The Apocrypha and Biblical Theology: The Case of Interpersonal Forgiveness

After the Exile Essays in Honour of Rex Mason e di t e db y J ohnBa r t on a nd Da v i dJ . Re i me r Me rc e rUni ve rs i tyPre s s Ma c on, GA 1 9 9 6 T heApoc r y pha a ndBi bl i c a l T heol ogy : T heCa s e ofI nt er per s ona l F or gi v enes s b yDa v i dJ . Re i me r Re xMa s onc onc l ude dhi si nv e s t i ga t i onof“ homi l ya ndhe r me ne ut i c sa fe r t hee x i l e ”wi t ht hi sr e fe c t i onn Tor e a l i s et ha tt hi si snotapur e l ya c a de mi ce x e r c i s eb utal i v i ng pr oc e s s ,f or ge di nt hef ur na c eofl i f ea nde x pe r i e nc eb yt hos ec ha r ge d wi t ht hewe l l b e i ngofac ommuni t y off a i t h,i st ob r i nga l lt hi s 1 ma t e r i a lmuc hc l os e rt ot hepe opl eofGodi ne v e r ya g e . Thi spa s s a gej oi nst hr e et he me si n Re xMa s on’ swor knt hepos t e x i l i c pe r i od,t hee a r l yi nt e r pr e t a t i onofb i b l i c a lt e x t s ,a ndt hei mpor t a nc eo f unde r s t a ndi ngt het he ol ogi c a ldi me ns i ono ft he s et e x t si nt hemode r ns i t u2 a t i on. Thepr e s e nte s s a ya t t e mpt st oe x pl or et he s et he me se s pe c i a l l yi n 3 r e l a t i ont ononc a noni c a ll i t e r a t ur e .Re xMa s onha sl ongb e e nar e s pe c t e d me nt ora ndha sb e c omeade a rf r i e nd;t hi se s s a yi sofe r e di nhi shonour , 1 Re xMa s on,P r e a c hi ngt heTr a d i t i o n:Ho mi l ya ndHe r me ne ut i c sAfe rt he Ex i l e( Ca mb r i dge n Ca mb r i dg eUni v e r s i t yPr e s s , 1 9 9 0 )2 6 2 . 2 Thefr s tt wot he me sc a nb es e e ni nRe xMa s on’ sofc i t e db ut( a sye t )unpub l i s he dPh. D.t he s i sa swe l la shi ss t udi e si npos t e x i l i cpr ophe c y;t hel a t t e r t he mei se x e mpl i fe di nhi sOl dT e s t a me ntP i c t ur e so fGo d( Re ge nt ’ sS t udy Gui de s2 ;Ox f or da ndMa c onnRe ge nt ’ sPa r kCol l e gea ndS myt h& He l wys , 1 9 9 3 ) . 3 By“ nonc a noni c a l ”or“ a poc r ypha l ”Ime a nt heJ e wi s hl i t e r a t ur eofS e c ond Te mpl eJ uda i s me x c l ude df r om t het heHe b r e wBi b l e . 2 6 0 Af t ert heE x i l e a ndi nt hehopet ha ti twi l la ppe a lbot ht ohi ss c hol a r l ymi nda ndhi s pa s t or a lhe a r t . I Thi se s s a ya r g ue st ha tb i b l i c a lt he ol o gy ,a spr a c t i s e di nt heChur c h,mus t t a ket he o l ogi c a la c c ounto fno nb i b l i c a ll i t e r a t ur ei nor de rt oc ompr e he nd t hema t e r i a l swi t hi nt heChr i s t i a n Bi b l e .Thede s i r a b i l i t yo fha vi nga n i nde pe nde ntb i b l i c a lt he ol ogywa snota l wa ysa ppr e c i a t e di nt hec our s eo f c hur c h hi s t or y .Thee me r ge nc eo fb i b l i c a lt he ol ogya sa ni nde pe nde nt di s c i pl i nei sa l mos tuni v e r s a l l ya s s oc i a t e dwi t ht hena meofJ oha nnPhi l i pp Ga b l e ra nd hi si na ugur a lor a t i on on t he oc c a s i on ofhi st a ki ng a pr of e s s or s hi pa tAl t dor f( de l i v e r e d3 0Ma r c h1 7 8 7a sDej us t od i s c r i mi ne 4 t he o l o g i a eb i b l i c a ee td o g ma t i c a er e g und i s q ue r e c t e ut r i us q ue fni b us ) . Ga b l e rt oo ka sgi v e nt hes t a r t i ngpoi ntt ha t ,a l t hougha l lChr i s t i a nsa gr e e d t ha tt heBi b l ewa st heonl ys our c eoff a i t hwhi c hs pokewi t ha“ uni t e d v oi c e , ”no ne t he l e s st he r ewe r e“ f a t a ldi s c or dso f. . . v a r i ouss e c t s ”( 1 3 4 ) . Doub t l e s st hi sdi s s e ns i onor i gi na t e si npa r t[ 1 ]f r om t heoc c a s i ona l ob s c ur i t yoft hes a c r e dS c r i pt ur e st he ms e l v e s ;i npa r t[ 2 a ]f r om t ha t de pr a v e dc us t om ofr e a di ngone ’ so wnopi ni onsa ndj udgme nt si nt o t heBi b l e ,or[ 2 b ]f r om as e r v i l ema nne rofi nt e r pr e t i ngi t .Doub t l e s s di s s e ns i onarises [ 3 ]f r om t hene gl e c t e ddi s t i nc t i onb e t we e nr e l i gi on a nd t he ol ogy;a nd fna l l yi ta r i s e s[ 4 ]f r om a ni na ppr opr i a t e c omb i na t i onoft hes i mpl i c i t ya nde a s eofb i b l i c a lt he ol ogywi t ht he s ub t l e t ya nddi fc ul t yofdogma t i ct he ol ogy . ( 1 3 4 5 ; numb e r sa dde d) Oft hec a us e st ha tGa b l e rofe r she r e ,t hefr s tt hr e edonotc onc e r n hi m gr e a t l y;hi sma i nt a s ki st oe x poundt hef our t h.Bi b l i c a lt he ol og y , 4 “ Ont hepr o pe rd i s t i nc t i o nb e t we e nb i b l i c a la ndd o g ma t i ct he o l o g ya ndt he s pe c i fco b j e c t i v e so fe a c h” ;t hes t a nd a r dEng l i s ht r a ns l a t i o ni sJ .S a ndys Wuns c h a ndL. El dr e dg e , “ J . P. Ga b l e ra ndt hedi s t i nc t i onb e t we e nb i b l i c a la nddogma t i c t he ol ogynt r a ns l a t i on,c omme nt a r y ,a nddi s c us s i ono fhi sor i gi na l i t y , ”S J T3 3 ( 1 9 8 0 ) n1 3 3 –5 8 .Pa g er e f e r e nc e she r ea r et ot hi sa r t i c l e .F orb r i e fa na l ys i ss e eJ . H.Ha ye sa nd F .C.Pr us s ne r ,Ol dT e s t a me ntThe o l o g y:I t sHi s t o r ya nd De v e l o p me nt( Londona ndAt l a nt a nS CM a ndJ ohnKnox ,1 9 8 5 )6 2 –6 6 ;af ul l s c a l edi s c us s i oni sofe r e db yR.Kni e r i m,TheT a s ko fOl dT e s t a me ntThe o l o g y: S ub s t a nc e , Me t ho da ndCa s e s( Gr a ndRa pi ds n Ee r dma ns , 1 9 9 5 )4 9 5 –5 5 6 . T heApoc r y phaa ndBi bl i c a l T heol ogy 2 6 1 s a ysGa b l e r ,ha sa l lt odowi t hhi s t or y ,a nda r i s e sf r om t heb i b l i c a lwr i t e r s t he ms e l v e sa ndnotf r om r a t i ona lphi l os ophyc ondi t i one da si ti sb yi t s o wns oc i a la ndhi s t or i c a ls e t t i ng( 1 3 7 ) .F ort hi sr e a s on,b i b l i c a lt he ol o gyi s unc ha ngi ng—unl i ket hef a s hi ona b l ewhi msofi t sdog ma t i cc o unt e r pa r t — f ori t sc ont e ntha sl ongbe e ns e tdo wn.S t i l l ,t heBi b l e ’ swr i t e r sa l s oc a me f r om di fe r e ntt i me sa ndpl a c e sa nds ot he i rpe r i odsmus tbedi s t i ngui s he d, e v e ni fa l lha v ei nc ommondi vi nea ut hor i t yi nt he i rwr i t i ngs( 1 3 9 ) . Hi s t or y ha st obet a ke ni nt oa c c o unti nor de rt oa s c e r t a i nt het he ol o gi c a lpos i t i ons oft heb i b l i c a lwr i t e r s . Onc et he s epos i t i onsa r edi s c ov e r e dt hec ompa r a t i v e t a s k be gi nswi t h av i e wt oe s t a b l i s hi ngwha t“ uni v e r s a lt r ut hs ”t he s e wr i t e r se s pous e d,a nds oc ons t r uc tab i b l i c a lt he ol o gy“ pur ea ndunmi x e d wi t hf or e i gnt hi ngs ,a ndwes ha l la tl a s tha v e. . .[ a ]s ys t e mf orb i b l i c a l t he ol ogy . . . ”( 1 4 2 ) . Thegoa loft hi sc a r e f ule x e ge s i s ,a ndt hes e pa r a t i ono fb i b l i c a la nd dogma t i ct he ol o gy ,wa s ,i ts e e ms ,t ob r i ngt he mt oge t he ra ga i n.Ga b l e r 5 e nv i s a ge dame t hodwhi c hp r o c e e d e df r om t heBi b l et odo gma t i c si t s e l f . De s pi t ehi spr ogr a mmea ndpr ot e s t s ,Ga b l e rs e e mst oha v eha ds ome dogma t i cb a g ga gei nt o w hi ms e l f ,e s pe c i a l l yt hePr ot e s t a ntdoc t r i neo f s a l v a t i ont owhi c hher e f e r sona tl e a s tt wooc c a s i ons( 1 3 8 ,1 4 3 ) . Thi s poi nti se s pe c i a l l yi mpor t a ntf or i tdi s t i ngui s he s Ga b l e rf r om wha t pr e c e de dhi m,a nda l s os ugg e s t swhy—i nr e t r os pe c t —hi swor kwa snot 6 qui t es os e mi na la sha sofe nbe e nur g e d. Li ket hepr oofe x t i ngb i b l i c a l t he ol ogi e sofpr e c e di ngge ne r a t i ons ,Ga b l e r ’ spr ogr a mmes t i l ls e to utt o s uppor tt hedog ma t i ce nt e r pr i s e ,a l be i ti namor er e s pons i b l ef a s hi ont ha n hi spr e de c e s s or sha ddone .F ort hi sr e a s on,a ppr oa c he swhi c ht a keGa b l e r a st hepa t r ons a i nto ft hes e v e r a nc eo fdo gma t i ca ndb i b l i c a lt he ol ogy 7 mi s st hema r k. Hi shi s t or i c a la ppr oa c hr e s ona t e swi t hwha tde v e l ope da s 5 Cf .e s pe c i a l l y1 3 8a nd1 4 2 nwhe nt hee x e ge t i c a lwor kha sbe e ndone ,“ t he que s t i onoft he i rdogma t i cus ema yt he nb epr oft a b l ye s t a b l i s he d,a ndt he goa l sofb ot hb i b l i c a la nddogma t i ct he ol ogyc or r e c t l ya s s i gne d. ” 6 Tha tt he r ewe r epr e c ur s o r st oGa b l e r ’ swo r ki swi d e l yr e c o g ni z e d .Cf . Ha ye s a ndPr us s ne r ,Ol dT e s t a me ntThe o l o g y,e s p.pp.3 5 –6 2 ;a l s oG.Eb e l i ng,“ The Me a ni ngof‘ Bi b l i c a lThe ol ogy’ , ”Wo r da ndF a i t h( Londonn S CM, 1 9 6 3 )7 9 –9 7 . 