart:
Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1983.
Biblia Sacra Polyglotta. Edited by Brian Walton. Reprint of 1657 ed. 5 vols. Graz:
Akademische, 1963.
Bibliorum Sacrorum Latinae Versiones Antiquae : seu vetus Italica et caeterae

quaecunque in codicibus mss. & antiquorum libris reperiri potuerunt :
quae cum Vulgata Latina & cum textu Graeco comparantur. Edited by
Pierre Sabatier, Bonifatius Fischer and Vincent de La Rue. Reprint of
1743 ed. 3 vols. Turnhout: Brepols, 1983.
Catalogue of the Greek Papyri in the John Rylands Library, Manchester. Edited by
Arthur S. Hunt. 4 vols, 1911-1952.
Corpus of Jewish Inscriptions : Jewish Inscriptions from the Third Century B.C. to the
Seventh Century A.D. Edited by Jean B. Frey. Reprint of 1936 ed. 2
vols, Corpus Inscriptionum Judaicarum. New York: KTAV, 1975.
Daily Prayer Book : Ha-Siffur, Ha-Shalem. Translated by Philip Birnbaum. New York:
Hebrew Publishing Co., 1949.
Dionysius Thrax. La Grammaire de Denys Le Thrace. Edited by Jean Lallot. Paris:

Editions du Centre national de la recherche scientifique : Diffusion
Presses du CNRS, 1989.
Discoveries in the Judaean Desert : Volume X : Qumran Cave 4 : Miqsat Ma'ase Ha-
Torah. Edited by Elisha Qimron and John Strugnell. Oxford:
Clarendon, 1994.
Ecclesiastico : testo ebraico con apparato critico e versioni greca, Latina e siriaca.
Edited by Francesco Vattioni, Seminario di Semitistica Testi I. Naples:
Instituto Orientale di Napoli, 1968.
Ephraem. Commentaire de l'vangile Concordant : Texte Syriaque (Manuscrit Chester

Beatty 709). Edited by Louis Leloir, Chester Beatty Monographs 8.
Dublin: Hodges Figgis, 1963.
Ephraem. Saint Ephrem's Commentary on Tatian's Diatessaron : an English Translation

of Chester Beatty Syriac MS 709 with Introduction and Notes.
Translated by C. McCarthy. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993.
Extracanonical Sayings of Jesus. Edited by William D. Stroker, Resources for Biblical

Study 18. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1989.
Galenus. Hapanta. Opera Omnia. Edited by Karl G. Khn. Reprint of 1821-33 ed. 20 in
22 vols. Hildesheim: G. Olms, 1964.
Genizah Manuscripts of the Palestinian Targum to the Pentateuch. Translated by Michael

L. Klein. 2 vols. Cincinnati: Hebrew Union College Press, 1986.
Herodotus. The History of Herodotus. Translated by George Rawlinson. In The

History of Herodotus : the History of the Peloponnesian War, edited
by Philip W. Goetz, 1-341. Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica, 1990.
Itala : Das Neue Testament in Altlateinischer berlieferung. Edited by Adolf Jlicher. 4

vols. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 1963.
Mekilta de-Rabbi Ishmael. Translated by Jacob Z. Lauterbach. Reprint of 1933 ed. 3 vols.
Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1976.
Mishnayoth. Edited by Philip Blackman. 7 vols. New York: Judaica Press, 1964.
Nag Hammadi Codex II, 2-7 : Together with XIII, 2*, Brit. Lib. Or. 4926(1), and P.
OXY. 1, 654, 655 : with Contributions by Many Scholars. Edited by
Bentley Layton. 2 vols, NHS 20-21. Leiden and New York: E. J. Brill,
1989. (This work also includes a convenient Coptic Dictionary).
Nag Hammadi Codex III, 5 : the Dialogue of the Savior. Edited by Stephen Emmel,
Helmut Koester and Elaine H. Pagels, NHS 26. Leiden: E. J. Brill,
1984.
Neophyti 1 : Targum Palestinense ms. de la Biblioteca Vaticana. Edited by Alejandro

Dez Macho. 6 vols. Madrid: Consejo Superior De Investigaciones
Cientificas, 1968.
Novum Testamentum Graece. Edited by Ebehhard Nestle, Erwin Nestle, Kurt Aland and
Barbara Aland. 27 Rev. Aufl. ed. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft,
1993.
Origenis Hexaplorum. Edited by Frederick Field. 2 vols. Hildesheim: G. O. Verlag, 1875.
Papyri Russischer und Georgischer Sammlungen (P.Ross.-Georg.). Edited by Grigorii

F. Zereteli. 5 vols. Amsterdam: A. M. Hakkert, 1966.
Pseudo-Philon Les Antiquits Bibliques. Edited by Daniel J. Harrington and Jacques

Cazeaux, Sources Chrtiennes 229 & 230. Paris: Cerf, 1976.
Scholia Graeca in Homeri Iliadem ex Codicibus Aucta et Emendata. Edited by Gulielmus

Dindorfus. 6 vols. Oxford: Clarendon, 1877.
Septuaginta : id est Vetus Testamentum graece iuxta LXX interpretes. Edited by Alfred
Rahlfs. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1979.
Septuaginta : Vetus Testamentum Graecum. Edited by Robert Hanhart, Werner Kappler,

U. Quast, Alfred Rahlfs, John William Wevers and Joseph Ziegler.
Auctoritate Academiae Scientiarum Gottingensis ed. To date 22 vols.
Gttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1931-1993.
Sifr to Numbers : an American Translation and Explanation. 2 vols. Atlanta: Scholars

Press, 1986.
Targum Jonathan of the Former Prophets : Introduction, Translation and Notes.

Translated by Daniel J. Harrington and Anthony J. Saldarini, ArBib 10.
Wilmington, Del.: Michael Glazier, 1987.
Targum Neofiti 1, Deuteronomy : Translated with Apparatus and Notes. Translated by

Martin McNamara, ArBib 5A. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press,
1997.
Targum Neofiti 1, Exodus : Translated with Apparatus and Notes. Translated by Martin
McNamara, ArBib 2. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 1994.
Targum Neofiti 1, Genesis : Translated with Apparatus and Notes. Translated by Martin
McNamara, ArBib 1A. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 1992.
Targum Neofiti 1, Numbers : Translated with Apparatus and Notes. Translated by

Martin McNamara, ArBib 4. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 1995.
Targum Onkelos to Deuteronomy : an English Translation of the Text with Analysis and
Commentary. Translated by Israel Drazin. New York: KTAV, 1982.
Targum Onkelos to Numbers : an English Translation of the Text with Analysis and
Commentary. Translated by Israel Drazin. Hoboken, N.J.: KTAV :
Center for Judaic Studies University of Denver : Society for Targumic
Studies, 1998.
Targum Pseudo-Jonathan of the Pentateuch : Text and Concordance. Edited by Ernest

G. Clarke. Hoboken, N.J.: KTAV, 1984.
Targum Pseudo-Jonathan of the Pentateuch : Text and Concordance. Edited by Ernest

G. Clarke. Hoboken, N.J.: KTAV, 1984.
Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, Deuteronomy : Translated with Notes. Translated by Ernest

G. Clarke, ArBib 5B. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 1998.
Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, Numbers : Translated with Notes. Translated by Ernest

Clarke, ArBib 4. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 1995.
The Ante-Nicene Fathers : Translations of the Writings of the Fathers down to A.D. 325.
Edited by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson. Reprint of 1885
ed. 10 vols. Edinburgh and Grand Rapids: T&T Clark and Eerdmans,
1989.
The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament in English. Edited by Robert
H. Charles. 2 vols. Oxford: Clarendon, 1913.
The Assumption of Moses : a Critical Edition and Commentary. Edited by Johannes

Tromp, SVTP 10. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1993.
The Babylonian Talmud. Translated by Isidore Epstein et al. Edited by Isidore Epstein. 18
vols. London: Soncino Press, 1961.
The Bible in Aramaic Based on Old Manuscripts and Printed Texts. Edited by Alexander
Sperber. 4 v. in 5 vols. Leiden: Brill, 1959.
The Book of Ben Sira in Hebrew : a Text edition of all extant Hebrew manuscripts and a
synopsis of all parallel Hebrew Ben Sira texts. Edited by Pancratius C.
Beentjes, VTSup 68. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1997.
The Book of Enoch or 1 Enoch : a New English Edition. Edited by Matthew Black, SVTP
7. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1985.
The Books of Enoch : Aramaic Fragments of Qumrn Cave 4. Edited by Jozef T. Milik.
Oxford: Clarendon, 1976.
The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English. Translated by Gza Verms. New York: Allen
Lane and Penguin Press, 1997.
The Critical Edition of Q : a Synopsis including the Gospels of Matthew and Luke and
Thomas with English, German, and French Translations of Q and
Thomas. Edited by James M. Robinson, Paul Hoffmann and John S.
Kloppenborg, Hermeneia - a Critical and Historical Commentary on
the Bible. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2000.
The Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition. Edited by Florentio G. Martnez and Eibert J. C.
Tigchelaar. Paperback ed. 2 vols. Leiden and Grand Rapids: E. J. Brill
and Eerdmans, 2000.
The Ethiopic Book of Enoch : a New Edition in the Light of the Aramaic Dead Sea
Fragments. Edited by Michael A. Knibb. 2 vols. Oxford: Clarendon,
1978.
The Fragment-Targums of the Pentateuch : According to their Extant Sources. Translated

by Michael L. Klein. 2 vols, AnBib 76. Rome: Biblical Institute Press,
1980.
The Gospel According to Thomas : Coptic Text Established and Translated. Edited by
Antoine Guillaumont, Henri C. Puech, Gilles Quispel, Walter C. Till
and Yassah 'Abd Al Masih. Leiden and London: E. J. Brill and Collins,
1959.
The Gospel of Thomas : the Hidden Sayings of Jesus. Translated by Marvin Meyer. San
Francisco: Harper, 1992.
The Greek New Testament. Edited by Barbara Aland et al. 4th Revised ed. Stuttgart:
Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft and United Bible Societies, 1993.
The Holy Bible : Containing the Old and New Testaments with the
Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books. New Revised Standard Version
ed. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1989.
The Isaiah Targum : Introduction, Translation, Apparatus and Notes. Translated by

Bruce D. Chilton, ArBib 11. Wilmington, Del.: Michael Glazier, 1987.
The Midrash on Psalms. Translated by William G. Braude. 2 vols, Yale Judaica Series
13. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1959.
The Midrash Rabbah. Edited by Harry Freedman. New compact ed. 5 vols. London:
Soncino Press, 1977.
The Mishnah : a New Translation. Translated by Jacob Neusner. New Haven and
London: Yale University Press, 1988.
The Mishnah. Translated by Herbert Danby. London: Oxford University Press, 1933.
The New Testament from 26 Translations. Edited by Curtis Vaughan. Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 1967.
The New Testament [and Psalms] in Syriac. Edited by R. Kilgour et al. Oxford: Oxford
University Press, 1966.
The Oxyrhynchus Papyri. Edited by Bernard P. Grenfell and Arthur S. Hunt. To date 66
vols. London: Egypt Exploration Fund, 1898-1999.
The Syriac Version of the Psalms of Solomon. Edited by Joseph L. Trafton. Atlanta:
Scholars Press, 1985.
The Talmud of the Land of Israel. Translated by Jacob Neusner et al. Edited by Jacob
Neusner. 16 vols. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1982-1994.
The Targum of Ezekiel : Introduction, Translation, Apparatus and Notes. Translated by

Samson H. Levey, ArBib 13. Wilmington, Del.: Michael Glazier, 1987.
The Targum of Jeremiah : Introduction, Translation, and Commentary. Translated by

Robert Hayward, ArBib 12. Wilmington, Del.: Michael Glazier, 1987.
The Targum of the Minor Prophets. Translated by Kevin J. Cathcart and Robert P.
Gordon, The Aramaic Bible 14. Wilmington, Del.: Michael Glazier,
1989.
The Targum Onqelos to Deuteronomy. Translated by Bernard Grossfeld, ArBib 9.

Wilmington, Delaware: Michael Glazier, 1988.
The Targum Onqelos to Exodus. Translated by Bernard Grossfeld, ArBib 7. Wilmington,

Del.: Michael Glazier, 1988.
The Targum Onqelos to Numbers. Translated by Bernard Grossfeld, ArBib 8.

Wilmington, Del.: Michael Glazier, 1988.
Theon. On the Chreia. In The Chreia in Ancient Rhetoric : Volume I. The

Progymnasmata, edited by Ronald F. Hock and Edward N. O'Neil, 82-
106. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1986.
LEXICONS, CONCORDANCES AND DICTIONARIESThose not mentioned
elsewhere in the Bibliography.
Abbott-Smith, George. A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. 3rd ed.
Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1981.
Bauer, Walter, Frederick W. Danker, William F. Arndt, and F. Wilbur Gingrich. A Greek-
English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian
Literature. 3rd ed. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press,
2000.
Brown, Francis, Samuel R. Driver, and Charles A. Briggs. The Brown-Driver-Briggs

Hebrew and English Lexicon : With an Appendix Containing the
Biblical Aramaic. Reprint of 1906 ed. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1996.
Clines, D. J. A., ed. The Dictionary of Classical Hebrew. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic
Press, 1993.
Denis, Albert-Marie, and Yvonne Janssens. Concordance Grecque des Pseudpigraphes

d'Ancien Testament : Concordance, Corpus des Textes, Indices.
Louvain-la-Neuve: Institut Orientaliste Universit Catholique de
Louvain, 1987.
Hatch, Edwin, and Henry A. Redpath. A Concordance to the Septuagint and the Other
Greek Versions of the Old Testament (including the Apocryphal
books). 3 v. in 2 vols. Graz-Austria: Akademische Druck-U.
Verlagsanstalt, 1954.
Jastrow, Marcus. A Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud Babli and Yerushalmi, and
the Midrashic Literature. Reprint of 1903 ed. 2 vols. in 1 vols. New
York: Judaica Press, 1996.
Jennings, William, and Ulric Gantillon. Lexicon to the Syriac New Testament (Peshitta).
Reprint of 1926 ed. Oxford: Clarendon, 1962.
Lampe, Geoffrey W. H. A Patristic Greek Lexicon. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1961.
Liddell, Henry G., Robert Scott, Henry S. Jones, and Roderick McKenzie. A Greek-
English Lexicon. Revised with Supplement, 9th ed. Oxford: Clarendon
Press, 1996.
Moulton, James H., and George Milligan. The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament :
Illustrated from the Papyri and other Non-literary Sources. London:
Hodder & Stoughton, 1930.
Moulton, W. F., A. S. Geden, and H. K. Moulton, eds. A Concordance to the Greek

Testament. 5th ed. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1978.
Reider, Joseph, and Nigel Turner. An Index to Aquila. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1966.
Rengstorf, Karl H. A Complete Concordance to Flavius Josephus. 5 vols. Leiden: E. J.

Brill, 1968.
Simpson, J. A., and E. S. C. Weiner, eds. The Compact Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd
ed. Oxford: Clarendon, 1991.
Bibliography : Lexicons, Concordances and Dictionaries 403
Spicq, Ceslas. Theological Lexicon of the New Testament. Translated by James D. Ernest.
3 vols. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994.
Thayer, Joseph H. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, being Grimm's

Wilke's Clavis Novi Testamenti Translated Revised and Enlarged. 4th
ed. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1901.
Werblowsky, R. J. Zwi, and Geoffrey Wigoder, eds. The Oxford Dictionary of the Jewish
Religion. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997.
Woodhouse, S. C. English-Greek Dictionary : a Vocabulary of the Attic Language. 2nd

ed. London: Routledge & Paul, 1954.
404 Bibliography : Secondary Literature
SECONDARY LITERATURE
Aalen, Sverre. Reign and House in the Kingdom of God in the Gospels. NTS 8
(1961): 215-40.
Abelson, Joshua. The Immanence of God in Rabbinical Literature. London: Macmillan,

1912.
Abrahams, Israel. Word. In Encyclopedia Judaica : Volume 16, edited by Cecil Roth
and Geoffrey Wigoder, cols 634-35. Jerusalem: Keter, 1972.
Achtemeier, Paul J. An Apocalyptic Shift in Early Christian Tradition : Reflections on

Some Canonical Evidence. CBQ 45, no. 2 (1983): 231-48.
Ackroyd, Peter R. Two Hebrew Notes. ASTI 5 (1967): 82-86.
Adeney, Walter F. St. Luke. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1901.
Aharoni, Jochanan, and Michael Avi-Yonah. The Macmillan Bible Atlas. 3rd Revised ed.
New York: Macmillan, 1993.
Aland, Kurt. Synopsis of the Four Gospels. Greek-English, 2nd ed. Stuttgart: United Bible
Societies, 1975.
Albright, William F. A Catalogue of Early Hebrew Lyric Poems (Psalm LXVIII).

HUCA 23, no. 1 (1950-51): 1-39.
Alexander, Philip S. The Rabbinic Lists of Forbidden Targumim. JJS 27, no. 2 (1976):
177-91.
Alexander, Philip S. Rabbinic Judaism and the New Testament. ZNW 74 (1983): 237-
46.
Alexander, Philip S. Review of A Galilean Rabbi and His Bible by Bruce D. Chilton.
JJS 36, no. 2 (1985): 202-11.
Alexander, Philip S. The Targumim and the Rabbinic Rules for the Delivery of the
Targum. In Congress Volume : Salamanca 1983, edited by John A.
Emerton. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1985.
Alexander, Philip S. Jewish Aramaic Translations of Hebrew Scriptures. In Mikra :

Text, Translation, Reading and Interpretation of the Hebrew Bible in
Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity, edited by Martin J. Mulder,
217-54. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1988.
Alexander, Philip S. Orality in Pharisaic-Rabbinic Judaism at the Turn of the Eras. In

Jesus and the Oral Gospel Tradition, edited by Henry Wansbrough,
159-84. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1991.
Alexander, Philip S. Targum, Targumim. In The Anchor Bible Dictionary : Volume 6,

edited by David N. Freedman, 320-31. New York: Doubleday, 1992.
Allen, Leslie C. The Books of Joel, Obadiah, Jonah and Micah. Edited by R. K. Harrison,
NICOT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1976.
Allen, P. M. S. Luke xvii. 21. ExpTim 49 (1938): 476-77.

Bibliography : Secondary Literature 405
Allen, P. M. S. Luke xvii. 21. ExpTim 50 (1939): 233-35.
Allison, Dale C. The End of the Ages has Come : an Early Interpretation of the Passion
and Resurrection of Jesus. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1985.
Allison, Dale C. The Eschatology of Jesus. In The Encyclopedia of Apocalypticism :

Volume 1 : the Origins of Apocalypticism in Judaism and Christianity,
edited by John J. Collins, 267-302. New York: Continuum, 1998.
Alon, Gedaliah. The Attitude of the Pharisees to the Roman Government and the House
of Herod. ScrHier 7 (1961): 53-78.
Alon, Gedaliah. The Jews in their Land in the Talmudic Age (70-640 C.E.). Translated by
Gershon Levi. 2 vols. Jerusalem: Magnes Press and Hebrew University
Press, 1980.
Alt, Albrecht. Essays on Old Testament History and Religion. Translated by Wilson, R.
A. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1966.
Ambrozic, Aloysius M. The Hidden Kingdom : a Redaction-Critical Study of the

References to the Kingdom of God in Marks Gospel. Edited by Joseph
A. Fitzmyer, CBQMS 2. Washington, D.C.: Catholic Biblical
Association of America, 1972.
Amirtham, Samuel. To be Near to and Far away from Yahweh : the Witness of the
Individual Psalms of Lament to the Concept of the Presence of God.
Bangalore Theological Forum 2, no. 2 (1968): 31-55.
Andersen, Francis I., and David N. Freedman. Micah : a New Translation with
Introduction and Commentary. Edited by William F. Albright and
David N. Freedman, AB 24E. New York: Doubleday, 2000.
Anderson, Arnold A. The Book of Psalms. Edited by Ronald E. Clements. 2 vols, NCB.
Greenwood, S.C.: Attic Press, 1972.
Anderson, Gary A., and Michael E. Stone, eds. A Synopsis of the Books of Adam and Eve.
Edited by William Adler, SBLEJL 5. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1994.
Argyle, Aubrey W. Outward and Inward in Biblical Thought. ExpTim 68, no. 7
(1957): 196-99.
Asgeirsson, Jon M., and James M. Robinson. The International Q Project. JBL 111,
no. 3 (1992): 500-508.
Ashley, Timothy R. The Book of Numbers. Edited by R. K. Harrison and Robert L.

Hubbard, NICOT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1992.
Atkinson, Kenneth. On Further Defining the First-Century CE Synagogue : Fact or

Fiction? NTS 43, no. 4 (1997): 491-502.
Atkinson, Kenneth. Towards a Redating of the Psalms of Solomon : Implications for

Understanding the Sitz im Leben of an Unknown Jewish Sect. JSP 17
(1998): 95-112.
Aufrecht, Walter E. Some Observations on the berlieferungsgeschichte of the

Targums. In Targum Studies, edited by Paul V. M. Flesher. Atlanta:
Avery-Peck, Alan J. Classifying Early Rabbinic Pronouncement Stories. In SBLSP

1983, edited by Kent H. Richards, 223-44. Chico, Calif.: Scholars
Press, 1983.
Avi-Yonah, Michael. Some Comments on the Capernaum Excavations. In Ancient

Synagogues Revealed, edited by Lee I. Levine, 60-62. Jerusalem: Israel
Baars, W. A Targum on Exod. XV 7-21 from the Cairo Geniza. VT 11 (1961): 340-42.
Bailey, James L., and Lyle D. Vander Broek. Literary forms in the New Testament : a
Handbook. Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox Press, 1992.
Baird, Joseph A. The Justice of God in the Teaching of Jesus. London: SPCK, 1963.
Balentine, Samuel E. The Hidden God : the Hiding of the Face of God in the Old
Testament. Oxford New York: Oxford University Press, 1983.
Ballard, Frank. Luke xvii. 21. ExpTim 38, no. 7 (1927): 331.
Balmforth, H. The Gospel According to Saint Luke. Oxford: Clarendon, 1930.
Baltzer, Klaus. The Meaning of the Temple in the Lukan Writings. HTR 58 (1965):
263-77.
Banks, Robert J. Jesus and the Law in the Synoptic Tradition, SNTSMS 28. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press, 1975.
Baron, Salo W. A Social and Religious History of the Jews. 2nd Revised and Enlarged ed.
18 vols. New York: Columbia University Press, 1952.
Barr, James. Theophany and Anthropomorphism in the Old Testament. In Congress

Volume : Oxford 1959, edited by George W. Anderson et al., 31-38.
Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1960.
Barr, James. The Concept of Biblical Theology : an Old Testament Perspective.

Philadelphia: Fortress, 1999.
Barrett, Charles K. A Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans. Edited by Henry

Chadwick, BNTC. London: A&C Black, 1957.
Barrett, Charles K. The Holy Spirit and the Gospel Tradition. London: SPCK, 1966.
Barrett, Charles K. The Gospel According to St John : an Introduction with Commentary

and Notes on the Greek Text. 2nd ed. London: SPCK, 1978.
Barrett, Charles K. Luke - Acts. In Early Christian Thought in its Jewish Context,
edited by John M. G. Barclay and John P. M. Sweet, 84-95. Cambridge
and New York: Cambridge University Press, 1996.
Barrett, Charles K. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles.
Edited by John A. Emerton, Charles E. B. Cranfield and Graham N.
Stanton. 2 vols, ICC. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1994, 1998.
Barrett, Charles K. The Historicity of Acts. JTS 50, no. 2 (1999): 515-34.
Barton, Stephen C. Review of Host, Guest, Enemy, and Friend by David B. Gowler.
JTS 46, no. 1 (1995): 269-71.
Bartsch, Hans-Werner. Das Thomas-Evangelium und die Synoptischen Evangelien.

NTS 6 (1959-61): 249-61.
Bartsch, Hans-Werner. Early Christian Eschatology in the Synoptic Gospels. NTS 11

(1965): 387-97.
Baumgarten, Albert I. The Name of the Pharisees. JBL 102, no. 3 (1983): 411-28.
Baumgarten, Albert I. Josephus and Hippolytus on the Pharisees. HUCA 55 (1984): 1-

25.
Baumgarten, Albert I. The Pharisaic Paradosis. HTR 80, no. 1 (1987): 63-77.
Baumgarten, Albert I. Rivkin and Neusner on the Pharisees. In Law in Religious

Communities in the Roman Period : the Debate over Torah and
Nomos in Post-Biblical Judaism and Early Christianity, edited by Peter
Richardson and Stephen Westerholm, 109-26. Waterloo, Ont.: Wilfrid
Laurier University Press, 1991.
Baumgarten, Albert I. The Flourishing of Jewish Sects in the Maccabean Era : an

Interpretation. Edited by John J. Collins, JSJSup 55. Leiden: E. J. Brill,
1997.
Baumgarten, Joseph M. The Unwritten Law in the Pre-Rabbinic Period. JSJ 3 (1972):
7-29.
Baumgarten, Joseph M. The Pharisaic - Sadducean Controversies about Purity and the
Qumran Texts. JJS 31, no. 2 (1980): 157-70.
Beale, Gregory K. The Origin of the Title King of Kings and Lord of Lords in
Revelation 17.14. NTS 31 (1985): 618-20.
Beare, Francis W. The Earliest Records of Jesus. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1964.
Beasley-Murray, George R. Jesus and the Future. London: Macmillan, 1954.
Beasley-Murray, George R. Jesus and the Spirit. In Mlanges Bibliques en Hommage

au R. P. Bda Rigaux, edited by Albert Descamps and Andr R. P. de
Halleux, 463-78. Gembloux: Duculot, 1970.
Beasley-Murray, George R. Jesus and the Kingdom of God. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,
1986.
Beasley-Murray, George R. John 3:3,5 : Baptism, Spirit and the Kingdom. ExpTim 97
(1986): 44-48.
Beasley-Murray, George R. The Kingdom of God in the Teaching of Jesus. JETS 35,
no. 1 (1992): 19-30.
Beasley-Murray, George R. The Kingdom of God and Christology in the Gospels. In

Jesus of Nazareth : Lord and Christ : Essays on the Historical Jesus
and New Testament Christology, edited by Joel B. Green and Max
Turner, 22-36. Grand Rapids and Carlisle, U.K.: Eerdmans and
Paternoster Press, 1994.
Beck, Brian E. Christian Character in the Gospel of Luke. London: Epworth, 1989.
Beckwith, Roger T. The Pre-History and Relationship of the Pharisees, Sadducees and
Essenes : a Tentative Reconstruction. RevQ 11, no. 1 (1982): 3-46.
Bellinzoni, Arthur J. The Sayings of Jesus in the Writings of Justin Martyr. Edited by W.
C. van Unnik et al., NovTSup 17. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1967.
Bengel, J. A. Gnomon of the New Testament. 7th ed. 2 vols. Edinburgh: T&T Clark,
1877.
Berkey, Robert F. CEEGXCGL, DW?LCGL, and Realized Eschatology. JBL 82 (1963):

177-87.
Berlin, Adele. Zephaniah : a New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Edited
by William F. Albright and David N. Freedman, AB 25A. New York:
Doubleday, 1994.
Bernhardt, Karl-H. hyh hayah. Translated by David E. Green. In Theological

Dictionary of the Old Testament : Volume III, edited by G. Johannes
Botterweck and Helmer Ringgren, 369-81. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,
1978.
Bertram, Georg. wret. Translated by Geoffrey W. Bromiley. In Theological

Dictionary of the New Testament : Volume II, edited by Gerhard Kittel,
896-98. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1964.
Bertrand, Daniel A. La Vie Grecque dAdam et ve. Edited by Marc Philonenko,

Recherches Intertestamentaires 1. Paris: J. Maisonneuve, 1987.
Betz, Hans D. The Logion of the Easy Yoke and of Rest (Matt 11 28-30). JBL 86, no.
1 (1967): 10-24.
Beyerlin, Walter. Origins and History of the Oldest Sinaitic Traditions. Translated by S.
Rudman. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1965.
Bietenhard, Hans. klj^. Translated by Geoffrey W. Bromiley. In Theological

Dictionary of the New Testament : Volume V, edited by Gerhard Kittel,
Bilde, Per. The Causes of the Jewish War According to Josephus. JSJ 10, no. 2
(1979): 179-202.
Bilde, Per. Josephus and Jewish Apocalypticism. In Understanding Josephus : Seven

Perspectives, 35-61. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1998.
Binder, Donald D. Into the Temple Courts : the Place of the Synagogues in the Second
Temple Period. Edited by Michael V. Fox and Mark A. Powell, SBLDS
169. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 1999.
Black, Matthew. Pharisees. In The Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible : Volume 3,

edited by George A. Buttrick, 774-81. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1962.
Black, Matthew. Scribe. In The Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible : Volume 4, edited
by George A. Buttrick, 246-48. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1962.
Black, Matthew. An Aramaic Approach to the Gospels and Acts. 3rd ed. Oxford:
Clarendon, 1967.
Blair, Hugh J. Putting Ones Hand to the Plough : Luke ix. 62 in the light of 1 Kings
xix. 19-21. ExpTim 79, no. 11 (1968): 342-43.
Blass, Friedrich, Albert Debrunner, and Robert W. Funk. A Greek Grammar of the New
Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. Translated by Robert
W. Funk. A translation and revision of the ninth - tenth German ed.
Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1961.
Blenkinsopp, Joseph. Prophecy and Priesthood in Josephus. JJS 25, no. 2 (1974):
239-62.
Block, Daniel I. The Book of Ezekiel : Chapters 1-24. Edited by R. K. Harrison and
Robert L. Hubbard, NICOT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997.
Bloedhorn, Hanswulf, and Gil Httenmeister. The Synagogue. In The Cambridge

History of Judaism : Volume 3 : the Early Roman Period, edited by
William Horbury, W. D. Davies and John Sturdy, 267-97. Cambridge:
Blomberg, Craig L. The Law in Luke-Acts. JSNT 22 (1984): 53-80.
Blomberg, Craig L. A Response to G. R. Beasley-Murray on the Kingdom. JETS 35,

no. 1 (1992): 31-36.
Bobzien, Susanne. Determinism and Freedom in Stoic Philosophy. Oxford: Clarendon,

1998.
Boccaccini, Gabriele. Targum Neofiti as a Proto-Rabbinic Document : a Systematic

Analysis. In The Aramaic Bible : Targums in their Historical
Context, edited by Martin McNamara and Derek R. G. Beattie, 254-63.
Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1994.
Bock, Darrell L. Luke. Edited by Grant R. Osborne, The IVP New Testament
Commentary Series. Leicester: InterVarsity Press, 1994.
Bock, Darrell L. Luke : Volume 1 : 1:1 - 9:50, Baker Exegetical Commentaries on the
New Testament 3A. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1994.
Bock, Darrell L. Luke. Edited by Terry Muck, The NIV Application Commentary Series.
Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996.
Bock, Darrell L. Luke : Volume 2 : 9:51 - 24:53, Baker Exegetical Commentaries on the
New Testament 3B. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1996.
Bokser, Baruch M. Recent Developments in the Study of Judaism 70-200 C.E.

