Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertations Graduate Research 2012 The Origin of the Eschatological Feast as a Wedding Banquet in the Synoptic Gospels: an Intertextual Study Phillip J. Long Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Long, Phillip J., "The Origin of the Eschatological Feast as a Wedding Banquet in the Synoptic Gospels: an Intertextual Study" (2012). Dissertations. 86. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/86 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in the Andrews University Digital Library of Dissertations and Theses. Please honor the copyright of this document by not duplicating or distributing additional copies in any form without the author’s express written permission. Thanks for your cooperation. ABSTRACT THE ORIGIN OF THE ESCHATOLOGICAL FEAST AS A WEDDING BANQUET IN THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS: AN INTERTEXTUAL STUDY by Phillip J. Long Adviser: Richard Choi ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: THE ORIGIN OF THE ESCHATOLOGICAL FEAST AS A WEDDING BANQUET IN THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS: AN INTERTEXTUAL STUDY Name of researcher: Phillip J. Long Name and degree of faculty adviser: Richard Choi, Ph.D. Date completed: July 2012 Problem The problem this dissertation seeks to address is the origins of the wedding banquet imagery in the teaching of Jesus. Frequently, scholars will state that the image of a wedding banquet was a common messianic image in the first century. However, other than Isa 25:6-8, sources for the image of a banquet for the messianic age in the Hebrew Bible are sparse. Yet the image of a banquet clearly appears in the Synoptic Gospels in both the actions of Jesus as well as his teaching. Because the metaphor of a wedding banquet is not found in the literature of the Second Temple Period, scholars frequently assume that this sort of language was created by the Gospel writers and that Jesus himself did not claim to be a bridegroom. Method In this study I propose an intertextuality method which seeks to give full weight to the rhetorical value of an author’s use of earlier texts or traditions. First, the reader must first “hear an echo” within the text. By this I mean one recognizes something in the words or deeds of Jesus that sounds like a text or tradition from the Hebrew Bible. Second, having heard the echo of an earlier text or tradition, one must then determine which texts and traditions may have been used by the author. Since allusions to tradition are not direct citations, a wide range of texts must be gathered with linguistic and thematic links to the later text. Third, these observations drawn from the Hebrew Bible and Second Temple Period literature must be applied to the texts in the Synoptic Gospels which contain banquet or wedding imagery. This third step can be used as a test of the authenticity of the sayings of Jesus. I propose a “criterion of tradition congruence”: If it is shown that a saying of Jesus stands within well-known traditions from the Hebrew Bible, then that saying is more likely to be authentic. Conclusion Jesus did indeed claim to be a bridegroom and his ministry was an anticipation of the eschatological banquet. While there is no single text in the Hebrew Bible or the literature of the Second Temple Period which states the “messiah is like a bridegroom,” the elements for such a claim are present in several traditions found in this literature. Jesus created this unique image by clustering three traditions drawn from the Hebrew Bible and applying them to his ministry. First, the eschatological age is inaugurated by a banquet eaten in the presence of God (Isa 25:6-8). Second, the end of the exile is often described as a new Exodus and a new journey through the wilderness (Isa 40-55). Third, the relationship of God and his people is often described as a marriage (Hosea, Jer 2-4). Jesus claimed that his ministry was an on-going wedding celebration which signals the end of the Exile and the restoration of Israel to her position as the Lord’s beloved wife. Jesus himself combined the tradition of an eschatological banquet with a marriage metaphor in order to describe the end of the Exile as a wedding banquet. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary THE ORIGIN OF THE ESCHATOLOGICAL FEAST AS A WEDDING BANQUET IN THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS: AN INTERTEXTUAL STUDY A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Phillip J. Long July 2012 © Copyright by Phillip J. Long 2012 All Rights Reserved THE ORIGIN OF THE ESCHATOLOGICAL FEAST AS A WEDDING BANQUET IN THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS: AN INTERTEXTUAL STUDY A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy by Phillip J. Long APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: Faculty Adviser, Director, PhD in Religion/ThD Programs P. Richard Choi Tom Shepherd Professor of New Testament Robert M. Johnston Dean, SDA Theological Seminary Professor of New Testament Denis Fortin and Christian Origins, Emeritus Jacques B. Doukhan Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament Exegesis Jiří Moskala Professor of Old Testament Exegesis and Theology Mark F. Whitters Date approved Lecturer of Jewish-Christian Origins Eastern Michigan University TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS. viii Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION. 1 Background to the Problem. 1 Statement of the Problem.. 3 Previous Scholarship on the Messianic Banquet. 4 Justification for This Research.. 11 Plan of the Study. 13 2. THE USE OF HEBREW BIBLE IMAGERY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. 15 Introduction. 15 Intertextuality and the New Testament. 25 Introduction. 25 Richard Hays. 25 Responses to Hays. 29 Scripture in Mark. 34 Scripture in Matthew. 37 Scripture in Luke. 39 Scripture in John. 42 Summary: Toward an Intertextual Method .. 46 Excursus: Defining Quotation, Allusion, Echo.. 53 Introduction. 53 Quotation, Allusion, and Echo.. 54 Intertextuality, Typology, and Midrash. 57 Summary and Conclusions.. 68 3. ESCHATOLOGICAL BANQUET IN ISAIAH. 70 Introduction. 70 ht,v]mi in the Hebrew Bible. 74 iii ht,v]mi as a Joyous Banquet. 74 ht,v]mi as an Enthronement Meal. 76 ht,v]mi as a Covenant Meal.. 82 Covenant Meal on Sinai / Zion. 84 Conclusions on ht,v]mi in the Hebrew Bible . 89 Eschatological Banquet in Isaiah 25:6-8. 91 The Lord Prepares a Banquet for All People (25:6). 94 The Lord Engulfs Death Forever (25:7).. 100 The Lord Removes Disgrace from All People (25:8b-d).. 106 Summary and Conclusions.. 108 4. A BANQUET IN THE WILDERNESS.. 110 Introduction. 110 What Is the Wilderness Tradition?. 113 Introduction. 113 Contents of the Wilderness Tradition. 114 Development of the Wilderness Tradition.. 116 Isaiah 40-55: Unity and Themes. 123 The Wilderness Tradition in Isaiah 40-55. 128 Isaiah 40:1-5.. 129 Isaiah 41:17-20.. 135 Isaiah 42:10-17.. 142 Isaiah 43:16-21.. 144 Isaiah 48:20-21.. 146 Isaiah 49:8-13.. 147 Isaiah 51:9-11.. 151 Isaiah 55:1-5.. 155 Summary and Conclusions on Isaiah 40-55.. 161 Jeremiah 31:10-14 as Banquet.. 162 Summary and Conclusion: New Exodus as Eating and Drinking in the Eschatological Age . 165 5. ISRAEL AS THE WIFE OF THE LORD. 167 Introduction. 167 Methodology. 171 Marriage.. 175 Adultery. 179 Divorce.. 181 Marriage and Kingship.. 183 Summary and Conclusions.. 183 Marriage Metaphor in Hosea 1-3. 185 Introduction. ..