7 S uc ha nunde r s t a ndi ngi si mpl i e db yas t a t e me ntl i ket hi sonef r om G. Ha s e l n“ Thi sye a r[ 1 7 8 7 ,t heda t eofGa b l e r ’ sl e c t ur e ]ma r kst heb e gi nni ngof Bi b l i c a lt he ol o g y’ sr o l ea sapur e l yhi s t o r i c a ldi s c i pl i ne , c o mpl e t e l yi nde pe nde nt 2 6 2 Af t ert heE x i l e t hehi s t or i c a l c r i t i c a lme t hodb uts houl dbes ha r pl ydi s t i ng ui s he df r om i t . AsS a ndys Wuns c hpoi nt souti nhi sr e fe c t i ononGa b l e r ’ sor a t i on,“ Whe n hes a yst ha tb i b l i c a lt he ol ogyi so fhi s t or i c a lor i gi n. . . wha theme a nsi st ha t b i b l i c a lt he ol ogyb ypr ope ri nv e s t i ga t i ono ft hedoc ume nt si nt heBi b l e s houl da i ma ti s ol a t i ngt he i rpur e l yhi s t or i c a lc ha r a c t e r i s t i c si nor de rt o 8 e l i mi na t et he ma ndl e a v et het r ut he x pos e d. ” Hi s t or i c a la ppr oa c he st ot he Bi b l e ,e s pe c i a l l yt hi sc e nt ur y ,a t t e mptt ot r e a thi s t or ys e r i ous l y ,a ndf ori t s o wns a ke ;t ha ti s ,hi s t or yi snots i mpl yav e ne e rt obes t r i ppe da wa yt o r e v e a lt he“ t r ut h. ” Ho we v e r ,Ga b l e rc l e a r l ys a wt ha thi s t or i c a l l y or i e nt a t e d“ b i b l i c a l t he ol ogy”woul dne e dt oi nc or por a t enonb i b l i c a l( i . e .nonc a noni c a l )t e x t s . Ga b l e ra r g ue dt ha tt hehi s t or i c a lc l a s s i fc a t i ono fr e l i gi ousi de a s( “ wha t t he ype r c e i v e dt hi soc c a s i ono fdi v i nei ns pi r a t i onc l e a r l yt r a ns mi t t e da nd wha tt he ype r c e i v e di tfna l l yme a nt , ”1 3 9 )woul de nt a i lt hede s c r i pt i onnot onl yo fc a noni c a la ut hor s ,b utf or“ ma nyr e a s onsweoughta l s ot oi nc l ude t hea poc r ypha lb ooksf ort hi ss a mepur pos e ”( 1 4 0 ) . Ga b l e rofe r sno e x a mpl e so fwha tt he“ ma nyr e a s ons ”mi ghti nc l udea ndt hes ugge s t i oni n 9 a nyc a s es t a ndsi npa r t i a lt e ns i onwi t hhi so v e r a l la ppr oa c h. Ont heot he r ha nd,t hes ugge s t i onpa r t i a l l ya ddr e s s e st hepr ob l e mo ft her e l a t i ono ft he f r om dogma t i c s . ”Ol dT e s t a me ntThe o l o g y:Ba s i cI s s ue si nt heCur r e ntDe b a t e , 4 t he d. ( Gr a ndRa pi ds nEe r dma ns , 1 9 9 1 )1 6 . Ol l e nb ur ge ri sr i ghtt oob s e r v et ha t “ Ga b l e rwoul dha v eb e e n de e pl yt r oub l e db ya ny s ugg e s t i on t ha tb i b l i c a l t he ol ogys houl db es e tl oos ef r om dogma t i c s . ”TheF l o we r i ngo fOl dT e s t a me nt The o l o g y:A Re a d e ri nTwe nt i e t hCe nt ur yOl dT e s t a me ntThe o l o g y ,1 9 3 0 –1 9 9 0 , e d.B.C.Ol l e nb ur ge r ,E.A.Ma r t e ns a nd G.F .Ha s e l( Wi nona La ke n Ei s e nb r a uns , 1 9 9 2 )4 9 0 . 8 S a ndys Wuns c ha ndEl dr e dge , “ Ga b l e r , ”1 4 7 . 9 Ga b l e rgi v e sf ul lv a l uet ot hedi v i nei ns pi r a t i onofb i b l i c a lwr i t e r sa nd t hi s ,onea s s ume s ,hewoul dnotpos i tofa ut hor sofnon-ore v e nde ut e r oc a noni c a lwor ks .Howe v e r ,Ga b l e rs ugge s t st ha te v e n wr i t e r sofc a noni c a l b ooksmus tb et e s t e dn“ Iwoul dc e r t a i nl ynots ugg e s tt ha tahol yma n’ so wn na t i v ei nt e l l i ge nc ea nd hi sna t ur a lwa y ofknowi ng t hi ngsa r ede s t r o ye d a l t oge t he rb yi ns pi r a t i on”( 1 3 9 ) .Ca r e f ule x e g e s i si sr e qui r e dt oe s t a b l i s h “ whe t he ra l lt heopi ni onsoft heApos t l e s , ofe v e r yt ypea nds or ta l t oge t he r , a r e t r ul ydi v i ne ,orr a t he rwhe t he rs omeoft he m,whi c hha v enob e a r i ngon s a l v a t i on, we r el e ft ot he i ro wni nge nui t y”( 1 4 3 ) . T heApoc r y phaa ndBi bl i c a l T heol ogy 2 6 3 1 0 Ol da ndNe w Te s t a me nt s —at he mer a i s e db utnotr e s ol v e db yGa b l e r —a ma t t e ro fi mpor t a nc ef ort hedi s c us s i onbe l o w. Wha t e v e rhi spr e c i s emot i v a t i on,Ga b l e r ’ si ns t i nc t she r ewe r es ound. Asi swe l lkno wn,c a noni c a lwor kst he ms e l v e si nc or por a t er e f e r e nc e st o 1 1 nonc a noni c a lt e x t s . Themos tf a mous( a ndwi de l yc i t e d)e x a mpl eoc c ur s i nJ ude1 4 1 5whi c hc i t e s1Eno c h1 n 9 . Oe pkegi v e saf a i r l yl ongl i s to ft he s e , wi t hv a l uej udge me nt sa bo utho w muc hwe i ghtc a nbea t t a c he dt ot he m. Ther e f e r e nc et ot heEgypt i a nma gi c i a ns ,J a nne sa ndJ a mb r e s ,i n2Ti m3 n 8 i sa ni ndi c a t i on,ho we v e r ,t ha t( 1 )wha tha sbe c omef orusa poc r ypha lwa s wi de l ykno wna tt het i meo ft heNe w Te s t a me ntwr i t i ngs ,a nd( 2 )t he s e 1 2 v e r yt r a di t i onsc oul db ea ppe a l e dt oi nt hec ont e x to fmor a le x hor t a t i on. 1 3 Us eo fa poc r ypha lwor kswa spopul a ra mo ngs omef a t he r s .S uc hhi gh opi ni one v e nt ua l l ydi e ddo wni nt heWe s t e r nc hur c h,b utme nt i ons houl d bema deo ft heT e s t a me nt so ft heT we l v eP a t r i a r c hswhi c hwi l lbeus e d be l o w.Thi swor ki skno wn f r om e a r l yq uot a t i ons( i n,e . g. ,Or i ge n’ s c omme nt a r yonJ os hua ) ,a ndi twa sr e c kone dt obeout s i det hec a noni c a l 1 4 boo ks( b ot h Or i ge na nd J e r ome ) . Ho we v e r ,i ts e e mst o ha v e be e n c ont i nuous l y kno wn,unl i ke ma ny ot he r boo ks whi c h we ntoutof c i r c ul a t i on.Ro be r tGr os s e t e s t e( 1 1 7 5 1 2 5 3 ) ,f ore x a mpl e ,ma deaLa t i n v e r s i onb a s e donaGr e e kma nus c r i ptda t i ngt ot he1 0 t hc e nt ur y .Though a dmi t t e dl ya t ypi c a l ,t hi sc a s ei ss ug ge s t i v eo ft hewa ysi nwhi c ht r a di t i ons l i v e doni ni r r e g ul a rwa ys . Be yondt hepr e c e de nc eo fe a r l yChr i s t i a npr a c t i s e ,t he r ea r et woma i n r e a s onswhy t he nonc a noni c a lwr i t i ngsoughtt ob ei nc l ude di nt he pur v i e wo ft he( Chr i s t i a n)b i b l i c a lt he ol ogi a n.F i r s t ,a sJ a me sBa r ra r gue s , c l os et i e sb e t we e nb i b l i c a lt he ol o gya ndahi s t or yofr e l i gi onsa ppr oa c h 1 0 Cf . Kni e r i m, Ta s k , p. 5 3 8 . R. Me ye r , “ S uppl e me ntont heCa nona ndt heApoc r ypha , ”i nThe o l o g i c a l Di c t i o na r yo ft heNe wT e s t a me nt ,e d.G.Ki t t e l ,t r a ns .a nde d.G.W.Br omi l e y ( Gr a nd Ra pi ds nEe r dma ns ,1 9 6 5 )3 n 9 7 8 8 7 .A.Oe pk e ,“ Βίβλοι ἀπόκρυφοι in Chr i s t i a ni t y , ”TDNT3 n 9 8 7 1 0 0 0 . 1 2 OnJ a nne sa ndJ a mb r e s , s e enowA. Pi e t e r s ma ,TheAp o c r yp ho no fJ a nne s a ndJ a mb r e st heMa g i c i a ns , RGRW 1 1 9( Le i de nn E. J . Br i l l , 1 9 9 4 ) . 1 3 Cf . Oe pke , TDNT3 n 9 9 4 –9 5 . 1 4 H.F .D.S pa r ks ,TheAp o c r yp ha lOl dT e s t a me nt( Ox f or dnCl a r e ndonPr e s s , 1 9 8 4 )5 0 5 –5 0 6 . 1 1 2 6 4 Af t ert heE x i l e 1 5 e fe c t i v e l yb l ur sc a noni c a le d ge s . I fs ome t hi nga boutt hes t udyofwha t t he s ewr i t e r st houghta boutGod,God’ sr e l a t i onswi t ht hewor l d,a nd huma nr e s pons e st ot ha tGodi so fi nt e r e s tt ob i b l i c a lt he ol o gy ,t he nt hi s c ome sr e a di l ywi t hi nt her e a l m ofhi s t or yofr e l i gi on.Thi st a s kmus t i nv ol v es omeque s t i onsa boutt hepr a c t i s eo fr e l i gi oni nt het i meo ft he wr i t e r ,a nde v i de nc ef ort hi smi ghtwe l lc omef r om out s i det hec a noni c a l c ol l e c t i on.ThusBa r rwr i t e s ,“ Myo wnpr e f e r e nc e ,i nt hi nki nga bo utt he f ut ur eofb i b l i c a lt he ol ogy ,i s. . .t obel e s s ,r a t he rt ha nmor e ,domi na t e db y 1 6 t heb i b l i c a lc a nona ndi t sb ounda r i e s . ” Ther e f us a lt oa dopts uc has t a nc e c ont r i b ut e da n odd r e s ul tt oe a r l i e rb i b l i c a lt he ol og y ,Ba r ra r g ue s e l s e whe r e n Na t ur a l l y ,a sgoodhi s t or i c a ls c hol a r s ,b i b l i c a lt he ol ogi a nsha v et a ke n t he i nt e r t e s t a me nt a l de v e l opme nt i nt o a c c ount a s e s s e nt i a l b a c kgr ound;b utt he yha v enot ,ont hewhol e ,l e a r ne dt oa c c or di t t he ol ogi c a lv a l uei na nywa yc ompa r a b l et ot ha twhich t he ya c or dt o t hec a noni c a lb ooksofe i t he rTe s t a me nt . . . . And. . . t houghi twa soneof t hema i na i msofb i b l i c a lt he ol ogyi ni t smi dc e nt ur yde v e l opme ntt o unde r s t a ndt het woTe s t a me nt sa sauni t ya ndt oma k ee x pl i c i tt he l i nksb e t we e nt he m,t hi swa sc ommonl ydonei nas t r a nge l ya b s t r a c t , unr e a l ,unhi s t or i c a lwa y ,a si ft heOl dTe s t a me nts i mpl yha di t sown di r e c tt he ol ogi c a lc onne c t i onswi t ht heNe w,qui t eot he rt ha nt he 1 7 hi s t or i c a ll i nkst hr oughJ e wi s hi nt e r pr e t a t i on. S e c ond,t hea dv e nto f“ c a noni c a lc r i t i c i s m”i ni t ss e v e r a lg ui s e sha s 1 8 pus he dt hec a nont ot hef or e gr oundofb i b l i c a lt he ol og y . Buts ome wha t i r oni c a l l y ,a fr ma t i ono ft hec a nonmus ti t s e l fb r i nga ppr o v a loft r a di t i on, 1 5 J a me sBa r r , “ Tr e ndsa ndPr os pe t si nBi b l i c a lThe ol o gy , ”J TSn. s . 2 5( 1 9 7 4 ) n 2 7 5 –7 6 . 1 6 I b i d. , 2 7 5 . Ba r r ’ sa r t i c l e“ TheAut hor i t yofS c r i pt ur e n TheBookofGe ne s i s a ndt heOr i gi nofEv i li nt heJ e wi s ha ndChr i s t i a nTr a di t i on, ”i n Chr i s t i a n Aut ho r i t y:Es s a ysi n ho no uro fHe nr y Cha d wi c k,e d.G.R.Ev a ns( Ox f or dn Cl a r e ndonPr e s s , 1 9 8 8 )5 9 –7 5i sa ne x a mpl eoft hi sa ppr oa c ha twor k. 1 7 “ J e wi s hApoc a l ypt i ci nRe c e ntS t udy , ”BJ RL5 8( 1 9 7 5 –6 ) n9 –3 5 ,quot e f r om 2 8 . 