SecCent 3, no. 1 (1983): 1-68.
Booth, Roger P. Jesus and the Laws of Purity. Edited by David Hill, JSNTSup 13.
Borg, Marcus J. Conflict, Holiness and Politics in the Teachings of Jesus, Studies in the
Bible and Early Christianity 5. New York: E. Mellen, 1984.
Borg, Marcus J. Jesus and the Kingdom of God. ChrCent 104, no. 13 (1987): 378-80.
Borg, Marcus J. A Temperate Case for a Noneschatological Jesus. In SBLSP 1988,

edited by Kent H. Richards, 521-35. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1988.
Borg, Marcus J. Jesus in Contemporary Scholarship. Valley Forge: Trinity Press

International, 1994.
Boring, M. Eugene. The Historical-Critical Methods Criteria of Authenticity : the

Beatitudes in Q and Thomas as a Test Case. Semeia 44 (1988): 9-44.
Boring, M. Eugene. The Third Quest and the Apostolic Faith. Int 50, no. 4 (1996):
341-54.
Bornkamm, Gnther. Jesus of Nazareth. Translated by I. and F. McLuckey with James

M. Robinson. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1960.
Bornkamm, Gnther, Gerhard Barth, and Heinz J. Held. Tradition and Interpretation in
Matthew. Translated by P. Scott. London: SCM, 1963.
Bowes, A. Wendell. The Basilomorphic Conception of Deity in Israel and

Mesopotamia. In The Biblical Canon in Comparative Perspective,
edited by K. Lawson Younger, William W. Hallo and Bernard F. Batto,
235-75. Lewiston, N.Y.: E. Mellen, 1991.
Bowie, Walter R. The Gospel According to St Luke. In The Interpreters Bible :

Volume 8, edited by George A. Buttrick. Nashville: Abingdon Press,
1952.
Bowker, John. The Targums and Rabbinic Literature. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press, 1969.
Bowker, John. Jesus and the Pharisees. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1973.
Boyarin, Daniel. Martyrdom and the Making of Christianity and Judaism. JECS 6, no.
4 (1998): 577-627.
Brawley, Robert L. Luke-Acts and the Jews : Conflict, Apology, and Conciliation, SBLMS
Breech, E. James. Kingdom of God and the Parables of Jesus. Semeia 12 (1978): 15-
40.
Breech, E. James. The Silence of Jesus : the Authentic Voice of the Historical Man.
Brenner, Martin L. The Song of the Sea : Ex 15:1-21. Edited by Otto Kaiser, BZAW.
Berlin and New York: Walter de Gruyter, 1991.
Bretscher, Paul M. Luke 17:21. CTM 15, no. 11 (1944): 730-36.
Bretscher, Paul M. Luke 17:20-21 in Recent Investigations. CTM 22, no. 12 (1951):
895-907.
Brettler, Marc Z. God is King : Understanding an Israelite Metaphor, JSOTSup 76.

Briggs, Charles A., and Emilie G. Briggs. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the
Book of Psalms. 2 vols, ICC. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1907.
Bright, John. The Kingdom of God : the Biblical Concept and its Meaning for the
Church. Nashville: Abingdon, 1953.
Bright, John. Jeremiah : a New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Edited
by William F. Albright and David N. Freedman, AB 21. New York:
Doubleday, 1965.
Brock, Sebastian P. Aspects of Translation Technique in Antiquity. Greek, Roman and

Byzantine Studies 20 (1979): 69-87.
Brock, Sebastian P. Translating the Old Testament. In It is Written : Scripture Citing

Scripture : Essays in Honour of Barnabas Lindars, SSF, edited by
David A. Carson and Hugh G. M. Williamson, 87-98. Cambridge:
Brock, Sebastian P. Versions, Ancient (Syriac). In The Anchor Bible Dictionary :

Volume 6, edited by David N. Freedman, 794-99. New York:
Doubleday, 1992.
Brock, Sebastian P. Translating the New Testament into Syriac (Classical and
Modern). In The Interpretation of the Bible : the International
Symposium in Slovenia, edited by Joze Krasovec, 371-85. Sheffield:
Sheffield Academic Press, 1998.
Brockington, Leonard H. The Presence of God (A Study of the Use of the Term Glory
of Yahweh). ExpTim 57, no. 1 (1945): 21-25.
Brockington, Leonard H. The Septuagintal Background to the New Testament use of

BMH? . In Studies in the Gospels, edited by Dennis E. Nineham, 1-8.
Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1957.
Brooks, Stephenson H. Matthews Community : the Evidence of his Special Sayings

Material, JSNTSup 16. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1987.
Brower, Kent. Mark 9:1 : Seeing the Kingdom in Power. In The Synoptic Gospels : a
Sheffield Reader, edited by Craig A. Evans and Stanley E. Porter, 121-
42. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1995.
Brown, Raymond E. The Pater Noster as an Eschatological Prayer. TS 22, no. 2

(1961): 175-208.
Brown, Raymond E. The Gospel of Thomas and St Johns Gospel. NTS 9 (1962):
155-77.
Brown, Raymond E. The Gospel According to John (I-XII). Edited by David N. Freedman
William F. Albright, AB 29. New York: Doubleday, 1966.
Brown, Raymond E. The Community of the Beloved Disciple. New York and Mahwah:
Paulist Press, 1979.
Brown, Raymond E. Jewish Apocrypha. In The New Jerome Biblical Commentary,

edited by Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer and Roland E.
Murphy, 1055-64. London: Geoffrey Chapman, 1990.
Brown, Raymond E. An Introduction to the New Testament. Edited by David N.

Freedman, ABRL. New York: Doubleday, 1997.
Brownlee, William H. The Habakkuk Midrash and the Targum of Jonathan. JJS 7
(1956): 169-86.
Bruce, Alexander B. The Expositors Greek Testament : Volume I. Edited by W. R.

Nicoll. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1897.
Bruce, Frederick F. This is That : the New Testament Development of Some Old
Testament Themes. Exeter: Paternoster Press, 1976.
Bruce, Frederick F. The Epistle to the Galatians : a Commentary on the Greek Text.
Edited by W. Ward Gasque and I. Howard Marshall, W. Ward. Exeter
and Michigan: Paternoster and Eerdmans, 1982.
Bruce, Frederick F. The Acts of the Apostles : Historical Record or Theological

Reconstruction? In Aufstieg und Niedergang der Rmischen Welt
II.25.3, edited by Wolfgang Haase, 2569-603. Berlin: Walter de
Gruyter, 1985.
Bruce, Frederick F. The Book of the Acts. Edited by N. B. Stonehouse. Revised ed,
NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988.
Bruce, Frederick F. The Acts of the Apostles : the Greek Text with Introduction and
Commentary. 3rd Revised and Enlarged ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,
1990.
Brueggemann, Walter. Presence of God, Cultic. In The Interpreters Dictionary of the

Bible : Supplementary Volume, edited by Keith Crim, 680-83.
Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1976.
Brueggemann, Walter. The Crisis and Promise of Presence in Israel. HBT 1 (1979):
47-86.
Brueggemann, Walter. Review of The Elusive Presence by Samuel Terrien. JBL 99

(1980): 296-99.
Brueggemann, Walter. First and Second Samuel. Edited by James L. Mays and Patrick D.
Miller, Interpretation : a Bible Commentary for Teaching and
Preaching. Louisville, Ky.: John Knox Press, 1990.
Buber, Martin. Kingship of God. Translated by Richard Scheimann. London: George

Allen & Unwin, 1967.
Buchanan, George W. The Consequences of the Covenant. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1970.
Buchanan, George W. The Use of Rabbinic Literature for New Testament Research.
BTB 7 (1977): 110-22.
Buchanan, George W. Chreias in the New Testament. In Logia: Les Paroles de Jsus
- The Sayings of Jesus, edited by Jol Delobel, 501-505. Leuven:
Buchanan, George W. Jesus : the King and his Kingdom. Macon, Ga.: Mercer, 1984.
Bchler, Adolf. Studies in Sin and Atonement in the Rabbinic Literature of the First
Century. Reprint of 1927 ed. New York: KTAV, 1967.
Bchsel, Friedrich. dbkks : Generation by the Deity. Translated by Geoffrey W.

Bromiley. In Theological Dictionary of the New Testament : Volume I,
edited by Gerhard Kittel, 668-72. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1964.
Bchsel, Friedrich. hoks : the Concept of Judgement in the New Testament.

Translated by Geoffrey W. Bromiley. In Theological Dictionary of the
New Testament : Volume III, edited by Gerhard Kittel, 936-54. Grand
Rapids: Eerdmans, 1965.
Bultmann, Rudolf K. Theology of the New Testament. Translated by Kendrick Grobel. 2

vols. London: SCM, 1955.
Bultmann, Rudolf K. Jesus and the Word. Translated by Louise P. Smith. New ed.
London and Glasgow: Collins (Fontana Books), 1958.
Bultmann, Rudolf K. The History of the Synoptic Tradition. Translated by John Marsh.
Revised ed. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1963.
Bultmann, Rudolf K., and Dieter Lhrmann. c^ks. Translated by Geoffrey W.

Bromiley. In Theological Dictionary of the New Testament : Volume
IX, edited by Gerhard Kittel and Berhard Friedrich, 1-10. Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 1974.
Burkitt, Francis C. Jesus and the Pharisees. JTS 28, no. July (1927): 392-97.
Burkitt, Francis C. Preface to the First Edition. In The Quest of the Historical Jesus : a
Critical Study of its Progress from Reimarus to Wrede, xvii-xix.
London: A&C Black, 1954.
Burney, Charles F. The Aramaic Origin of the Fourth Gospel. Oxford: Clarendon, 1922.
Butler, B. C. Gods Kingdom : Future or Present? DRev 95, no. 320 (1977): 164-75.
Butler, Trent C. A Forgotten Passage from a Forgotten Era (1 Chr. XVI 8-36). VT 28,
no. 2 (1978): 142-50.
Butts, James R. The Chreia in the Synoptic Gospels. BTB 16, no. 4 (1986): 132-38.
Butts, James R. Passion Apologetic, the Chreia, and the Narrative. Foundations and
Facets Forum 3, no. 3 (1987): 96-127.
Cadbury, Henry J. The Style and Literary Method of Luke. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard
Cadbury, Henry J. The Kingdom of God and Ourselves. ChrCent 67 (1950): 172-73.
Cadbury, Henry J. The Making of Luke-Acts. 2nd ed. London: SPCK, 1958.
Cadoux, Arthur T. The Theology of Jesus. London: Nicholson & Watson, 1940.
Cadoux, Cecil J. The Historic Mission of Jesus : a Constructive Re-Examination of the

Eschatological Teaching in the Synoptic Gospels, Lutterworth Library
12. London and Redhill: Lutterworth Press, 1941.
Caird, George B. Saint Luke. Edited by Dennis E. Nineham, PNTC. London: Penguin
Books, 1963.
Cairns, Ian. Word and Presence : a Commentary on the Book of Deuteronomy. Edited by
Fredrick C. Holmgren and George A. F. Knight, ITC. Grand Rapids
and Edinburgh: Eerdmans and Handsel Press, 1992.
Calvert, D. G. A. An Examination of the Criteria for Distinguishing the Authentic Words

of Jesus. NTS 18 (1972): 209-19.
Cameron, Ron. The Other Gospels : Non-Canonical Gospel Texts. Philadelphia:

Westminster Press, 1982.
Cameron, Ron. The Gospel of Thomas and Christian Origins. In The Future of Early
Christianity : Essays in Honor of Helmut Koester, edited by Helmut
Koester, Birger A. Pearson, A. Thomas Kraabel, George W. E.
Nickelsburg and Norman R. Petersen, 381-92. Minneapolis: Fortress,
1991.
Cameron, Ron. Thomas, Gospel of. In The Anchor Bible Dictionary : Volume 6, edited
by David N. Freedman, 535-40. New York: Doubleday, 1992.
Campbell, John Y. The kingdom of God Has Come. ExpTim 48, no. 2 (1936): 91-94.
Camponovo, Otto. Knigtum, Knigsherrschaft und Reich Gottes in den Frhjdischen

Schriften. Gttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1984.
Carmignac, Jean. Le Mirage de LEschatologie. Paris: Letouzey et An, 1979.
Carr, A. The Gospel According to St. Luke. London: Revingtons, 1875.
Carroll, John T. Lukes Portrayal of the Pharisees. CBQ 50 (1988): 604-21.
Carroll, John T. Response to the End of History : Eschatology and Situation in Luke-Acts.
Edited by Charles Talbert, SBLDS 92. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1988.
Carroll, John T. Luke 17:11-19. Int 53, no. 4 (1999): 405-408.
Carroll, Robert P. Jeremiah : a Commentary, OTL. London: SCM, 1986.
Carson, David A. Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility : Biblical Perspectives in

Tension. Edited by Peter Toon and Ralph P. Martin, Marshalls
Theological Library. London: Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1981.
Casey, Maurice. Aramaic Sources of Marks Gospel. Edited by Richard Bauckham,

SNTSMS 102. Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press,
1998.
Charlesworth, James H. The Concept of the Messiah in the Pseudepigrapha. In

Aufstieg und Niedergang der Rmischen Welt II.19.1, edited by
Wolfgang Haase, 188-218. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 1979.
Charlesworth, James H. The Pseudepigrapha and Modern Research with a Supplement.

Edited by George W. E. Nickelsburg and Harry M. Orlinsky, SBLSCS
7S. Chico, Calif.: Scholars Press, 1981.
Charlesworth, James H. The Historical Jesus in Light of Writings Contemporaneous

with Him. In Aufstieg und Niedergang der Rmischen Welt II.25.1,
edited by Hildegard Temporini and Wolfgang Haase, 451-76. Berlin:
Walter de Gruyter, 1982.
Charlesworth, James H. Introduction for the General Reader. In The Old Testament
Pseudepigrapha : Volume 2, edited by James H. Charlesworth, xxi-
xxxiv. New York: Doubleday, 1983.
Charlesworth, James H. The New Testament Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha : a Guide

to Publications, with Excursuses on Apocalypses. Metuchen, N.J. and
London: American Theological Library Association and Scarecrow
Press, 1987.
Charlesworth, James H. The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha and the New Testament :
Prolegomena for the Study of Christian Origins. Harrisburg, Pa.:
Trinity Press International, 1998.
Chester, Andrew. Divine Revelation and Divine Titles in the Pentateuchal Targumim.
Tbingen: J. C. B. Mohr (Paul Siebeck), 1986.
Childs, Brevard S. Exodus : a Commentary, OTL. London: SCM, 1974.
Childs, Brevard S. Review of The Elusive Presence by Samuel Terrien. JAAR 48, no. 3
(1979): 441-42.
Chilton, Bruce D. Regnum Dei Deus Est. SJT 31, no. 3 (1978): 261-70.
Chilton, Bruce D. God in Strength : Jesus Announcement of the Kingdom. Edited by

Albert Fuchs, SNTSU 1. Freistadt: F. Plchl, 1979.
Chilton, Bruce D. Targumic Transmission and Dominical Traditions. In Gospel

Perspectives : Volume 1 : Studies of History and Tradition in the Four
Gospels, edited by R. T. France and David Wenham, 21-45. Sheffield:
JSOT Press, 1980.
Chilton, Bruce D. The Glory of Israel : the Theology and Provenience of the Isaiah
Targum, JSOTSup 23. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1982.
Chilton, Bruce D. A Galilean Rabbi and his Bible : Jesus use of the Interpreted Scripture
of his Time. Edited by Robert J. Karris, GNS 8. Wilmington, Del.:
Michael Glazier, 1984.
Chilton, Bruce D. Introduction. In The Kingdom of God in the Teaching of Jesus,

edited by Bruce D. Chilton, 1-26. Philadelphia and London: Fortress
and SPCK, 1984.
Chilton, Bruce D. The Gospel According to Thomas as a Source of Jesus Teaching.

In Gospel Perspectives : Volume 5 : the Jesus Tradition outside the
Gospels, edited by R. T. France and David Wenham, 155-75. Sheffield:
JSOT Press, 1985.
Chilton, Bruce D. Targumic Approaches to the Gospels : Essays in the Mutual Definition
of Judaism and Christianity, Studies in Judaism. Lanham: University
Press of America, 1986.
Chilton, Bruce D., and James I. H. McDonald. Jesus and the Ethics of the Kingdom, BFT.
London: SPCK, 1987.
Chilton, Bruce D. Kingdom Come, Kingdom Sung. Foundations and Facets Forum 3,
no. 2 (1987): 51-75.
Chilton, Bruce D. Jesus and the Repentance of E. P. Sanders. TynBul 39 (1988): 1-18.
Chilton, Bruce D. Targums. In Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, edited by Joel B.
Green, Scott McKnight and I. Howard Marshall, 800-804. Illinois and
Leicester: InterVarsity Press, 1992.
Chilton, Bruce D. Aramaic and Targumic Antecedents of Pauline Justification. In

The Aramaic Bible : Targums in their Historical Context, edited by
Martin McNamara and Derek R. G. Beattie, 379-97. Sheffield: JSOT
Press, 1994.
Chilton, Bruce D. Eight Theses on the Use of Targums in Interpreting the New
Testament. In Judaic Approaches to the Gospels, edited by Bruce D.
Bruce D. Chilton, 305-15. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1994.
Chilton, Bruce D. Jesus and Israels Scriptures. In Studying the Historical Jesus :
Evaluations of the State of Current Research, edited by Bruce D.
Chilton and Craig A. Evans, 299-309. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1994.
Chilton, Bruce D. The Kingdom of God in Recent Discussion. In Studying the

Historical Jesus : Evaluations of the State of Current Research, edited
by Bruce D. Chilton and Craig A. Evans, 255-280. Leiden and New
York: E. J. Brill, 1994.
Chilton, Bruce D. Inclusion and Noninclusion : the Practice of the Kingdom in

Formative Christianity. In Religion and the Political Order : Politics
in Classical and Contemporary Christianity, Islam and Judaism, edited
by Jacob Neusner, 133-72. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1996.
Chilton, Bruce D. Pure Kingdom : Jesus Vision of God, Studying the Historical Jesus 1.
Grand Rapids and London: Eerdmans and SPCK, 1996.
Chilton, Bruce D. Two in One : Renderings of the Book of Isaiah in Targum Jonathan.
In VTSup 70,2, edited by Craig C. Broyles and Craig A. Evans, 547-62.
Chilton, Bruce D. The Kingdom of God and the Historical Norman Perrin. Criterion
37, no. 1 (1998): 18-23.
Chilton, Bruce D. The Reign of Forceful Grace. In Jewish-Christian Debates : God,

Kingdom, Messiah, edited by Jacob Neusner and Bruce D. Chilton,
133-48. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1998.
Clark, Kenneth W. Realized Eschatology. JBL 59 (1940): 367-83.
Clements, Ronald E. God and Temple. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1965.
Clifford, Richard J. The Cosmic Mountain in Canaan and the Old Testament. Edited by
Frank M. Cross, William L. Moran, Isadore Twersky and G. Ernest
Wright, HSM 4. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1972.
Clifford, Richard. Deuteronomy : with an Excursus on Covenant and Law. Edited by

Carroll Stuhlmueller and Martin McNamara. Second Printing with
revisions ed, Old Testament Message. A Biblical-Theological
Commentary 4. Wilmington, Del.: Michael Glazier, 1989.
Coats, George W. The Song of the Sea. CBQ 31, no. 1 (1969): 1-17.
Cody, Aelred. Zechariah. In The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, edited by

Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer and Roland E. Murphy, 352-
59. London: Geoffrey Chapman, 1990.
Cohen, Norman J. Shekhinta Ba-Galuta : a Midrashic Response to Destruction and

Persecution. JSJ 13, no. 1-2 (1982): 147-59.
Cohen, Shaye J. D. Josephus in Galilee and Rome : His Vita and Development as a
Historian. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1979.
Cohen, Shaye J. D. Review of A Hidden Revolution by Ellis Rivkin. JBL 99, no. 4
(1980): 627-29.
Cohen, Shaye J. D. Jacob Neusner, Mishnah, and Counter-Rabbinics. Conservative

Judaism 37, no. 1 (1983): 48-63.
Cohen, Shaye J. D. The Significance of Yavneh : Pharisees, Rabbis, and the end of
Jewish Sectarianism. HUCA 55 (1984): 27-53.
Cohen, Shaye J. D. The Political and Social History of the Jews in Greco-Roman
Antiquity : the State of the Question. In Early Judaism and its
Modern Interpreters, edited by Robert A. Kraft and George W. E.
Nickelsburg, 33-56. Philadelphia and Atlanta: Fortress and Scholars
Press, 1986.
Cohen, Shaye J. D. Pagan and Christian Evidence on the Ancient Synagogue. In The
Synagogue in late Antiquity, edited by Lee I. Levine, 159-81.
Philadelphia: American Schools of Oriental Research, 1987.
Cohen, Shaye J. D. The Place of the Rabbi in Jewish Society of the Second Century.
In The Galilee in Late Antiquity, edited by Lee I. Levine, 157-73. New
York and Jerusalem: Jewish Theological Seminary of America, 1992.
Cohen, Shaye J. D. The Rabbi in Second-Century Jewish Society. In The Cambridge

History of Judaism : Volume 3 : the Early Roman Period, edited by
William Horbury, W. D. Davies and John Sturdy, 922-90. Cambridge:
Cohen, Shaye J. D. The Temple and the Synagogue. In The Cambridge History of
Judaism : Volume 3 : the Early Roman Period, edited by William
Horbury, W. D. Davies and John Sturdy, 298-325. Cambridge:
Cohen, Shaye J. D. Were Pharisees and Rabbis the Leaders of Communal Prayer and
Torah Study in Antiquity? The Evidence of the New Testament,
Josephus, and the Early Church Fathers. In Evolution of the
Synagogue : Problems and Progress, edited by Howard C. Kee and
Lynn H. Cohick, 89-105. Harrisburg, Pa.: Trinity Press International,
1999.
Collins, Adela Y. Composition and Redaction of the Testament of Moses 10. HTR 69
(1976): 179-86.
Collins, John J. The Date and Provenance of the Testament of Moses. In Studies on
the Testament of Moses, edited by George W. E. Nickelsburg, 17-32.
Cambridge, Mass.: Society of Biblical Literature, 1973.
Collins, John J. Testaments. In Jewish Writings of the Second Temple Period, edited
by Michael E. Stone, 325-55. Assen and Philadelphia: Van Gorcum and
Fortress, 1984.
Collins, John J. The Apocalyptic Vision of the Book of Daniel. Missoula, Mont.: Scholars
Press, 1977.
Collins, John J. Daniel : with an Introduction to Apocalyptic Literature. Edited by Rolf P.

Knierim and Gene M. Tucker, FOTL 20. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,
1984.
Collins, John J. The Sibylline Oracles. In Jewish Writings of the Second Temple
Period, edited by Michael E. Stone, 357-81. Assen and Philadelphia:
Van Gorcum and Fortress, 1984.
Collins, John J. The Kingdom of God in the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha. In The
Kingdom of God in 20th-Century Interpretation, edited by Wendell L.
Willis, 81-95. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1987.
Collins, John J. Daniel : a Commentary on the Book of Daniel, Hermeneia - a Critical

and Historical Commentary on the Bible. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1993.
Collins, John J. Stirring up the Great Sea : the Religio-Historical Background of Daniel
7. In The Book of Daniel in the Light of New Findings, edited by A. S.
van der Woude, 121-36. Leuven: Leuven University Press, 1993.
Collison, J. G. Franklyn. Linguistic Usages in the Gospel of Luke. In New Synoptic

Studies : the Cambridge Gospel Conference and Beyond, edited by
William R. Farmer, 245-60. Marcon, Ga.: Mercer University Press,
1983.
Congar, Yves M.-J. The Mystery of the Temple or The Manner of Gods Presence to His
Creatures from Genesis to the Apocalypse. Translated by Reginald F.
Trevett, London. Burns & Oates, 1962.
Connolly, Richard H. Syriacisms in St Luke. JTS 37 (1936): 374-85.
Conzelmann, Hans. An Outline of the Theology of the New Testament. Translated by John
Bowden. London: SCM, 1969.
Conzelmann, Hans. The Theology of St. Luke. Translated by Geoffrey Buswell. Reprint of
1961 ed. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1982.
Conzelmann, Hans. Acts of the Apostles : a Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles.
Translated by Eldon J. Epp and Christopher R. Matthews. Edited by
Frank M. Cross and Helmut Koester, Hermeneia - a Critical and
Historical Commentary on the Bible. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1987.
Cook, Donald E. A Gospel Portrait of the Pharisees. RevExp 84, no. 2 (1987): 221-23.
Cook, Michael J. Jesus and the Pharisees - the Problem as it Stands Today. JES 15,
no. 3 (1978): 441-60.
Cook, Michael J. Marks Treatment of the Jewish Leaders, NovTSup 51. Leiden: E. J.
Brill, 1978.
Cook, Stephen L. Apocalypticism and the Psalter. ZAW 104 (1992): 82-99.
Cope, Lamar, David L. Dungan, William R. Farmer, Allan J. McNicol, David B. Peabody,
and Philip L. Shuler. Narrative Outline of the Composition of Luke
According to the Two Gospel Hypothesis. In SBLSP 1994, edited by
Eugene H. Lovering, 516-73. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1994.
Corbett, Edward P. J. Classical Rhetoric for the Modern Student. 3rd ed. New York:
Oxford University Press, 1990.
Couturier, Guy P. Jeremiah. In The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, edited by

97. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1990.
Craddock, Fred B. Luke. Edited by James L. Mays and Paul J. Achtemeier, Interpretation
: a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. Louisville, Ky.:
John Knox Press, 1990.
Craghan, John. Esther, Judith, Tobit, Jonah, Ruth. Edited by Carroll Stuhlmueller and
Martin McNamara, Old Testament Message 16. Wilmington, Del.:
Michael Glazier, 1982.
Craige, Peter C. The Book of Deuteronomy. Edited by R. K. Harrison, NICOT. Grand

Cranfield, Charles E. B. The Gospel According to Saint Mark : an Introduction and

Commentary, CGTC. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1963.
Cranfield, Charles E. B. The Parable of the Unjust Judge and the Eschatology of Luke-
Acts. SJT 16, no. 3 (1963): 297-301.
Cranfield, Charles E. B. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistle to the

Romans. Edited by J. A. Emerton and Charles E. B. Cranfield. 6th
(entirely rewritten) ed, ICC. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1979.
Craven, Toni. Judith. In The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, edited by Raymond E.
Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer and Roland E. Murphy, 571-75. London:
Geoffrey Chapman, 1990.
Crawford, Barry S. Near Expectation in the Sayings of Jesus. JBL 101, no. 2 (1982):
225-44.
Creed, John M. The Gospel According to St. Luke : the Greek Text. Reprint of 1930 ed.
London: Macmillan, 1965.
Croft, Steven J. L. The Identity of the Individual in the Psalms, JSOTSup 44. Sheffield:
JSOT Press, 1987.
Cross, Frank M. Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic : Essays in the History of the Religion
of Israel. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1973.
Crossan, John D. The Seed Parables of Jesus. JBL 92 (1973): 244-66.
Crossan, John D. The Historical Jesus : the Life of a Mediterranean Jewish Peasant. San
Francisco: Harper, 1991.
Cullmann, Oscar. Christ and Time : the Primitive Christian Conception of Time and
History. Translated by Floyd V. Filson. London: SCM, 1962.
Culpepper, R. Alan. The Gospel of Luke. In The New Interpreters Bible : Volume IX,
edited by Leander E. Keck et al., 3-490. Nashville: Abingdon Press,
1994.
Curtis, Adrian. God as Judge in Ugaritic and Hebrew Thought. In Law and Religion
: Essays on the Place of Law in Israel and Early Christianity, edited by
Barnabas Lindars, 3-12. Cambridge: James Clarke, 1988.
Dahl, Nils A. Jesus in the Memory of the Early Church : Essays. Minneapolis: Augsburg,
1976.
Dahood, Mitchell. Psalms. Edited by William F. Albright and David N. Freedman. 3 vols,
AB 16, 17, 17A. Garden City: Doubleday, 1965-70.
Dahood, Mitchell. Hebrew-Ugaritic Lexicography V. Bib 48 (1967): 421-38.

