PONTIFICAL UNIVERSITY ST PATRICK’S COLLEGE MAYNOOTH The Nature of Jesus’ Obedience: A Narrative-Critical Reading of Matthew’s Gethsemane (26:36-46) TIMOTHY MEJIDA Supervisor: Dr Jessie Rogers A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Theology in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of PhD in Theology March, 2021 i © 2021 Timothy Mejida ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ii DECLARATION I, Timothy Mejida, confirm that I composed the thesis, that it has not been accepted in any previous application for a degree, that the work is my own, and that all quotations have been distinguished by quotation marks and sources of information specifically acknowledged. Timothy Mejida, March 23, 2021 iii ABSTRACT This study, using the Gethsemane passage as central, investigates Matthew’s portrayal of the textual Jesus’ obedience amidst various claims implicitly clamouring for supremacy. There are the conflicts with the religious authorities of Israel who label him as an impostor, his disciples who find his standard unattainable, and even God whose seeming inactivity throughout Jesus’ suffering may bring into question Jesus’ genuineness. In setting the stage for the investigation, this thesis first reviews briefly the interpretations of some key scholars on Gethsemane (Matt 26:36-46) (chapter two). Using narrative criticism, this key text is analysed with attention on the episodic characterisation of Jesus, especially the decipherable obedience features (chapter three). Jesus is shown to be authentically submissive to God’s will. Intratextual links between Gethsemane and the rest of the Gospel reveal that the Gethsemane obedience is consonant with the Matthean obedience theology (chapter four). The conviction that Gethsemane is a synopsis of the whole Gospel proves that Jesus’ portrayed obedience therein epitomises his lifelong obedience to God. Associations between Gethsemane and a few exemplary characters from the Hebrew Scripture demonstrate that Jesus’ obedience is rooted in the Old Testament tradition and even advances that of all genuinely obedient people of God since he perfectly fulfils all the law and prophets (chapter five). This study, therefore, fits into the debate regarding Matthean obedience theology and specifically the nature of obedience exhibited by Jesus. Jesus’ obedience was evaluated according to Herbert McCabe OP’s definition of obedience. On its own, Jesus’ submission to God’s will, as apparently implied in the Gethsemane text, would not pass McCabe’s test of perfect obedience. His notion of obedience would score Jesus’ obedience as perfect ultimately and only because the obedience resulted from a sharing of ‘one mind’ between God (superior) and Jesus (subject) geared toward an objective goal— in this case the world’s salvation. Accordingly, we conclude that Jesus’ lifelong obedience is the model and salvific obedience which every disciple is called to appropriate. Keywords: sonship, cup, prayer, watch, obedience, submission, doing the will of God, temptation, destiny, Son of God, Son of Man, θέλημά (will). iv To Sr Ann McElroy, HRS, whom I call my Irish mother 1930-2020 v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am grateful beyond words to God whose will should be the most cherished thing in his creation. I want to offer my thanks to a number of people who helped me during this process toward my PhD. The staff and faculty at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, were always available when I needed help. In particular, Dr Jessie Rogers was a wonderful supervisor. I thank her for accompanying and guiding me on this journey and appreciate her inspiration and encouragement. I also received a great amount of support and encouragement from Professor Séamus O’Connell, Director of Postgraduate Studies, Dr Jeremy Corley, the Director of Research and the Chair of the Viva, and Dr Luke Macnamara, OSB, our lecturer in Narrative Criticism who doubled as the internal reader with painstaking attention to detail. I thank Dr Ian Boxall, the external examiner whose diligence is also rewarding. I appreciate all who supported me a lot spiritually, morally, and otherwise through it all. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to Bishop Anthony Adaji, MSP, of Idah Diocese, Bishop Michael Smith (retired in 2018) and Bishop Tom Dineehan (both of Meath Diocese) for their encouragement and support. Special thanks to Fr Paul Crosbie. I thank Fr Michael Whittaker and the parishioners of Rathmolyon and Enfield, and Fr Gerry Boyle and the parishioners of Lobinstown and Rathkenny. These parishes in conjunction with the diocese paid all fees through MTh and PhD. May God bless them for this graciousness and magnanimity. I am also thankful to all the clergy and people of Meath Diocese whose fraternal and friendly spirit I shall live to remember. I appreciate Miley Byrne (Lobinstown) for doing the initial proofreading of chapters 2-6 for grammar. This year will be remembered in history for the eerie worldwide coronavirus pandemic that for months has left every street and community centre desolate for a while with the lockdown and collective sense of vulnerability. Thus, I tag this year ‘the worldwide Gethsemane year.’ May the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic be translated into good by God and may the dead rest in the eternal peace of God. Timothy vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ATJ – Ashland Theological Journal CBQ – The Catholic Biblical Quarterly GNBCE – Good News Bible Catholic Edition HBT – Horizons in Biblical Theology Hermeneia – Hermeneia Commentary HTS – Hervormde Teologiese Studies ICC – International Critical Commentary IRM – International Review of Mission ITQ – Irish Theological Quarterly JBL – Journal of Biblical Literature JB – The Jerusalem Bible JEH – Journal of Ecclesiastical History JJS – Journal of Jewish Studies JRF – Journal of Religion and Film JSHJ – Journal for the Study of the Historical Jesus JSNT – Journal for the Study of the New Testament JTS – Journal of Theological Studies LNTS – Library of New Testament Studies NCBCE – The New Community Bible Catholic Edition NIV – New International Version NovT – Novum Testamentum NRSVCE - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition NRSV – New Revised Standard Version NTS – New Testament Studies RB – Revue biblique RSV – Revised Standard Version vii SP – Sacra Pagina TBT – The Bible Today ThTo – Theology Today TJT – Toronto Journal of Theology TS – Theological Studies WTJ – Westminster Theological Journal Apocrypha, Septuagint, Dead Sea Scrolls (Qumran Texts), and Other Texts (Α D Κ Γ Δ Θ – seven of extant manuscript texts (textual witnesses א 1 Esd – 1 Esdras 2 Esd – 2 Esdras 1 Macc – 1 Maccabees 2 Macc – 2 Maccabees 1QM – Milhamah or War Scroll 1QS – Serek Hayahad or Rule of the Community 4Q246 – 4QapocrDan ar – Apocryphon of Daniel Ant. – Josephus’ Antiquities Jub – Jubilees LXX – Septuagint Jdt – Judith P37 – Papyrus 37 Tob – Tobit Wis – Wisdom of Solomon Biblical Books Old Testament: New Testament: Gen - Genesis Job - Job Matt - Matthew viii Exod - Exodus Ps - Psalms Mark - Mark Lev - Leviticus Prov - Proverbs Luke - Luke Num - Numbers Eccl (or Qoh) – Ecclesiastes John - John Deut - Deuteronomy (or Qoheleth) Acts - Acts Josh - Joshua Isa - Isaiah Rom - Romans Judg - Judges Jer - Jeremiah Eph - Ephesians Ruth - Ruth Lam - Lamentations Phil - Philippians 1 Sam - 1Samuel Ezek - Ezekiel Col - Colossians 2 Sam - 2Samuel Dan - Daniel 1 Thess - 1Thessalonians 1 Kgs - 1Kings Hos - Hosea Heb - Hebrews 2 Kgs - 2Kings Amos - Amos Jas - James 1 Chr - 1Chronicles Jonah - Jonah 1 Pet - 1Peter 2 Chr - 2Chronicles Mic - Micah Jude - Jude Ezra – Ezra Nah - Nahum Rev - Revelation Neh – Nehemiah Hab - Habakkuk Zech – Zechariah Abbreviations for primary literature follow the Society of Biblical Literature Handbook of Style: For Ancient Near Eastern, Biblical, and Early Christian Studies (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1999). ix TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 5 1.1 RATIONALE ................................................................................................................... 5 1.2 THE TERM, ‘OBEDIENCE,’ AND ITS UNDERSTANDING IN JESUS’ AND MATTHEW’S WORLDS ...................................................................................................... 6 1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS ............................................................................................ 10 1.4 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS ......................................................................................... 11 1.5 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK AND METHODOLOGY ....................................... 16 1.5.1 Techniques of Narrative Analysis ........................................................................... 17 1.6 STRUCTURE OF THESIS ............................................................................................ 19 2. SURVEY OF RESEARCH (STATUS QUAESTIONIS) ................................................... 23 2.1 THE STRUCTURE OF MATTHEW’S GOSPEL ........................................................ 24 2.2 IS MATTHEW’S GOSPEL CONSIDERED A DOCUMENT ON OBEDIENCE? ..... 29 2.2.1 Brandon D. Crowe and Martin C. Spadaro ............................................................. 29 2.2.2 Thomas R. Blanton IV, Jong-Ki Park, and Glenn W. Giles .................................... 30 2.3 SURVEY OF PREVIOUS LITERATURE ON GETHSEMANE ................................. 31 2.3.1 Sources and Redactional Activity............................................................................ 32 2.3.2 Unity of 26:36-46 ...................................................................................................