1 8 B. S . Chi l ds ,Bi b l i c a lThe o l o g yo ft heOl da ndNe wT e s t a me nt s : The o l o g i c a l Re fle c t i o no nt heChr i s t i a nBi b l e( LondonnS CM,1 9 9 2 ;Mi nne a pol i s nF or t r e s s , 1 9 9 3 )5 5 –7 9 ;J . A. S a nde r s ,F r o mS a c r e dS t o r yt oS a c r e dT e x t : Ca no na sP a r a d i g m ( Phi l a de l phi s n F or t r e s s , 1 9 8 7 ) . T heApoc r y phaa ndBi bl i c a l T heol ogy 2 6 5 s i nc ei ti st r a di t i on( ort hebe l i e v i ngc ommuni t y )whi c ha ut hor i z e sc a non. Br e v a r d Chi l ds ’ so wn i nt e r e s ti nt he hi s t or y ofi nt e r pr e t a t i on wa s 1 9 mot i v a t e doutofj us ts uc hc onc e r ns . F a rf r om e x c l udi nge x t r a c a noni c a l wr i t i ngsf r om t hee x e r c i s e , t hi sme a nst ha tnotonl yAugus t i ne , Lut he r , a nd Ca l v i na r eofi nt e r e s t , b utbe nS i r a , Tob i t , a ndEnoc hmuc hmor es o . Ho w— t oc i t ea ne x a mpl eBa r rus e s —i so net odi s c e r nt heme a ni ngo ft het i t l e “ s ono fma n”wi t houtr e c our s et ot heEnoc hi cl i t e r a t ur e ?Thewe i ghtwhi c h ac a noni c a la ppr oa c ha c c or dst ot r a d i t i o nha st heuni nt e nde de fe c to f r e l a t i vi z i ng c a noni c a lbo unda r i e s .Thi si sc e r t a i nl yt r ue o fChi l ds ’ s a ppr oa c h;J a me sS a nde r s , ont heot he rha nd, wo ul dbeha ppi e rwi t hs uc ha 2 0 s i t ua t i on. I ti spos s i b l et ha tt hee x c l us i ono fnonc a noni c a ll i t e r a t ur ef r o m t he ol ogi c a lr e fe c t i on c ont r i b ut e st ot heune a s es ha r e db ys omea bout Chi l ds ’ spr ogr a mme . The pos t e x i l i c ,nonc a noni c a lJ e wi s hl i t e r a t ur e ,t he n,pr o vi de sa ne c e s s a r yt he o l o g i c a lc ont e x tf orapur s ui to fChr i s t i a nb i b l i c a lt he ol o gy .I t r e ma i nst ode mons t r a t eho ws uc hac l a i m mi ghtwor kouti npr a c t i c a l t e r ms . I I The e x a mi na t i on of i nt e r pe r s ona lf or gi v e ne s s pr o vi de sa g ood e x a mpl e ,f ori tmo v e st ot hehe a r to ft hebe l i e fo fChr i s t i a nc ommuni t i e s a ndt he i rus eofS c r i pt ur e .S uc ha nunde r s t a ndi ngi sr e fe c t e da c r os sa l l ki ndso fChr i s t i a nwr i t i ng. S o , f ori ns t a nc e , wer e a d“ [ F or gi v e ne s s ]i ss of a r t hee s s e nc eo f[ J e s us ’ ]t e a c hi ngt ha ti n popul a rl a ng ua ge‘ aChr i s t i a n s pi r i t ’i s noti na ppr opr i a t e l y unde r s t ood t ob es ynonymous wi t ha 2 1 f or gi vi ngdi s pos i t i on. ” Thi s“ di s pos i t i on”wa sde fne db yF r a nc i sS c ha e fe r , onc et hegur uofe v a nge l i c a lChr i s t i a ni t y ,t hi swa yn“ Wea r et oha v ea f or gi vi ng s pi r i te v e n be f or et heot he rpe r s on e x pr e s s e sr e gr e tf orhi s wr ong.… Wea r ec a l l e dupont oha v eaf or gi v i ngs pi r i twi t houtt heot he r 1 9 I ne v i de nc ea l r e a dyi nhi sj us t l yf a mousEx o d us :A Co mme nt a r y,OTL ( Londonn S CM, 1 9 7 4 ) . 2 0 S e ehi sc omme nt si nJ .A.S a nde r s ,“ Te x ta ndCa nonnConc e pt sa nd Me t hod, ”J BL9 8( 1 9 7 9 ) n5 –2 9 ;a l s ot hes e c t i on“ Ca nona sF unc t i on”i nJ .A. S a nde r s ,“ Ca nonnHe b r e w Bi b l e , ”i nTheAnc ho rBi b l eDi c t i o na r y,g e n.e d.D.N. F r e e dma n( Ne wYor kn Doub l e da y , 1 9 9 2 )1 n 8 3 7 –5 2 , e s p. 8 4 7 –5 0 . 2 1 W. C. Mo r r oa ndR. K. Ha r r i s on, “ F or gi v e ne s s , ”I S BE2 n 3 4 1 . 2 6 6 Af t ert heE x i l e 2 2 ma nha v i ngma det hefr s ts t e p. ” Dur i ngt heS e c ondWor l dWa r ,C.S . Le wi swr ot eapi e c epl a c i ngt heuns ought a fe rf or gi v e ne s sofe ne mi e sa t 2 3 t hehe a r toft heChr i s t i a nme s s a ge . S i mi l a r l y , t he“ f or gi v e ne s s ”pe t i t i oni n t heLor d’ sPr a ye ri ss a i dt obe“ t hepe t i t i on,t hec e nt r a lone ,t heke r ne lo f 2 4 t hepr a ye r . ” Notonl yi st heob l i ga t i on ofi nt e r pe r s ona lf or gi v e ne s sc e nt r a lt o t r a di t i ona lChr i s t i a ni t y ,i ti sa l s oc l a i me dt ha tbot ht e s t a me nt so ft he Chr i s t i a nc a no ns pe a k wi t h auni t e dv oi c eon t hi sque s t i on.Rudol ph Bul t ma nnwr ot et ha tt heGr e e kt e r msf orf or gi v e ne s sr e f e rmos t l yt oGod’ s f or gi v e ne s st ohuma ni t ywhi c hc a n ber e c e i v e ds ol onga st he r ei sa r e a di ne s st of or gi v ewi t hi nt her e c i pi e nt( c i t i ngMa t t6 n 1 2 ,1 4 f . ;1 8 n 2 1 –3 5 ; Luke1 7 n 3 f . ;Ma r k1 1 n 2 5 ;a s pe c t soft hi swi l lc l a i m oura t t e nt i onbe l o w) .He we ntont os a yt ha t“ t he[ Chr i s t i a n]c onc e pti st hes a mea st heOTa nd 2 5 J e wi s hi de ao ff or gi v e ne s s . ” As t a nda r dr e f e r e nc e wor k ma ke st he e qua t i onb e t we e nOTa ndNTe v e nmor es t a r kl yn“ I nt het e a c hi ngofJ e s us t heme a ni ngo ft hewor d‘ f or gi v e ne s s ’r e t a i nsi t sOTc ont e nt nt her e mo v a l 2 6 ofb a r r i e r sb e t we e nma na ndGodorma na ndma n. ” Wha tdi fe r s ,t he a ut horg oe son,i st hec ont e x t st owhi c hJ e s usr e l a t e st hi sf or gi v e ne s s . Ra b b i ni cc a t e gor i e sa ndwor dswe r et ooc o nfni nga ndJ e s usa ddst he “ di s t i nc t i v e ”e l e me nto ft hef or gi v e ne s soft he“ b r ot he r ”( i bi d. ) . S uc hs t a t e me nt sc o ul db e mul t i pl i e da nd t he ya dd up t ot hi s n f or gi v e ne s si sc e nt r a lt oChr i s t i a ni t y;t heb i b l i c a lwi t ne s so nf or gi v e ne s si s uni t e d;b utJ e s usde v e l opst hec onc e pti nauni quewa yb yhi sa c t i onsa nd hi st e a c hi ngs .Thi sl a s tpoi nti swor t he mpha s i z i ngnJ e s usi spe r c e i v e da s b r e a ki nga wa yf r o mJ e wi s hunde r s t a ndi ngsa nd( s oi twoul dpr ob a b l ybe s a i d)l i fi ng t hei de ao ff or gi v e ne s st o ne w he i ght s .Thi si saf a i r ,i f o v e r s i mpl i fe d,de s c r i pt i onofwha twoul dbet houghtb yama j or i t yof 2 2 F r om TheChur c ha tt heEndo ft he2 0 t hCe nt ur y,p.1 4 5 ;c i t e db yJ .M. Boi c e , Awa k e ni ngt oGo d( Downe r sGr ov e n I VP, 1 9 7 9 )1 0 4 . 2 3 Me r eChr i s t i a ni t y( Gl a s gown F ount , 1 9 5 2 )1 0 1 –1 0 6( wr i t t e ni n1 9 4 2 ) . 2 4 W.Lüt hi ,TheLo r d ’ sP r a ye r :AnEx p o s i t i o n( Ri c hmondnJ ohnKnox ,1 9 6 1 ) 4 8 . 2 5 R. Bul t ma nn, ἀφίημι, TDNT1 n 5 1 1 . 2 6 W. A. Qua nb e c k, “ F or gi v e ne s s , ”I DB2 n 3 1 8 . T heApoc r y phaa ndBi bl i c a l T heol ogy 2 6 7 Chr i s t i a ns .The r ewoul dbenodoub tt ha tt hi snor ma t i v eb e l i e fa r i s e sf r om ana t ur a lr e a di ngo ft heb i b l i c a lt e x t . Thee a r l i e s tpr e s e r v e dChr i s t i a nwr i t i ngsa r et hos eofS t .Pa ul .Gi v e n t hec e nt r a l i t yo fi nt e r pe r s ona lf or gi v e ne s st oChr i s t i a ni t yi ti s ,pe r ha ps , s ur pr i s i ng t ha tt he Pa ul i ne t r a di t i ons l a c kt he us ua l“ f or gi v e ne s s ” 2 7 v oc a b ul a r y . Theus ua lv e r b( ἀφίημι)oc c ur si nt hes e ns e“ t of or gi v e ”f or t yfv et i me si nt heNTnt hi r t yni neo ft he s ei nMa t t Ma r kLuke ;t wot i me si n J ohna ndonl yonc ei nPa ul —a ndt hi si sapa s s a gequot e df r om t hel xx ( Rom 4 n 7=l xxPs3 1 [ 3 2 ] n 1 ) .Thenomi na lf or m( ἄφεσις) ,us e dffe e nt i me s i nt hes e ns eo f“ f or gi v e ne s s , ”i sus e donl yt wi c et hi swa yi nt hePa ul i ne t r a di t i on( Eph1 n 7 ;Col1 n 1 4 )wi t ht hel i on’ ss ha r ea ga i ni nt hes ynopt i c s ( e i ghtt i me s , wi t hfv eoft he s ef oundi nMa t t he w) . Al lt hes a me ,Pa uli sma det ot a keupt hego s pe lme a ni nge v e ni fi ti s a c kno wl e dg e dt ha thee s c he wst hes t a nda r d“ f or gi v e ne s s ”t e r ms .S ome s ugge s tt ha thepr e f e r st het e r m χαρίζομαι f ort hi sj o b( c f .rs va t2Cor2 n 7 , 1 0 ;Eph4 n 3 2 ) ,aus a geuni quet ot heNe w Te s t a me nt( a c c or di ngt oLi dde l l a ndS c ot t ) .Mor eofe ni ti sc l a i me dt ha tPa ul ’ snot i onoff or gi v e ne s si s boundupwi t h( e v e ne qua t e dwi t h)hi sd oc t r i neo fj us t i fc a t i on.“ Pa ul r a r e l yus e st het e r m‘ f or gi v e ne s s , ’b uti ni t spl a c epr e f e r s‘ j us t i fc a t i on. ’ 2 8 The ya r et ohi sunde r s t a ndi ngs ynonymo us . ” S ot oot het he o l ogi a nH.R. Ma c ki nt os hc l a i mst ha tt hei mpor t a nc eoff or gi v e ne s s“ i si ndi c a t e db yt he c l os et i e ,i fnott he i de nt i t y ,b e t we e nt he i de a s off or gi v e ns sa nd ‘ j us t i fc a t i on’ .Ho wt he s ei de a s ,i fr i ght l yi nt e r pr e t e d,r e a l l ydi fe r ,i sha r d 2 9 t os e e . ” Vor l ä nde rs ug ge s t sa s i mi l a rr e l a t i ons hi p.The t e r ms f or “ f or gi v e ne s s ”di s a ppe a rbe c a us e“ t hepr oc l a ma t i ono ff or gi v e ne s sa ppe a r s i nPa ul ’ swr i t i ngsa sat hought o uta nds ys t e ma t i z e dd oc t r i ne ”a ndt hi si s 3 0 e x pr e s s e di nPa ul ’ sdoc t r i neofj us t i fc a t i on. Ot he runde r s t a ndi ngso fPa ul a r epos s i b l e ,ho we v e r ,a ndi ts e e msl i ke l yt ha tLut he r ’ spe r v a s i v ei nfue nc e 3 1 i sf e l ta tt hi spoi nt . Thepoi nthe r ei st hi s ni ff or gi v e ne s si ss oc e nt r a lt o 2 7 Cf . s t a t i s t i c si nH. Vor l ä nde r , “ F or gi v e ne s s , ”NI DNTT1 n 7 0 0 –7 0 1 . Mo r r oa ndHa r r i s on, “ F or gi v e ne s s , ”3 4 2 . 