Dalman, Gustaf. The Words of Jesus : Considered in the Light of Post-Biblical Jewish
Writings and the Aramaic Language. Translated by D. M. Kay.
Danker, Frederick W. Jesus and the New Age According to St Luke : a Commentary on
the Third Gospel. St Louis: Clayton, 1972.
Danker, Frederick W. Jesus and the New Age : a Commentary on St. Lukes Gospel.
Completely revised and expanded ed. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1988.
Darby, John N. Notes of Addresses on the Gospel of Luke. London: F. E. Race, 1922.
Darr, John A. On Character Building : the Reader and the Rhetoric of Characterization
in Luke-Acts. Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox Press, 1992.
Davenport, Gene L. The Eschatology of the Book of Jubilees, StPB 20. Leiden: E. J. Brill,
1971.
Davids, Peter H. The Epistle of James : a Commentary on the Greek Text. Edited by W.
Ward Gasque and I. Howard Marshall, NIGTC. Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 1982.
Davies, G. Henton. The Presence of God in Israel. In Studies in History and Religion,
edited by Ernest A. Payne, 11-29. London and Redhill: Lutterworth,
1942.
Davies, G. Henton. Presence of God. In The Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible :

Volume 3, edited by George A. Buttrick, 874-75. Nashville: Abingdon
Press, 1962.
Davies, G. Henton. Exodus, TBC. London: SCM, 1967.
Davies, G. Henton. The Ark of the Covenant. ASTI 5 (1967): 30-47.
Davies, G. I. The Presence of God in the Second Temple and Rabbinic Doctrine. In
Templum Amicitiae : Essays on the Second Temple presented to Ernst
Bammel, edited by William Horbury and Ernst Bammel, 32-36.
Davies, Philip R. The Social World of Apocalyptic Writings. In The World of Ancient
Israel, edited by Ronald E. Clements, 251-71. Cambridge: Cambridge
Davies, Philip R. In Search of Ancient Israel, JSOTSup 148. Sheffield: JSOT Press,
1992.
Davies, Philip R. Whose History? Whose Israel? Whose Bible? Biblical Histories,
Ancient and Modern. In Can a History of Israel be Written?, edited
by Lester L. Grabbe, 104-22. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press,
1997.
Davies, Philip R. Scribes and Schools : the Canonization of the Hebrew Scriptures,
Library of Ancient Israel. London and Louisville, Ky.: Westminster
Davies, Stevan. Thomas : the Fourth Synoptic Gospel. BA 46, no. 1 (1983): 6-9, 12-14.
Davies, William D. Introduction to Pharisaism. Reprint of 1954 ed. Philadelphia:

Fortress, 1967.
Davies, William D. The Gospel and the Land : Early Christianity and Jewish Territorial
Doctrine. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1974.
Davies, William D., and Dale C. Allison. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the
Gospel According to Saint Matthew. 3 vols, ICC. Edinburgh: T&T
Clark, 1988.
de Breffny, Brian. The Synagogue. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1978.
de Jonge, Marinus. Nicodemus and Jesus : Some Observations on Misunderstanding

and Understanding in the Fourth Gospel. BJRL 53, no. 2 (1971): 337-
59.
de Jonge, Marinus. Christian Influence in the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs. In

Studies on the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, edited by Marinus
de Jonge, 192-246. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1975.
de Jonge, Marinus. The Main Issues in the Study of the Testaments of the Twelve
Patriarchs. NTS 26 (1980): 508-24.
de Jonge, Marinus. The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs : Central Problems and
Essential Viewpoints. In Aufstieg und Niedergang der Rmischen
Welt II.20.1, edited by Wolfgang Haase, 359-420. Berlin: Walter de
Gruyter, 1987.
de Lacey, Douglas R. In Search of a Pharisee. TynBul 43, no. 2 (1992): 361-71.
de Vaux, Roland. Gods Presence and Absence in History : the Old Testament View.
Concilium 10, no. 5 (1969): 5-11.
de Vaux, Roland. The Bible and the Ancient Near East. Translated by Damian McHugh.
London: Darton, Longman & Todd, 1972.
de Vries, Simon J. 1 and 2 Chronicles. Edited by Rolf P. Knierim and Gene M. Tucker,
FOTL 11. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1989.
Deer, Donald S. The Interpretation and Translation of Constructions with a Passive

Meaning in the Greek of the Synoptic Gospels. BT 26, no. 3 (1975):
338-46.
del Agua, Agustn. The Lucan Narrative of the 'Evangelization of the Kingdom of God' :
a Contribution to the Unity of Luke-Acts. In The Unity of Luke-Acts,
BETL 142, edited by Joseph Verheyden, 639-61. Leuven: University
Press, 1999.
Desjardins, Michel R. Bauer and Beyond : On Recent Scholarly Discussions of ?obpft

in the Early Christian Era. SecCent 8, no. 2 (1991): 65-82.
Deutsch, Celia. Hidden Wisdom and the Easy Yoke : Wisdom, Torah and Discipleship in
Matthew 11.25-30, JSNTSup 18. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1987.
Di Lella, Alexander A. The Hebrew Text of Sirach : a Text-Critical and Historical Study,
Studies in Classical Literature 1. London: Mounton, 1966.
Di Lella, Alexander A. Sirach. In The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, edited by

Di Lella, Alexander A. Wisdom of Ben-Sira. In The Anchor Bible Dictionary : Volume

6, edited by David N. Freedman, 931-45. New York: Doubleday, 1992.
Dibelius, Martin. From Tradition to Gospel. Translated by B. L. Woolf. From the

Revised 2nd ed. New York: Charles Scribners Sons, 1965.
Dez Macho, Alejandro. The Recently Discovered Palestinian Targum : Its Antiquity and
Relationship with the other Targums. In Congress Volume : Oxford
1959, edited by George W. Anderson et al., 222-45. Leiden: E. J. Brill,
1959.
Dillon, Richard J. From Eye-Witnesses to Ministers of the Word : Tradition and

Composition in Luke 24, AnBib 82. Rome: Biblical Institute Press,
1978.
Dion, Paul E. YHWH as Storm-god and Sun-god : the Double Legacy of Egypt and
Canaan as Reflected in Psalm 104. ZAW 103 (1991): 43-71.
Dodd, Charles H. The Kingdom of God Has Come. ExpTim 48, no. 3 (1936): 138-42.
Dodd, Charles H. The Parables of the Kingdom. Revised ed. London: Collins, 1961.
Dodd, Charles H. The Founder of Christianity. London: Collins, 1971.
Dodd, Charles H. The Interpretation of the Fourth Gospel. Reprint of 1953 ed.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1978.
Donfried, Karl P. The Kingdom of God in Paul. In The Kingdom of God in 20th-
Century Interpretation, edited by Wendell L. Willis, 175-90. Peabody:
Hendrickson, 1987.
Drazin, Israel. Dating Targum Onkelos by means of the Tannaitic Midrashim. JJS 50,
no. 2 (1999): 246-58.
Drinkard, Joel F. Face. In The Anchor Bible Dictionary : Volume 2, edited by David
N. Freedman, 743-44. New York: Doubleday, 1992.
Drury, John. Luke, The J. B. Phillips Commentaries. London Glasgow: Collins (Fontana
Books), 1973.
Duling, Dennis C. The Promises to David and their Entrance into Christianity - Nailing
Down a Likely Hypothesis. NTS 20 (1974): 55-77.
Duling, Dennis C. Norman Perrin and the Kingdom of God : Review and Response.
JR 64, no. 4 (1984): 468-83.
Duling, Dennis C. [Do not swear . . .] by Jerusalem because it is the city of the Great
King (Matt 5:35). JBL 110, no. 2 (1991): 291-309.
Duling, Dennis C. Kingdom of God, Kingdom of Heaven : OT, Early Judaism, and
Hellenistic Usage. In The Anchor Bible Dictionary : Volume 4, edited
Dumm, Demetrius. Esther. In The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, edited by

Dunderberg, Ismo. Thomas I-sayings and the Gospel of John. In Thomas at the
Crossroads : Essays on the Gospel of Thomas, edited by Risto Uro,
33-64. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1998.
Dunn, James D. G. Baptism in the Holy Spirit : a Re-examination of the New Testament
Teaching on the Gift of the Spirit in Relation to Pentecostalism Today,
SBT Second Series 15. London: SCM, 1970.
Dunn, James D. G. Spirit and Kingdom. ExpTim 82, no. 1 (1970): 36-40.
Dunn, James D. G. Pharisees, Sinners, and Jesus. In The Social World of Formative
Christianity and Judaism : Essays in Tribute to Howard Clark Kee,
edited by Jacob Neusner, Peder Borgen, Ernest S. Frerichs and Richard
Horsley, 264-89. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1988.
Dunn, James D. G. Unity and Diversity in the New Testament : an Inquiry into the
Character of Earliest Christianity. 2nd ed. London and Philadelphia:
SCM and Trinity Press International, 1990.
Dunn, James D. G. Jesus and the Spirit : a Study of the Religious and Charismatic
Experience of Jesus and the First Christians as Reflected in the New
Testament. Reprint of 1975 ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997.
Dunn, James D. G. Demon-Possession and Exorcism in the New Testament. In The

Christ and the Spirit : Collected Essays of James D. G. Dunn, edited
by James D. G. Dunn, 170-86. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998.
Dunn, James D. G. Matthew 12:28 / Luke 11:20 - A Word of Jesus? In The Christ
and the Spirit : Collected Essays of James D. G. Dunn, edited by James
D. G. Dunn, 187-204. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998.
Easton, Burton S. Luke 17:20-21 : an Exegetical Study. AJT 16, no. 2 (1912): 275-83.
Easton, Burton S. The Gospel According to St. Luke : a Critical and Exegetical
Commentary. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1926.
Eaton, John H. Kingship and the Psalms, SBT Second Series 32. London: SCM, 1976.
Egelkraut, Helmuth L. Jesus Mission to Jerusalem : a Redaction Critical Study of the

Travel Narrative in the Gospel of Luke, Lk 9:51-19:48. Frankfurt:
Peter Lang, 1976.
Eichrodt, Walther. Theology of the Old Testament. Translated by John Baker. 2 vols. vols.
London: SCM, 1961.
Eichrodt, Walther. Ezekiel : a Commentary. Translated by Cosslett Quin. Edited by G.

Ernest Wright et al., OTL. London: SCM, 1970.
Eissfeldt, Otto. Jahwe als Knig. In Kleine Schriften : Band 1, edited by Rudolf
Sellheim and Fritz Maass, 172-93. Tbingen: J. C. B. Mohr (Paul
Siebeck), 1962.
Ellis, E. Earle. Present and Future Eschatology in Luke. NTS 12 (1965): 27-41.
Ellis, E. Earle. Eschatology in Luke. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1972.
Ellis, E. Earle. The Gospel of Luke. Edited by Matthew Black. Revised ed, NCB. Grand
Elmore, W. Emory. Linguistic Approaches to the Kingdom : Amos Wilder and Norman
Perrin. In The Kingdom of God in 20th-Century Interpretation, edited
by Wendell L. Willis, 53-66. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1987.
Esler, Philip F. Community and Gospel in Luke-Acts : the Social and Political
Motivations of Lucan Theology. Edited by G. N. Stanton, SNTSMS 57.
Esler, Philip F. The Social Function of 4 Ezra. JSNT 53, no. 1 (1994): 99-123.
Evans, Christopher F. Saint Luke, TPINTC. London and Philadelphia: SCM and Trinity
Press International, 1990.
Evans, Craig A. Luke. Edited by W. Ward Gasque, NIBCNT. Peabody: Hendrickson,

1990.
Evans, Craig A. Jesus and his Contemporaries : Comparative Studies, Arbeiten zur
Geschichte des antiken Judentums und des Urchristentums Bd. 25.
Leiden and New York: E. J. Brill, 1995.
Evans, Craig A. Early Rabbinic Sources and Jesus Research. In Jesus in Context :
Temple, Purity, and Restoration, edited by Bruce D. Chilton and Craig
A. Evans, 27-57. Leiden and New York: E. J. Brill, 1997.
Evans, Craig A. Jesus and Zechariahs Messianic Hope. In Authenticating the

Activities of Jesus, edited by Bruce D. Chilton and Craig A. Evans, 373-
Fabry, Heinz-Josef. aok kisse. Translated by David E. Green. In Theological

Dictionary of the Old Testament : Volume VII, edited by G. Johannes
Botterweck, Helmer Ringgren and Heinz-Josef Fabry, 232-59. Grand
Fackenheim, Emil L. Gods Presence in History : Jewish Affirmations and Philosophical

Reflections, The Deems Lectures 1968. New York: New York
Fanning, Buist M. Verbal Aspect in New Testament Greek, Oxford Theological

monographs. Oxford and New York: Clarendon Press and Oxford
Farmer, William R. Notes on a Literary and Form-Critical Analysis of Some of the

Synoptic Material Peculiar to Luke. NTS 8 (1961): 301-16.
Farmer, William R. Hasideans. In The Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible : Volume

2, edited by George A. Buttrick, 528. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1962.
Farrar, Frederic W. The Gospel According to St Luke. Edited by J. J. J. S. Perowne, The

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. Cambridge: Cambridge
Farrar, Frederic W. The Gospel According to St Luke. Edited by R. Appleton. New ed,
The Smaller Cambridge Bible for Schools. Cambridge: Cambridge
Filson, Floyd V. The Significance of the Temple in the Ancient Near East : Part IV :
Temple, Synagogue, and Church. BA 7, no. 4 (1944): 77-88.
Ferguson, Everett. The Terminology of Kingdom in the Second Century. In Studia

Patristica : Volume XVII Part 2, edited by Elizabeth A. Livingstone,
669-76. Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1982.
Ferguson, Everett. The Kingdom of God in Early Patristic Literature. In The Kingdom
of God in 20th-Century Interpretation, edited by Wendell L. Willis,
191-208. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1987.
Findlay, J. Alexander. The Gospel According to St. Luke : a Commentary. London: SCM,
1937.
Fine, Steven, and Eric M. Meyers. Synagogues. In The Oxford Encyclopedia of

Archaeology in the Near East : Volume 5, edited by Eric M. Meyers,
118-23. New York Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997.
Fine, Steven. This Holy Place : on the Sanctity of the Synagogue During the Greco-
Roman Period, Christianity and Judaism in Antiquity 11. Notre Dame,
Ind.: University of Notre Dame Press, 1997.
Finegan, Jack. Handbook of Biblical Chronology : Principles of Time Reckoning in the

Ancient World and Problems of Chronology in the Bible. Revised ed.
Peabody: Hendrickson, 1998.
Finkel, Asher. The Pharisees and the Teacher of Nazareth : a Study of their Background,
their Halachic and Midrashic Teachings, the Similarities and
Differences. Edited by Otto Michel. Reprint with corrections of 1964
ed, AGSU 4. Leiden and Kln: E. J. Brill, 1974.
Finkel, Asher. Yavnehs Liturgy and Early Christianity. JES 18, no. 2 (1981): 231-50.
Finkel, Asher. Prayer of Early Rabbinic Tradition : Representative Texts. In SBLSP

1993, edited by Eugene H. Lovering, 796-807. Atlanta: Scholars Press,
1993.
Finkel, Asher. Jesus Preaching in the Synagogue on the Sabbath (Luke 4.16-28). In
The Gospels and the Scriptures of Israel, edited by Craig A. Evans and
William R. Stegner, 325-41. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1994.
Finkelstein, Louis. The Pharisees : the Sociological Background of their Faith. 3rd ed. 2
vols, Morris Loeb Series. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of
America, 1962.
Finkelstein, Louis. The Development of the Amidah. In Pharisaism in the Making :

Selected Essays, 245-332. New York: KTAV, 1972.
Finkelstein, Louis. The Origin of the Pharisees. In Pharisaism in the Making :

Selected Essays, 175-86. New York: KTAV, 1972.
Finkelstein, Louis. Pharisaic Leadership after the Great Synagogue (170 B.C.E. - 135
C.E.). In The Cambridge History of Judaism : Volume 2 : the
Hellenistic Age, edited by William D. Davies and Louis Finkelstein,
245-77. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989.
Fischel, Henry A. Studies in Cynicism and the Ancient Near East : the Transformations
of a Chria. In Religions in Antiquity : Essays in Memory of Erwin
Ramsdell Goodenough, edited by Jacob Neusner, 372-411. Leiden: E.
J. Brill, 1968.
Fischer, Thomas. Maccabees, Books of : First and Second Maccabees. In The Anchor
Bible Dictionary : Volume 4, edited by David N. Freedman, 439-50.
Fisher, Loren R. The Temple Quarter. JSS 8 (1963): 34-41.
Fitzmyer, Joseph A. Review of Neophyti 1 by Alejandro Dez Macho. CBQ 32 (1970):

107-12.
Fitzmyer, Joseph A. The Genesis Apocryphon of Qumran Cave I. 2nd ed. Rome: Biblical
Institute Press, 1971.
Fitzmyer, Joseph A. Methodology in the Study of the Aramaic Substratum of Jesus

Sayings in the New Testament. In Jsus aux Origines de la
Christologie, edited by Jacques Dupont, 73-102. Leuven: Leuven
Fitzmyer, Joseph A. The Gospel According to Luke : Introduction, Translation and

Notes. Edited by William F. Albright and David N. Freedman. 2nd ed.
2 vols, AB 28, 28A. Garden City: Doubleday, 1985.
Fitzmyer, Joseph A. Luke the Theologian : Aspects of his Teaching. New York: Paulist
Press, 1989.
Fitzmyer, Joseph A. Romans : a New Translation with Introduction and Commentary.

Edited by William F. Albright and David N. Freedman, AB 33. New
York: Doubleday, 1993.
Fitzmyer, Joseph A. The First-Century Targum of Job from Qumran Cave XI. In The
Semitic Background of the New Testament : Combined Edition of
Essays on the Semitic Background of the New Testament and A
Wandering Aramean : Collected Aramaic Essays, edited by Joseph A.
Fitzmyer, 161-82. Grand Rapids and Cambridge, U.K.: Eerdmans,
1997.
Fitzmyer, Joseph A. The Languages of Palestine in the First Century A.D. In The
Semitic Background of the New Testament : Combined Edition of
Fitzmyer, 29-56. Grand Rapids and Cambridge, U.K.: Eerdmans, 1997.
Fitzmyer, Joseph A. The Oxyrhynchus Logoi of Jesus and the Coptic Gospel According
to Thomas. In The Semitic Background of the New Testament :
Combined Edition of Essays on the Semitic Background of the New
Testament and A Wandering Aramean : Collected Aramaic Essays,
edited by Joseph A. Fitzmyer, 355-433. Grand Rapids and Cambridge,
U.K.: Eerdmans, 1997.
Fitzmyer, Joseph A. The Phases of the Aramaic Language. In The Semitic Background
of the New Testament : Combined Edition of Essays on the Semitic
Background of the New Testament and A Wandering Aramean :
Collected Aramaic Essays, edited by Joseph A. Fitzmyer, 57-84. Grand
Rapids and Cambridge, U.K.: Eerdmans, 1997.
Fitzmyer, Joseph A. The Study of the Aramaic Background of the New Testament. In
The Semitic Background of the New Testament : Combined Edition of
Fitzmyer, 1-27. Grand Rapids and Cambridge, U.K.: Eerdmans, 1997.
Fitzmyer, Joseph A. The Syntax of lk, alk, All in Aramaic Texts from Egypt and in
Biblical Aramaic. In The Semitic Background of the New Testament :
Combined Edition of Essays on the Semitic Background of the New
Testament and A Wandering Aramean : Collected Aramaic Essays,
edited by Joseph A. Fitzmyer, 205-17. Grand Rapids and Cambridge,
U.K.: Eerdmans, 1997.
Fitzmyer, Joseph A. The Role of the Spirit in Luke-Acts. In The Unity of Luke-Acts,
Press, 1999.
Fleming, Daniel E. House/City : an Unrecognized Parallel Word Pair. JBL 105,

no. 4 (1986): 698-97.
Flender, Helmut. St. Luke : Theologian of Redemptive History. Translated by Reginald H.

and Ilse Fuller. London: SPCK, 1967.
Flesher, Paul V. McC. Exploring the Sources of the Synoptic Targums to the
Pentateuch. In Targum Studies : Volume One : Textual and
Contextual Studies in the Pentateuchal Targums, edited by Paul V.
McC. Flesher, 101-29. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1992.
Flesher, Paul V. McC. Mapping the Synoptic Palestinian Targums of the Pentateuch.
In The Aramaic Bible : Targums in their Historical Context, edited by
Martin McNamara and Derek R. G. Beattie, 247-53. Sheffield: JSOT
Press, 1994.
Flesher, Paul V. McC. The Targumim in the Context of Rabbinic Literature. In

Introduction to Rabbinic Literature, edited by Jacob Neusner, 611-29.
Flesher, Paul V. McC. Palestinian Synagogues before 70 C.E. : a Review of the

Evidence. In Ancient Synagogues : Historical Analysis and
Archaeological Discovery, edited by Dan Urman and Paul V. McC.
Flesher, 27-39. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1995.
Flesher, Paul V. McC. The Targumim. In Judaism in Late Antiquity : Part One : the
Literary and Archaeological Sources, edited by Jacob Neusner, 40-63.
Flesher, Paul V. McC. Is Targum Onkelos a Palestinian Targum? The Evidence of

Genesis 28-50. JSP 19 (1999): 35-79.
Flew, R. Newton. Some Outstanding New Testament Problems IV. Jesus and the
Kingdom of God. ExpTim 46, no. 5 (1935): 214-18.
Flusser, David G. Jesus. Translated by R. Walls. New York: Herder & Herder, 1968.
Flusser, David G. Josephus on the Sadducees and Menander. Imm 7 (1977): 61-67.
Flusser, David G. Psalms, Hymns and Prayers. In Jewish Writings of the Second
Temple Period, edited by Michael E. Stone, 551-77. Assen and
Philadelphia: Van Gorcum and Fortress, 1984.
Fohrer, Georg. Xfk : Zion-Jerusalem in the Old Testament. Translated by Geoffrey

W. Bromiley. In Theological Dictionary of the New Testament :
Volume VII, edited by Gerhard Kittel and Berhard Friedrich, 292-319.
Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1971.
Fowl, Stephen. Receiving the Kingdom of God as a Child : Children and Riches in Luke
18.15ff. NTS 39, no. 1 (1993): 153-58.
Fowler, Mervyn D. The Meaning of lipne YHWH in the Old Testament. ZAW 99, no.
3 (1987): 384-90.
Fraade, Steven D. Targum Jonathan to the Prophets. JQR 74, no. 4 (1985): 392-401.
Fraade, Steven D. Rabbinic Views on the Practice of Targum, and Multilingualism in the
Jewish Galilee of the Third-Sixth Centuries. In The Galilee in Late
Antiquity, edited by Lee I. Levine, 253-86. New York and Jerusalem:
Jewish Theological Seminary of America, 1992.
Francis, Fred O. Eschatology and History in Luke-Acts. JAAR 37, no. 1 (1969): 49-63.
Franklin, Eric. The Ascension and the Eschatology of Luke-Acts. SJT 23, no. 2 (1970):
191-200.
Franklin, Eric. Christ the Lord : a Study in the Purpose and Theology of Luke-Acts.
London: SPCK, 1975.
Franklin, Eric. Luke : Interpreter of Paul, Critic of Matthew, JSNTSup 92. Sheffield:
JSOT Press, 1994.
Franklyn, P. N. The Cultic and Pious Climax of Eschatology in the Psalms of

Solomon. JSJ 18, no. 1 (1987): 1-17.
Fredriksen, Paula. Did Jesus Oppose the Purity Laws? BR 11, no. 3 (1995): 42-47.
Fredriksen, Paula. Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews : a Jewish Life and the Emergence
of Christianity. London: Macmillan, 2000.
Freedman, David N. The Name of the God of Moses. JBL 79 (1960): 151-56.
Freedman, David N. Early Israelite History in the Light of Early Israelite Poetry. In
Unity and Diversity : Essays in the History, Literature, and Religion of
the Ancient Near East, edited by Hans Goedicke and Jimmy J. M.
Roberts. Baltimore and London: John Hopkins University Press, 1975.
Freedman, David N. Divine Names and Titles in Early Hebrew Poetry. In Magnalia
Dei, the Mighty Acts of God : Essays on the Bible and Archaeology in
Memory of G. Ernest Wright, edited by Frank M. Cross, Werner E.
Lemke and Patrick D. Miller, 55-107. Garden City: Doubleday, 1976.
Freedman, David N., and Michael P. OConnor. hwhy, YHWH. Translated by David E.
Green. In Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament : Volume V,
edited by G. Johannes Botterweck and Helmer Ringgren, 500-21.
Fretheim, Terence E. Where in the World is God? : Reflections on Divine Presence in

the Old Testament. Lutheran Theological Journal 26, no. 1 (1992): 6-
13.
Freyne, Sen. Galilee, from Alexander the Great to Hadrian, 323 B.C.E. to 135 C.E. : a
Study of Second Temple Judaism, University of Notre Dame Center for
the Study of Judaism and Christianity in Antiquity 5. Wilmington, Del.
and Notre Dame, Ind.: Michael Glazier and University of Notre Dame
Press, 1980.
Freyne, Sen. Galilee, Jesus, and the Gospels : Literary Approaches and Historical
Investigations. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1988.
Fuchs, Ernst. Studies of the Historical Jesus. Translated by A. Scobie, SBT 42. London:
SCM, 1964.
Fuller, Reginald H. The Mission and Achievement of Jesus. London: SCM, 1954.
Fuller, Reginald H. Lukes Witness to Jesus Christ, World Christian Books 26. London:
Lutterworth Press, 1958.
Furley, David J. Two Studies in the Greek Atomists. Princeton: Princeton University
Press, 1967.
Fusco, Vittorio. Point of View and Implicit Reader in two Eschatological Texts Lk
19,11-28 Acts 1,6-8. In The Four Gospels, 1992 : Festschrift Frans
Neirynck : Volume 2, edited by Frans Neirynck and Frans van
Segbroeck, 1677-96. Leuven: Leuven University Press : Uitgeverij
Peeters, 1992.
Gafni, Isaiah M. The Historical Background. In The Literature of the Sages : First
Part : Oral Tora, Halakha, Mishna, Tosefta, Talmud, External
Tractates, edited by Shmuel Safrai, 1-34. Assen/Maastricht and
Philadelphia: Van Gorcum and Fortress, 1987.
Gager, John G. Kingdom and Community : the Social World of Early Christianity. Edited
by John P. Reeder and John F. Wilson, Prentice-Hall Studies in
Religion. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1975.
Gagnon, Robert A. J. Statistical Analysis of Luke 7:3-7a. CBQ 55, no. 4 (1993): 709-
31.
Galling, Kurt. Altar. In The Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible : Volume 1, edited by
George A. Buttrick, 96-100. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1962.
Gamberoni, J. Mwqm maqom. Translated by Douglas W. Stott. In Theological

Dictionary of the Old Testament : Volume VIII, edited by G. Johannes
Garbini, Giovanni. History and Ideology in Ancient Israel. Translated by John Bowden.
London: SCM, 1988.
Gaston, Lloyd. No Stone on Another : Studies in the Significance of the Fall of Jerusalem
in the Synoptic Gospels, NovTSup 23. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1970.
Geldenhuys, Norval. Commentary on the Gospel of Luke : the English Text with
Introduction, Exposition and Notes. Edited by N. B. Stonehouse.
Reprint of 1946 ed, NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988.
Gelston, Anthony. A Note on Klm hwhy. VT 16 (1966): 507-12.
Gerstenberger, Erhard S. Psalms Part 1, with an Introduction to Cultic Poetry. Edited by

Rolf P. Knierim and Gene M. Tucker, FOTL 14. Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 1988.
Gerstenberger, Erhard S. bze 'azab. Translated by Douglas W. Stott. In Theological

Dictionary of the Old Testament : Volume X, edited by G. Johannes
Gibson, John C. L. The Kingship of Yahweh against its Canaanite Background. In

Ugarit and the Bible : Proceedings of the International Symposium on
Ugarit and the Bible, Manchester, September 1992, edited by George J.
Brooke, Adrian H. W. Curtis and John F. Healey, 101-12. Mnster:
Ugarit-Verlag, 1994.
Gilbert, Maurice. Wisdom Literature. In Jewish Writings of the Second Temple Period,
edited by Michael E. Stone, 283-324. Assen and Philadelphia: Van
Gorcum and Fortress, 1984.
Gilmour, S. MacLean. The Gospel According to St Luke. In The Interpreters Bible :

Volume 8, edited by George A. Buttrick. Nashville: Abingdon Press,
1952.
Ginsberg, Harold L. Gleanings in First Isaiah. In Mordecai M. Kaplan Jubilee Volume

: On the Occasion of his Seventieth Birthday, edited by M. Davis. New
York: Jewish Theological Seminary of America, 1953.
Glasson, T. Francis. The Second Advent : the Origin of the New Testament Doctrine. 3rd
ed. London: Epworth Press, 1963.
Glasson, T. Francis. The Gospel of Thomas, Saying 3, and Deuteronomy xxx. 11-14.
ExpTim 78, no. 5 (1967): 151-52.
Glasson, T. Francis. Jesus and the End of the World. Edinburgh: St Andrew Press, 1980.
Glasson, T. Francis. Schweitzers Influence : Blessing or Bane? In The Kingdom of

God in the Teaching of Jesus, edited by Bruce D. Chilton, 107-20.
Philadelphia and London: Fortress and SPCK, 1984.
Gloege, Gerhard. The Day of His Coming : the Man in the Gospels. Translated by
Stanley Rudman. London: SCM, 1963.
Glover, Warren W. 'The Kingdom of God' in Luke. BT 29, no. 2 (1978): 231-37.
Gnuse, Robert K. Dreams in the Night - Scholarly Mirage or Theophanic Formula?