2 9 H.R.Ma c ki nt os h,TheChr i s t i a n Ex p e r i e nc eo fF o r g i v e ne s s ,r e v .e d. ( Londonn Ni s b e t , 1 9 3 4 )3 . 3 0 Vor l ä nde r , “ F or gi v e ne s s , ”7 0 2 . 3 1 Cf . W. F . Cob b , “ F or gi v e ne s s( NTa ndChr i s t i a n) , ”ERE6 n 7 8 . 2 8 2 6 8 Af t ert heE x i l e Chr i s t i a ni t y ,whymus twewor ks oha r dt ofndi tdi s c us s e db yS t .Pa ul whos ei nfue nc eonf or ma t i v eChr i s t i a ni t yc a nha r dl ybede ni e d? The s i t ua t i on i s di fe r e nti nt he s ynopt i c gos pe l s .A “ f or gi v i ng di s pos i t i on”i se s pe c i a l l ya s s oc i a t e dwi t ht het e a c hi ngsofJ e s ushi ms e l f . Oneoft heb e s tknowne x pr e s s i onso ft hi soc c ur si nt heLor d’ sPr a ye r . The ffhpe t i t i oni nMa t t he w’ st e x tr uns n“ Andf or gi v e[ ἄφες]usourde b t s [ τὰ ὀφειλήματα] ,j us ta swef or gi v e[ ἀφήκαμεν]ourde b t or s ”( Ma t t6 n 1 2 ) . Thepa r a l l e li nLuker e a dss l i ght l ydi fe r e nt l yn“ Andf or gi v eusours i ns [ τὰς ἁμαρτίας] ,f ori nde e dwea r ef or gi vi ng[ ἀφίομεν]a l lwhoa r ei nde b t e d t ous ”( Luke1 1 n 4 ) .Thedi fe r e nc e sbe t we e nt he s ef or mul a t i onsa r ewe l l 3 2 kno wnb utt he yne e dnotde t a i nushe r e . De s pi t et hedi fe r e ntwa yst he y j oi npr ot a s i sa nda podos i s ,t hes a mei de ar e s ul t s nt hepe t i t i onr e que s t s f or gi v e ne s st ot hee x t e ntt ha tt hepr a ye r st he ms e l v e sf or gi v e .God’ sa b i l i t y t of or gi v ede pe ndso nhuma nf or gi v e ne s s .J us ti nc a s eweha v emi s s e di t , Ma t t he wg oe st ot het r oub l eo fc onc l udi ngt hepr a ye rwi t hJ e s uss a yi ngn “ F ori fyouf or gi v eot he r st he i rt r e s pa s s e s ,yourhe a v e nl yF a t he rwi l la l s o f or gi v eyou;b uti fyoudonotf or gi v eot he r s ,ne i t he rwi l lyourF a t he r f or gi v eyourt r e s pa s s e s ”( Ma t t6 n 1 4 1 5 ) . The r ei sgr e a tr e s i s t a nc et ot hi sf e a t ur ei nt het e x t .F ormos tmode r n i nt e r pr e t e r s( t he r ea r ee x c e pt i ons )not hi ngmus tbea l l o we dt oi mpe det he f r e efo w ofgr a c ef r om Godt ohi spe opl e ,e v e ni fi tme a nsv i ol a t i ngt he pl a i ns e ns eo fJ e s us ’t e a c hi ngont hes ub j e c t . ThusRob e r tGue l i c hwr i t e s n Al t houghonemi ghtc onc l udeont hes ur f a c et ha tt he s ev e r s e si mpl y one ’ se a r ni ngGod’ sf or gi v e ne s sb yt hea c toff or gi v i ngot he r s ,t he s e v e r s e smus tb er e a di nt hec ont e x tofJ e s us ’t e a c hi nga b outGod’ s me r c ya ndf or gi v e ne s s . . . .F or gi v e ne s sofa not he ri snotapr e r e qui s i t e f ordi v i neforgiveness,a s6 n 1 4 1 5mi ghti mpl y . . . .Theb l unt ne s soft he Ma t t he a nf or mul a t i oni n6 n 1 4 1 5doe swa r nhi sc ommuni t ya ndusi n t e r msofourul t i ma t er e l a t i ons hi pwi t ht heF a t he ra b outt hes e r i ous 3 3 c ons e que nc e sofa nunf or gi v i ngpos t ur e . 3 2 S e ea l s oDi d .8 n 2whi c hs ub s t a nt i a l l yr e pr oduc e st heMa t t he a nv e r s i on. Te x t ua lma t t e r sa r ee x ha us t i v e l ydi s c us s e db yH.D.Be t z ,TheS e r mo no nt he Mo unt( He r me ne i a ; Mi nne a pol i s n F or t r e s s , 1 9 9 5 ) . 3 3 R.A.Gue l i c h,TheS e r mo no nt heMo unt :AF o und a t i o nf o rUnd e r s t a nd i ng ( Wa c on Wor d, 1 9 8 2 )3 1 6 . T heApoc r y phaa ndBi bl i c a l T heol ogy 2 6 9 Topa r a phr a s eGue l i c hnt he s ewor dsofJ e s usdonotme a nwha tt he ys e e m t ome a n,e v e nt hought he ya r ev e r ys e r i ousi nde e d.Pe r ha psi ft hi swa sa n i s ol a t e ds a yi ngwemi ghtbej us t i fe di nr e c a s t i ngi t ss e ns ewi t hGue l i c h. Buts i nc et he r ei smuc hmor ei nt hi sv e i n—a ndt ha te qua l l ypl a i na si n Ma t t he w6 —t ha topt i oni sde ni e dt ous . Al i t t l ee a r l i e ri n Ma t t he w’ sS e r mo n ont heMo unt ,t hes ub j e c to f r e l a t i ons hi psi nt hec ommuni t yc ome sup.J e s ust e a c he st ha te v e ni nt he a c to fofe r i nga tt hea l t a r , s houl dyour e c a l lt ha ta nyonemi ghtha v er e a s on t o hol ds ome t hi ng a ga i ns tyou,yo ua r et o ma ke r e pa r a t i onsbe f or e pr oc e e di ngwi t ht heofe r i ng( Ma t t5 n 2 3 2 4 ) .He r et heofe ndi ngpa r t y’ s ob l i ga t i onsa r ei nv i e w. As i mi l a rt e a c hi nga ppe a r si nMa r k’ sg os pe l , whe r e J e s usi spr e s e nt e da ss a yi ngn“ Whe ne v e ryous t a ndpr a yi ng,f or gi v e ,i fyou ha v ea nyt hi nga ga i ns ta nyone ;s ot ha tyourF a t he ri nhe a v e nma ya l s o 3 4 f or gi v eyouyourt r e s pa s s e s ”( Ma r k1 1 n 2 5 ) . He r et hes hoei sont heot he r f oot . Thi st e a c hi ngi sv e r ymuc hofapi e c ewi t ht ha tc onc l udi ngt heLor d’ s Pr a ye r ,e x c e pthe r ewes e et heonuspl a c e dont heofe nde dpa r t yt of r e e l y ofe rf or gi v e ne s ss oa snott oi mpe dedi v i nef or gi v e ne s s . Ma t t he w de v ot e sal e ngt hypa s s a get ot heque s t i onofr e l a t i ons hi ps i nt heb e l i e vi ng c ommuni t yl a t e ri n hi sg os pe l .Ma t t1 8 n 2 33 4i st he c ompe l l i ng pa r a b l e oft he Unme r c i f ulS e r v a ntwhi c hc o nc l ude st hi s t e a c hi ngs e c t i on.J e s ust e l l st hes t or yoft hes e r v a ntwhoo we dt heki ng a na s t oundi ngl yl a r g ef or t une .Whe nt hes e r v a nti sor de r e dt os e l lhi s f a mi l yi nt os l a v e r y( whi c hwoul dnotbe gi nt oc o v e rt hede b t ) ,t hes e r v a nt i mpl or e st heki ngf orme r c ya ndt hede b ti sr e mi t t e d.Thes e r v a ntl e a v e s t hepr e s e nc eo ft heki ngonl yt oe nc ount e raf e l l o ws e r v a ntwhoo we d hi m apa l t r ys um. Ab us i ngt hef e l l o ws e r v a ntbodi l y , t he“ f or gi v e n”s e r v a nt de ma ndshi smone y .Ti me i sr e que s t e dt o ma ke good t he de b t ,b ut t her e que s ti sde ni e da ndt hemi norde b t ori st hr o wni npr i s on.Ot he r s e r v a nt swi t ne s st hes c e nea ndr e por ti tt ot heki ng.Theki ngi nt ur n r e s ummonst he“ f or gi v e n”s e r v a ntwhoi sr e pr i ma nde df orhi sl a c kof me r c y;hei st he nha nde do v e rt ot het or t ur e r s( τοῖς βασανισταῖς)“ unt i lhe s houl dpa ya l lhi sde b t . ”Ofc o ur s et hi swoul dne v e rha ppe n, t hede b tbe i ng 3 4 S oc l os ei st her e l a t i ons hi pwi t hMa t t6 n 1 4 –1 5t ha tma nyms sa ddi n Ma r k1 1 n 2 6“ Buti fyoudonotf or gi v e ,ne i t he rwi l lyourF a t he ri nhe a v e n f or gi v eyourt r e s pa s s e s . ” 2 7 0 Af t ert heE x i l e i mpos s i b l yl a r ge .Hewoul dl i v eouthi sda ysi nt hec ompa ny ofhi s t or me nt or s . Asnot e d,t hi ss t o r yc ome si nt hec ont e x to fJ e s us ’t e a c hi ngont he ma i nt e na nc eofr e l a t i ons hi psi nt hec ommuni t y . Thei mme di a t ec ont e x tf or t hepa r a b l ei sPe t e r ’ sque s t i on,“ Lor d,ho w ofe ns ha l lmyb r ot he rs i n a ga i ns tme ,a ndIf or gi v ehi m?Asma nya ss e v e nt i me s ? ”( Ma t t1 8 n 2 1 ) . J e s us ’r e pl y( “ Idonots a yt oyous e v e nt i me ,b uts e v e nt yt i me ss e v e n” , v . 2 2 )i ndi c a t e st ha tf or gi v e ne s skno wsnonume r i c a ll i mi t s , a ndt hepa r a b l e i st ol dt oi l l us t r a t et hi snot i on.Pa r a b l e sa r enot or i ousf orr e s i s t i ngac l e a r i nt e r pr e t a t i ona ndt hi sonei snoe x c e pt i on.Buti ts e e mst ha ts of a ra s wea r ea b l et os pe a kof“ t hepoi nt ”o ft hi spa r a b l e ,i tl i e snotwi t ht he a c t i onsoft heki ng,norwi t ht hea c t i onso ft heunme r c i f uls e r v a nt ,b ut r a t he rwi t ht hewhol ec ompl e xo fe v e nt sde s c r i be d.Thel i s t e ne rs i t si n j ud ge me nto v e ra c ompl e xc ompound ofa s t oni s hme nt ,di s ma y ,a nd di s t r e s sa nd i sl e fwi t ht heo v e r whe l mi ng i mpr e s s i on oft hec r uc i a l i mpor t a nc eofb e i ngme r c i f uli no r d e rt or e c e i v eme r c y, j us ta swes a wi nt he t e a c hi ngsi nt heS e r monont heMount .Da nVi a ’ si nt e r e s t i ngr e a di ngo f t hi s pa r a b l ea t t e mpt st oa v oi dt hi si mpl i c a t i onn“ i ti s nott ha tour f or gi v e ne s so fot he r swi nsGod’ sf or gi v e ne s sf orusb utr a t he rt ha thi s f or gi v e ne s sc onf e r suponust hec a pa c i t yt of or gi v e .Theonewhoha s 3 5 r e a l l ye x pe r i e nc e df or gi v e ne s swi l lf or gi v e . ” Butt hi si spr e c i s e l ywha t doe snotha ppe ni nt hepa r a b l ei t s e l f .Theunme r c i f uls e r v a nt ,whos e gr o v e l l i ngha sa c he i v e dt hede s i r e dr e s ul t s ,doe snotpr oc e e dt oa c ti na me r c i f ulma nne r .Vi as e e mst os e ns et hedi s c r e pa nc yf orhegoe sont o i mpl i c i t l ya ddr e s st hi sdi fc ul t y . Ye tt he r ea r ei ndi c a t i onswi t hi nt hec ol l e c t i onofMa t t he w1 8t ha tt he r e 3 6 a r eot he rv i e wpoi nt sr e pr e s e nt e d. Pe t e r ’ sque s t i ona boutt hee x t e ntof f or gi v e ne s si nv .2 1i s pr ompt e db yt he pr e c e di ng t e a c hi ng on r e c onc i l i a t i onb e t we e nme mbe r so ft hec ommuni t y( ὁ ἀδελφός σου,v .1 5 ) . Thes c e na r i oi sg i v e no fa ni nj ur e dpa r t yg oi ngt ot heofe ndi ngpa r t yt o 3 5 D.O.Vi a ,TheP a r a b l e s :The i rLi t e r a r ya ndEx i s t e nt i a lDi me ns i o n( Phi l a de l phi a n F or t r e s s , 1 9 6 7 )1 4 3 ; i t a l i c si nor i gi na l . 3 6 Cf .G.Bor nka mm,“ TheAut hor i t yt o‘ Bi nd’a nd‘ Loos e ’i nt heChur c hi n Ma t t he w’ sGos pe l nThePr ob l e m ofS our c e si n Ma t t he w’ sGos pe l , ”i n The I nt e r p r e t a t i o no fMa t t he w, 2 nde di t i on, e d. G. S t a nt on( Edi nb ur ghn T. &T. Cl a r k, 1 9 9 5 )1 0 6 –1 0 7 . T heApoc r y phaa ndBi bl i c a l T heol ogy 2 7 1 poi ntoutt hef a ul t .I ft hi sdoe snotga i naf a v our a b l er e s pons e ,t he nt he i nj ur e dpa r t yi st or e t ur nwi t honeort woot he r ss ot ha t“ e v e r ywor dma y bec onfr me db yt hee v i de nc eoft woort hr e ewi t ne s s e s ”( v . 1 6 ) . I ft hi sdoe s notwor k, t heofe ndi ngpa r t yi st obeos t r a c i z e df or“ wha t e v e ryoub i ndon e a r t hs ha l lbeboundi nhe a v e n,a ndwha t e v e ryoul oos eone a r t hs ha l lb e l oos e di nhe a v e n”( v .1 8 ) .He r e ,t he n,i ts e e msf or gi v e ne s sc a nbede ni e dn gi v e na n unr e pe nt a ntofe nde r ,J e s uspos i t i v e l yr e c omme ndsi t .Thi s a ppe a r st ob ei nt e ns i on wi t ht he s ub s e que ntc ouns e lt o Pe t e rt ha t f or gi v e ne s skno wsnol i mi t s . Thefna lf e a t ur et onot ei nt hi spa s s a gei st hec onc l udi ngv e r s eo ft he pa r a b l ea ndt hec ha pt e r( v .3 5 ) n“ S oa l s omyhe a v e nl yF a t he rwi l ldot o e v e r yoneo fyou, i fyoudonotf or gi v eyourb r ot he rf r om yourhe a r t . ”He r e wes e eas i mi l a rnot i ont ot ha tofvv .1 52 0 ,na me l y ,f or gi v e ne s sha si t s l i mi t sa ndde ma ndsa ndi ft he s ea r et r a ns gr e s s e dt he nt he r ei s( l i t e r a l l y ) he l lt opa y . J us ta st heofe ndi ngpa r t yi sos t r a c i z e df r om t hec ommuni t yi n t het e a c hi ngpa s s a g e ,s ot oot hos ewhof a i lt oe x e r c i s eme r c ywi l lbe s hunne df r om God’ spr e s e nc e .Thus ,e v e nwi t hi nas i ngl epa s s a g et ha t s e e mst obede l i be r a t e l ya r r a nge d( i ti snotar a ndom c ol l e c t i on) ,wes e e di fe r e ntpoi nt sofvi e we x pr e s s e d.Pe r ha pst hi swa st hepur pos eo ft he gos pe lwr i t e r nb yj ux t a pos i ngt he s ee l e me nt s ,t hec ommuni t yi sf or c e dt o r e a de a c hpa r ti nl i ghto ft heot he r . To s um up on t he Ne w Te s t a me nt nChr i s t i a nt r a di t i on pl a c e s f or gi v e ne s ss q ua r e l ya tt hec e nt r eofi t si de nt i t y ,be l i e v i ngt ha ti ndoi ngs o i tf a i t hf ul l yf ol l o wst heBi b l e ’ suni t e dwi t ne s sont hes ub j e c t .And,t obe s ur e ,f or gi v e ne s si sac r uc i a lnot i oni nJ e s us ’t e a c hi ng,a l be i tmuc hmor e c r uc i a lt ha tma nya r ewi l l i ngt oc onc e de .Bute v e nwi t hi nt hegos pe l swe ge tas e ns et ha tt he r ewe r eot he rv i e wpoi nt sonf or gi v e ne s sa ndi t sr ol ei n c ommuni t yl i f e .Thi sv a r i e t yi swi de ne dwhe nwenot et ha tPa ula l mo s t ne v e rus e st hef or gi v e ne s sl a ngua geo fhi sMa s t e r .I ft hi si st hes i t ua t i on wi t hav e r yl i mi t e ds ur v e ywi t hi nt heNT,howj us t i fe da r ec l a i mst ha tt he Ne w Te s t a me nt“ pr e s e nt sb a s i c a l l yt hes a meunde r s t a ndi ngo ff or gi v e ne s s 3 7 a st heOl dTe s t a me nt ” ? Tot hi sq ue s t i onweno wt ur n. 3 7 Qua nb e c k, “ F or gi v e ne s s , ”3 1 9 . 2 7 2 Af t ert heE x i l e I I I Asj us tme nt i one d,oneoft hes t r i ki ngt hi ngsa bo utJ e s us ’s t a t e me nt son f or gi v e ne s s wa st he pi v ot a li mpor t a nc e pl a c e d on i nt e r pe r s ona l f or gi v e ne s s .I tc ome sa ss ome t hi ngo fas ur pr i s e ,t he n,t odi s c ov e rt ha t i nt e r pe r s ona lf or gi v e ne s si sv i r t ua l l ya b s e ntf r om t heHe b r e w Bi b l e .Thi s 3 8 f a c tha sb e e n not e db e f or e , b uti snot ,It hi nk,wi de l yr e c o gni z e d. “ Te a c hi ng”pa s s a ge so nt hi sa r ene a r l ynone x i s t e nt ;na r r a t i v ede pi c t i ons a r ee x t r e me l yr a r e .F ort hel a t t e r ,t he r ei st hes c e neb e t we e nt heb r ot he r s J a c oba ndEs a u( Ge ne s i s3 2 3 3 )whe r eJ a c ob ,whos omeye a r sbe f or eha d s wi ndl e dhi sb r ot he ri nama j orwa y ,c ome squa ki ngi nf e a ra ndt opl e a d f orf or gi v e ne s s( whi c hi sdr a ma t i c a l l yg r a nt e d) ;a fe rheha sr i s e nt opo we r i nEgypt ,J os e phe x t e ndsf or gi v e ne s st ohi sb r ot he r swhos ol dhi mi nt o s l a v e r y( t he ya l s oa r es l a v e r i ngwi t hf e a ra tt hepos s i b i l i t yofv e nge a nc e f r om J os e ph;Ge ne s i s5 0 ) ;Ab i ga i l ,wi f eo fNa b a lwhoofe ndst heb r i ga nd Da v i d,bo l dl yt a ke ss t e pst ot ur na wa y Da v i d’ swr a t h( 1S a mue l2 5 ) ; pe r ha pss o meo ft heot he rs c e ne sf r o mt heDa v i ds t or i e sb e l onghe r et oo ( Da v i da ndS a ul ;Da vi da ndAb s a l om) .Butt he r es e e mt ob enomor e 3 9 be yondt he s e . The s e na r r a t i v e sme r i ts t udy i nt he i ro wn r i ght ,f orde s pi t et he i nf r e que nc yoft het he me ,“ f or gi v e ne s s ”ont he s eoc c a s i onsi ss e e nt obea ma t t e ro fl i f ea ndde a t h.Al lt hes a me ,i nt heOTt he r ei snoo b l i ga t i onl a i d ont hos ewhoha v ebe e nwr onge dt oofe rf or gi v e ne s s ,noront hepa r t oft hos ewhoha v ec a us e di nj ur yt os e e kf or gi v e ne s s .Whi l et heoc c a s i ons a r ef e w,t hedyna mi ci ne a c hc a s er e ma i nst hes a me .Theonehol di ng po we rha sbe e nwr onge d;t hi si sr e c ogni z e db yb ot hpa r t i e s ;t heofe ndi ng pa r t y gr o v e l s ;r e pa r a t i on i sma de ;l i f e goe son.Mor r oa nd Ha r r i s on r e c og ni z et hi spa t t e r nn“ i ne a c hi ns t a nc et heoner e que s t i ngpa r doni si n apos i t i ono fs ub s e r v i e nc e ,a ndi spe t i t i oni ngf ort ha tt owhi c hheha s 4 0 noj us torna t ur a lr i ght . ” He r e , t hei ni t i a t i v el i e ss qua r e l yont hes houl de r s 3 8 H. P. S mi t h, “ F or gi v e ne s s( He b r e w) , ”ERE6 n 7 6 –7 7 . Onec oul da ddhe r eoc c a s i onswhe r ef or gi v e ne s si ss oughtb yonepe r s on f r om a not he r( e . g. , S a ula ndS a mue l[ 1S a mue l1 5 ] , orS hi me ia ndDa v i d[ 2S a m 1 6 n 5 –1 4 ; 1 9 n 1 6 –2 3 ; 1Kgs2 n 8 –9 , 3 6 –4 6 ] )a ndt hi si sde ni e d. 4 0 Mo r r oa ndHa r r i s on, “ F or gi v e ne s s , ”3 4 1 . 3 9 T heApoc r y phaa ndBi bl i c a l T heol ogy 2 7 3 oft heofe ndi ngpa r t y . Thi ss t a ndsi nc ont r a s tt os omeoft heNTwi t ne s s e s whi c hpl a c et hei ni t i a t i v eont hei nj ur e dpa r t y . Tha tt hi ss houl dbes oi sa l lt hemor enot e wor t hywhe ni ti sr e c a l l e d t ha tv e r yo fe ndi vi ne huma nr e l a t i ons hi psa r epi c t ur e dont hea na l o gyo f huma nhuma nr e l a t i ons hi ps . The dyna mi cj us t de s c r i be dr e s ona t e s s t r ongl ywi t ht hes or to fr e pe nt a nc et hepr ophe t sc a l lf ort oe na b l edi vi ne f or gi v e ne s s .Thei ni t i a t i v el i e swi t ht hee r r i ngpe opl e ;onl yupont he i r r e pe nt a nc ewi l lGodf or gi v e .Thei mpl i c a t i oni soc c a s i ona l l ys pe l l e dout n f or gi v e ne s s ma y be de ni e d.Thus i nI s a2 2 n 1 2 –1 4 Ya hwe hc a l l sf or mour ni ngwhe nt hepe opl ef e a s ta ndde c l a r e st hr ought hepr ophe t , “ S ur e l y t hi si ni qui t ywi l lnotb ef or gi v e nyo u( ‫ר‬ ‫פ‬ ‫כ‬ )t i l lyoudi e ”( 2 1 n 1 4 b ) .Thefna l c l a us e ,s ome wha ta mb i g uousi nt hi st r a ns l a t i on( rs v)mi ghtber e nde r e d “ e v e nunt i lyoudi e ”( ‫ן‬ ‫ו‬ ‫־תמת‬ ‫ד‬ ‫ע‬ ) .I not he rwor ds ,t hi sofe ns et oYa hwe hha s nooppor t uni t yf orf or gi v e ne s s .Pe r ha pst hi snot ei sa ti t smos ts t r i de nti n t hepr e a c hi ngofJ e r e mi a hwhe r et her e j e c t i onb yYa hwe hofhi spe opl e s e e mst obec o mpl e t e n“ The n Ya hwe hs a i dt ome ,‘ ThoughMos e sa nd S a mue ls t oodb e f or eme ,ye tmyhe a r twoul dnott ur nt o wa r dt hi spe opl e . 