BZ 39, no. 1 (1995): 28-53.
Gnuse, Robert K. Redefining the Elohist. JBL 119, no. 2 (2000): 201-20.
Godet, F. A Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke. Translated by E. W. Shalders. 2 vols.

Goldberg, Abraham. The Mishna - A Study Book of Halakha. In The Literature of the
Sages : First Part : Oral Tora, Halakha, Mishna, Tosefta, Talmud,
External Tractates, edited by Shmuel Safrai, 211-251. Assen/Maastricht
and Philadelphia: Van Gorcum and Fortress, 1987.
Goldberg, Arnold M. Untersuchungen ber die Vorstellung von der Schekhinah in der
Frhen Rabbinischen Literatur. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 1969.
Goldstein, Jonathan A. I Maccabees : a New Translation with Introduction and

Commentary. Edited by William F. Albright and David N. Freedman,
AB 41. New York: Doubleday, 1976.
Goldstein, Jonathan A. II Maccabees : a New Translation with Introduction and

AB 41A. New York: Doubleday, 1984.
Golomb, David M. A Grammar of Targum Neofiti. Edited by Frank M. Cross, HSM 34.
Chico, Calif.: Scholars Press, 1985.
Golomb, David M. Methodological Considerations in Pentateuchal Targumic

Research. JSP 18 (1998): 3-25.
Goodblatt, David M. The Place of the Pharisees in First Century Judaism : the State of
the Debate. JSJ 20, no. 1 (1989): 12-30.
Gooding, David W. According to Luke : a New Exposition of the Third Gospel. Leicester
and Grand Rapids: InterVarsity Press and Eerdmans, 1987.
Goodman, Martin. State and Society in Roman Galilee, A.D. 132-212, Oxford Centre for
Postgraduate Hebrew Studies. Totowa, N.J.: Rowman & Allanheld,
1983.
Goodman, Martin. Sadducees and Essenes after 70 C.E. In Crossing the Boundaries :
Essays in Biblical Interpretation in Honour of Michael D. Goulder,
edited by Stanley E. Porter, Paul Joyce and David E. Orton, 347-56.
Goodman, Martin. A Note on Josephus, the Pharisees and Ancestral Tradition. JJS 50,
no. 1 (1999): 17-20.
Goodman, William R. Esdras, First Book of. In The Anchor Bible Dictionary :
Doubleday, 1992.
Goodwin, H. A Commentary on the Gospel of S. Luke. Cambridge: Deighton Bell, 1865.
Goppelt, Leonhard. Theology of the New Testament. Translated by John E. Alsup. Edited
by Jrgen Roloff. 2 vols. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1981.
Gordon, Robert P. The Targumists as Eschatologists. In Congress Volume : Gttingen

1977, edited by John A. Emerton, 113-30. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1978.
Gordon, Robert P. Converse Translation in the Targums and Beyond. JSP 19

(1999): 3-21.
Grg, Manfred. bvy, yasab. Translated by David E. Green. In Theological Dictionary

of the Old Testament : Volume VI, edited by G. Johannes Botterweck
and Helmer Ringgren, 420-38. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990.
Gottlieb, Isaac B. Aqiva ben Yosef. In The Oxford Dictionary of the Jewish Religion,
edited by R. J. Zwi Werblowsky and Geoffrey Wigoder, 59. New York:
Oxford University Press, 1997.
Gould, Josiah B. The Philosophy of Chrysippus. Edited by W. J. Verdenius and J. H.

Waszink, Philosophia Antiqua 17. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1970.
Goulder, Michael D. The Composition of the Lords Prayer. JTS 14 (1963): 32-45.
Goulder, Michael D. Mark XVI. 1-8 and Parallels. NTS 24 (1978): 235-40.
Goulder, Michael D. Luke - A New Paradigm. 2 vols. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1989.
Gowler, David B. Host, Guest, Enemy and Friend : Portraits of the Pharisees in Luke
and Acts, Emory Studies in Early Christianity 2. New York: Peter Lang,
1991.
Grabbe, Lester L. Chronography in 4 Ezra and 2 Baruch. In SBLSP 1981, edited by

Kent H. Richards, 49-63. Chico, Calif.: Scholars Press, 1981.
Grabbe, Lester L. Judaism from Cyrus to Hadrian. 2 vols. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1992.
Grabbe, Lester L. Synagogues in Pre-70 Palestine : a Re-Assessment. In Ancient

Synagogues : Historical Analysis and Archaeological Discovery, edited
by Dan Urman and Paul V. McC. Flesher, 17-26. Leiden: E. J. Brill,
1995.
Graetz, Heinrich H. History of the Jews. 6 vols. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society,
1893.
Grant, Robert M., and David N. Freedman. The Secret Sayings of Jesus According to the
Gospel of Thomas. London and Glasgow: Collins (Fontana Books),
1960.
Graubard, Baruch. The Kaddish Prayer. In The Lords Prayer and Jewish Liturgy,
edited by Michael Brocke and Jakob J. Petuchowski, 59-72. London:
Burns & Oates, 1978.
Gray, George B. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Isaiah I-XXVII,
ICC 1. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1912.
Gray, John. The Hebrew Conception of the Kingship of God : Its Origin and
Development. VT 6 (1956): 268-85.
Gray, John. The Biblical Doctrine of the Reign of God. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1979.
Green, Joel B. The Gospel of Luke. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997.
Greenberg, Moshe. Ezekiel 1-20 : a New Translation with Introduction and Commentary.
Greenfield, Jonas C. Review of An Aramaic Approach to the Gospels, 1968 ed. by

Matthew Black. JNES 31, no. 1 (1972): 58-61.
Greeven, Heinrich. osqs. Translated by Geoffrey W. Bromiley. In Theological

Griffiths, J. Gwyn. kqt jsk (Luke xvii.21). ExpTim 63 (1951): 30-31.
Griffiths, J. Gwyn. Egypt and the Rise of the Synagogue. JTS 38 (1987): 1-15.
Grintz, Y. M. Baruch, Apocalypse of (Syriac). In Encyclopedia Judaica : Volume 4,

edited by Cecil Roth and Geoffrey Wigoder, cols 270-72. Jerusalem:
Keter, 1971.
Gross, H. lvm masal II. Translated by David E. Green. In Theological Dictionary of

the Old Testament : Volume IX, edited by G. Johannes Botterweck,
Helmer Ringgren and Heinz-Josef Fabry, 68-71. Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 1998.
Grundmann, Walter. Das Evangelium nach Lukas, THKNT 3. Berlin: Evangelische

Verlagsanstalt, 1974.
Guelich, R. The Antitheses of Matthew V. 21-48 : Traditional and/or Redactional? NTS

22 (1975-76): 444-57.
Gundry, Robert H. The Use of the Old Testament in St. Matthews Gospel, with Special
Reference to the Messianic Hope, NovTSup 18. Leiden: E. J. Brill,
1975.
Gundry, Robert H. Matthew : a Commentary on His Handbook for a Mixed Church

under Persecution. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994.
Gunkel, Hermann. The Influence of the Holy Spirit : the Popular View of the Apostolic
Age and the Teaching of the Apostle Paul : a Biblical-Theological
Study. Translated by Roy A. Harrisville and Philip A. Quanbeck.
Gutman, Shmaryahu. Gamla. In The New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations

in the Holy Land : Volume 2, edited by Ephraim Stern, 459-61.
Jerusalem and New York: Israel Exploration Society & Carta and
Simon & Schuster, 1992.
Guttmann, Alexander. Rabbinic Judaism in the Making. Detroit: Wayne State University
Press, 1970.
Guttmann, Julius. Synagogue Origins : Theories and Facts. In Ancient Synagogues:

the State of Research, edited by Julius Guttmann, 1-6. Chico, Calif.:
Guy, Laurie. The Interplay of the Present and Future in the Kingdom of God (Luke
19:11-44). TynBul 48, no. 1 (1997): 119-37.
Haak, Robert D. Altar. In The Anchor Bible Dictionary : Volume 1, edited by David N.
Freedman, 162-67. New York: Doubleday, 1992.
Hachlili, Rachel. Ancient Jewish Art and Archaeology in the Land of Israel. Leiden: E. J.
Brill, 1988.
Hackett, Jo A. The Balaam Text from Deir All. Edited by Frank M. Cross, HSM 31.
Chico, Calif.: Scholars Press, 1984.
Hackett, Jo A. Some Observations on the Balaam Tradition at Deir All. BA 49, no. 4
(1986): 216-22.
Hackett, Jo A. Balaam. In The Anchor Bible Dictionary : Volume 1, edited by David N.

Freedman, 569-72. New York: Doubleday, 1992.
Hamerton-Kelly, Robert G. The Temple and the Origins of Jewish Apocalyptic. VT 20

(1970): 1-15.
Hamilton, Neil Q. The Holy Spirit and Eschatology in Paul, SJT Occasional Papers 6.
Edinburgh and London: Oliver & Boyd, 1957.
Hann, Robert R. The Manuscript History of the Psalms of Solomon. Chico, Calif.:
Hann, Robert R. The Community of the Pious : the Social Setting of the Psalms of
Solomon. SR 17, no. 2 (1988): 169-89.
Hanson, Paul D. Review of The Elusive Presence by Samuel Terrien. Inter 35, no. 2
(1981): 186-89.
Hanson, Paul D. Old Testament Apocalyptic. Edited by Lloyd R. Bailey and Victor P.
Furnish, Interpreting Biblical Texts. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1987.
Haran, Menahem. The Ark and the Cherubim : Their Symbolic Significance in Biblical
Ritual. IEJ 9, no. 1 (1959): 30-38.
Haran, Menahem. The Nature of the Ohel Moedh in Pentateuchal Sources. JSS 5,
no. 1 (1960): 50-65.
Haran, Menahem. The Divine Presence in the Israelite Cult and the Cultic Institutions.
Bib 50 (1969): 251-67.
Harrington, Daniel J. Interpreting Israels History : the Testament of Moses as a

Rewriting of Deut 31-34. In Studies on the Testament of Moses,
edited by George W. E. Nickelsburg, 59-68. Cambridge, Mass.: Society
of Biblical Literature, 1973.
Harrington, Daniel J. The Gospel of Matthew. Edited by Daniel J. Harrington, SP 1.

Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 1991.
Harrington, Hannah K. Did the Pharisees Eat Ordinary Food in a State of Ritual
Purity? JSJ 26, no. 1 (1995): 42-54.
Harrington, Wilfrid J. The Gospel According to St Luke. London: Geoffrey Chapman,

1968.
Harrisville, Roy A. In Search of the Meaning of The Reign of God. Inter 47, no. 2
(1993): 140-51.
Hartman, David. A Living Covenant : the Innovative Spirit in Traditional Judaism. New
York and London: Free Press and Collier Macmillan, 1985.
Hartman, Lars. Reading Luke 17,20-37. In The Four Gospels, 1992 : Festschrift
Frans Neirynck : Volume 2, edited by Frans Neirynck and Frans van
Segbroeck, 1663-75. Leuven: Leuven University Press : Uitgeverij
Peeters, 1992.
Hartman, Louis F., and Alexander A. Di Lella. The Book of Daniel. Edited by William F.
Albright and David N. Freedman, AB 23. Garden City, N.Y.:
Doubleday, 1978.
Hartman, Louis F., and Alexander A. Di Lella. Daniel. In The New Jerome Biblical
Commentary, edited by Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer and
Roland E. Murphy, 406-20. London: Geoffrey Chapman, 1990.
Haufe, Gnter. Reich Gottes bei Paulus und in der Jesustradition. NTS 31 (1985):
467-72.
Hawkins, John C. Horae Synopticae : Contributions to the Study of the Synoptic Problem.
Hawthorne, Gerald F. The Essential Nature of the Kingdom of God. WTJ 25, no. 1
(1962): 35-47.
Hayman, A. P. Review of A Galilean Rabbi and His Bible by Bruce D. Chilton. SJT
38, no. 3 (1985): 446-48.
Hayward, Charles T. R. Targum Pseudo-Jonathan and Anti-Islamic Polemic. JJS 40

(1989): 77-93.
Hayward, Charles T. R. The Date of Targum Pseudo-Jonathan : Some Comments. JJS

40, no. 1989 (1989): 7-30.
Hayward, Charles T. R. Jacobs Second Visit to Bethel in Targum Pseudo-Jonathan.

In A Tribute to Gza Verms : Essays on Jewish and Christian
Literature and History, edited by Philip Davies, Gza Verms and
Richard T. White, 175-92. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1990.
Hayward, Charles T. R. Pirqe de Rabbi Eliezer and Targum Pseudo-Jonathan. JJS 42

(1991): 215-46.
Hayward, Charles T. R. Inconsistencies and Contradictions in Targum Pseudo-Jonathan

: the Case of Eliezer and Nimrod. JSS 37 (1992): 31-55.
Hayward, Charles T. R. Red Heifer and Golden Calf : Dating Targum Pseudo-
Jonathan. In Targum Studies : Volume One : Textual and Contextual
Studies in the Pentateuchal Targums, edited by Paul V. McC. Flesher,
9-32. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1992.
Hayward, Robert. The Memra of YHWH and the Development of its Use in Targum
Neofiti I. JJS 25, no. 3 (1974): 412-18.
Hayward, Robert. Memra and Shekhina : a Short Note. JJS 31, no. 2 (1980): 210-13.
Hayward, Robert. Divine Name and Presence : the Memra. Totowa, N.J.: Allanheld
Osmun, 1981.
Hedrick, Charles W. Thomas and the Synoptics : Aiming at a Consensus. SecCent 7,

no. 1 (1989-90): 39-56.
Heinemann, Joseph. Early Halakha in the Palestinian Targumim. JJS 25, no. 1 (1974):
114-22.
Heinemann, Joseph. Prayer in the Talmud : Forms and Patterns. Edited by E. L. Ehrlich,
Studia Judaica 9. Berlin and New York: Walter De Gruyter, 1977.
Hendriksen, William. Exposition of the Gospel According to Luke, New Testament

Commentary. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1978.
Hengel, Martin. Judaism and Hellenism : Studies in their Encounter in Palestine during
the Early Hellenistic Period. Translated by John Bowden. 2 vols.
London: SCM, 1974.
Hengel, Martin. Acts and the History of the Earliest Christianity. Translated by John
Bowden. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1979.
Hengel, Martin. Jews, Greeks, and Barbarians. London: SCM, 1980.
Hengel, Martin, and John K. Riches. The Charismatic Leader and his Followers.
Hengel, Martin. The Zealots : Investigations into the Jewish Freedom Movement in the
Period from Herod I until 70 A.D. Translated by David Smith.
Hengel, Martin, and Roland Deines. The Pre-Christian Paul. London and Philadelphia:
SCM and Trinity Press International, 1991.
Hengel, Martin, and Roland Deines. E. P. Sanders Common Judaism, Jesus, and the
Pharisees. JTS 46, no. 1 (1995): 1-70.
Hensell, Eugene M. Review of The Elusive Presence by Samuel Terrien. CBQ 42

(1980): 283-84.
Herford, Robert T. Pharisaism : Its Aim and Method. London: Williams & Norgate,
1912.
Herford, Robert T. The Pharisees. Reprint of 1924 ed. Boston: Beacon Press, 1962.
Hertzberg, Hans W. I & II Samuel : a Commentary. Translated by John S. Bowden,

OTL. London: SCM, 1964.
Hiers, Richard H. Why Will They Not Say, Lo, here! Or There!? JAAR 35 (1967):
379-84.
Hiers, Richard H. The Kingdom of God in the Synoptic Tradition. Gainesville: University
of Florida, 1970.
Hiers, Richard H. The Historical Jesus and the Kingdom of God : Present and Future in
the Message and Ministry of Jesus. Gainesville: University of Florida
Press, 1973.
Hill, Andrew E. Patchwork Poetry or Reasoned Verse? Connective Structure in 1

Chronicles XVI. VT 33, no. 1 (1983): 97-101.
Hill, Andrew E. Malachi, Book of. In The Anchor Bible Dictionary : Volume 4, edited
Hill, Andrew E. Malachi. Edited by William F. Albright and David N. Freedman, AB 25D.
Hill, David. Towards an Understanding of the Kingdom of God. IBS 3 (1981): 62-
76.
Hillers, Delbert R. Micah : a Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Micah. Edited by
Paul D. Hanson and Loren Fisher, Hermeneia - a Critical and
Historical Commentary on the Bible. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1984.
Hobart, William K. The Medical Language of St. Luke. Dublin and London: Hodges
Figgis and Longmans Green, 1882.
Hobbins, John F. The Summing up of History in 2 Baruch. JQR 89, no. 1-2 (1998):
45-79.
Hoenig, Sidney B. The Ancient City Square : the Forerunner of the Synagogue. In
Aufstieg und Niedergang der Rmischen Welt II.19.1, edited by
Hofius, Otfried. Das koptische Thomasevangelium und die Oxyrhynchus-Papyri Nr. I,

654 und 655. EvT 20 (1960): 21-42.
Holladay, William L. Jeremiah 1 : a Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah,

Chapters 1-25. Edited by Paul D. Hanson, Hermeneia - a Critical and
Historical Commentary on the Bible. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1986.
Hollander, Harm W. The Words of Jesus : From Oral Traditions to Written Record in
Paul and Q. NovT 42, no. 4 (2000): 340-57.
Holmn, Tom. The Alternatives of the Kingdom. ZNW 87, no. 3/4 (1996): 204-29.
Hoppe, Leslie J. Review of Into the Temple Courts by Donald D. Binder. CBQ 62, no.
2 (2000): 349-51.
Horbury, William. The Benediction of Minim and Early Jewish-Christian Controversy.

JTS 33, no. 1 (1982): 19-61.
Horbury, William. Constitutional Aspects of the Kingdom of God. In The Kingdom of

God and Human Society : Essays by members of the Scripture,
Theology and Society Group, edited by Robert S. Barbour. Edinburgh:
T&T Clark, 1993.
Horn, Friedrich W. Holy Spirit. In The Anchor Bible Dictionary : Volume 3, edited by
David N. Freedman, 260-80. New York: Doubleday, 1992.
Horsley, Richard A. Galilee : History, Politics, People. Valley Forge: Trinity Press
Horsley, Richard A. Archaeology, History, and Society in Galilee : the Social Context of
Jesus and the Rabbis. Valley Forge: Trinity Press International, 1996.
Horsley, Richard A. Synagogues in Galilee and the Gospels. In Evolution of the

1999.
Horton, Fred L. Reflection on the Semitisms of Luke-Acts. In Perspectives on Luke-

Acts, edited by Charles H. Talbert, 1-23. Danville: Association of
Baptist Professors of Religion, 1978.
Hunter, Archibald M. The Interpretation of Parables. ExpTim 69, no. 4 (1958): 100-
104.
Hurst, L. D. The Neglected Role of Semantics in the Search for the Aramaic Words of
Jesus. JSNT 28 (1986): 63-80.
Hurvitz, Avi. The Chronological Significance of Aramaisms in Biblical Hebrew. IEJ

18 (1968): 234-40.
Hussey, Mary D. The Origin of the Name Pharisee. JBL 39 (1920): 66-69.
Hutchinson, Orion N. Luke. 29 vols, Basic Bible Commentary 19. Nashville: Abingdon
Press, 1988.
Hyatt, J. Philip. Exodus. Edited by Robert E. Clements and Matthew Black, NCB. Grand
Rapids and London: Eerdmans and Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1971.
Ito, Akio. The Question of the Authenticity of the Ban on Swearing (Matthew 5.33-
37). JSNT 43 (1991): 5-13.
Jacobson, Arland D. The First Gospel : an Introduction to Q. Edited by Robert W. Funk,

Foundations and Facets. Sonoma, Calf.: Polebridge, 1992.
Jacobson, Arland D. Review of The Social Structure of the Rabbinic Movement in

Roman Palestine by Catherine Hezser. CBQ 62, no. 2 (2000): 355-57.
James, Montague R. The Biblical Antiquities of Philo. Reprint of 1917 ed. New York:
KTAV Publishing, 1971.
Japhet, Sara. The Ideology of the Book of Chronicles and Its Place in Biblical Thought.
Translated by Anna Barber. Frankfurt: Peter Lang, 1989.
Japhet, Sara. I & II Chronicles : a Commentary. Edited by James L. May, Carol A.

Newsom and David L. Petersen, OTL. Louisville, Ky.: Westminster
Jenni, Ernst. awb bo to come. Translated by Mark E. Biddle. In Theological Lexicon

of the Old Testament : Volume 1, edited by Ernst Jenni and Claus
Westermann, 201-204. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1997.
Jenni, Ernst. hwhy yhwh Yahweh. Translated by Mark E. Biddle. In Theological

Lexicon of the Old Testament : Volume 2, edited by Ernst Jenni and
Claus Westermann, 522-26. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1997.
Jenni, Ernst. auy ys to go out. Translated by Mark E. Biddle. In Theological Lexicon

Jeremias, Joachim. The Eucharistic Words of Jesus. Translated by Norman Perrin.
London: SCM, 1966.
Jeremias, Joachim. Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus : an Investigation into Economic and
Social Conditions during the New Testament Period. Translated by F.
H. and C. H. Cave. London: SCM, 1969.
Jeremias, Joachim. New Testament Theology : Volume One : the Proclamation of Jesus.
Translated by John Bowden. Edited by Alan Richardson, Charles F. D.
Moule and Floyd V. Filson, NTL. London: SCM, 1971.
Jeremias, Joachim. The Parables of Jesus. Translated by Samuel H. Hooke. 3rd Revised
ed. London: SCM, 1972.
Jervell, Jacob. Luke and the People of God : a New Look at Luke-Acts. Minneapolis:
Augsburg, 1972.
Jobes, Karen H., and Moiss Silva. Invitation to the Septuagint. Carlisle, U.K. and Grand
Rapids: Paternoster and Baker Academic, 2000.
Johnson, Aubrey, R. Aspects of the Use of the Term Mynp in the Old Testament. In
Festschrift Otto Eissfeldt, edited by Johann Fck, 155-59. Halle an der
Saale: Max Niemeyer, 1947.
Johnson, Aubrey, R. Hebrew Conceptions of Kingship. In Myth, Ritual, and Kingship

: Essays on the Theory and Practice of Kingship in the Ancient Near
East and in Israel, edited by Samuel H. Hooke, 204-35. Oxford:
Clarendon, 1958.
Johnson, Luke T. The Literary Function of Possessions in Luke-Acts, SBLDS 39.

Missoula, Mont.: Scholars Press for the Society of Biblical Literature,
1977.
Johnson, Luke T. The Lukan Kingship Parable (Lk. 19:11-27). NovT 34, no. 2 (1982):
139-59.
Johnson, Luke T. The Gospel of Luke. Edited by Daniel J. Harrington, SP 3. Collegeville,

Minn.: Liturgical Press, 1991.
Johnson, Luke T. The Acts of the Apostles. Edited by Daniel J. Harrington, SP 5.

Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 1992.
Johnson, Luke T. The Letter of James : a New Translation with Introduction and
Johnston, George. Kingdom of God Sayings in Pauls Letters. In From Jesus to Paul
: Studies in Honour of Francis Wright Beare, edited by Francis W.
Beare, Peter Richardson and John C. Hurd, 143-56. Waterloo, Ont.:
Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 1984.
Jones, Douglas R. Jeremiah. Edited by Ronald E. Clements and Matthew Black, NCB.
Jngel, Eberhard. Paulus und Jesus. Tbingen: J. C. B. Mohr (Paul Siebeck), 1972.
Just, Arthur A. Luke 9:51 - 24:53. Edited by Jonathan F. Grothe et al., Concordia
Commentary. Saint Louis: Concordia, 1997.
Kadushin, Max. The Rabbinic Mind. 3rd ed. New York: Bloch, 1972.
Kaiser, Otto. Isaiah 13-39 : a Commentary. Translated by R. A. Wilson, OTL. London:

SCM, 1980.
Kaiser, Otto. Isaiah 1-12 : a Commentary. Translated by John Bowden, OTL. London:
SCM, 1983.
Kampen, John. The Hasideans and the Origin of Pharisaism : a Study in 1 and 2
Maccabees. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1988.
Kampen, John. Hasidim. In The Anchor Bible Dictionary : Volume 3, edited by David
N. Freedman, 66-67. New York: Doubleday, 1992.
Ksemann, Ernst. New Testament Questions of Today. Translated by W. J. Montague.

Edited by Alan Richardson et al., NTL. London: SCM, 1969.
Ksemann, Ernst. Commentary on Romans. Translated by Geoffrey W. Bromiley. Grand

Kaufman, Stephen A. On Methodology in the Study of the Targums and their

Chronology. JSNT 23 (1985): 117-24.
Kaufman, Stephen A. Dating the Language of the Palestinian Targums and their Use in
the Study of First Century CE Texts. In The Aramaic Bible :
Targums in their Historical Context, edited by Martin McNamara and
Derek R. G. Beattie, 118-41. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1994.
Kaufman, Stephen A. The Job Targum from Qumran. JAOS 93, no. 3 (1973): 317-27.
Kee, Howard C. Community of the New Age : Studies in Marks Gospel. London: SCM,
1977.
Kee, Howard C. The Man in Fourth Ezra : Growth of a Tradition. In SBLSP 1981,
edited by Kent H. Richards, 199-208. Chico, Calif.: Scholars Press,
1981.
Kee, Howard C. The Transformation of the Synagogue after 70 C.E. : Its Import for
Early Christianity. NTS 36 (1990): 1-24.
Kee, Howard C. A Century of Quests for the Culturally Compatible Jesus. ThTo 52,
no. 1 (1995): 17-28.
Kee, Howard C. Defining the First-Century C.E. Synagogue. In Evolution of the

1999.
Keener, Craig S. A Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,

1999.
Kelber, Werner H. The Work of Norman Perrin : an Intellectual Pilgrimage. JR 64, no.
4 (1984): 452-67.
Kelly, Page H. Israels Tabernacling God. RevExp 67 (1970): 485-94.
Khoo, Wah B. The Gospel of Luke, New International Version. Singapore: Scripture
Union, 1986.
Kimelman, Reuven. Birkat Ha-Minim and the Lack of Evidence for an Anti-Christian
Jewish Prayer in Late Antiquity. In Jewish and Christian Self-
Definition : Volume Two : Aspects of Judaism in the Graeco-Roman
Period, edited by Ed P. Sanders, Albert I. Baumgarten and A.
Mendelson, 226-44. London: SCM, 1981.
Kingsbury, Edwin C. The Theophany Topos and the Mountain of God. JBL 86, no. 2
(1967): 205-10.
Kingsbury, Jack D. The Pharisees in Luke-Acts. In The Four Gospels, 1992 :

Festschrift Frans Neirynck : Volume 2, edited by Frans Neirynck and
Frans van Segbroeck, 1497-1512. Leuven: Leuven University Press :
Uitgeverij Peeters, 1992.
Kiraz, George A. The Syriac Primer : Reading, Writing, Vocabulary & Grammar, JSOT
Manuals 5. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1988.
Kirk, Alan. The Composition of the Sayings Source : Genre, Synchrony, and Wisdom
Redaction in Q. Edited by Charles K. Barrett et al., NovTSup 91.
Kittel, Gerhard, and Gerhard von Rad. ag^. Translated by Geoffrey W. Bromiley. In
Theological Dictionary of the New Testament : Volume II, edited by
Gerhard Kittel, 232-55. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1964.
Klausner, Joseph. Jesus of Nazareth : His Life, Times and Teaching. London: George
Allen & Unwin, 1925.
Klein, Gnter. The Biblical Understanding of The Kingdom of God. Int 26, no. 4
(1972): 387-418.
Klein, Michael L. Converse Translation : a Targumic Technique. Bib 57 (1976): 515-

37.
Klein, Michael L. The Preposition Mdq (Before) : a Pseudo-Anti-Anthropomorphism

in the Targums. JTS 30, no. 2 (1979): 502-507.
Klein, Michael L. The Translation of Anthropomorphisms and Anthropopathisms in the

Targumim. In Congress Volume : Vienna 1980, edited by John A.
Emerton, 162-77. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1981.
Klein, Michael L. Not to be Translated in Public - arwbyub Mgrtm al . JJS 39, no. 1
(1988): 80-91.
Klein, Michael L. The Aramaic Targumim : Translation and Interpretation. In The

Interpretation of the Bible : the International Symposium in Slovenia,
edited by Joze Krasovec, 317-31. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press,
1998.
Klein, Ralph W. Yahweh Faithful and Free - A Study in Ezekiel. CTM 42, no. 8
(1971): 493-501.
Klein, Ralph W. Chronicles, Book of 1-2. In The Anchor Bible Dictionary : Volume 1,
edited by David N. Freedman, 992-1002. New York: Doubleday, 1992.
Kleinknecht, Hermann, Gottfried Quell, and Ethelbert Stauffer. vbt. Translated by

Geoffrey W. Bromiley. In Theological Dictionary of the New
Testament : Volume III, edited by Gerhard Kittel, 65-123. Grand
Klijn, Albertus F. J. Recent Developments in the Study of the Syriac Apocalypse of

Baruch. JSP 4 (1989): 3-17.
Kloppenborg, John S. Symbolic Eschatology and the Apocalypticism of Q. HTR 80,

no. 3 (1987): 287-306.
Kloppenborg, John S. The Formation of Q : Trajectories in Ancient Wisdom Collections.

Edited by James M. Robinson, SAC. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1987.
Klostermann, Erich. Das Lukasevangelium. Reprint of 1929 ed. Tbingen: J. C. B. Mohr

(Paul Siebeck), 1975.
Knibb, Michael A. Apocalyptic and Wisdom in 4 Ezra. JSJ 13, no. 1-2 (1982): 56-74.
Knox, Wilfred L. The Sources of the Synoptic Gospels. 2 vols. Cambridge: Cambridge
Koch, Klaus. Offenbaren Wird Sich Das Reich Gottes : Die Malkuta Jahws im
Profeten-Targum. NTS 25 (1978): 158-65.
Koch, Klaus. Darius the Mede. In The Anchor Bible Dictionary : Volume 2, edited by
Koester, Craig R. The Dwelling of God : the Tabernacle in the Old Testament,
Intertestamental Jewish Literature, and the Old Testament. Edited by
Robert J. Karris et al., CBQMS 22. Washington, D.C.: Catholic Biblical
Association of America, 1989.
Koester, Helmut. Gnomai Diaphorai : the Origins and Nature of Diversification in the
History of Early Christianity. In Trajectories through Early
Christianity, edited by James M. Robinson and Helmut Koester, 114-
57. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1971.
Koester, Helmut. Apocryphal and Canonical Gospels. HTR 73, no. 1-2 (1980): 105-
30.
Koester, Helmut, and Stephen J. Patterson. The Gospel of Thomas : Does It Contain
Authentic Sayings of Jesus? BRev 6, no. 2 (1990): 28-39.
Kohler, Kaufmann. The Origin and Composition of the Eighteen Benedictions with a
Translation of the Corresponding Essene Prayers in the Apostolic
Constitutions. In Contributions to the Scientific Study of Jewish
Liturgy, edited by Jakob J. Petuchowski, 52-90. New York: KTAV,
1970.
Kster, Helmut. qmlt. Translated by Geoffrey W. Bromiley. In Theological

Dictionary of the New Testament : Volume VIII, edited by Gerhard
Kittel and Gerhard Friedrich, 187-208. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1972.
Kraus, Hans-Joachim. Psalms 1-59 : a Commentary. Translated by Hilton C. Oswald.

Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1988.
Kraus, Hans-Joachim. Psalms 60-150 : a Continental Commentary. Translated by Hilton

C. Oswald. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1993.
Kretzer, A. mlhoklj^f. Translated by Virgil P. Howard. In Exegetical Dictionary

of the New Testament : Volume 1, edited by Horst R. Balz and Gerhard
Schneider, 133-34. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990.
Khlewein, J. brq qrb to approach. Translated by Mark E. Biddle. In Theological

Kuhn, Karl G. _^pfibt : Mymv twklm in Rabbinic Literature. Translated by

Testament : Volume I, edited by Gerhard Kittel, 571-74. Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 1964.
Kmmel, Werner G. Promise and Fulfilment : the Eschatological Message of Jesus.

Translated by Dorothea M. Barton. 2nd English ed. Vol. 23, SBT.
London: SCM, 1961.
Kmmel, Werner G. Eschatological Expectation in the Proclamation of Jesus.

Translated by Charles E. Carlston and R. P. Scharlemann. In The
Future of our Religious Past : Essays in Honour of Rudolf Bultmann,
edited by James M. Robinson, 29-48. London: Harper & Row, 1971.
Kupp, David D. Matthews Emmanuel : Divine Presence and Gods People in the First
Gospel. Edited by Margaret E. Thrall, SNTSMS 90. Cambridge and
New York: Cambridge University Press, 1996.
Kutscher, Eduard Y. Aramaic. In Current Trends in Linguistics : Volume 6, edited by

Thomas A. Sebeok, 347-412. The Hague and Paris: Mouton, 1970.
Lachs, Samuel T. A Rabbinic Commentary on the New Testament. Hoboken: KTAV,

1987.
Ladd, George E. The Kingdom of God in Jubilees. BSac 109, no. 434 (1952): 164-74.
Ladd, George E. The Kingdom of God in I Enoch. BSac 10, no. 437 (1953): 32-49.
Ladd, George E. Eschatology and the Unity of New Testament Theology. ExpTim 68,
no. 9 (1957): 268-73.
Ladd, George E. The Kingdom of God - Reign or Realm? JBL 81, no. 3 (1962): 230-
38.
Ladd, George E. The Pattern of New Testament Truth. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1968.
Ladd, George E. The Presence of the Future : the Eschatology of Biblical Realism. 2nd
ed. London: SPCK, 1974.
Ladd, George E. A Theology of the New Testament. Revised ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,
1993.
Lake, Kirsopp, and Henry J. Cadbury. The Beginnings of Christianity : Part I : the Acts of
the Apostles : Volume IV: Translation and Commentary. London:
Macmillan, 1933.
Lampe, Geoffrey W. H. Some Notes on the Significance of @?QGJCG? RMS WCMS,

@?QGJCG? VPGQRMS, in the Greek Fathers. JTS 49 (1948): 58-73.
Lampe, Geoffrey W. H. The Holy Spirit in the Writings of St. Luke. In Studies in the
Gospels : Essays in Memory of R. H. Lightfoot, edited by Dennis E.
Nineham, 159-200. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1957.
Landsberger, Franz. The Sacred Direction in Synagogue and Church. In The

Synagogue : Studies in Origins, Archaeology and Architecture, edited
by Julius Guttmann, 239-61. New York: KTAV, 1975.
Larson, Bruce. Luke. Edited by Lloyd J. Ogilive, The Commentators Commentary 3.

Waco, Tex.: Word Books, 1983.
Lattke, Michael. Zur jdischen Vorgeschichte des synoptischen Begriffs der

Knigsherrschaft Gottes. In Gegenwart und kommendes Reich :
Schlergabe Anton Vgtle zum 65. Geburtstag, edited by Peter Fiedler
and Dieter Zeller, 9-25. Stuttgart: Verlag Katholisches Bibelwerk, 1975.
Lattke, Michael. On the Jewish Background of the Synoptic Concept, The Kingdom of
God. In The Kingdom of God in the Teaching of Jesus, edited by
Bruce D. Chilton, 72-91. Philadelphia and London: Fortress and SPCK,
1984.
Lattke, Michael. Dating the Odes of Solomon. Antichthon 27 (1993): 45-59.
Lattke, Michael. The Odes of Solomon : Discoveries, Editions, and the Problem of
Dating. In Ancient History in a Modern University : Volume 2 : Early
Christianity, Late Antiquity and Beyond, edited by T. W. Hillard, R. A.
Kearsley, C. E. V. Nixon and A. M. Nobbs, 61-70. Sydney and Grand
Rapids: Ancient History Documentary Research Centre Macquarie
University and Eerdmans, 1998.
Lauterbach, Jacob Z. The Pharisees and their Teachings. In Rabbinic Essays, 87-159.
Cincinnati: Hebrew Union College Press, 1951.
LaVerdiere, Eugene. Luke, New Testament Message 5. Wilmington, Del.: Michael Glazier,
1980.
Le Daut, Roger. La Nuit Pascale : Essai sur la Signification de la Pque Juive Partir
du Targum dExode XII 42, AnBib 22. Rome: Biblical Institute Press,
1963.
Le Daut, Roger. The Message of the New Testament and the Aramaic Bible (Targum).
Translated by Stephen F. Miletic. Revised ed, SubBi 5. Rome: Biblical
Institute Press, 1982.
Le Daut, Roger. The Targumim. In The Cambridge History of Judaism : Volume 2 :

the Hellenistic Age, edited by William D. Davies and Louis Finkelstein,
563-90. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989.
Leaney, Alfred H. A Commentary on the Gospel According to St. Luke, BNTC. London:
A&C Black, 1958.
Leaney, Alfred H. A Commentary on the Gospel According to St. Luke. 2nd ed, BNTC.
Leaney, Robert. The Lucan Text of the Lords Prayer (Lk xi 2-4). NovT 1 (1956):
103-11.
Lebourlier, Jean. Entos hymon : Le sens <<au milieu de vous>> est-il possible? Bib 73,
no. 2 (1992): 259-62.
Lemche, Niels P. Ancient Israel : a New History of Israelite Society. Edited by David E.
Orton, The Biblical Seminar 5. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1988.
Lemche, Niels P. Clio is also among the Muses! Keith W. Whitelam and the History of
Palestine : a Review and a Commentary. In Can a History of Israel
be Written?, edited by Lester L. Grabbe, 123-55. Sheffield: Sheffield
Academic Press, 1997.
Lemche, Niels P. Prelude to Israels Past : Background and Beginnings of Israelite

History and Identity. Translated by E. F. Maniscalco. Peabody:
Hendrickson, 1998.
Lemche, Niels P. The Israelites in History and Tradition. Edited by Douglas A. Knight,
Library of Ancient Israel. London and Louisville, Ky.: Westminster
Lemche, Niels P. On the Problems of Reconstructing Pre-Hellenistic Israelite

(Palestinian) History. Journal of Hebrew Scriptures 3, no. Article 1
(2000): 1-14.
Lenhardt, Peter. Aleinu. In The Oxford Dictionary of the Jewish Religion, edited by R.
J. Zwi Werblowsky and Geoffrey Wigoder, 34a. New York: Oxford
Levenson, Jon D. From Temple to Synagogue : 1 Kings 8. In Traditions in

Transformation : Turning Points in Biblical Faith, edited by B.
Halpern and Jon D. Levenson, 143-66. Winona Lake, Ind.:
Eisenbrauns, 1981.
Levenson, Jon D. Sinai and Zion : an Entry into the Jewish Bible, New Voices in Biblical
Studies. Minneapolis: Winston Press, 1985.
Levenson, Jon D. Esther : a Commentary. Edited by James L. Mays, Carol A. Newsom

and David L. Petersen, OTL. Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox
Press, 1997.
Levey, Samson H. The Date of Targum Jonathan to the Prophets. VT 21, no. 2 (1971):
186-96.
Levey, Samson H. The Messiah : an Aramaic interpretation : the Messianic Exegesis of

the Targum, Hebrew Union College. Monograph Series 2. Cincinnati:
Hebrew Union College, 1974.
Levine, Baruch A. On the Presence of God in Biblical Religion. In Religions in

Antiquity : Essays in Memory of Erwin Ramsdell Goodenough, edited
by Jacob Neusner, 71-87. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1968.
Levine, Baruch A. Lpny YHWH - Phenomenology of the Open-Air-Altar in Biblical

Israel. In Biblical Archaeology Today, 1990 : Proceedings of the
Second International Congress on Biblical Archaeology, edited by
Avraham Biran, J. Aviram and A. Paris-Shadur, 196-205. Jerusalem:
Israel Exploration Society, 1990.
Levine, Baruch A. Numbers 21-36 : a New Translation with Introduction and

Levine, Lee I. Ancient Synagogues - A Historical Introduction. In Ancient Synagogues

Revealed, edited by Lee I. Levine, 1-10. Jerusalem: Israel Exploration
Society, 1981.
Levine, Lee I. The Second Temple Synagogue : the Formative Years. In The
Synagogue in late Antiquity, edited by Lee I. Levine, 7-31. Philadelphia:
American Schools of Oriental Research, 1987.
Levine, Lee I. Synagogues. In The New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations

Levine, Lee I. The Sages and the Synagogue in Late Antiquity : the Evidence of the
Galilee. In The Galilee in Late Antiquity, edited by Lee I. Levine, 201-
22. New York and Jerusalem: Jewish Theological Seminary of America,
1992.
Levine, Lee I. The Nature and Origin of the Palestinian Synagogue Reconsidered. JBL
115, no. 3 (1996): 425-48.
Levine, Lee I. The Patriarchate and the Ancient Synagogue. In Jews, Christians, and
Polytheists in the Ancient Synagogue : Cultural Interaction During the
Greco-Roman Period, edited by Steven Fine, 87-100. London and New
York: Routledge, 1999.
Lvine, tan. Distinguishing Air from Heaven in the Bible. ZAW 88 (1976): 97-
99.
Lvine, tan. The Biography of the Aramaic Bible. ZAW 94 (1982): 353-79.
Lvine, tan. The Aramaic Version of the Bible. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 1988.
Levinskaya, Irina. A Jewish or Gentile Prayer House? The Meaning of NPMQCSVF.

TynBul 41, no. 1 (1990): 154-59.
Levy, B. Barry. Targum Neophyti I : a Textual Study. 2 vols. Lanham: University Press of
America, 1987.
Levy, Isaac. The Synagogue : Its History and Function. London: Vallentine & Mitchell,
1963.
Lewis, F. Warburton. Luke xvii. 21. ExpTim 38, no. 4 (1927): 187-88.
Lieu, Judith. The Gospel of Luke. Peterborough: Epworth Press, 1997.
Lightfoot, John. A Commentary on the New Testament from the Talmud and Hebraica.
Reprint of 1859 ed. 4 vols. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1995.
Lightstone, Jack N. Sadducees Versus Pharisees : the Tannaitic Sources. In

Christianity, Judaism and other Greco-Roman cults : Studies for
Morton Smith at Sixty, edited by Jacob Neusner, 206-17. Leiden: E. J.
Brill, 1975.
Lindars, Barnabas. Jesus and the Pharisees. In Donum Gentilicium : New Testament
Studies in Honour of David Daube, edited by Ernst Bammel, William
D. Davies, David Daube and Charles K. Barrett, 51-63. Oxford:
Clarendon, 1978.
Lindblom, Johannes. Theophanies in Holy Places in Hebrew Religion. HUCA 32

(1961): 91-106.
Lipinski, Edward. Yahweh malak. Bib 44 (1963): 405-60.
Loader, William R. G. Jesus Attitude Towards the Law : a Study of the Gospels. Edited
by Martin Hengel and Otfried Hofius, WUNT 2, 97. Tbingen: Mohr
Siebeck, 1997.
Lodahl, Michael E. Shekhinah / Spirit : Divine Presence in Jewish and Christian Religion,
Studies in Judaism and Christianity, Stimulus Book. New York and
Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1992.
Loewe, Herbert M. J. Pharisaism. In Judaism and Christianity, edited by William O.

E. Oesterley, Herbert M. J. Loewe and Erwin I. J. Rosenthal, 105-90.
New York: KTAV, 1969.
Loewe, Herbert M. J. The Ideas of Pharisaism. In Judaism and Christianity, edited by

William O. E. Oesterley, Herbert M. J. Loewe and Erwin I. J.
Rosenthal, 3-58. New York: KTAV, 1969.
Loewe, William P. Towards an Interpretation of Lk 19:1-10. CBQ 36, no. 3 (1974):

321-31.
Loffreda, Stanislao. The Late Chronology of the Synagogue of Capernaum. In Ancient

Synagogues Revealed, edited by Lee I. Levine, 52-56. Jerusalem: Israel
Loffreda, Stanislao. Capernaum. In New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations

Lohmeyer, Ernst. Lord of the Temple : a Study of the Relation between Cult and Gospel.
Translated by Stewart Todd. Edinburgh and London: Oliver & Boyd,
1961.
Lohmeyer, Ernst. The Lords Prayer. Translated by John Bowden. London: Collins,
1965.
Loisy, Alfred F. The Gospel and the Church. Translated by Bernard B. Scott. Reprint of
1903 ed. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1976.
Long, A. A. Freedom and Determinism in the Stoic Theory of Human Action. In

Problems in Stoicism, 173-99. London: Athlone Press, 1971.
Longenecker, Bruce W. 2 Esdras. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1995.
Longenecker, Richard N. Literary Criteria in Life of Jesus Research : an Evaluation and

Proposal. In Current Issues in Biblical and Patristic Interpretation,
edited by Gerald F. Hawthorne, 217-29. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,
1975.
Luce, H. K. The Gospel According to S. Luke with Introduction and Notes. Edited by A.
Nairne, Cambridge Greek Testament. Cambridge: Cambridge
Luck, G. Coleman. Luke : the Gospel of the Son of Man. Chicago: Moody Press, 1960.
Ldemann, Gerd. Early Christianity According to the Traditions in Acts. Translated by

John Bowden. London: SCM, 1989.
Ldemann, Gerd. bmlk. Translated by James W. Thompson. In Exegetical Dictionary

of the New Testament : Volume 1, edited by Horst R. Balz and Gerhard
Schneider, 393-94. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990.
Ldemann, Gerd, Frank Schleritt, and Martina Janssen. Jesus after Two Thousand Years
: What he really said and did. Translated by John Bowden. London:
SCM Press, 2000.
Lhrmann, Dieter. Paul and the Pharisaic Tradition. JSNT 36 (1989): 75-94.
Lundbom, Jack R. Jeremiah 1-20 : a New Translation with Introduction and

Maccoby, Hyam. Early Rabbinic Writings. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,

1988.
Maccoby, Hyam. Judaism in the First Century. London: Sheldon Press, 1989.
MacDermott, G. M. The Gospel According to St. Luke, Plain Commentaries. London:

Wells Gardner, Darton, 1910.
MacInnes, Alex. M. F. The Kingdom of God in the Apostolic Writings. London: James
Clarke, 1924.
Mack, Burton L. Wisdom Makes a Difference : Alternatives to Messianic

Configurations. In Judaisms and their Messiahs at the Turn of the
Christian Era, edited by Jacob Neusner, William S. Green and Ernest
S. Frerichs, 15-48. Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University
Press, 1987.
Mack, Burton L. A Myth of Innocence : Mark and Christian Origins. Philadelphia:

Fortress, 1988.
MacKenzie, Roderick A. F. Sirach. Edited by Carroll Stuhlmueller and Martin

McNamara, Old Testament Message 19. Wilmington, Del.: Michael
Glazier, 1983.
Maddox, Robert. The Purpose of Luke-Acts. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1982.

Malkin, Irad. Religion and Colonisation in Ancient Greece. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1987.
Mallon, Elias D. Obadiah. In The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, edited by

Mandilaras, Basil G. The Verb in the Greek Non-Literary Papyri. Athens: Hellenic
Ministry of Culture and Sciences, 1973.
Mann, Thomas W. Divine Presence and Guidance in Israelite Traditions : the Typology
of Exaltation. Edited by Hans Goedicke, JHNES 9. Baltimore: Johns
Hopkins University Press, 1977.
Manson, William. The Gospel of Luke, The Moffat New Testament Commentary. London:
Hodder & Stoughton, 1930.
Manson, Thomas W. The Teaching of Jesus : Studies of its Form and Content. 2nd ed.
Manson, Thomas W. Sadducee and Pharisee - The Origin and Significance of the
Names. BJRL 22 (1938): 144-59.
Manson, Thomas W. The Sayings of Jesus as Recorded in the Gospels According to St.
Matthew and St. Luke Arranged with Introduction and Commentary.
Reprint of 1937 ed. London: SCM, 1949.
Manson, Thomas W. Realized Eschatology and the Messianic Secret. In Studies in the
Gospels : Essays in Memory of R. H. Lightfoot, edited by Dennis E.
Nineham, 209-22. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1957.
Mansoor, Menahem. Pharisees. In Encyclopedia Judaica : Volume 13, edited by Cecil

Roth and Geoffrey Wigoder, cols 363-66. Jerusalem: Keter, 1971.
Marcovich, Miroslav. Textual Criticism on the Gospel of Thomas. JTS 20, no. 1
(1969): 53-74.
Marcus, Joel. Entering into the Kingly Power of God. JBL 107, no. 4 (1988): 663-75.
Marcus, Joel. The Beelzebul Controversy and the Eschatologies of Jesus. In

Authenticating the Activities of Jesus, edited by Bruce D. Chilton and
Craig A. Evans, 247-77. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1999.
Marcus, Ralph. The Pharisees in the Light of Modern Scholarship. JR 32, no. 3
(1952): 153-64.
Marcus, Ralph. Review of The Old Testament and Versions : the Hebrew Text in
Transmission and the History of the Ancient Versions by B. J.
Roberts. JNES 12, no. 2 (1953): 139-40.
Marcus, Ralph. Preface. In Josephus : Volume V, edited by Henry St J. Thackeray and

Ralph Marcus, vii-x. London: Heinemann, 1977.
Marmorstein, Arthur. The Old Rabbinic Doctrine of God : Volume I : the Names and
Attributes of God. Reprint of 1927 ed. New York: KTAV, 1968.
Marshall, I. Howard. The Gospel of Luke : a Commentary on the Greek Text. Edited by
W. Ward Gasque and I. Howard Marshall, NIGTC. Exeter and
Michigan: Paternoster and Eerdmans, 1978.
Marshall, I. Howard. The Acts of the Apostles : an Introduction and Commentary.

Leicester and Grand Rapids: InterVarsity Press and Eerdmans, 1980.
Marshall, I. Howard. The Hope of a New Age : the Kingdom of God in the New
Testament. Them 7 (1985): 5-14.
Martin, Hugh. Lukes Portrait of Jesus. London: SCM, 1949.
Martin, Luther H. Josephus use of Heimarmene in the Jewish Antiquities XIII, 171-3.
Numen 28, no. 2 (1981): 127-37.
Martin, Raymond. The Elusive Messiah : a Philosophical Overview of the Quest for the
Historical Jesus. Boulder, Colo.: Westview Press, 1999.
Marxsen, Willi. Mark the Evangelist. Translated by James Boyce. Nashville: Abingdon
Press, 1969.
Mason, Steve. Flavius Josephus on the Pharisees : a Composition-Critical Study, StPB

39. Leiden and New York: E. J. Brill, 1991.
Mason, Steve. Pharisaic Dominance before 70 CE and the Gospels Hypocrisy

Charge. HTR 83, no. 4 (1991): 363-81.
Mason, Steve. Josephus and the New Testament. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1992.
Mason, Steve. Chief Priests, Sadducees, Pharisees and Sanhedrin in Acts. In The Book
of Acts in its Palestinian Setting, edited by Richard Bauckham, 115-77.
Grand Rapids and Carlisle, U.K.: Eerdmans and Paternoster Press,
1995.
Matera, Frank J. Jesus Journey to Jerusalem (Luke 9.51 - 19.46) : a Conflict with
Israel. JSNT 51 (1993): 57-77.
Mathews, Edward G. Translations : the Syriac Versions of the Bible. TBT 38, no. 6
(2000): 374-77.
Mattill, Andrew J. Luke and the Last Things : a Perspective for the Understanding of
Lukan Thought. Dillsboro, N.C.: Western North Carolina Press, 1979.
Maurice, Frederick D. The Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven : a Course of Lectures on

the Gospel of St. Luke. London and New York: Macmillan, 1893.
Mayer, Gunter. dry, yarad. Translated by David E. Green. In Theological Dictionary

Mays, James L. The Centre of the Psalms. In Language, Theology, and the Bible :
Essays in Honour of James Barr, edited by Samuel E. Balentine and
John Barton, 231-46. Oxford: Clarendon, 1994.
Mayser, Edwin. Grammatik Der Griechischen Papyri Aus Der Ptolemerzeit. 6 vols.
Leipzig: Walter de Gruyter, 1970.
McArthur, Harvey K. The Burden of Proof in Historical Jesus Research. ExpTim 82,
no. 4 (1971): 116-19.
McArthur, Harvey K. The Parable of the Mustard Seed. CBQ 33 (1971): 198-210.
McCarter, P. Kyle Jr. I Samuel : a New Translation with Introduction, Notes and
AB 8. New York: Doubleday, 1980.
McClain, Alva J. The Greatness of the Kingdom : an Inductive Study of the Kingdom of
God. Winona Lake, Ind.: B. M. H. Books, 1968.
McConville, J. Gordon. Gods Name and Gods Glory. TynBul 30 (1979): 149-
63.
McConville, J. Gordon. Chronicles. Edited by John C. L. Gibson, The Daily Study Bible
(Old Testament). Edinburgh and Philadelphia: Saint Andrew Press and
McConville, J. Gordon. Review of Out of the Midst of the Fire by Ian Wilson. JTS 48,
no. 1 (1997): 150-52.
McEleney, Neil J. Authenticating Criteria and Mark 7.1-23. CBQ 34 (1972): 431-60.
McEleney, Neil J. 1-2 Maccabees. In The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, edited by
McGee, J. Vernon. Luke. Pasadena: Thru the Bible Books, 1975.
McKay, Heather A. Sabbath and Sacrifice : the Question of Sabbath Worship in Ancient
Judaism. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1994.
McKay, Kenneth L. The Use of the Ancient Greek Perfect Down to the Second Century
A.D. BICS 12 (1965): 1-21.
McKay, Kenneth L. Syntax in Exegesis. TynBul 23 (1972): 39-57.
McKay, Kenneth L. On the Perfect and other Aspects in the Greek of Non-Literary
Papyri. BICS 27 (1980): 23-49.
McKay, Kenneth L. On the Perfect and other Aspects in New Testament Greek. NovT
23, no. 4 (1981): 289-329.
McKay, Kenneth L. A New Syntax of the Verb in New Testament Greek : an Aspectual
Approach, Studies in Biblical Greek 5. New York: Peter Lang, 1994.
McKeating, Henry. Review of The Elusive Presence by Samuel Terrien. ExpTim 92,
no. 4 (1981): 121.
McLaren, James S. Turbulent Times? : Josephus and Scholarship on Judaea in the First
Century CE. Edited by Lester L. Grabbe and James H. Charlesworth,
JSPSup 29. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1998.
McLaren, James S. Josephus Summary Statements Regarding the Essenes, Pharisees

and Sadducees. ABR 48 (2000): 31-46.
McLaren, James S. Ananus, James, and Earliest Christianity. Josephus' Account of the
Death of James. JTS 52, no. 1 (2001): 1-25.
McLean, Bradley H. On the Gospel of Thomas and Q. In The Gospel Behind the
Gospels : Current Studies on Q, edited by Ronald A. Piper, x, 411.
McNamara, Martin. Logos of the Fourth Gospel and Memra of the Palestinian
Targum. ExpTim 79 (1967-68): 115-17.
McNamara, Martin. Targum and Testament : Aramaic Paraphrases of the Hebrew Bible
: a Light on the New Testament. Shannon, Ireland: Irish University
Press, 1972.
McNamara, Martin. The New Testament and the Palestinian Targum to the Pentateuch.
Reprint, with supplement containing additions and corrections, of 1966
2nd ed, AnBib 27A. Rome: Biblical Institute Press, 1978.
McNamara, Martin. Intertestamental Literature. Wilmington, Del.: Michael Glazier, 1983.
McNamara, Martin. Palestinian Judaism and the New Testament. Edited by Robert J.
Karris, GNS 4. Wilmington, Del.: Michael Glazier, 1983.
McNicol, Allan J. The Composition of the Synoptic Eschatological Discourse. In The

Interrelations of the Gospels, edited by David L. Dungan, Marie E.
Boismard, William R. Farmer and Frans Neirynck, 157-200. Leuven,
Belgium: Leuven University Press, 1990.
McNicol, Allan J., David L. Dungan, and David B. Peabody. Beyond the Q Impasse :
Lukes use of Matthew : a Demonstration by the Research Team of the
International Institute for Gospel Studies. Valley Forge: Trinity Press
Mearns, Chris. Realized Eschatology in Q? A Consideration of the Sayings in Luke

7.22, 11.20 and 16.16. SJT 40, no. 2 (1987): 189-210.
Meier, John P. A Marginal Jew : Rethinking the Historical Jesus : Volume One : the
Roots of the Problem and the Person. Edited by David N. Freedman,
ABRL. New York: Doubleday, 1991.
Meier, John P. A Marginal Jew : Rethinking the Historical Jesus : Volume Two : Mentor,
Message, and Miracles. Edited by David N. Freedman, ABRL. New
Meier, John P. The Quest for the Historical Pharisee : a Review Essay on Roland
Deines, Die Phaiser. CBQ 61, no. 4 (1999): 713-22.
Mendenhall, George E. The Tenth Generation : the Origins of the Biblical Tradition.
Baltimore and London: John Hopkins University Press, 1973.
Mendham, P. M. The Yeast of the Pharisees : Rethinking a Christian Prejudice. In

Ancient History in a Modern University : Volume 2 : Early
Christianity, Late Antiquity and Beyond, edited by T. W. Hillard, R. A.
Kearsley, C. E. V. Nixon and A. M. Nobbs, 34-42. Sydney and Grand
Rapids: Ancient History Documentary Research Centre Macquarie
University and Eerdmans, 1998.
Menzies, Robert P. The Development of Early Christian Pneumatology with Special

Reference to Luke-Acts, JSNTSup 54. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1991.
Menzies, Robert P. Spirit and Power in Luke-Acts : a Response to Max Turner. JSNT
49 (1993): 11-20.
Merk, Otto. Das Reich Gottes in den lukanischen Schriften. In Jesus und Paulus :
Festschrift f. Werner Georg Kmmel z. 70. Geburstag, edited by E.
Earle Ellis and Erich Grsser, 201-20. Gttingen: Vandenhoeck und
Ruprecht, 1975.
Mette, Hans J. Parateresis : Untersuchungen zur Sprachtheorie des Krates von

Pergamon. Halle: Max Niemeyer, 1952.
Mettinger, Tryggve N. D. The Veto on Images and the Aniconic God in Ancient Israel.
In Religious Symbols and their Functions : Based on Papers Read at
the Symposium on Religious Symbols and Their Functions, held at bo
on the 28th-30th of August 1978, edited by Haralds Biezais, 15-29.
Stockholm, Sweden: Almqvist & Wiksell International, 1979.
Mettinger, Tryggve N. D. The Dethronement of Sabaoth : Studies in the Shem and Kabod
Theologies. Translated by Frederick H. Cryer, ConBOT 18. Lund:
C.W.K. Gleerup, 1982.
Mettinger, Tryggve N. D. YHWH Sabaoth - The Heavenly King on the Cherubim

Throne. In Studies in the Period of David and Solomon and Other
Essays, edited by Tomoo Ishida, 109-138. Winona Lake, Ind.:
Eisenbrauns, 1982.
Mettinger, Tryggve N. D. In Search of God. Translated by Frederick H. Cryer.