4 1 S e ndt he m outofmys i ght , a ndl e tt he m go! ’ ”( J e r1 5 n 1 ) . Al lt hi si snott os a yt ha tGodi nt heOTdoe snotde s i r et of or gi v e , be c a us ec l e a r l yi ti sv e r ymuc ht hec ha r a c t e ro ft hi sGodt oa c tg r a c i ous l y . Ma nymo v i ngpa s s a ge si nt heHe b r e wBi b l ede s c r i beYa hwe h’ swi l l i ngne s s a nd e v e n de s i r et of or gi v e .Muc hi spr e di c a t e d on t hi sa s pe c to fhi s c ha r a c t e r .S oi nt hepr a ye ra tt hede di c a t i ono ft heTe mpl ei n1Ki ngs8we ha v et hef a mo uspe t i t i onss ha r i ngt hephr a s e“ t he nhe a rt houi nhe a v e n a nd f or gi v e( ‫ח‬ ‫ל‬ ‫)ס‬ . ” Thi ss e r i e sc ul mi na t e si nt he l e ngt hy pe t i t i on c onc e r ni nge x i l e .I ti swor t hc i t i ngi nf ul l ,f ori ti l l us t r a t e spr e c i s e l yt he dyna mi ca l r e a dyde s c r i be di nhuma nt ohuma nf or gi v e ne s s n “ I ft he ys i na g a i ns tt he e —f ort he r ei snoma nwhodoe snots i n—a nd t houa r ta ngr ywi t ht he m,a nddos tgi v et he mt oa ne ne my ,s ot ha t t he ya r ec a r r i e da wa yc a pt i v et ot hel a ndoft hee ne my , f a roforne a r ; ye ti ft he yl a yi tt ohe a r ti nt hel a ndt owhi c ht he yha v eb e e nc a r r i e d c a pt i v e ,a ndr e pe nt ,a ndma kes uppl i c a t i ont ot he ei nt hel a ndoft he i r c a pt or s ,s a yi ng,‘ Weha v es i nne d,a nd ha v ea c t e d pe r v e r s e l ya nd 4 1 Mo s e sa ndS a mue lwe r eb ot hpr ophe t swhoha ds uc c e s s f ul l ygr ov e l l e d b e f or eGodonb e ha l foft he i rpe opl e nMo s e si nEx odus3 2a ndNum 1 4 n 1 3 –1 9 ( c f . De ut9 n 1 3 –2 9 ) ; S a mue li n1S a m7 n 8 –9( c f . t hemor ec ompl e x1S a mue l1 2 ) . 2 7 4 Af t ert heE x i l e wi c ke dl y’ ;i ft he yr e pe ntwi t ha l lt he i rmi nda ndwi t ha l lt he i rhe a r t i nt hel a ndoft he i re ne mi e s ,whoc a r r i e dt he mc a pt i v e ,a ndpr a y t ot he et owa r dt he i rl a nd,whi c ht houg a v e s tt ot he i rf a t he r s ,t hec i t y whi c ht houha s tc hos e n,a ndt hehous ewhi c hIha v eb ui l tfor t hy na me ;t he nhe a rt houi nhe a v e nt hydwe l l i ngpl a c et he i rpr a ye ra nd t he i rs uppl i c a t i on,a ndma i nt a i nt he i rc a us ea ndf or gi v et hype opl e whoha v es i nne da ga i ns tt he e ,a nda l lt he i rt r a ns gr e s s i onswhi c ht he y ha v ec ommi t t e da g a i ns tt he e ;a ndgr a ntt he mc ompa s s i oni nt hes i ght oft hos ewhoc a r r i e dt he mc a pt i v e ,t ha tt he yma yha v ec ompa s s i on ont he m․ ․ ․ ․ ” ( 1Kgs8 n 4 6 –5 0rs v) Cons i s t e nt l yt hei ni t i a t i v ec o me sf r om t hepe opl e ,t he“ ofe ndi ngpa r t y . ” The ymus tr e c o gni z et he i rwr ong,t ur nt oYa hwe ha ndgr o v e l ,a ndhope t ha ti nhi swi l lt of or gi v ehehe a r st he i rpr a ye ra ndha sc o mpa s s i onon t he m.Thi si snodi fe r e ntt ha nJ a c ob ’ sa b a s e me ntbe f or eEs a u,orAb i ga i l ’ s a ppr oa c ht oDa v i d. Butwha tki ndo ff or gi v e ne s si st hi s ?F or gi v e ne s si nt heOTs e e mst o me a ng e t t i ngonwi t hl i f ea fe rab r e a c ho fnor ma l c y .The s emor ene ut r a l t e r mss ugge s ta not he rs ur pr i s i ngf e a t ur eoft heOTr e c or dn“ s i n”i snott he 4 2 onl y ne c e s s i t a t orof“ f or gi v e ne s s . ”F ore x a mpl e , Ps a l m6 —oneoft he Chur c h’ st r a di t i ona l“ pe ni t e nt i a l ” ps a l ms —s e e ms t os pe a kc a l lf or f or gi v e ne s si ni t spi l i ngupofme t a phor s nb egr a c i ous ,he a lme ,s a v emy l i f e ,de l i v e rme .Ra t he r ,t heb r e a c hbe t we e nde i t ya ndwor s hi pe rma ni f e s t s i t s e l f ,i ts e e ms ,i ni l l ne s s( c f .S i r1 8 n 2 1 ) .Theps a l mc onc l ude s ,a sl a me nt s ofe ndo ,wi t ht hec onv i c t i ont ha tYa hwe hha she a r dt hi spl e a .Ho we v e r , t heps a l mi s tne v e rgi v e sa nyhi ntof“ s i n” nnot e r msf ori ta r eus e d;i ti s ne i t he ra c kno wl e dg e dnorc onf e s s e d. F ort hi sr e a s ons omeha v eq ue s t i one d i t spl a c ea mongt hepe ni t e nt i a lps a l ms !Ont heot he rha nd, t heb r oa de ra nd mor e ne ut r a lnot i on of“ r e pa r a t i ons o fb r e a c he s ”doe s ftwi t ht he ps a l mi s t ’ sc r y ,f ort he r ei sc l e a r l ys omeg a pbe t we e npr a ye ra ndde i t y . Thi ss e ns eo ff or gi v e ne s sa sr e c onc i l i a t i onmo v e sa wa yf r om s t udi e so f f or gi v e ne s sb a s e donl e x i c a li t e mst oc ont e x t ua l i z i ngi ti nt hel i v i ngofl i f e . 4 2 Thi se x a mpl ewa sdr a wn t omy a t t e nt i on b y T.M.Ra i t t ,“ Wha ti s f or gi v e ne s s ?Wha ti snot ?TheCa s ef orMe t a phor s , ”unpub l i s he dpa pe r ,S BL Annua lMe e t i ng( Ana he i m, 1 9 8 9 ) . T heApoc r y phaa ndBi bl i c a l T heol ogy 2 7 5 I V The r es e e mst ob e , t he n, as i gni fc a nts t r uc t ur a lg a pbe t we e nf or gi v e ne s si n t heTa na ka ndt heNT.Gr e a t e rv a r i e t yc a nye tb ef oundt ha nt hi sb r i e f s ur v e yha sunc o v e r e d.Butf orourpur pos e st hepoi ntha sbe e nma de .I t c a nnotbec l a i me dt ha tOTa ndNTha v et hes a menot i ono ff or gi v e ne s s , b a s e donar e a di ngo ft he s ewr i t i ngsi nt he i ro wnr i ght . S omewoul ds t i l la t t e mptt ol i nkt het wodi r e c t l yt oge t he r ,a nds ome a t t e nt i ons houl dbegi v e nt ot hi spos s i b i l i t y .I tha sbe e ns ugge s t e dt ha tt he 4 3 ffhpe t i t i ono ft heLor d’ sPr a ye ri sr e l a t e dt ot hel xxofDe ut1 5 n 2 . F e ns ha ms ugge s t st hi sl i nkont heb a s i sofs ha r e dke ywor ds nt hepa i r ἀφήσεις . . .ὀφείλει i n De ut e r onomy ,pa r a l l e l e di n Ma t t he wb y ἄφες / ἀφήκαμεν -ὀφειλήματα.I tmus tbegr a nt e dt ha tt hel e x i c a li t e msl i neup qui t eni c e l yhe r e ,b utF e ns ha m di s r e ga r dst hef a c tt het e r msha v eq ui t e di fe r e ntme a ni ngsi nt he i rr e s pe c t i v ec ont e x t s . De ut e r onomy1 5de a l swi t h t hel a wo f‫ה‬ ‫ט‬ ‫שמ‬ ׁ ,t hes e v e nye a r l yr e l e a s ef r om de b t .He r e ,t he n,de b t me a nse x a c t l yt ha t ,a nd“ r e l e a s e ”( ‫ט‬ ‫שמ‬ ׁ ) ,t r a ns l a t e db yἀφίημι i nt hel xx, doe snotme a n“ f or gi v e . ”I nMa t t he w,o nt heot he rha nd,ἀφίημι ha st he me a ni ng“ f or gi v e , ”a ndt he“ de b t ”i swi de l yr e c o gni z e dt oha v et hev a l ue Lukegi v e st het e r mne qui v a l e ntt o“ s i n. ”Thi ss upe r fc i a lpa r a l l e ldoe snot s t a ndupt os c r ut i ny . Pr ob a b l yt he mo s t pr omi s i ng a t t e mpt t of or ge a l i nk be t we e n t e s t a me nt st a ke sa si t ss t a r t i ngpoi ntt hef a mo usl a wo fLe v1 9 n 1 71 8whi c h r e a ds n“ Yous ha l lnotha t ei nyourhe a r t sa nyoneofyourki n;yous ha l l r e pr o v eyourne i ghbouroryouwi l li nc urg ui l tyour s e l f .Yo us ha l lnott a ke v e nge a nc eorbe a ragr ud gea ga i ns ta nyofyourpe opl e ,b utyous ha l ll o v e ( ‫בת‬ ‫ה‬ ‫א‬ ‫ו‬ )yourne i ghboura syour s e l f ;Ia m Ya hwe h. ”The s ewor dss e e m t ob r i ngusv e r yc l os et ot heNe w Te s t a me ntnot i onswede a l twi t he a r l i e r . Ont hef a c eofi t ,t hec a l lt ogi v eupag r udgea ndt ol o v eone ’ sne i ghbour a ddupt ot hes or to fo b l i ga t i ons e e ni nt heo b l i ga t i ont oma ker e pa r a t i ons be f or es a c r i fc e( Ma t t5 n 2 3 2 4 ) . Thel a t t e rpa r toft hi st e x ti st a ke nupi nt he Gos pe l sa soneoft het wogr e a tc omma ndme nt s( Ma t t2 2 n 3 44 0 ;Ma r k 1 2 n 2 8 3 1 ;Luke1 0 n 2 5 2 8 ) .Thi swoul da ppe a rpr omi s i ngwhe nl ooki ngf or al i nkb e t we e nTa na ka ndNe w Te s t a me ntont hes ub j e c toff or gi v e ne s s . Ho we v e r ,ac l os e rl ooka tt heLe vi t i c usl e gi s l a t i oni ni t so wnc ont e x ta ga i n 4 3 F . C. F e ns ha m, “ TheLe ga lBa c kgr oundofMt . v i1 2 , ”No v T4( 1 9 6 0 ) n 1 –2 . 2 7 6 Af t ert heE x i l e s ugge s t sd e e pe rdi fe r e nc e s .Thi st e x t( Le v1 9 n 1 71 8 )a ppe a r sa spa r to fa gr oupo fe t hi c a lr e qui r e me nt sa i me d, i ta ppe a r s , a tt hel e ga lc ommuni t y ,or 4 4 a tl e a s ta tt hos ewhoa r ei napos i t i ont oa dmi ni s t e ra nde x e c ut e“ j us t i c e . ” Thec l a us e“ l e s tyo ui nc urgui l tyour s e l f ”i sob s c ur e .Thewor dsa r epl a i n b utt he i rme a ni ngi snot .I ti snot e wor t hya l s ot ha tt hi st e x ti sa i me da t i nne r I s r a e l i t er e l a t i ons ,de a l i ngwi t hne i ghbour ,ki nf o l k,a nds oon( vv . 1 5 1 6 ) .I nt heb r oa de rc ont e x t ,t hes t i pul a t i ona i msa tl i mi t i ngt hepa r tt ha t v e nge a nc epl a ysi nt hee x e c ut i onofj us t i c e .Ass uc h,i tft swe l lwi t ht he l e xt a l i o ni s( “ a ne yef ora ne ye . . . ” )whi c ha ppe a r si na l lt hr e eo ft hegr e a t l e ga lc ode soft heHe b r e w Bi b l e( Ex od2 1 n 2 4 ;Le v2 4 n 2 0 ;De ut1 9 n 2 1 ) .Thi s pr i nc i pl ei so newhi c hJ e s uss oughtt or e i nt e r pr e ti nt heS e r monont he Mount nr e t a l i a t i onwa snotl i mi t e d;i twa sa bol i s he d( Ma t t5 n 3 84 2 ) .Thus t hega pbe t we e nHe b r e wBi b l ea ndNe wTe s t a me nti sonc ea ga i na ppa r e nt . V I fonec a nnots i mpl yl e a pa c r os st hi sc ha s m, c a nonea tl e a s tfndawa y t ob r i dg ei t ?I nt hee a r l yJ e wi s hc ommuni t y—a r ound t he Ma c c a be a n pe r i od,orwha ti n Chr i s t i a n pa r l a nc ei sc a l l e dt he “ i nt e r t e s t a me nt a l pe r i od” —t he mo v et oa ut hor i t a t i v et e x t s wa sa l r e a dy i nf ul ls wi ng. Pr ophe c yha dc e a s e d,s or a t he rt ha tl oo ki ngf orne wr e v e l a t i on,t hos e wr i t i ngsofa nt i qui t y—whe n God s poket oI s r a e l —we r emi ne df ort he 4 5 wi s dom t he yga v et ot hi sne wc ommuni t y . “ Bi b l i c a lt he ol o gy”ha st e nde d 4 4 Cf . M. No t h, Le v i t i c us : ACo mme nt a r y, 2 nde d. ( LondonnS CM, 1 9 7 7 )1 4 1 – 4 2 . 