Mettinger, Tryggve N. D. In Search of the Hidden Structure : YHWH as King in Isaiah

40-55. In VTSup 70,1, edited by Craig C. Broyles and Craig A. Evans,
143-54. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1997.
Metzger, Bruce M. A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament. 2nd ed.
Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1994.
Meyer, Ben F. The Aims of Jesus. London: SCM, 1979.
Meyer, Ben F. Appointed Deed, Appointed Doer : Jesus and the Scriptures. In
Authenticating the Activities of Jesus, edited by Bruce D. Chilton and
Craig A. Evans, 155-76. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1999.
Meyer, Heinrich A. W. Critical and Exegetical Handbook to the Gospels of Mark and
Luke. Translated by Robert E. Wallis and William P. Dickson. New
York and London: Funk & Wagnalls, 1884.
Meyer, Rudolf, and Konrad Weiss. côfp^lt. Translated by Geoffrey W. Bromiley.

In Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament : Volume IX, edited by
Gerhard Kittel and Berhard Friedrich, 11-48. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,
1974.
Meyers, Carol L., and Eric M. Meyers. Haggai, Zechariah 1-8 : a New Translation with
David N. Freedman, AB 25B. New York: Doubleday, 1987.
Meyers, Carol L., and Eric M. Meyers. Zechariah 9-14 : a New Translation with
David N. Freedman, AB 25C. New York: Doubleday, 1993.
Meyers, Eric M. Synagogue : Introductory Survey. In The Anchor Bible Dictionary :

Doubleday, 1992.
Meyers, Eric M. Ancient Synagogues : an Archaeological Introduction. In Sacred

Realm : the Emergence of the Synagogue in the Ancient World, edited
by Steven Fine. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press and
Yeshiva University Museum, 1996.
Michaelis, Wilhelm. m^kqlhoqso. Translated by Geoffrey W. Bromiley. In

Theological Dictionary of the New Testament : Volume III, edited by
Gerhard Kittel, 914-15. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1965.
Michaels, J. Ramsey. The Kingdom of God and the Historical Jesus. In The Kingdom
of God in 20th-Century Interpretation, edited by Wendell L. Willis,
109-19. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1987.
Michaels, J. Ramsey. Almsgiving and the Kingdom Within : Tertullian on Luke 17:21.
CBQ 60, no. 3 (1998): 475-83.
Milgrom, Jacob. Leviticus 1-16 : a New Translation with Introduction and Commentary.
Millar, William R. Isaiah 24-27 (Little Apocalypse). In The Anchor Bible Dictionary :
Doubleday, 1992.
Miller, Merrill P. Targum, Midrash and the Use of the Old Testament in the New
Testament. JSJ 2 (1971): 29-82.
Miller, Patrick D. The Divine Warrior in Early Israel. Edited by Frank M. Cross,
William L. Moran, Isadore Twersky and G. Ernest Wright, HSM 5.
Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1973.
Miller, Patrick D. Review of The Elusive Presence by Samuel Terrien. ThTo 37, no. 1
(1980): 108-11.
Miller, Patrick D. Deuteronomy. Edited by James L. Mays and Patrick D. Miller,

Interpretation : a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching.
Louisville, Ky.: John Knox Press, 1990.
Miller, Stuart S. The Rabbis and the Non-existent Monolithic Synagogue. In Jews,
Christians, and Polytheists in the Ancient Synagogue : Cultural
Interaction During the Greco-Roman Period, edited by Steven Fine,
57-70. London and New York: Routledge, 1999.
Mills, Watson E. Versions, Ancient (Coptic). In The Anchor Bible Dictionary :

Volume 6, edited by David N. Freedman, 803. New York: Doubleday,
1992.
Mitton, C. Leslie. Your Kingdom Come. London and Oxford: Mowbrays, 1978.
Moessner, David P. Lord of the Banquet : the Literary and Theological Significance of
the Lukan Travel Narrative. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1989.
Moltmann, Jrgen. The Coming of God : Christian Eschatology. Translated by Margaret

Kohl. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1996.
Montefiore, Claude J. G. The Synoptic Gospels. Edited by Israel Abrahams. Reprint of

2nd Revised 1927 ed. 2 vols, Library of Biblical Studies. New York:
KTAV, 1968.
Moody, D. Shekinah. In The Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible : Volume 4, edited

by George A. Buttrick, 317-19. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1962.
Moore, Arthur L. The Parousia in the New Testament. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1966.
Moore, Carey A. Esther : Introduction, Translation and Notes. Edited by William F.

Albright and David N. Freedman, AB 7B. Garden City, N.Y.:
Doubleday, 1971.
Moore, Carey A. Tobit, Book of. In The Anchor Bible Dictionary : Volume 6, edited
Moore, Carey A. Judith. Edited by William F. Albright and David N. Freedman, AB 40.
Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1985.
Moore, Carey A. Tobit : a New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Edited
by William F. Albright and David N. Freedman, AB 40A. New York:
Doubleday, 1996.
Moore, Ernest. @G?XT, ?PN?XT and Cognates in Josephus. NTS 21 (1975): 519-43.
Moore, George F. Christian Writers on Judaism. HTR 14, no. 3 (1921): 197-254.
Moore, George F. Intermediaries in Jewish Theology : Memra, Shekinah, Metatron.

HTR 15, no. 1 (1922): 41-85.
Moore, George F. Judaism in the First Centuries of the Christian Era : the Age of the
Tannaim. 3 vols. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1927.
Moore, George F. Fate and Free Will in the Jewish Philosophies According to
Josephus. HTR 22, no. 4 (1929): 371-89.
Moorman, John R. H. The Path to Glory : Studies in the Gospel According to Saint Luke.
London: SPCK, 1960.
Moreland, Milton C., and James M. Robinson. The International Q Project. JBL 112,
no. 3 (1993): 500-506.
Moreland, Milton C., and Robinson, James M. The International Q Project. JBL 113,
no. 3 (1994): 495-99.
no. 3 (1995): 475-85.
no. 3 (1997): 521-25.
Moriarty, Frederick L. Review of The Elusive Presence by Samuel Terrien. TS 40, no.
3 (1979): 532-33.
Morris, Leon. The Gospel According to St Luke. London: InterVarsity Press, 1974.
Morris, Leon. The Epistle to the Romans. Grand Rapids and Leicester: Eerdmans and
InterVarsity Press, 1988.
Morrow, William S. Review of Out of the Midst of the Fire by Ian Wilson. JBL 117,
no. 4 (1998): 723-25.
Moscati, Sabatino, Anton Spitaler, Edward Ullendorff, and Wolfram von Soden. An
Introduction to the Comparative Grammar of the Semitic Languages :
Phonology and Morphology. Edited by Betold Spuler and Hans Wehr,
Porta Linguarum Orientalum. Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz, 1969.
Moule, Charles F. D. An Idiom-Book of New Testament Greek. Cambridge: Cambridge

Moule, Charles F. D. The Influence of Circumstances on the Use of Eschatological

Terms. JTS 15, no. 1 (1964): 1-15.
Mowinckel, Sigmund O. P. The Psalms in Israels Worship. Translated by D. R. Ap-

Thomas. 2 vols. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1962.
Moxnes, Halvor. The Economy of the Kingdom : Social Conflict and Economic Relations
in Lukes Gospel, OBT 23. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1988.
Mueller, Dieter. Kingdom of Heaven or Kingdom of God? VC 27 (1973): 266-276.
Munck, Johannes. The Acts of the Apostles. Edited by William F. Albright and David N.
Freedman, AB 31. Garden City: Doubleday, 1967.
Murphy, Frederick J. The Structure and Meaning of Second Baruch. Atlanta: Scholars
Press, 1985.
Murphy, Frederick J. God in Pseudo-Philo. JSJ 19, no. 1 (1988): 1-18.
Murphy, Roland E. The Tree of Life : an Exploration of Biblical Wisdom Literature,

ABRL. New York: Doubleday, 1990.
Murray, John C. The Problem of God, Yesterday and Today, The St. Thomas More
Lectures 1. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1964.
Mussner, Franz. <<Wann kommt das Reich Gottes?>> Die Antwort Jesu nach Lk 17,
20b.21. BZ 6, no. 1 (1962): 107-11.
Myers, Jacob M. I Chronicles. Edited by William F. Albright and David N. Freedman, AB

12. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1965.
Myers, Jacob M. II Chronicles. Edited by William F. Albright and David N. Freedman,

AB 13. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1965.
Myers, Jacob M. I and II Esdras : Introduction, Translation and Commentary. Edited by

William F. Albright and David N. Freedman, AB 42. New York:
Doubleday, 1974.
Myllykoski, Matti. The Social History of Q and the Jewish War. In Symbols and
Strata : Essays on the Sayings Gospel Q, edited by Risto Uro, 143-99.
Gttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1996.
Neale, David A. None but the Sinners : Religious Categories in the Gospel of Luke,
JSNTSup 58. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1991.
Neil, William. The Acts of the Apostles. Greenwood, S.C.: Attic Press, 1973.
Netzer, Ehud. Masada. In New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the

Holy Land : Volume 2, edited by Ephraim Stern, 973-85. Jerusalem and
New York: Israel Exploration Society & Carta and Simon & Schuster,
1992.
Neusner, Jacob. The Fellowship (hrwbx) in the Second Jewish Commonwealth. HTR
53 (1960): 125-42.
Neusner, Jacob. The Problem of Oral Transmission. JJS 22 (1971): 1-18.
Neusner, Jacob. The Rabbinic Traditions about the Pharisees before 70. 3 vols. Leiden:
E. J. Brill, 1971.
Neusner, Jacob. From Politics to Piety : the Emergence of Pharisaic Judaism. Englewood
Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1973.
Neusner, Jacob. The Pharisees : Rabbinic Perspectives, Studies in Ancient Judaism 1.

Hoboken, N.J.: KTAV, 1973.
Neusner, Jacob. The Written Tradition in the Pre-Rabbinic Period. JSJ 4, no. 1 (1973):
56-65.
Neusner, Jacob. The Idea of Purity in Ancient Judaism. JAAR 43, no. 1 (1975): 15-26.
Neusner, Jacob. The Use of the Mishnah for the History of Judaism Prior to the Time of
the Mishnah. JSJ 11, no. 2 (1980): 177-85.
Neusner, Jacob. Judaism : the Evidence of the Mishnah. Chicago and London: University
of Chicago Press, 1981.
Neusner, Jacob. The Pharisees in the Light of the Historical Sources of Judaism. In
Formative Judaism : Religious, Historical, and Literary Studies : First
Series, BJS 37, edited by Jacob Neusner, 71-83. Chico, Calif.: Scholars
Press, 1982.
Neusner, Jacob. Two Pictures of the Pharisees : Philosophical Circle or Eating Club.
AThR 64, no. 4 (1982): 525-38.
Neusner, Jacob. Formative Judaism : Religious, Historical, and Literary Studies : Third
Series : Torah, Pharisees, and Rabbis, BJS 46. Chico, Calif.: Scholars
Press, 1983.
Neusner, Jacob. Judaism in Society : the Evidence of the Yerushalmi : Toward the
Natural History of a Religion. Chicago and London: University Of
Chicago Press, 1983.
Neusner, Jacob. Major Trends in Formative Judaism : Third Series : the Three Stages in
the Formation of Judaism, BJS 99. Chico, Calif.: Scholars Press, 1985.
Neusner, Jacob. Parallel Histories of Early Christianity and Judaism. BRev 3, no.
Spring (1987): 42-55.
Neusner, Jacob. What is Midrash? Edited by Dan O. Via, GBS. Philadelphia: Fortress,
1987.
Neusner, Jacob. Messiah in Context : Israels History and Destiny in Formative Judaism.
Edited by Jacob Neusner, Studies in Judaism. Lanham: University
Press of America, 1988.
Neusner, Jacob. The Incarnation of God : the Character of Divinity in Formative

Judaism. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1988.
Neusner, Jacob, and Bruce D. Chilton. Sanderss Misunderstanding of Purity :

Uncleanness as an Ontological, Not a Moral-Eschatological Category
(as He Imagines). In Judaic Law from Jesus to the Mishnah : a
Systematic Reply to Professor E. P. Sanders, edited by Jacob Neusner,
William S. Green, James Strange, Darrell J. Fasching and Sara Mandell,
205-30. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1993.
Neusner, Jacob. Sanderss Pharisees and Mine : Jewish Law from Jesus to the
Mishnah. In Judaic Law from Jesus to the Mishnah : a Systematic
Reply to Professor E. P. Sanders, edited by Jacob Neusner, William S.
Green, James Strange, Darrell J. Fasching and Sara Mandell, 247-73.
Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1993.
Neusner, Jacob. Evaluating the Attributions of Sayings to Named Sages in the Rabbinic
Literature. JSJ 26, no. 1 (1995): 93-111.
Neusner, Jacob, and William S. Green. Aleinu. In Dictionary of Judaism in the

Biblical Period : 450 B.C.E. to 600 C.E. : Volume 1, edited by Jacob
Neusner and William S. Green, 24. New York: Simon & Schuster
Macmillan, 1996.
Neusner, Jacob. Knowing God through the Torah : the Talmuds God as Person. In
God in the World, edited by Jacob Neusner and Bruce D. Chilton, 44-
67. Harrisburg, Pa.: Trinity Press International, 1997.
Neusner, Jacob. A Judaic Response to Forceful Grace. In Jewish-Christian Debates :

God, Kingdom, Messiah, edited by Jacob Neusner and Bruce D.
Chilton, 149-55. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1998.
Neusner, Jacob. Living under the Yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven. In Jewish-
Christian Debates : God, Kingdom, Messiah, edited by Jacob Neusner
and Bruce D. Chilton, 101-24. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1998.
Newport, Kenneth G. C. A Note on The Seat of Moses (Matthew 23:2). AUSS 28,
no. 1 (1990): 53-58.
Newport, Kenneth G. C. The Pharisees in Judaism Prior to A.D. 70. AUSS 29, no. 2
(1991): 127-37.
Newsom, Carol A. Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice. In The Anchor Bible Dictionary :
Doubleday, 1992.
Neyrey, Jerome H. Questions, Chreiai, and Challenges to Honor : the Interface of

Rhetoric and Culture in Marks Gospel. CBQ 60, no. 4 (1998): 657-
81.
Nickelsburg, George W. E. Resurrection, Immortality, and Eternal Life in

Intertestamental Judaism. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press,
1972.
Nickelsburg, George W. E. An Antiochan Date for the Testament of Moses. In Studies

on the Testament of Moses, edited by George W. E. Nickelsburg, 33-
37. Cambridge, Mass.: Society of Biblical Literature, 1973.
Nickelsburg, George W. E. Jewish Literature between the Bible and the Mishnah : a
Historical and Literary Introduction. London: SCM, 1981.
Nickelsburg, George W. E. Stories of Biblical and Early Post-Biblical Times. In

Jewish Writings of the Second Temple Period, edited by Michael E.
Stone, 33-87. Assen and Philadelphia: Van Gorcum and Fortress, 1984.
Nickelsburg, George W. E. The Bible Rewritten and Expanded. In Jewish Writings of

the Second Temple Period, edited by Michael E. Stone, 89-156. Assen
and Philadelphia: Van Gorcum and Fortress, 1984.
Nickelsburg, George W. E., and Robert A. Kraft. Introduction : the Modern Study of
Early Judaism. In Early Judaism and its Modern Interpreters, edited
by Robert A. Kraft and George W. E. Nickelsburg, 1-30. Philadelphia
and Atlanta: Fortress and Scholars Press, 1986.
Nickelsburg, George W. E. The Apocalyptic Construction of Reality in 1 Enoch. In

Mysteries and Revelations, edited by John J. Collins and James H.
Charlesworth, 51-64. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1991.
Nielsen, Eduard. A Note on Zechariah 14,4-5. In In the Last Days : on Jewish and
Christian Apocalyptic and its Period, edited by Knud Jeppesen, Kirsten
Nielsen and Bent Rosendal, 33-37. Aarhus C, Denmark: Aarhus
Nolland, John. Luke. Edited by David A. Hubbard and Glenn W. Barker. 2 vols, WBC 35.
Dallas: Word Books, 1993.
North, Robert. The Chronicler : 1-2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah. In The New Jerome
Biblical Commentary, edited by Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A.
Fitzmyer and Roland E. Murphy, 362-98. London: Geoffrey Chapman,
1990.
Norton, Gerard J. Jews, Greeks and the Hexapla of Origen. In The Aramaic Bible :
Targums in their Historical Context, edited by Martin McNamara and
Noth, Martin. Numbers : a Commentary. Translated by James D. Martin, OTL. London:

SCM, 1968.
Nowell, Irene. Tobit. In The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, edited by Raymond E.
Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer and Roland E. Murphy, 568-71. London:
Geoffrey Chapman, 1990.
ONeill, J. C. Messiah : Six Lectures on the Ministry of Jesus, The Cunningham Lectures
1975-76. Cambridge: Cochrane Press, 1980.
ONeill, J. C. The Kingdom of God. NovT 35, no. 2 (1993): 130-41.
ONeill, J. C. The Lords Prayer. JSNT 51 (1993): 3-25.
ORourke, John J. The Construction with a Verb of Saying as an Indication of Sources

in Luke. NTS 21 (1975): 421-23.
OToole, Robert F. Lukes Message in Luke 9:1-50. CBQ 49, no. 1 (1987): 74-89.
OToole, Robert F. The Kingdom of God in Luke-Acts. In The Kingdom of God in

20th-Century Interpretation, edited by Wendell L. Willis, 147-62.
Obach, Robert E., and Albert Kirk. A Commentary on the Gospel of Luke. New York and
Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1986.
Oesterley, William O. E., and Theodor Robinson. A History of Israel. 2 vols. Oxford:
Clarendon, 1948.
hler, Markus. The Expectation of Elijah and the Presence of the Kingdom of God.
JBL 118, no. 3 (1999): 461-76.
Ollenburger, Ben C. Zion the City of the Great King : a Theological Symbol of the
Jerusalem Cult, JSOTSup 41. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1987.
Olshausen, H. Biblical Commentary on the Gospels. 3 vols. Edinburgh: T&T Clark,

1861.
Oppenheimer, Aharon. The Am ha-aretz : a Study in the Social History of the Jewish
People in the Hellenistic-Roman Period. Translated by I. H. Levine.
Orlinsky, Harry M. Introductory Essay : On Anthropomorphisms and

Anthropopathisms in the Septuagint and Targum. In The Septuagint
Translation of the Hebrew Terms in Relation to God in the Book of
Jeremiah, edited by Bernard M. Zlotowitz, xv-xxiv. New York: KTAV,
1981.
Oster, Richard E. Supposed Anachronism in Luke-Acts Use of prk^dsd : a

Rejoiner to H. C. Kee. NTS 39, no. 2 (1993): 178-208.
Oswalt, John N. The Book of Isaiah : Chapters 1-39. Edited by R. K. Harrison, NICOT.
Oswalt, John N. The Book of Isaiah : Chapters 40-66. Edited by R. K. Harrison and
Robert L. Hubbard, NICOT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998.
Otto, Rudolf. The Kingdom of God and the Son of Man : a Study in the History of
Religions. Translated by Floyd V. Filson and B. Lee-Woolf. New and
Revised ed. London and Redhill: Lutterworth Press, 1943.
Ottosson, Magnus. lkyh hekhal. Translated by David E. Green. In Theological

Dictionary of the Old Testament : Volume III, edited by G. Johannes
1978.
Overman, J. Andrew. Matthews Gospel and Formative Judaism : the Social World of the
Matthean Community. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1990.
Owen, Huw P. The Parousia of Christ in the Synoptic Gospels. SJT 12, no. 2 (1959):
171-92.
Packard, E. W. S. A Running Commentary on the Gospel According to St Luke with

Parallel Text. London: SCM, 1932.
Pamment, Margaret. The Kingdom of Heaven According to the First Gospel. NTS 27
(1981): 211-32.
Pannenberg, Wolfhart. Theology and the Kingdom of God. Translated by Richard J.

Neuhaus. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1969.
Parsons, Mikeal C. The Critical Use of the Rabbinic Literature in New Testament
Studies. PRSt 12 (1985): 85-102.
Parsons, Mikeal C., and Richard I. Pervo. Rethinking the Unity of Luke and Acts.
Minneapolis: Fortress, 1993.
Pate, C. Marvin. Luke, Moody Gospel Commentary. Chicago: Moody Press, 1995.
Patrich, Joseph. The Mesibbah of the Temple According to the Tractate Middot. IEJ 36
(1986): 215-33.
Patrick, Dale. The Kingdom of God in the Old Testament. In The Kingdom of God in
20th-Century Interpretation, edited by Wendell L. Willis, 67-80.
Patterson, Stephen J. The Gospel of Thomas and the Historical Jesus : Retrospectus and
Prospectus. In SBLSP 1990, edited by David J. Lull, 614-36. Atlanta:
Payne, David F. Deuteronomy. Edited by John C. L. Gibson, The Daily Study Bible (Old
Testament). Edinburgh and Philadelphia: Saint Andrew Press and
Peli, Pinchas H. The Havurot that were in Jerusalem. HUCA 55 (1984): 55-74.
Percy, Ernst. Die Botschaft Jesu : Eine Traditions-Kritische Und Exegetische

Untersuchung, LU. N.F. avd. 1 49. NR 5. Lund: C.W.K. Gleerup,
1953.
Pereira, Francis. Ephesus : Climax of Universalism in Luke-Acts, Jesuit Theological

Forum Studies 1. Anand, India: Gujarat Sahitya Prakash, 1983.
Perkins, Pheme. Pronouncement Stories in the Gospel of Thomas. Semeia 20 (1981):

121-32.
Perrin, Norman. The Kingdom of God in the Teaching of Jesus, NTL. London: SCM,
1963.
Perrin, Norman. Rediscovering the Teaching of Jesus. New York: Harper & Row, 1967.
Perrin, Norman. The Composition of Mark ix I. NovT 11 (1969): 67-70.
Perrin, Norman. What is Redaction Criticism? Edited by Dan O. Via, GBS. Philadelphia:
Fortress, 1969.
Perrin, Norman. Wisdom and Apocalyptic in the Message of Jesus. In SBLSP 1972,
edited by Lane C. McGaughy, 543-72, 1972.
Perrin, Norman. Eschatology and Hermeneutics : Reflections on Method in the

Interpretation of the New Testament. JBL 93, no. 1 (1974): 1-14.
Perrin, Norman. The New Testament, An Introduction : Proclamation and Parenesis,

Myth and History. 1st ed. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1974.
Perrin, Norman. Jesus and the Language of the Kingdom : Symbol and Metaphor in New
Testament Interpretation. London: SCM, 1976.
Perrin, Norman. Jesus and the Theology of the New Testament. JR 64, no. 4 (1984):
413-31.
Perrin, Norman, Dennis C. Duling, and Robert L. Ferm. The New Testament :
Proclamation and Parenesis, Myth and History. 3rd ed. New York:
Harcourt Brace College, 1994.
Perrot, Charles. The Reading of the Bible in the Ancient Synagogue. In Mikra : Text,
Translation, Reading and Interpretation of the Hebrew Bible in Ancient
Judaism and Early Christianity, edited by Martin J. Mulder, 137-59.
Pervo, Richard I. Profit with Delight : the Literary Genre of the Acts of the Apostles.
Petersen, David L. Zechariah 9-14. In The Anchor Bible Dictionary : Volume 6, edited
Petersen, David L. Zechariah 9-14 and Malachi : a Commentary. Edited by James L.

Mays, Carol A. Newsom and David L. Petersen, OTL. Louisville, Ky.:
Westminster John Knox Press, 1995.
Pines, Shlomo. A Platonic Model for Two of Josephus Accounts of the Doctrine of the
Pharisees Concerning Providence and Mans Freedom of Action.
Imm 7 (1977): 38-43.
Pleins, J. David. Why Do You Hide Your Face? : Divine Silence and Speech in the
Book of Job. Inter 48, no. 3 (1994): 229-38.
Plummer, Alfred. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel According to S.

Luke. 5th ed, ICC 28. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1922.
Poirier, John C. Why Did the Pharisees Wash their Hands? JJS 47, no. 2 (1996): 217-
33.
Polkow, Dennis. Methods and Criteria for Historical Jesus Research. In SBLSP 1987,
edited by Kent H. Richards, 336-56. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1987.
Pomykala, Kenneth. The Davidic Dynasty Tradition in Early Judaism : Its History and
Significance for Messianism, SBLEJL 7. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1995.
Porter, Stanley E. Idioms of the Greek New Testament. 2nd ed, Biblical Languages :
Greek Series 2. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1994.
Porton, Gary G. The Pronouncement Story in Tannaitic Literature : a Review of

Bultmanns Theory. Semeia 20 (1981): 81-99.
Porton, Gary G. Diversity in Postbiblical Judaism. In Early Judaism and its Modern
Interpreters, edited by Robert A. Kraft and George W. E. Nickelsburg,
57-80. Philadelphia and Atlanta: Fortress and Scholars Press, 1986.
Poulos, Paula N. Form and Function of the Pronouncement Story in Diogenes Laertius
Lives. Semeia 20 (1981): 53-63.
Powell, Mark A. The Religious Leaders in Luke : a Literary-Critical Study. JBL 109,
no. 1 (1990): 93-110.
Powell, Mark A. Do and Keep what Moses Says (Matthew 23:2-7). JBL 114, no. 3
(1995): 419-35.
Preuss, Horst D. awb bo. Translated by John T. Willis. In Theological Dictionary of

the Old Testament : Volume II, edited by G. Johannes Botterweck and
Helmer Ringgren, 20-49. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1975.
Preuss, Horst D. auy, yasa. Translated by David E. Green. In Theological Dictionary

Preuss, Horst D. Old Testament Theology. Translated by Leo G. Perdue. Edited by James
L. Mays, Carol A. Newsom and David L. Petersen. 2 vols, OTL.
Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox Press, 1995-96.
Price, Norman. St Lukes Gospel : a Commentary. Exeter: Religious & Moral Education
Press (Arnold Wheaton), 1983.
Proctor, K. S. Luke 17.20,21. BT 33, no. 2 (1982): 245.
Propp, William H. Exodus 1-18 : a New Translation with Introduction and Commentary.
Qimron, Elisha, and John Strugnell. An Unpublished Halakhic Letter from Qumran. In
Biblical Archaeology Today : Proceedings of the International
Congress on Biblical Archaeology, Jerusalem, April 1984, edited by
Janet Amitai, 400-407. Jerusalem: Israel Exploration Society, 1984.
Quispel, Gilles. The Gospel of Thomas and the New Testament. VC 11 (1957): 189-
96.
Quispel, Gilles. Some Remarks on the Gospel of Thomas. NTS 5 (1958-59): 276-90.
Quispel, Gilles. The Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of the Hebrews. NTS 12
(1965): 371-82.
Quispel, Gilles. The Gospel of Thomas Revisited. In Colloque International Sur Les
Textes De Nag Hammadi, Quebec, 22-25 Aout 1978, edited by Bernard
Barc, 218-66. Quebec: Presses Universitaires De Laval, 1981.
Raabe, Paul R. Obadiah : a New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Edited
by William F. Albright and David N. Freedman, AB 24D. New York:
Doubleday, 1996.
Rackham, Richard B. The Acts of the Apostles : an Exposition. London: Methuen, 1957.
Rahmani, L. Y. Stone Synagogue Chairs : Their Identification, Use and Significance.

IEJ 40, no. 2-3 (1990): 192-214.
Rajak, Tessa, and David Noy. ARCHISYNAGOGOI : Office, Title and Social Status in
the Greco-Jewish Synagogue. Journal of Roman Studies 83 (1993):
75-93.
Rajak, Tessa. Friends, Romans, Subjects : Agrippa IIs Speech in Josephuss Jewish
War. In Images of Empire, edited by Loveday Alexander. Sheffield:
JSOT Press, 1991.
Rajak, Tessa. Josephus : the Historian and his Society. London: Duckworth, 1983.
Ramsey, A. Michael. The Glory of God and the Transfiguration of Christ. London:
Longmans Green, 1949.
Risnen, Heikki. Exorcisms and the Kingdom : Is Q 11:20 a Saying of the Historical
Jesus? In Symbols and Strata : Essays on the Sayings Gospel Q,
edited by Risto Uro, 119-42. Gttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht,
1996.
Reddish, Mitchell G. Heaven. In The Anchor Bible Dictionary : Volume 3, edited by

Redditt, Paul L. Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi. Edited by Ronald E. Clements, NCB. Grand
Reese, David G. Demons : New Testament. In The Anchor Bible Dictionary : Volume
Regev, Eyal. Pure Individualism : the Idea of Non-Priestly Purity in Ancient Judaism.
JSJ 31, no. 2 (2000): 176-202.
Rehkopf, Friedrich. Die Lukanishce Sonderquelle, ihr Umfang und Sprachgebrauch,

Wissenschaftliche Untersunchungen zum Neuen Testament 5.
Tbingen: J. C. B. Mohr (Paul Siebeck), 1959.
Reich, Ronny. The Synagogue and the Miqweh in Eretz-Israel in the Second Temple,
Mishnaic, and Talmudic Periods. In Ancient Synagogues : Historical
Analysis and Archaeological Discovery, edited by Dan Urman and Paul
V. McC. Flesher, 289-99. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1995.
Reiling, J., and J. L. Swellengrebel. A Translators Handbook on the Gospel of Luke.

Rengstorf, Karl H. wret. Translated by Geoffrey W. Bromiley. In Theological

Renov, I. The Seat of Moses. In The Synagogue : Studies in Origins, Archaeology and
Architecture, edited by Julius Guttmann. New York: KTAV, 1975.
Renwick, David A. Paul, the Temple, and the Presence of God. Edited by Ernest S.
Frerichs, Wendell S. Dietrich, Calvin Goldscheider, David Hirsch and
Alan Zuckerman, BJS 224. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1991.
Rese, Martin. The Jews in Luke-Acts : Some Second Thoughts. In The Unity of Luke-
Acts, BETL 142, edited by Joseph Verheyden, 185-201. Leuven:
Ribera, Josep. The Targum : From Translation to Interpretation. In The Aramaic Bible
: Targums in their Historical Context, edited by Martin McNamara and
Richardson, Peter. Early Synagogues as Collegia in the Diaspora and Palestine. In

Voluntary Associations in the Graeco-Roman World, edited by John S.
Kloppenborg and Stephen G. Wilson, 90-109. London and New York:
Routledge, 1996.
Riches, John K. Jesus and the Transformation of Judaism. London: Darton Longman &
Todd, 1980.
Riches, John K. The World of Jesus : First Century Judaism. Cambridge: Cambridge
Ricoeur, Paul. The Symbolism of Evil. Translated by Emerson Buchanan, Religious

Perspectives 17. New York: Harper & Row, 1967.
Ricoeur, Paul. The Kingdom in the Parables of Jesus. AThR 63, no. 2 (1981): 165-
69.
Ridderbos, Herman. The Coming of the Kingdom. Translated by H. de Jongste. Edited by

Raymond O. Zorn. Philadelphia: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing
Co., 1962.
Riesenfeld, Harald. mô^qoepft. Translated by Geoffrey W. Bromiley. In

Theological Dictionary of the New Testament : Volume VIII, edited by
Gerhard Kittel and Gerhard Friedrich, 140-51. Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 1972.
Riesenfeld, Harald. Le Rgne de Dieu, Parmi vous ou en Vous? RB 98, no. 2 (1991):
190-98.
Riesner, Rainer. Synagogues in Jerusalem. In The Book of Acts in its Palestinian

Setting, edited by Richard Bauckham, 179-89. Grand Rapids and
Carlisle, U.K.: Eerdmans and Paternoster Press, 1995.
Ringgren, Helmer. Behold Your King Comes. VT 24, no. 2 (1974): 207-11.
Ringgren, Helmer, Klaus Seybold, and Heinz-Josef Fabry. Klm melek. Translated by
Douglas W. Stott. In Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament :
Volume VIII, edited by G. Johannes Botterweck, Helmer Ringgren and
Heinz-Josef Fabry, 346-75. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997.
Rist, John M. Stoic Philosophy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1969.
Rivkin, Ellis. The Internal City : Judaism and Urbanization. JSSR 5, no. 2 (1966): 225-
40.
Rivkin, Ellis. Defining the Pharisees : the Tannaitic Sources. HUCA 40-41 (1969):
205-49.
Rivkin, Ellis. Prolegomenon. In Judaism and Christianity, edited by William O. E.

Oesterley, Herbert M. J. Loewe and Erwin I. J. Rosenthal, vii-lxx. New
York: KTAV, 1969.
Rivkin, Ellis. A Hidden Revolution. Nashville: Abingdon, 1978.
Rivkin, Ellis. Scribes, Pharisees, Lawyers, Hypocrites : a Study in Synonymity. HUCA

49 (1978): 135-42.
Robbins, Vernon K. Classifying Pronouncement Stories in Plutarchs Parallel Lives.

Semeia 20 (1981): 29-52.
Robbins, Vernon K. A Rhetorical Typology for Classifying and Analyzing

Pronouncement Stories. In SBLSP 1984, edited by Kent H. Richards,
93-122. Chico, Calif.: Scholars Press, 1984.
Robbins, Vernon K. The Chreia. In Greco-Roman Literature and the New Testament :
Selected Forms and Genres, edited by David E. Aune, 1-23. Atlanta:
Robbins, Vernon K. Chreia & Pronouncement Story in Synoptic Studies. In Patterns

of Persuasion in the Gospels, edited by Burton L. Mack and Vernon K.
Robbins, x, 230. Sonoma, Calif.: Polebridge, 1989.
Robbins, Vernon K. Introduction : Using Rhetorical Discussions of the Chreia to

Interpret Pronouncement Stories. Semeia 64 (1993): vii-xvi.
Robbins, Vernon K. Rhetorical Composition and Sources in the Gospel of Thomas. In

SBLSP 1997, edited by Kent H. Richards, 86-114. Atlanta: Scholars
Press, 1997.
Roberts, Colin H. The Kingdom of Heaven (Lk. XVII.21). HTR 41, no. 1 (1948): 1-7.
Roberts, Jimmy J. M. The Davidic Origin of the Zion Tradition. JBL 92 (1973): 329-
44.
Robertson, Archibald T. The Pharisees and Jesus. London: Duckworth, 1920.
Robertson, Archibald T. A Translation of Lukes Gospel with Grammatical Notes. New

York: George H. Doran, 1923.
Robertson, O. Palmer. The Books of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah. Edited by R. K.

Harrison, NICOT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990.
Robinson, James M. The Study of the Historical Jesus after Nag Hammadi. Semeia 44
(1988): 45-55.
Robinson, James M. The International Q Project. JBL 109, no. 3 (1990): 499-501.
Robinson, James M. The International Q Project. JBL 110, no. 3 (1991): 494-98.
Rodd, Cyril S. Spirit or Finger. ExpTim 72, no. 5 (1961): 157-58.
Rogers, Cleon L. The Topical Josephus : Historical Accounts that Shed Light on the
Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1992.
Rohde, Joachim. Rediscovering the Teaching of Jesus. Translated by D. M. Barton.

London: SPCK, 1968.
Ropes, James H. An Observation on the Style of S. Luke. Harvard Studies in

Classical Philology 12 (1901): 299-305.
Roth, Cecil. The Chair of Moses and its Survivals. PEQ 81 (1949): 100-111.
Russell, David S. Daniel. Edited by John C. L. Gibson, The Daily Study Bible (Old
Testament). Edinburgh and Philadelphia: Saint Andrew Press and
Russell, Donald A. F. M. Theon (3). In The Oxford Classical Dictionary, edited by

Simon Hornblower and Antony Spawforth, 1503-504. Oxford:
Clarendon, 1996.
Rstow, Alexander. CLRMQ SKTL CQRGL : Zur Deutung von Lukas 17 20-21. ZNW
51, no. 3-4 (1960): 197-224.
Ryle, John C. Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of St Luke. London: Hodder &
Stoughton, 1896.
Sabourin, Lopold. The Memra of God in the Targums. BTB 6 (1976): 79-85.
Sadler, M. F. The Gospel According to St Luke : with Notes Critical and Practical.
London: George Bell & Sons, 1896.
Safrai, Shmuel. The Temple and the Divine Service. In The World History of the
Jewish People : First Series : Ancient Times : Volume 7 : the Herodian
Period, edited by Michael Avi-Yonah. New Brunswick: Rutgers
Safrai, Shmuel. Halakha. Translated by J. Schwartz and P. J. Tomson. In The

Literature of the Sages : First Part : Oral Tora, Halakha, Mishna,
Tosefta, Talmud, External Tractates, edited by Shmuel Safrai, 121-210.
Assen/Maastricht and Philadelphia: Van Gorcum and Fortress, 1987.
Safrai, Shmuel. Oral Tora. Translated by J. Schwartz and P. J. Tomson. In The

Literature of the Sages : First Part : Oral Tora, Halakha, Mishna,
Tosefta, Talmud, External Tractates, edited by Shmuel Safrai, 35-120.
Assen/Maastricht and Philadelphia: Van Gorcum and Fortress, 1987.
Safrai, Zeev. The Origins of Reading the Aramaic Targum in Synagogue. Imm 24/25
(1990): 187-93.
Safrai, Zeev. The Communal Functions of the Synagogue in the Land of Israel in the
Rabbinic Period. In Ancient Synagogues : Volume 1 : Historical
Saldarini, Anthony J. The End of the Rabbinic Chain of Tradition. JBL 93 (1974).
Saldarini, Anthony J. Apocalyptic and Rabbinic Literature. CBQ 37 (1975): 348-58.
Saldarini, Anthony J. The Uses of Apocalyptic in the Mishna and Tosepta. CBQ 39
(1977): 396-409.
Saldarini, Anthony J. Pharisees, Scribes and Sadducees in Palestinian Society : a

Sociological Approach. Wilmington, Del.: Michael Glazier, 1988.
Saldarini, Anthony J. Delegitimation of Leaders in Matthew 23. CBQ 54, no. 4 (1992):
659-80.
Saldarini, Anthony J. Pharisees. In The Anchor Bible Dictionary : Volume 5, edited by

Saldarini, Anthony J. Matthew's Christian-Jewish Community, CSHJ. Chicago:

University of Chicago Press, 1994.
Samely, Alexander. Is Targumic Aramaic Rabbinic Hebrew? A Reflection on Midrashic

and Targumic Rewording of Scripture. JJS 14 (1994): 92-100.
Sanders, Ed P. Paul and Palestinian Judaism : a Comparison of Patterns of Religion.

London: SCM, 1977.
Sanders, Ed P. Jesus and the Sinners. JSNT 19 (1983): 5-36.
Sanders, Ed P. Jesus, Paul and Judaism. In Aufstieg und Niedergang der Rmischen
Welt II.25.1, edited by Wolfgang Haase, 390-450. Berlin: Walter de
Gruyter, 1982.
Sanders, Ed P. Jesus and Judaism. London: SCM, 1985.

Sanders, Ed P. Review of A Galilean Rabbi and His Bible by Bruce D. Chilton. JBL
106, no. 2 (1987): 333-35.
Sanders, Ed P., and Margaret Davies. Studying the Synoptic Gospels. London and
Philadelphia: SCM and Trinity Press International, 1989.
Sanders, Ed P. Jewish Law from Jesus to the Mishnah : Five Studies. London and
Sanders, Ed P. Judaism : Practice and Belief 63 B.C.E. - 566 C.E. London and
Sanders, Ed P. Common Judaism and the Synagogue in the First Century. In Jews,
Christians, and Polytheists in the Ancient Synagogue : Cultural
Interaction During the Greco-Roman Period, edited by Steven Fine, 1-
17. London and New York: Routledge, 1999.
Sanders, Jack T. The Pharisees in Luke-Acts. In The Living Text : Essays in Honor of
Ernest W. Saunders, edited by Dennis E. Groh and Robert Jewett, 141-
88. Lanham: University Press of America, 1985.
Sanders, Jack T. The Jews in Luke-Acts. London: SCM, 1987.
Sanders, Joseph N., and B. A. Mastin. A Commentary on the Gospel According to St

John. Edited by Henry Chadwick, BNTC. London: A&C Black, 1968.
Sandmel, Samuel. Parallelomania. JBL 81 (1962): 1-13.
Sandmel, Samuel. Judaism and Christian Beginnings. New York: Oxford University
Press, 1978.
Schaefer, Konrad R. The Ending of the Book of Zechariah : a Commentary. RB 100,

no. 2 (1993): 165-238.
Schaefer, Konrad R. Zechariah 14 and the Composition of the Book of Zechariah. RB

100, no. 3 (1993): 368-98.
Schalit, Abraham. Evidence of an Aramaic Source in Josephus Antiquities of the

Jews. ASTI 4 (1965): 163-88.
Schaper, Joachim. The Pharisees. In The Cambridge History of Judaism : Volume 3 :

the Early Roman Period, edited by William Horbury, W. D. Davies and
John Sturdy, 402-27. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999.
Schechter, Solomon. Some Aspects of Rabbinic Theology. JQR 7 (1895): 195-215.
Schenk, Wolfgang. mbosqs. Translated by James W. Thompson. In Exegetical

Dictionary of the New Testament : Volume 2, edited by Horst R. Balz
and Gerhard Schneider, 21. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1993.
Schiffman, Lawrence H. Miqsat Maaseh Ha-Torah and the Temple Scroll. RevQ 14,
no. 3 (1990): 435-57.
Schiffman, Lawrence H. New Light on the Pharisees : Insights from the Dead Sea
Scrolls. BRev 8, no. 3 (1992): 30-33, 54.
Schilling, Frederick A. What Means the Saying about Receiving the Kingdom of God as
a Little Child? ExpTim 77, no. 2 (1965): 56-58.
Schmidt, Karl L. _^pfibt : @^pfib^ (ql vbl) in Hellenistic Judaism. Translated

by Geoffrey W. Bromiley. In Theological Dictionary of the New
Eerdmans, 1964.
Schmidt, Karl L. _^pfibt : the Word Group _^pfibt hqi. in the NT. Translated
by Geoffrey W. Bromiley. In Theological Dictionary of the New
Eerdmans, 1964.
Schmidt, Karl L. _^pfibt : @^pfib^ (ql vbl) in the Early Church. Translated by
Eerdmans, 1964.
Schmidt, Werner H. The Faith of the Old Testament : a History. Translated by John
Sturdy. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1983.
Schnackenburg, Rudolf. Gods Rule and Kingdom. Translated by John Murray. Freiburg
and Edinburgh & London: Herder and Nelson, 1963.
Schnackenburg, Rudolf. Der Eschatologische Abschnitt Lk 17,20-37. In Mlanges

Bibliques en hommage au R. P. Bda Rigaux, edited by Albert
Descamps and Andr R. P. de Halleux, 213-34. Gembloux: Duculot,
1970.
Schneider, Johannes. oulj^f. Translated by Geoffrey W. Bromiley. In Theological

Schrage, Wolfgang. Das Verhltnis des Thomas-Evangeliums zur Synoptischen

Tradition und zu den Koptischen Evangelienbersetzungen, BZNW 29.
Berlin: Alfred Tpelmann, 1964.
Schrage, Wolfgang. prk^dsd. Translated by Geoffrey W. Bromiley. In

Theological Dictionary of the New Testament : Volume VII, edited by
Gerhard Kittel and Berhard Friedrich, 798-852. Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 1971.
Schrenk, Gottlob. _fwlj^f. Translated by Geoffrey W. Bromiley. In Theological

Dictionary of the New Testament : Volume I, edited by Gerhard Kittel,
Schrer, Emil. A History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ. Translated by
John MacPherson. 5 vols. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1890.
Schrer, Emil, Gza Verms, and Fergus Millar. The History of the Jewish People in the
Age of Jesus Christ (175 B.C.- A.D. 135). 3 v. in 4 vols. Edinburgh:
T&T Clark, 1973.
Schwartz, Daniel R. Josephus and Nicolaus on the Pharisees. JSJ 14, no. 2 (1983):
157-71.
Schwartz, Seth. Josephus and Judaean Politics, Columbia Studies in the Classical
Tradition 18. Leiden and New York: E. J. Brill, 1990.
Schwarz, Gnther. Mh - - - jbq mô^qeopbst? BN 59 (1991): 45-48.

Schweitzer, Albert. The Quest of the Historical Jesus : a Critical Study of its Progress
from Reimarus to Wrede. Translated by W. Montgomery. 3rd ed.
Schweizer, Eduard. The Son of Man Again. NTS 9 (1963): 256-61.
Schweizer, Eduard. The Good News According to Luke. Translated by David E. Green.
Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1984.
Scott, Bernard B. Jesus, Symbol-Maker for the Kingdom. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1981.
Scully, Stephen. Homer : the Sacred City. Ithaca and London: Cornell University Press,
1990.
Seal, Welton O. Jr. Norman Perrin and his School : Retracing a Pilgrimage. JSNT
20 (1984): 87-107.
Segert, Stanislav. Semitic Poetic Structures in the New Testament. In Aufstieg und
Niedergang der Rmischen Welt II.25.2, edited by Wolfgang Haase,
1433-62. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 1984.
Seitz, Christopher R. First Isaiah. In The Anchor Bible Dictionary : Volume 3, edited
Selman, Martin J. The Kingdom of God in the Old Testament. TynBul 40, no. 2
(1989): 161-83.
Selman, Martin J. 1 Chronicles : an Introduction and Commentary. Edited by Donald J.

Wiseman, TOTC. Leicester and Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press,
1994.
Selman, Martin J. 2 Chronicles : an Introduction and Commentary. Edited by Donald J.

Wiseman, TOTC. Leicester and Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press,
1994.
Shanks, Hershel. Judaism in Stone : the Archaeology of Ancient Synagogues. New York
and Washington, D.C.: Harper & Row Biblical Archaeological Society,
1979.
Shanks, Hershel. The Neusner Phenomenon - Personality and Substance. BAR 11, no.
6 (1985): 60-69.
Shanks, Hershel. Face to Face : Biblical Minimalists Meet Their Challengers. BAR 23,
no. 4 (1997): 26-29, 32-38, 40-42, 66.
Sharpe, John L. The Second Adam in the Apocalypse of Moses. CBQ 35 (1973): 35-
46.
Shinan, Avigdor. The Palestinian Targums - Repetitions, Internal Unity,

Contradictions. JJS 36 (1985): 77-87.
Shinan, Avigdor. Dating Targum Pseudo-Jonathan : Some More Comments. JJS 41,
no. 1 (1990): 57-61.
Shinan, Avigdor. The Aramaic Targum as a Mirror of Galilean Jewry. In The Galilee
in Late Antiquity, edited by Lee I. Levine, 241-51. New York and
Jerusalem: Jewish Theological Seminary of America, 1992.
Shinan, Avigdor. Synagogues in the Land of Israel : the Literature of the Ancient
Synagogue and Synagogue Archaeology. In Sacred Realm : the
Emergence of the Synagogue in the Ancient World, edited by Steven
Fine. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press and Yeshiva
University Museum, 1996.
Shirock, Robert J. The Growth of the Kingdom in Light of Israels Rejection of Jesus :
Structure and Theology in Luke 13:1-35. NovT 35, no. 1 (1993): 15-
29.
Shogren, Gary S. Is the Kingdom of God about Eating and Drinking or Isnt It?
(Romans 14:17). NovT 42, no. 3 (2000): 238-56.
Shutt, Rowland J. H. The Concept of God in the Works of Flavius Josephus. JJS 31,
no. 2 (1980): 171-213.
Sibinga, Joost S. Some Observations on the Composition of Psalm XLVII. VT 38, no.
4 (1988): 474-80.
Sieber, John H. The Gospel of Thomas and the New Testament. In Gospel Origins &
Christian Beginnings : in Honor of James M. Robinson, edited by
James E. Goehring and James M. Robinson, 64-73. Sonoma, Calif.:
Polebridge, 1990.
Sievers, Joseph. Where Two or Three . . . : the Rabbinic Concept of Shekinah and
Matthew 18,20. In Standing before God : Studies on Prayer in
Scriptures and Tradition, edited by Asher Finkel and Lawrence E.
Frizzell, 171-82. New York: KTAV, 1981.
Sievers, Joseph. Who were the Pharisees? In Hillel and Jesus : Comparisons of Two
Major Religious Leaders, edited by James H. Charlesworth and Loren
L. Johns, 137-55. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1997.
Sievers, Joseph. Review of Turbulent Times? Josephus and Scholarship on Judea in the
First Century CE by James S. McLaren. JBL 119, no. 3 (2000): 586-
88.
Sigal, Phillip. The Foundations of Judaism from Biblical Origins to the Sixth Century
A.D. Edited by Phillip Sigal. 2 vols, PTMS 29-29a. Pittsburgh:
Pickwick, 1980.
Silva, Moises. Semantic Borrowing in the New Testament. NTS 22 (1975): 104-10.
Silva, Moises. The Pharisees in Modern Jewish Scholarship. WTJ 42, no. 2 (1980):
395-405.
Silver, A. H. A History of Messianic Speculation in Israel. Reprint of 1927 ed. Boston:

Beacon Press, 1959.
Simian-Yofre, H. Mynp panim. Translated by David E. Green. In Theological

Dictionary of the Old Testament : Volume XI, edited by G. Johannes
Simon, Marcel. Jewish Sects at the Time of Jesus. Translated by James H. Farley.
Skehan, Patrick W., and Alexander A. Di Lella. The Wisdom of Ben Sira. Edited by
William F. Albright and David N. Freedman, AB 39. Garden City, N.Y.:
Doubleday, 1987.
Sledd, Andrew. The Interpretation of Luke xvii.21. ExpTim 50, no. 5 (1939): 235-37.
Sloyan, Gerard S. Review of The Elusive Presence by Samuel Terrien. In God and his
Temple : Reflections on Professor Samuel Terriens The Elusive
Presence : Toward a New Biblical Theology, edited by Lawrence E.
Frizzell, 70-71. South Orange: Seton Hall University, 1981.
Smalley, Stephen S. Spirit, Kingdom and Prayer in Luke-Acts. NovT 15, no. 1 (1973):
59-71.
Smallwood, E. Mary. The Jews Under Roman Rule : From Pompey to Diocletian. Leiden:
E. J. Brill, 1976.
Smelik, Willem F. Translation and Commentary in One : the Interplay of Pluses and
Substitutions in the Targum of the Prophets. JSJ 29, no. 3 (1998):
245-60.
Smith, Albert G. The Kingdom of God is within you. ExpTim 43 (1932): 378-39.
Smith, David. Jesus and the Pharisees in Socio-Anthropological Perspective. TJ 6, no.

2 (1985): 151-56.
Smith, Mark S. 'Seeing God' in the Psalms : the Background to the Beatific Vision in the
Hebrew Bible. CBQ 50, no. 2 (1988): 171-83.
Smith, Morton. Palestinian Judaism in the First Century. In Israel : Its Role in
Civilization, edited by Moshe Davis, 67-81. New York: Jewish
Theological Seminary of America, 1956.
Smith, Morton. Jesus the Magician. London: Gollancz, 1978.
Smolar, Leivy, Moses Aberbach, and Pinkhos Churgin. Studies in Targum Jonathan to
the Prophets. Section by Churgin reprint of 1927 ed, Library of Biblical
Studies. New York: KTAV and Baltimore Hebrew College, 1983.
Sneed, Richard J. The Kingdom of God is within you (Lk 17,21). CBQ 24, no. 4
(1962): 431-60.
Sneed, Richard J. The Kingdoms Coming : Luke 17, 20-21. S.T.D., Catholic
University of America, 1962.
Soggin, J. Alberto. lvm msl to rule. Translated by Mark E. Biddle. In Theological

Soggin, J. Alberto. Mymv samayim heaven. Translated by Mark E. Biddle. In

Theological Lexicon of the Old Testament : Volume 3, edited by Ernst
Jenni and Claus Westermann, 1369-72. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1997.
South, E. Wilton. St Luke : the Revised Version. Edited by Arthur Carr, The Cambridge
Bible for Schools. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1923.
Sparks, Hedley F. D. The Semitisms of St. Lukes Gospel. JTS 44 (1943): 129-38.
Squires, John T. The Plan of God in Luke-Acts. Edited by Margaret E. Thrall, SNTSMS
76. Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press, 1993.
Squires, John T. Fate and Free Will in Hellenistic Histories and Luke-Acts. In Ancient
History in a Modern University : Volume 2 : Early Christianity, Late
Antiquity and Beyond, edited by T. W. Hillard, R. A. Kearsley, C. E. V.
Nixon and A. M. Nobbs, 131-37. Sydney and Grand Rapids: Ancient
History Documentary Research Centre Macquarie University and
Eerdmans, 1998.
Stadelmann, Luis I. J. The Hebrew Conception of the World : a Philological and Literary
Study, AnBib 39. Rome: Pontifical Biblical Institute, 1970.
Stanton, Graham N. Review of God in Strength by Bruce D. Chilton. JSNT 8 (1980):

71-76.
Steck, Odil H. Theological Streams of Tradition. In Tradition and Theology in the Old
Testament, edited by Douglas A. Knight and Walter J. Harrelson, 183-
214. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1977.
Stein, Robert H. What is Redaktionsgeschichte? JBL 88 (1969): 45-56.
Stein, Robert H. Luke. Edited by David S. Dockery, NAC 24. Nashville: Broadman, 1992.
Stemberger, Gnter. Jewish Contemporaries of Jesus : Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes.

Translated by Allan W. Mahnke. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1995.
Stemberger, Gnter. Non-Rabbinic Literature. In Judaism in Late Antiquity : Part One

: the Literary and Archaeological Sources, edited by Jacob Neusner,
13-39. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1995.
Stenger, Werner. Introduction to New Testament Exegesis. Translated by Douglas W.

Stott. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1993.
Sterling, Gregory E. Historiography and Self-Definition : Josephos, Luke-Acts, and

Apologetic Historiography, NovTSup 64. Leiden and New York: E. J.
Brill, 1992.
Stger, Alois. The Gospel According to St Luke. Edited by John L. McKenzie, New
Testament for Spiritual Reading 3. London: Sheed & Ward, 1969.
Stone, Michael E. Reactions to Destructions of the Second Temple : Theology,

Perception and Conversion. JSJ 12, no. 2 (1981): 195-204.
Stone, Michael E. Apocalyptic Literature. In Jewish Writings of the Second Temple

Period, edited by Michael E. Stone, 383-441. Assen and Philadelphia:
Van Gorcum and Fortress, 1984.
Stone, Michael E. Features of the Eschatology of IV Ezra. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1989.
Stone, Michael E., and Frank M. Cross. Fourth Ezra : a Commentary on the Book of
Fourth Ezra. Edited by Frank M. Cross, Hermeneia - a Critical and
Historical Commentary on the Bible. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1990.
Strack, Hermann L., and Paul Billerbeck. Kommentar zum Neuen Testament aus Talmud
und Midrasch. 6 vols. Munich: C. H. Beck, 1922-1961.
Strange, James F., and Hershel Shanks. Synagogue Where Jesus Preached Found at
Capernaum. BAR 9, no. 6 (1983): 24-31.
Strange, James F. Ancient Texts, Archaeology as Text, and the Problem of the First-
Century Synagogue. In Evolution of the Synagogue : Problems and
Progress, edited by Howard C. Kee and Lynn H. Cohick, 27-45.
Harrisburg, Pa.: Trinity Press International, 1999.
Strange, W. A. The Problem of the Text of Acts. Cambridge and New York: Cambridge
Strecker, Georg. The Sermon on the Mount : an Exegetical Commentary. Translated by

O. C. Dean. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1988.
Streeter, Burnett H. The Four Gospels : a Study of Origins, Treating of the Manuscript
Tradition, Sources, Authorship, & Dates. London: Macmillan, 1926.
Strobel, August. Passa-Symbolik und Passa-Wunder in Act. xxii.3ff. NTS 4 (1957-

58): 210-15.
Strobel, August. Die Passa-Erwartung als urchristliches Problem in Lc 17 20f. ZNW

49, no. 2 (1958): 157-96.
Strobel, August. A. Merx ber Lc 17 20f. ZNW 51 (1960): 133-34.
Strobel, August. In Dieser Nacht (Luk 17,34) : Zu einer lteren Form der Erwartung in
Luk 17,20-37. ZTK 58 (1961): 16-29.
Strobel, August. Zu Lk 17, 20f. BZ 7, no. 1 (1963): 111-13.
Stroker, William D. Examples of Pronouncement Stories in Early Christian Apocryphal

Literature. Semeia 20 (1981): 133-41.
Stroumsa, Gedaliahu G. Religious Contacts in Byzantine Palestine. Numen 36, no. 1

(1989): 16-42.
Stuckenbruck, Loren T. An Approach to the New Testament Through Aramaic Sources :

the Recent Methodological Debate. JSP 8 (1991): 3-29.
Suggs, M. Jack. The Antitheses as Redactional Products. In Jesus Christus in Historie

und Theologie : Neutestamentliche Festschrift fr Hans Conzelmann
zum 60. Geburtstag, edited by Georg Strecker, 433-44. Tbingen: J. C.
B. Mohr (Paul Siebeck), 1975.
Summers, Ray. Commentary on Luke. Waco, Tex.: Word Books, 1972.
Sussmann, Yaakov. The History of the Halakhah and the Dead Sea Scrolls :
Preliminary Talmudic Observations on Miqsat Maase Ha-Torah
(4QMMT). In Discoveries in the Judaean Desert : Volume X :
Qumran Cave 4 : Miqsat Maase Ha-Torah, edited by Elisha Qimron
and John Strugnell. Oxford: Clarendon, 1994.
Sutcliffe, Edmund F. The Doctrine of the Shekinah and the Theology of the
Incarnation. In The Gospel of the Infancy and other Biblical Essays,
edited by Edmund F. Sutcliffe, 101-10. London: Burns Oates &
Washbourne, 1940.
Swanson, Theodore N. The Kingship of God in Intertestamental Literature. Bangalore

Theological Forum 12, no. 1 (1980): 1-25.
Syrn, Roger. Ishmael and Esau in the Book of Jubilees and Targum Pseudo-
Jonathan. In The Aramaic Bible : Targums in their Historical
Context, edited by Martin McNamara and Derek R. G. Beattie, 310-15.
Talbert, Charles H. The Redaction Critical Quest for Luke the Theologian. In Jesus
and Mans Hope : Volume 1, edited by Donald G. Millar and Dikran Y.
Hadidian, 171-222. Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, 1970.
Talbert, Charles H. Literary Patterns, Theological Themes and the Genre of Luke-Acts,
SBLMS 20. Missoula, Mont.: Scholars Press, 1974.
Talbert, Charles H. Reading Luke : a Literary and Theological Commentary on the Third
Gospel. New York: Crossroad, 1982.
Talbert, Charles H. Review of Luke, Judaism and the Scholars : Critical Approaches to
Luke-Acts by Joseph B. Tyson. CBQ 62, no. 3 (2000): 569-70.
Tan, Kim H. The Zion Traditions and the Aims of Jesus, SNTSMS 91. Cambridge:
Tannehill, Robert C. Attitudinal Shift in Synoptic Pronouncement Stories. In

Orientation by Disorientation : Studies in Literary Criticism and
Biblical literary Criticism, Presented in Honor of William A. Beardslee,
edited by Richard A. Spencer, xxx, 270. Pittsburgh: Pickwick, 1980.
Tannehill, Robert C. Introduction : the Pronouncement Story and its Types. Semeia 20
(1981): 1-13.
Tannehill, Robert C. Varieties of Synoptic Pronouncement Stories. Semeia 20 (1981):

101-19.
Tannehill, Robert C. Types and Functions of Apophthegms in the Synoptic Gospels.