4 5 One mi ght a r gue t ha t“ ne w r e v e l a t i on” c a me i nt he gui s e of ps e ude pi gr a phi c a lt e x t s , b ute v e nt hi ss houl dus ua l l yb eunde r s t oodwi t hi nt he b r oa df r a me wor k of“ i nt e r pr e t a t i on”s ugge s t e d he r e .Cf .t hec omme nt sof De v or a hDi ma nt n . . . unl i kemos toft hewr i t i ngsofot he rc or por a[ e . g. ,DS S ,r a b b i ni c mi dr a s hi m] ,t heApoc r ypha la ndPs e ude pi gr a phi cc ompos i t i onst a ke ups t yl e sa ndf or msoft heb i b l i c a ll i t e r a t ur e .The yma y ,t he r e f or e ,b e s e e na sa i mi ngt or e c r e a t et heb i b l i c a lwor l d,whi l eot he rl i t e r a t ur e s , i na s muc h a st he y e mpl oy b i b l i c a l ma t e r i a l s , us ua l l y a i m a t i nt e r pr e t i ngi t .Butwhi l es pe c i fca i msa ndl i t e r a r yf or msv a r y ,a l l pos t b i b l i c a lwr i t i ngsdr a w upont heb i b l i c a lt r a di t i ona ndi nt e r pr e ti t i nv a r i ouswa ys . T heApoc r y phaa ndBi bl i c a l T heol ogy 2 7 7 nott opa ya t t e nt i ont ot hi sl i t e r a t ur e( a ss e e na bo v e ) ,b uti ti she r et ha t t he ol ogi c a ls e ns ec a nbema deoft het wot e s t a me nt sde s pi t et hef a c tt ha t t heApoc r yphai snon-( orde ut e r o) c a noni c a li ns o meChr i s t i a nt r a di t i ons . S o ,f ore x a mpl e ,i nt heWi s dom ofJ e s usbe nS i r a ,wefnd n“ Het ha tt a ke s v e nge a nc ewi l ls ufe rv e nge a nc ef r om t heLor d, a ndhewi l lfr ml ye s t a b l i s h hi ss i ns ”( S i r2 8 n 1 ) .S of a r ,t hi ss oundsmuc hl i ket heI s a i a ha ndJ e r e mi a h t e x t sc i t e de a r l i e r nf or gi v e ne s sha sl i mi t sa ndc a nr e s ul ti na ni r r e pa r a b l e b r e a c hf r om God.Butbe nS i r agoe sonn“ F or gi v eyourne i ghbourt he wr ongheha sdone ,a ndt he nyours i nswi l lbepa r done dwhe nyoupr a y” ( S i r2 8 n 2 ) .Thi sc ome sv e r yc l os et ot he g os pe lt e a c hi ng t ha tdi v i ne f or gi v e ne s si se na b l e db yhuma nf or gi v e ne s s ,a ndt hi sf r om t hes e c ond c e nt ur yb. c . e . Thi ss e c t i onofbe nS i r ai snotb r oke ni nt oc l e a rdi v i s i onsb utmo v e si n afui dwa yf r om onet opi ct ot hene x t .Ac ons i de r a t i ono fa nge rpr o v i de s t hege ne r a lc ont e x t . I ti snotas i mpl ema t t e rt os e ewhe r et hi sdi s c us s i onof f or gi v e ne s sbe gi ns ,orwhe r ei te nds .S ke ha na nd DiLe l l as e e2 8 n 1 c onc l udi ngapoe m ont her e l a t e dt he me so fma l i c e ,wr a t h,a nda nge r ( 2 7 n 2 8 –2 8 n 1 ) ,wi t h2 8 n 2l a unc hi ngt her e fe c t i onont hedut yoff or gi v e ne s s 4 6 ( 2 8 n 2 –7 ) . S na i t h,ont heot he rha nd,put st hedi v i s i ona t2 7 n 3 0 ,uni t i ng 4 7 2 8 n 1 –2i nt hes a mepoe m( 2 7 n 3 0 –2 8 n 7 ) . Thene x tf e wv e r s e so fc h.2 8 e x pl a i n ho wi ti st ha tf or gi v e ne s s ofone ’ s ne i ghbourl e a ds t ot he f or gi v e ne s sofone ’ so wns i ns .I nas e r i e so fr he t or i c a lque s t i onsbe nS i r a i ndi c a t e st he e s t r a nge me nt t ha t hos t i l i t yb r i ngs be t we e n God a nd huma ni t y( vv .3 5 ) nv .4( “ Doe sheha v enome r c yt o wa r dama nl i ke 4 8 hi ms e l f , a ndye tpr a yf orhi so wns i ns ? ” ) c oul dbet heb a s i sf ort hepa r a b l e “ Us ea ndI nt e r pr e t a t i onofMi kr ai nt heApoc r yphaa ndPs e ude pi gr a pha , ”i n Mi k r a :T e x t ,Tr a ns l a t i o n,Re a d i nga ndI nt e r p r e t a t i o no ft heHe b r e w Bi b l ei n Anc i e ntJ ud a i s ma ndEa r l yChr i s t i a ni t y,e d.M.J .Mul de r( As s e n/ Ma a s t r i c ht n Va nGor c um, 1 9 9 0 )3 7 9 . 4 6 P.W.S ke ha na ndA.A.Di Le l l a ,TheWi s d o mo fBe nS i r a( AB3 9 ;Ne w Yor kn Doub l e da y , 1 9 8 7 )3 5 8 , 3 6 3 –6 4 . 4 7 J .G.S na i t h,Ec c l e s i a s t i c us o rt he Wi s d o m o fJ e s us s o no fS i r a c h ( Ca mb r i dge nCa mb r i dg e Uni v e r s i t y Pr e s s ,1 9 7 4 )1 3 9 –4 0 .S na i t h’ sdi v i s i on f ol l owst ha ti nRa hl f s ’e di t i ona ndt ha tofW.O.E.Oe s t e r l y ,TheWi s d o mo f J e s ust heS o no fS i r a c ho rEc c l e s i a s t i c us( Ca mb r i dge nCa mb r i dgeUni v e r s i t y Pr e s s , 1 9 1 2 )1 7 8 –7 9 . 4 8 Cf .J o s e p ha ndAs e ne t hwhe r eLe v ir e s t r a i nsBe nj a mi nf r om pe r s i s t i ngi n 2 7 8 Af t ert heE x i l e ofMa t t1 8 n 2 3 –3 5 .Ado ub l ef ounda t i oni spr o v i de df ort hi st e a c hi ng.F i r s t , mor t a l i t ys houl de nour a gepe a c e a b l ebe ha vi our —a na l l us i on t o afna l j ud ge me nt .S e c ond,s uc hbe ha v i ourf ol l owst he“ c omma ndme nt s ” n“ donot bea ng r ywi t hyourne i ghbour ;r e me mbe rt hec o v e na nto ft heMo s tHi gh, 4 9 a ndo v e r l ooki gnor a nc e ”( v .7 ) . Thepa s s a gec ont i nue sb yt ur ni ngt ot he r e l a t e dt he me ofho w a b s t a i ni ng f r om s t r i f e wi l ll e s s e ns i n.The s e c omme nt sb r e a t het hes a mea i ra st heLe v i t i c a ll e gi s l a t i ondi s c us s e da bo v e . S oi nbe nS i r awefnda ni nt e r pr e t a t i v et r a di t i ondr a wi ngoutt heme a ni ng oft heHe b r e ws c r i pt ur e s ,a nda r r i v i nga tat e a c hi ngwhi c hc a nbef ound f r om l a t e rt i me si nt hegos pe l s . Thi ss ug ge s t s a na t ur a lt r a j e c t or yi nJ uda i s m i t s e l f .As S na i t h c omme nt s ,“ t hi ss e c t i oni l l us t r a t e swe l lt het he ol ogi c a lb a c kgr oundofa l l Be nS i r a ’ spr a c t i c a la dv i c e ”i ni t sc omb i ni ngo ft he“ t r a di t i ona lJ e wi s h c onc e pt s ”o f“ ‘ de a t h’a spuni s hme ntf ors i n, ․ ․ ․ obe di e nc et o‘ t hec omma ndme nt s ’o ft hel a wa ndl o ya l t yt o‘ t hec o v e na nt ’whi c hhe r eme a nsf a i t hf ul l y 5 0 f ol l o wi ngt hel a w. ”S uc hac omb i na t i ono ft he me sc a nbef o unda l s oi n Pr o v e r b s1 –9 , b utb e nS i r ad r a wso uta ni mpl i c a t i o nf o rt ho s ed e s i r i ngt ol i v e 5 1 pi o usl i v e st ha td o e sno ts ur f a c ei nt hee a r l i e rwi s d o mb oo k. El s e whe r ei n b e nS i r as uc h no t i o ns a l s o oc c urt o g e t he r .Re fe c t i o ns o nd e a t ha nd j ud g e me nts ha r pe nt hec o ns i d e r a t i o no ft hed i v i nef o r g i v e ne s s( S i r5 n 4 –7 ; 1 7 n 2 5 –3 2 ;1 8 n 8 –1 4 ) ;b e i ngmi nd f ulo fo ne ’ sne i g hb o uri sama r ko ft hepi o us ( S i r1 0 n 6 –7 ;2 9 n 1 –2 8i nt hec o nt e x to fmo ne yl e nd i ng ) .Buto nl yi n2 8 n 1 –2 r e v e nge n“ . . . wea r eme nwhowor s hi pGod,a ndi ti snotr i ghtf orama nwho wor s hi psGodt or e pa ye v i lf ore v i l , ort ot r a mpl euponama nwhoha sa l r e a dy f a l l e n”( 2 9 n 3 ; t r a ns l a t i onb yD. Cook, i nS pa r ks , AOT) . 4 9 S i r2 8 n 7r e a dshe r eμὴ μηνίσῃς τῷ πλησίον whi c hi st he“ oppos i t e ”oft he Le v i t i c a lc omma ndἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν ( Le v1 9 n 1 8 ) .Pe r ha ps b e nS i r ac onfa t e sLe v1 9 n 1 8wi t ht hepr e c e di ngv e r s e nοὐ μισήσεις τὸν ἀδελφόν σου ( 1 9 n 1 7 a ) . 5 0 S na i t h, Ec c l e s i a s t i c us , 1 4 0 . 5 1 Cf .R.Tr a v e r sHe r f or doni nt e r pe r s ona lf or gi v e ne s si nr a b b i ni ce t hi c s n “ Ther e a s onwhyama ns houl db ef or gi v i ngi st ob ef oundi nt hepr i nc i pl e s. . . oft he I mi t a t i on ofGod . . .a nd Lo v e ofone ’ sne i ghb our . ” Ta l mud a nd Ap o c r yp ha :A Co mp a r a t i v eS t ud yo ft he J e wi s h Et hi c a lT e a c hi ng i nt he Ra b b i ni c a la ndNo nRa b b i ni c a lS o ur c e si nt heEa r l yCe nt ur i e s( 1 9 3 3 ;Ne w Yor kn KTAV,1 9 7 1 )1 5 8 . The r ei smuc he l s ehe r eofi nt e r e s tt ha tc a nnotb epur s ue di n t hi sc ont e x t . T heApoc r y phaa ndBi bl i c a l T heol ogy 2 7 9 d oe st hi sc o mb i na t i o npr od uc et hec o nc l us i o nt ha td i v i nej ud g e me ntc a nbe c ont r ol l e db y huma na c t i v i t y ,t ha tt hos ewho l a c k ofme r c y ob s t r uc t f or gi v e ne s sf r om Godwhe nt he ys e e ki t .The s e ,t he n,a r eno tj us tgos pe l not i ons ;t he ya r et hei de a st ha tde v e l ope dwi t hi nJ e wi s ht houghto uto f na t ur a lc ur r e nt st he o l ogi c a lt hi nki ngt wohundr e dye a r sbe f or eJ e s us ’da y . TheT e s t a me nt so ft heT we l v eP a t r i a r c hsc ont r i b ut es i gni fc a nt l yt ot hi s s t udy .Unf or t una t e l yt heda t ef ort hi swor ki sc ont e s t e d52 a nd,whi l e Chr i s t i a ni nt e r pol a t i onorr e da c t i oni sac e r t a i nt y ,a gr e e me nti sl a c ki nga s t oi t spr e c i s ee x t e nta ndc ha r a c t e r .Li ket hee x e ge t i c a lmo v ema deb ybe n S i r a ,t he“ a ut hor ”o ft heT e s t a me nt se x pl oi t sac onne c t i onbe t we e nt het wo gr e a tc omma ndsoft heHe b r e w Bi b l e nl o v eofGod( De ut6 n 4 ;1 0 n 1 2 )a nd 5 3 l o v eofne i ghbour( Le v1 9 n 1 7 –1 8 ;c f .Luke1 0 n 2 5 –2 7 ) . TheT e s t a me nto f Be nj a mi nl i nkst he s ec omma nds( T .Be nj .3 n 1 –5 ) ne x e r c i s eo ft he s edua l l o v e spr ot e c t st hepi ousonei nt hi sl i f ea ndt hel i f et oc ome“ f orhei s he l pe db yt hel o v eoft heLor d( τῆς τοῦ κυρίου ἀγάπης) ,whi c hheha s t owa r dshi sne i ghbour ”( T .Be nj .3 n 5 ) .Thes a mec onne c t i onpr o v i de st he pi v ot a ll i nki nt hee x hor t a t i ono fZe b ul un.S ho wi ngme r c y—ornot —wi l l r e s ul ti nt hee qui v a l e ntt r e a t me ntb yGodn“ . . . Ia ppe a lt oyout oke e pt he Lor d’ sc omma nds ,a ndt os howme r c y( ποιεῖν ἔλεος)t oyourne i ghboura nd bec ompa s s i ona t e( εὐσπλαγχνίαν)t o wa r dsa l lme n. . . .b e c a us ea sama n t r e a t shi sne i ghbour , s oa l s owi l lt heLor dt r e a thi m”( T . Ze b . 