In Aufstieg und Niedergang der Rmischen Welt II.25.2, edited by
Tannehill, Robert C. Luke. Edited by Victor P. Furnish, ANTC. Nashville: Abingdon

Press, 1996.
Taylor, Vincent. Behind the Third Gospel : a Study of the Proto-Luke Hypothesis.
Taylor, Vincent. The Formation of the Gospel Tradition. 2nd ed. London: Macmillan,
1935.
Taylor, Vincent. Rehkopfs List of Words and Phrases Illustrative of Pre-Lukan Speech
Usage. JTS 15 (1964): 59-62.
Tcherikover, Victor. Hellenistic Civilization and the Jews. Philadelphia: Atheneum, 1959.
Telford, William R. Major Trends and Interpretive Issues in the Study of Jesus. In
Studying the Historical Jesus : Evaluations of the State of Current
Research, edited by Bruce D. Chilton and Craig A. Evans, 33-74.
Terrien, Samuel. Towards a New Theology of Presence. USQR 24, no. 3 (1969): 227-
37.
Terrien, Samuel L. The Elusive Presence : Toward a new Biblical Theology. San
Francisco: Harper & Row, 1978.
Terrien, Samuel. The Pursuit of a Theme. In God and his Temple : Reflections on
Professor Samuel Terriens The Elusive Presence : Toward a New
Biblical Theology, edited by Lawrence E. Frizzell, 72-80. South Orange:
Seton Hall University, 1981.
Thackeray, Henry St J. On Josephuss Statement of the Pharisees Doctrine of Fate

(Antiq. xviii.1,3). HTR 25 (1932): 93.
Thackeray, Henry St J. Josephus, the Man and the Historian. Reprint of 1928 ed. New
York: KTAV, 1967.
Theissen, Gerd, and Annette Merz. The Historical Jesus : a Comprehensive Guide.
Translated by John Bowden. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1998.
Thomas, John C. The Kingdom of God in the Gospel According to Matthew. NTS 39,
no. 1 (1993): 136-46.
Thompson, George H. P. The Gospel According to Luke in the Revised Standard Version,
The New Clarendon Bible. New Testament. Oxford: Clarendon, 1972.
Thompson, John A. The Book of Jeremiah. Edited by R. K. Harrison, NICOT. Grand

Thompson, Thomas L. The Early History of the Israelite People. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1992.
Thompson, Thomas L. Defining History and Ethnicity in the South Levant. In Can a
History of Israel be Written?, edited by Lester L. Grabbe, 166-87.
Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1997.
Thompson, Thomas L. The Mythic Past : Biblical Archaeology and the Myth of Israel.
New York: Basic Books, 1999.
Thornton, T. C. G. Christian Understanding of the Birkath ha-minim in the Eastern

Roman Empire. JTS 38, no. 2 (1987): 419-31.
Tiede, David L. Luke, Augsburg Commentary on the New Testament. Minneapolis:

Augsburg, 1988.
Tournay, Raymond J. Seeing and Hearing God with the Psalms : the Prophetic Liturgy of
the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Translated by J. Edward Crowley,
JSOTSup 118. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1991.
Tov, Emmanuel. The Septuagint. In Mikra : Text, Translation, Reading and

Interpretation of the Hebrew Bible in Ancient Judaism and Early
Christianity, edited by Martin J. Mulder, 161-88. Philadelphia: Fortress,
1988.
Tov, Emanuel. Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible. Minneapolis and Assen/Maastricht:
Fortress and Van Gorcum, 1992.
Trafton, Joseph L. The Psalms of Solomon in Recent Research. JSP 12 (1994): 3-19.
Treves, Marco. Conjectures Concerning the Date and Authorship of Zechariah IX-XIV.
VT 13, no. 2 (1963): 196-201.
Treves, Marco. The Reign of God in the O.T. VT 19 (1969): 230-43.

Trollope, W. The Gospel According to S. Luke. Cambridge: J. Hall & Son, 1870.
Tsafrir, Yoram. On the Source of the Architectural Design of the Ancient Synagogues in
the Galilee, a New Appraisal. In Ancient Synagogues : Historical
Tuckett, Christopher M. Thomas and the Synoptics. NovT 30, no. 2 (1988): 132-57.
Tuckett, Christopher M. Luke, NTG. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1996.
Tuckett, Christopher M. The Christology of Luke-Acts. In The Unity of Luke-Acts,

Press, 1999.
Turner, Henry E. W., and Hugh Montefiore. Thomas and the Evangelists, SBT 35.
London: SCM, 1962.
Turner, M. Max B. Jesus and the Spirit in Lucan Perspective. TynBul 32 (1981): 3-42.
Turner, M. Max B. The Spirit and the Power of Jesus Miracles in the Lucan
Conception. NovT 33, no. 2 (1991): 124-52.
Turner, M. Max B. The Spirit of Christ and Divine Christology. In Jesus of

Nazareth : Lord and Christ : Essays on the Historical Jesus and New
Testament Christology, edited by M. Max B. Turner and Joel B. Green,
413-36. Grand Rapids and Carlisle, U.K.: Eerdmans and Paternoster,
1994.
Turner, Nigel. The Relation of Luke I and II to Hebraic Sources and to the Rest of Luke-
Acts. NTS 2 (1955): 100-109.
Turner, Nigel. A Grammar of New Testament Greek. 4 vols. Edinburgh: T&T Clark,
1956-76.
Turner, Nigel. Esdras, Books of. In The Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible : Volume
2, edited by George A. Buttrick, 140-42. Nashville: Abingdon Press,
1962.
Turner, Nigel. Second Thoughts VII. Papyrus Finds. ExpTim 76, no. 2 (1964): 44-48.
Turner, Nigel. The Quality of the Greek of Luke-Acts. In Studies in New Testament
Language and Text : Essays in Honour of George D. Kilpatrick on the
Occasion of his Sixty-Fifth Birthday, edited by James K. Elliott, 387-
Tyson, Joseph B. Source Criticism of the Gospel of Luke. In Perspectives on Luke-

Acts, edited by Charles H. Talbert. Danville: Association of Baptist
Professors of Religion, 1978.
Tyson, Joseph B. Images of Judaism in Luke-Acts. Columbia, S.C.: University of South

Carolina Press, 1992.
Tyson, Joseph B. Luke, Judaism, and the Scholars : Critical Approaches to Luke-Acts.
Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 1999.
Unterman, Alan. Shekhinah. In Encyclopedia Judaica : Volume 14, edited by Cecil

Roth and Geoffrey Wigoder, cols 1349-52. Jerusalem: Keter, 1972.
Urbach, Ephraim E. The Sages : Their Concepts and Beliefs. Translated by Israel
Abrahams. 2nd enlarged ed. 2 vols. Jerusalem: Magnes Press, 1979.
Urman, Dan. The House of Assembly and the House of Study : Are They One and the
Same? JJS 44, no. 2 (1993): 236-57.
Urman, Dan, and Paul V. McC. Flesher. Ancient Synagogues : a Readers Guide. In
Ancient Synagogues : Historical Analysis and Archaeological
Discovery, edited by Dan Urman and Paul V. McC. Flesher, xx-xxv.
Uro, Risto. Apocalyptic Symbolism and Social Identity in Q. In Symbols and Strata :
Essays on the Sayings Gospel Q, edited by Risto Uro, 67-118.
Gttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1996.
van der Horst, Pieter W. The Birkat ha-minim in Recent Research. ExpTim 105, no. 12
(1994): 363-68.
van der Horst, Pieter W. Was the Synagogue a Place of Sabbath Worship before 70
CE? In Jews, Christians, and Polytheists in the Ancient Synagogue :
Cultural Interaction During the Greco-Roman Period, edited by Steven
Fine, 18-43. London and New York: Routledge, 1999.
van der Woude, Adam S. uos : VI. Rabbinic Writings. Translated by Geoffrey W.
Bromiley. In Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament : Volume IX,
edited by Gerhard Kittel and Berhard Friedrich, 521-27. Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 1974.
van der Woude, A. S. abu saba army. Translated by Mark E. Biddle. In Theological
van Doran, W. H. A Suggestive Commentary on St. Luke with Critical and Homiletical
Notes. 2 vols. London: R. D. Dickinson, 1868.
van Oosterzee, J. J. Theological and Homiletical Commentary on the Gospel of St Luke.

Translated by Taylor, Sophia. 2 vols. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1864.
van Seters, John. In Search of History : Historiography in the Ancient World and the
Origins of Biblical History. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1983.
van Tilborg, S. A Form-Criticism of the Lords Prayer. NovT 14 (1972): 94-105.
van Unnik, Willem C. Dominus Vobiscum : the Background of a Liturgical Formula.

In New Testament Essays : Studies in Memory of Thomas Walter
Manson 1893-1958, edited by Angus J. B. Higgins, 270-305.
Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1959.
VanderKam, James C. The Theophany of Enoch I 3b-7, 9. VT 23 (1973): 127-50.
VanderKam, James C. Textual and Historical Studies in the Book of Jubilees. Edited by
Frank M. Cross, HSM 14. Missoula, Mont.: Scholars Press, 1977.
VanderKam, James C. Intertestamental Pronouncement Stories. Semeia 20 (1981): 65-

72.
Vawter, Bruce. The Gospel According to John. In The Jerome Biblical Commentary,
edited by Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer and Roland E.
Murphy, 414-66. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1968.
Verhoef, Pieter A. The Books of Haggai and Malachi. Edited by R. K. Harrison, NICOT.
Verms, Gza. Scripture and Tradition in Judaism : Haggadic Studies. Leiden: E. J. Brill,
1961.
Verms, Gza. Jesus and the World of Judaism. London: SCM, 1983.
Vetter, D. hzx hzh to see. Translated by Mark E. Biddle. In Theological Lexicon of the
Old Testament : Volume 1, edited by Ernst Jenni and Claus
Via, Dan O. Review of Jesus and the Language of the Kingdom by Norman Perrin. Int
31, no. 2 (1977): 181-83.
Vincent, Marvin R. Word Studies in the New Testament. 2 vols. New York: Charles
Scribners Sons, 1911.
Viviano, Benedict T. The Kingdom of God in History. Edited by Robert J. Karris, GNS
27. Wilmington, Del.: Michael Glazier, 1988.
Viviano, Benedict T. Social World and Community Leadership : the Case of Matthew
23.1-12,34. JSNT 39 (1990): 3-21.
Viviano, Benedict T. The Least in the Kingdom : Matthew 11:11, Its Parallel in Luke
7:28 (Q), and Daniel 4:14. CBQ 62, no. 1 (2000): 41-54.
Voelz, James W. The Language of the New Testament. In Aufstieg und Niedergang
der Rmischen Welt II.25.2, edited by Wolfgang Haase, 893-977.
Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 1984.
von Dobschtz, Ernst. The Eschatology of the Gospels. London: Hodder & Stoughton,
1910.
von Harnack, Adolf. What is Christianity? Translated by Thomas B. Saunders,

Theological Translation Library 14. London: Williams & Norgate,
1901.
von Harnack, Adolf. Luke the Physician, the Author of the Third Gospel and the Acts of
the Apostles. Translated by J. R. Wilkinson, New Testament Studies 1.
Crown Theological Library 19. London: Williams & Norgate, 1907.
von Rad, Gerhard. Studies in Deuteronomy. Translated by David Stalker. Edited by

Charles F. D. Moule et al., SBT. London: SCM, 1953.
von Rad, Gerhard. The Origin of the Concept of the Day of Yahweh. JSS 4, no. 2
(1959): 97-108.
von Rad, Gerhard. Old Testament Theology. Translated by D. M. G. Stalker. 2 vols. San
Francisco: Harper & Row, 1962.
von Rad, Gerhard. _^pfibt : Klm and twklm in the OT. Translated by Geoffrey W.
Bromiley. In Theological Dictionary of the New Testament : Volume I,
edited by Gerhard Kittel, 565-71. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1964.
von Rad, Gerhard. Deuteronomy. Translated by Dorothea Barton, OTL. London: SCM,
1966.
von Rad, Gerhard. Wisdom in Israel. Translated by James D. Martin. London and Valley
Forge: SCM and Trinity Press International, 1972.
von Waldow, H. Eberhard. The Origin of the Synagogue Reconsidered. In From Faith
to Faith : Essays in Honor of Donald G. Miller on his Seventieth
Birthday, edited by Dikran Y. Hadidian, 269-84. Pittsburgh: Pickwick,
1979.
Wacholder, Ben Z. Review of Development of a Legend by Jacob Neusner. JBL 91

(1972): 123-24.
Wacholder, Ben Z. A Reply to On the Problem of Method in the Study of Rabbinic

Literature by Morton Smith. JBL 92 (1973): 114-15.
Wchter, Ludwig. Die unterschiedliche Haltung der Phariser, Sadduzer und Essener
zur Heimarmene nach dem Bericht des Josephus. ZRGG 21 (1969):
97-114.
Wagner, S. rto satar. Translated by Douglas W. Stott. In Theological Dictionary of

the Old Testament : Volume X, edited by G. Johannes Botterweck,
Helmer Ringgren and Heinz-Josef Fabry, 362-72. Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 1999.
Wainwright, Arthur W. Luke and the Restoration of the Kingdom to Israel. ExpTim 89
(1977): 76-79.
Walther, James A. Late Reflections on the Kingdom of God. In From Faith to Faith :
Essays in Honor of Donald G. Miller on his Seventieth Birthday, edited
by Dikran Y. Hadidian, 175-89. Pittsburgh: Pickwick, 1979.
Watts, Alan W. Myth and Ritual in Christianity. London and New York: Thames &
Hudson, 1954.
Weaver, Walter P. The Historical Jesus in the Twentieth Century 1900-1950. Harrisburg,
Pa.: Trinity Press International, 1999.
Wehmeier, G. rto str to hide. Translated by Mark E. Biddle. In Theological Lexicon

Wehmeier, G. hle lh to go up. Translated by Mark E. Biddle. In Theological Lexicon

Weinert, Francis D. The Parable of the Throne Claimant (Luke 19:12, 14-15a, 27)
Reconsidered. CBQ 39, no. 4 (1977): 505-14.
Weinfeld, Moshe. The Day of the Lord : Aspirations for the Kingdom of God in the
Bible and Jewish Liturgy. ScrHier 31 (1986): 341-72.
Weinfeld, Moshe. Deuteronomy and the Deuteronomic School. Reprint of 1972 ed.
Winona Lake, Ind.: Eisenbrauns, 1992.
Weinfeld, Moshe. dwbk kabod. Translated by Douglas W. Stott. In Theological

Dictionary of the Old Testament : Volume VIII, edited by G. Johannes
Weisenberg, E. J. The Liturgical Term melekh ha-olam. JJS 15, no. 1-2 (1964): 1-56.
Weiser, Artur. The Psalms : a Commentary. Translated by H. Hartwell, OTL. London:

SCM, 1965.
Weiss, Johannes. Jesus' Proclamation of the Kingdom. Translated by Richard H. Hiers

and D. L. Holland. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1971.
Wellhausen, Julius. Das Evangelium Lucae. Berlin: Druck und Verlag von Georg Reimer,
1904.
Wenham, David. The Kingdom of God and Daniel. ExpTim 98 (1987): 132-34.
Wernberg-Mller, Preben. An Inquiry into the Validity of the Text-Critical Argument for
an early Dating of the Recently Discovered Palestinian Targum. VT 12
(1962): 312-30.
Westerholm, Stephen. Jesus and Scribal Authority. Lund: C.W.K. Gleerup, 1978.
Westermann, Claus, and Rainer Albertz. hlg glh to uncover. Translated by Mark E.
Biddle. In Theological Lexicon of the Old Testament : Volume 1, edited
by Ernst Jenni and Claus Westermann, 314-20. Peabody: Hendrickson,
1997.
Westermann, Claus. dbk kbd to be heavy. Translated by Mark E. Biddle. In

Theological Lexicon of the Old Testament : Volume 2, edited by Ernst
Jenni and Claus Westermann, 590-602. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1997.
Westermann, Claus. Isaiah 40-66 : a Commentary. Translated by David M. G. Stalker,

OTL. London: SCM, 1969.
Wevers, John W. Text History and Text Criticism of the Septuagint. In Congress
Volume : Gttingen 1977, edited by John A. Emerton, 392-402. Leiden:
E. J. Brill, 1978.
Wevers, John W. Ezekiel. Edited by Ronald E. Clements, NCB. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,
1982.
Wevers, John W. Notes on the Greek Text of Exodus. Edited by Claude E. Cox, SBLSCS
Wevers, John W. Notes on the Greek Text of Deuteronomy, SBLSCS 39. Atlanta: Scholars
Press, 1995.
Wevers, John W. The LXX Translator of Deuteronomy. In IX Congress of the

International Organization for Septuagint and Cognate Studies,
Cambridge, 1995, edited by Bernard A. Taylor, 57-89. Atlanta:
Wevers, John W. Notes on the Greek Text of Numbers, SBLSCS 46. Atlanta: Scholars
Press, 1998.
Wheelwright, Philip. Metaphor and Reality. Bloomington and London: Indiana University
Press, 1962.
White, Richard. Review of The Glory of Israel by Bruce D. Chilton. JJS 35, no. 1
(1984): 106-108.
Whitelam, Keith W. Abijah, King of Judah. In The Anchor Bible Dictionary : Volume
Whitelam, Keith W. The Invention of Ancient Israel : the Silencing of Palestinian History.
London New York: Routledge, 1996.
Wicks, Henry J. The Doctrine of God in the Jewish Apocryphal and Apocalyptic
Literature. Reprint of 1915 ed. New York: KTAV, 1971.
Wilcock, Michael. The Saviour of the World : the Message of Lukes Gospel. Leicester:
Wilcox, Max. Semitisms in the New Testament. In Aufstieg und Niedergang der
Rmischen Welt II.25.2, edited by Wolfgang Haase, 978-1029. Berlin:
Walter de Gruyter, 1984.
Wilcox, Max. The Aramaic Background of the New Testament. In The Aramaic Bible
: Targums in their Historical Context, edited by Martin McNamara and
Wild, Robert A. The Encounter between Pharisaic and Christian Judaism : Some Early
Gospel Evidence. NovT 27, no. 2 (1985): 105-24.
Wildberger, Hans. Isaiah 1-12. Translated by Thomas H. Trapp, A Continental

Commentary. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1991.
Wilder, Amos N. The Language of the Gospel : Early Christian Rhetoric. New York and
Evanston: Harper & Row, 1964.
Willcock, J. The Gospel According to St. Luke. Reprint of 1896 ed, The Preachers
Homiletic Commentary 23. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1980.
Williams, David S. Morton Smith on the Pharisees in Josephus. JQR 84, no. 1 (1993):
29-41.
Williams, James G. Jobs Vision : the Dialectic of Person and Presence. HAR 8
(1984): 259-72.
Williams, James G. Neither Here Nor There : Between Wisdom and Apocalyptic in
Jesus Kingdom Sayings. Foundations and Facets Forum 5, no. 2
(1989): 7-30.
Williamson, Hugh G. M. Israel in the Book of Chronicles. Cambridge: Cambridge

Wilson, Ian. Divine Presence in Deuteronomy. TynBul 43, no. 2 (1992): 403-406.
Wilson, Ian. Out of the Midst of the Fire : Divine Presence in Deuteronomy. Edited by
Michael Fox, SBLDS 151. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1995.
Wilson, Robert McL. Thomas and the Synoptic Gospels. ExpTim 72, no. 2 (1960):
36-39.
Wilson, Robert McL. Nag Hammadi and the New Testament. NTS 28 (1982): 289-
302.
Wilson, Stephen G. Lukan Eschatology. NTS 16 (1970): 330-47.
Wilson, Stephen G. Luke and the Law, SNTSMS 40. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press, 1983.
Winter, Paul. Lc 2 49 and Targum Yerushalmi. ZNW 45 (1954): 145-79.

Winter, Paul. On Luke and Lucan Sources. ZNW 47 (1956): 217-42.
Winter, Paul. Psalms of Solomon. In The Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible :

Volume 3, edited by George A. Buttrick, 958-60. Nashville: Abingdon
Press, 1962.
Witherington, Ben. The Christology of Jesus. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1990.
Witherington, Ben. Jesus, Paul and the End of the World. Downers Grove, Ill.:
Witherington, Ben. The Jesus Quest : the Third Search for the Jew of Nazareth. 2nd ed.
Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1997.
Witherington, Ben. The Acts of the Apostles : a Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. Grand

Rapids and Carlisle: Eerdmans and Paternoster, 1998.
Wolff, Hans W. Obadiah and Jonah : a Commentary. Translated by Margaret Kohl.

Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1986.
Wolff, Hans W. Micah : a Commentary. Translated by Gary Stansell, A Continental

Commentary. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1990.
Wolters, Al. The Shekinah in the Copper Scroll : a New Reading of 3Q15 12.10. In
The Scrolls and the Scriptures : Qumran Fifty Years After, edited by
Stanley E. Porter and Craig A. Evans, 382-91. Sheffield: Sheffield
Academic Press, 1997.
Wolverton, Wallace I. The Psalmists Belief in Gods Presence. CJT 9, no. 2 (1963):
82-94.
Wright, Addison G. Wisdom. In The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, edited by

Wright, N. Thomas. History and Theology. In The Interpretation of the New

Testament, 1861-1986, edited by Stephen Neill and N. Thomas Wright,
360-449. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 1988.
Wright, N. Thomas. The New Testament and the People of God, Christian Origins and
the Question of God 1. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1992.
Wright, N. Thomas. Who was Jesus? London: SPCK, 1992.
Wright, N. Thomas. Jesus and the Victory of God, Christian Origins and the Question of
God 2. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1996.
Wright, Robert. The Psalms of Solomon, the Pharisees, and the Essenes. In 1972
Proceedings for the International Organization for Septuagint and
Cognate Studies and the Society of Biblical Literature Seminars :
Number Two, edited by Robert A. Kraft, 136-54. Missoula, Mont.:
Yadin, Yigael. The Temple Scroll. 2 vols. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1985.
York, Anthony D. The Dating of Targumic Literature. JSJ 5, no. 1 (1974): 49-62.
York, Anthony D. The Targum in the Synagogue and in the School. JSJ 10, no. 1
(1979): 74-86.
Zeitlin, Irving M. Jesus and the Judaism of his time. Cambridge and New York: Polity
Press and Basil Blackwell, 1988.
Zeitlin, Solomon. The Pharisees : a Historical Study. JQR 52 (1961): 97-129.
Zeitlin, Solomon. The Rise and Fall of the Judean State. 3 vols. Philadelphia: Jewish
Publication Society of America, 1962.
Zeitlin, Solomon. The Origin of the Pharisees Reaffirmed. JQR 59, no. 4 (1969): 255-
67.
Zeitlin, Solomon. Spurious Interpretations of Rabbinic Sources in the Studies of the

Pharisees and Pharisaism. JQR 65 (1974): 122-35.
Zerwick, Maximilian. Biblical Greek : Illustrated by Examples. Translated by Joseph

Smith, Scripta Pontincil Instituti Biblici 114. Chicago: Argonaut, 1963.
Ziesler, John A. Luke and the Pharisees. NTS 25, no. 2 (1979): 146-57.
Zimmermann, Frank. The Book of Tobit : an English Translation with Introduction. New
York: Harper & Brothers, 1958.
Zmijewski, Josef. Die Eschatologiereden des Lukas - Evangeliums : Eine traditions - und
redaktionsgeschichtliche Untersuchung zu Lk 21,5-36 und Lk 17,20-
37, BBB 40. Bonn: Peter Hanstein, 1972.
Zobel, Hans-Jrgen. hlg galah. Translated by John T. Willis. In Theological

Dictionary of the Old Testament : Volume II, edited by G. Johannes
1977.
Zobel, Hans-Jrgen. Nwyle elyon. Translated by David E. Green. In Theological

Dictionary of the Old Testament : Volume XI, edited by G. Johannes
Zuurmond, Rochus. Versions, Ancient (Ethiopic). In The Anchor Bible Dictionary :

Doubleday, 1992.
Zwelling, Jeremy. The Fictions of Biblical History. History and Theory (2000): 117-
41.

Pharisees, Jesus and The KIngdom

Diunggah oleh

Informasi Dokumen

Judul Asli

Hak Cipta

Format Tersedia

Bagikan dokumen Ini

Bagikan atau Tanam Dokumen

Opsi Berbagi

Apakah menurut Anda dokumen ini bermanfaat?

Apakah konten ini tidak pantas?

Hak Cipta:

Format Tersedia

Pharisees, Jesus and The KIngdom

Diunggah oleh

Hak Cipta:

Format Tersedia

This electronic version of

the PhD thesis by Roderick R. Letchford

Formatting variations include

o The following footnote is missing from p.32 (beginning of Section 1.5)

The text contains characters in a variety of ancient fonts.

o A Super Greek character is missing from page 303:

Divine Royal Presence

A thesis submitted by Roderick R. Letchford, B.Sc., Th.L., M.A.

for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy

Department of History (Classics), School of Humanities

Australian National University

Mrs Zita Denholm for her meticulous proofreading.

Finally, to my fellow post-graduate students, Nan Mackey, Janet Quartermaine, Joan

2 THE PRESENCE OF THE DIVINE KING

3 THE PRESENCE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

4 AN EXEGESIS OF LUKE 17:20-21

1.6 THE TARGUMIM.................................................................................................65

2 THE PRESENCE OF THE DIVINE KING

2.1 PREFACE ..............................................................................................................83

Obad 21.................................................................................... 124

m. Tam. 7:4G ...........................................................................169

3 THE PRESENCE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

3.1 PREFACE ..............................................................................................................191

3.3 THE PHARISEES AND JESUS........................................................................... 212

4 AN EXEGESIS OF LUKE 17:20-21

4.1 PREFACE ..............................................................................................................301

4.2.1.3 _^pfib^ ql vbl (20aa).................................................. 315

4.3 THE SECOND (TRANSMISSION) STAGE .......................................................351

4.4.3 oubq^f _^pfib^ ql vbl kqt jk (21b).............................. 378

5.1 SUMMARY OF RESULTS .................................................................................. 385

ANCIENT TEXTS AND INSCRIPTIONS AND THEIR TRANSLATIONS ........... 395

Where discrepencies exist, it is hoped that ambiguity will not.

Two exceptions to the above should be noted.

1.2 AIM, METHOD AND SOURCES

A thorough understanding of Luke 17:20-21, therefore, will encourage comparison

The aim of this thesis is three-fold.

The ultimate aim is to present an exegesis of Luke 17:20-21 based on a particular

The proximate aim, the subject of chapter 2, will be an investigation of certain

6 See Section 1.3.

To trace therefore the development of the foundational understanding of kingdom of

Two other short comments are necessary.

It would be equally tempting is to succumb to mysticism. Yet, there is no hint of a desire

15 Cf. G. F. Moore, (1927), Judaism I, 421.

Various restrictions will be observed in the accumulation of data, specifically in the

20 See Section 1.4.3.

Consequently, the Palestinian Judaism of Lukes (the redactors) time is to be found in

1.3 LUKE 17:20-21 AND ITS LITERARY FORM

In recent years further division of types and refinement of definition of Taylors

Yet classification remains important because it leads to a better understanding of the

1.3.1 The Chreia

Theon, Progymnasmata lines 2-4

Theon, Progymnasmata lines 2-445

Translation of Theon, Progymnasmata lines 2-446

45 Hock and ONeil, (1986), The Chreia in Ancient Rhetoric, 82.

1.3.2 A Responsive Sayings Chreia

Robert C. Tannehill, in opting for the designation pronouncement story, effectively

The presence of ~Cmbosqevbt in 20a and do in 21b enables Luke 17:20-21 to be

1.3.3 Expressed as a Change of Subject

This is very similar to Theons sub-category of change of subject.

1.3.4 Manipulated by Expansion

Based on such a refinement of Theons classification, Luke 17:20-21 is an expanded

1.4 THREE IMPORTANT SCHOLARS

1.4.1 Samuel L. Terrien on Divine Presence