5 n 1 , 3 ) . Ev e nmor epoi nt e dt ha nt he s ei st heT e s t a me nto fGa dwhe r ewefnd wor dswhi c ht a keusi nt ot hei s s ue sr a i s e di nMa t t he w1 8 .Ga d’ se t hi c a l i ns t r uc t i on g r o wso utt het heb i o gr a phi c a lma t e r i a lde v e l ope di nt he t e s t a me nt .Hi sha t r e do fJ os e pha ndhi se v e nt ua lr e pe nt a nc eo ft ha tha t r e d 5 2 Cont r a s tKe e ’ sa dv oc a c yofada t ei nt he2 ndc .b. c . e .wi t hdeJ onge ’ s s ugge s t i on oft he2 ndc .c . e .M.deJ onge ,“ Pa t r i a r c hs ,Te s t a me nt soft he Twe l v e , ” ABD 5 . 1 8 1 –1 8 6( 1 8 3 b ) ;H.C.Ke e ,“ Te s t a me nt s oft he Twe l v e Pa t r i a r c hs , ”i nOl dT e s t a me ntP s e ud e p i g r a p ha .Vo l ume1 :Ap o c a l yp t i cLi t e r a t ur e a nd T e s t a me nt s ,e d.J .H.Cha r l e s wor t h( London a nd Ne w Yor knDa r t on Longma n& Todda ndDoub l e da y ,1 9 8 3 )7 7 5 –8 2 8( 7 7 7 –8 ) .Ke ei s ,howe v e r , r e f e r r i ng e x c l us i v e l yt oab a s i cJ e wi s ht e x tt ha td eJ onge b e l i e v e si s unr e c ov e r a b l e . 5 3 S e et heb r i e fc omme nt sa ndb i b l i ogr a phyi nH.W.Hol l a nde ra ndM.de J onge , TheT e s t a me nt so ft heT we l v eP a t r i a r c hs : ACo mme nt a r y, S VTP8( Le i de nn E. J . Br i l l , 1 9 8 5 )4 1 8 . 2 8 0 Af t ert heE x i l e l e a dst ot e a c hi ngono v e r c omi ngha t r e dt hr oughr e pe nt a nc e .S owea r e t ol dn Lov eonea not he rf r om t hehe a r t , t he r e f or e ,a ndi fa nyones i nsa g a i ns t you,s pe a kt ohi mi npe a c e .Ex pe lt hev e nom ofha t r e d,a nddonot ha r b ourde c e i ti nyourhe a r t .I fa nyonec onf e s s e sa ndr e pe nt s ,f or gi v e hi m. . . . Ev e ni fhede ni e si ta nda c t sdi s gr a c e f ul l youtofas e ns eofgui l t , b equi e ta nddonotb e c omeups e t .F orhewhode ni e swi l lr e pe nta nd a v oi dofe ndi ngyoua ga i n. . . .Bute v e ni fhei sde v oi dofs ha mea nd pe r s i s t si n hi swi c ke dne s s ,f or gi v ehi mf r om t hehe a r ta nd l e a v e v e nge a nc et oGod. ( T . Ga d6 n 3 , 6 –7 ) The s eb a l ddi r e c t i v e sha v enoi mme di a t er a t i ona l ei nT .Ga d6 ,b utone ne e dnotl oo kf a rf ort her e a s on f orpr a c t i s i ng f or gi v e ne s s .T .Ga d5 de s c r i be st heb r e e di ng gr o und o fe v i lt ha tha t r e di nc ub a t e s ;nut ur i ng ha t r e dl e a dst oe s t r a nge me ntf r om God. Thus , t os e e kGod’ sf a v ouri mpl i e s s howi ngf or e be a r a nc et o wa r dsone ’ sne i ghbour .Hol l a nde ri si nf a v ourof s e e i ng a J e wi s h or i gi nf or t hi sc omb i na t i on,f ol l o wi ng K.Be r ge r ’ s s ugge s t i ont ha tt heJ e wi s hc omb i na t i onofεὐσέβεια καὶ φιλανθρωπία i sa r e s pons et ot heHe l l e ni s t i cnot i on ofεὐσέβεια καὶ δικαιοσύνη.Ev e ni f Be r g e r ’ spr e c i s epr opos a lbef a ul t e d,Hol l a nde r ’ sa r gume nt a t i onf ort he 5 4 ge ne r a lc a s et ha tt hi si sa ni nne r J e wi s hde v e l opme nti spe r s ua s i v e . We fndapos i t i onhe r ee v e nmor emode r a t e( mor et ol e r a nt )t ha nt ha tf oundi n Ma t t1 8 n 1 5 2 0 .The r e ,t heoppor t uni t yo fwi e l di ngt hewe a pono fe x c l us i on wa sar e a lone , b uthe r et hi spos s i b i l i t yi snote v e nr a i s e d,s i nc ev e nge a nc e 5 5 i si nt heha ndsofGoda ndf or gi v e ne s sr e ma i nst hel otoft hepi ous . 5 4 S e eH.W.Hol l a nde r ,J o s e p ha sa nEt hi c a lMo d e li nt heT e s t a me nt so ft he Twe l v eP a t r i a r c hs( S VTP6 ;Le i de nnE.J .Br i l l ,1 9 8 1 )7 –9 .Cf .K.Be r ge r ,Di e Ge s e t z a us l e g ungJ e s us( Ne uki r c he nVl uynn Ne uki r c hne rVe r l a g, 1 9 7 2 ) . 5 5 APhi l oni cpa r a l l e lt ot heffhpe t i t i onoft heLor d’ sPr a ye ri sc i t e db yA. Unt e r ma nn“ I fyoua s kpa r donf oryours i ns ,doyoua l s of or gi v et hos ewho ha v et r e s pa s s e da gi ns t you? F or r e mi s s i on i s gr a nt e df or r e mi s s i on. ” “ [ F or gi v e ne s s ]i nTa l muda ndJ e wi s hThought , ”Enc y c l o p e d i aJ ud a i c a6 n 1 4 3 5 – 3 7 ,quot ef r om 1 4 3 7 . Thi st e x ti sf oundi nThoma sMa nge y’ sΦίλωνος τοῦ Ἰουδαίου τὰ εὐρισκὸμενα ἅπαντα,Phi l o ni sJ ud a e io p e r aq ua er e p e r i r ip o t ue r e nt o mni a( 2v ol s ;LondonnWm Bowye r ,1 7 4 2 )2 n6 7 0 . 5 .TheGr e e kt e x tr unst hus n Συγγνώμην αἰτούμενος ἁμαρτημάτων συγγίνωσκε καὶ αὐτὸς τοῖς εἰς σὲ πλημμελοῦσιν· ὅτι ἀφέσει ἀντιδίδοται ἄφεσις․ ․ ․ ․Unf or t una t e l y ,t hi sa t t r a c t i v e pa r a l l e lmus tb es e ta s i de . J . R. Ro ys eha si de nt i fe dt hes our c eoft hi sf r a gme nt T heApoc r y phaa ndBi bl i c a l T heol ogy 2 8 1 VI I nt hewor l do fe a r l yJ uda i s ma ndna s c e ntChr i s t i a ni t y ,not i onsof i nt e r pe r s ona lf or gi v e ne s so v e r l a pa l mo s te nt i r e l y .De s pi t et hec l a i mst ha t ha v ebe e nma def ort her a di c a lna t ur eo fJ e s us ’t e a c hi ngont hi ss ub j e c t , hewa she i rt oa ni nt e r pr e t a t i v et r a di t i onwhi c hha da l r e a dyl i nke dt he l o v ec o mma ndt ot hei de ao ff or gi v e ne s sa ndha dbe g un t odr a wo ut s omeoft hei mpl i c a t i onsoft hi smo v e .Whe nJ e s us ’t e a c hi ng i ss e e n s i de b ys i dewi t ht heHe b r e w Bi b l e ,t hedi s t a nc ebe t we e nt he mi sgr e a t . Ho we v e r ,t heno nc a no ni c a ll i t e r a t ur eIha v ec i t e dr e fe c t st hepr oc e s sof i nt e r pr e t i nga ut hor i t a t i v et e x t sf ort he i rc ommuni t i e s .Andt her a ngeo f c onc e r nsdi s pl a ye db yt he s ec ommuni t i e s —J e wsa ndChr i s t i a nsa r oundt he t ur noft hee r a —ont hi si s s uea r ev e r ys i mi l a r( wemi ghte v e ns a y ,t he s a me ) . Thet r a j e c t o r yt hr ought hel i t e r a t ur er unst hi swa yni nt heHe b r e w Bi b l e ,wes e et ha tGodi swi l l i ng —b utnotb ound—t of or gi v e .Thes a me i st r ueont hepl a neo fhuma na fa i r s .Pe opl el i ke wi s ef or gi v ewr ong sdone t ot he mb y ot he r s ,b utonl y whe nt he ot he r sr e pe nta nd s e e kt ha t f or gi v e ne s s .Ho we v e r ,t hec omma ndt ol o v eo ne ’ sne i ghbour ,whi c hma y a tfr s tha v eha ds ome t hi ngoft hec ha r a c t e ro ft hel e xt a l i o ni sa bout i t ,c ome st obeunde r s t oodmor ei nt e r msofadi vi nea nduni v e r s a ll o v e a nd f or e be a r a nc e . And i n bot h e a r l y J e wi s h a nd na s c e nt Chr i s t i a nc ommuni t i e s ,t hi sme a ntt ha thos t i l i t y ora n unwi l l i ngne s s t of or gi v ei mpe de dt he ope r a t i on o fdi v i ne f or gi v e ne s s .Thi s be i ng t he c a s e ,t he ne e db o t hf ort he ofe nde d pa r t yt of or gi v ea nd f or t he ofe ndi ng pa r t yt os e e kf or gi v e ne s sb e c ome s pa r a mount .I n t he c e nt ur i e sa r ound t he t ur n oft he e r a ,bot h oft he s e ha v et he i r obl i ga t i ons t o t he ot he r n one t o ofe r f or gi v e ne s s , one t o i nt hewor kofAga pe t usDi a c onusde di c a t e dt ot heEmpe r orJ us t i ni a n.The S p ur i o usT e x t so fPhi l oo fAl e x a nd r i a, ALGHJ2 2( Le i de nn E. J . Br i l l , 1 9 9 1 )5 6 –5 7 , 1 2 7 –8=F r .s p.5 6 .The r ei sa not he rne a r l yi de nt i c a lv e r s i onoft hi ss a yi ngi n Ba r l a a ma nd I o a s a p h whi c hl e d P.He nr yt oi nc l i net owa r dsac ommon Phi l oni cs our c e( “ A Mi r r orf orJ us t i ni a nnTheEk t he s i sofApa g e t usDi a c onus , ” GRBS8[ 1 9 6 7 ] n2 8 1 –3 0 8 ,e s p.2 9 5 ) ,b utRoys e ’ sr e j e c t i onofHe nr y’ ss ugge s t i on c a r r i e sc onv i c t i on. 2 8 2 Af t ert heE x i l e s e e ki t .I not he rwor ds ,t he r ei sac ompl e me nt a r ymo v e me ntofr e pe nt a nc e a ndf or gi v e ne s s . Muc h mor emi ghtbes a i da boutt hewa yi n whi c hJ uda i s ma nd Chr i s t i a ni t yde v e l ope dt hi smode l ,e a c hi ni t sownwa y .Butt hepr e s e nt t a s kc a n bedr a wn t oac l os e .Ga b l e rwa sr i ghtt ot hi nkt ha tb i b l i c a l t he ol ogywa shi s t or i c a l l yor i e nt a t e d, e v e ni fhewa smi s t a ke ni ns ug ge s t i ng t ha tt he“ hi s t or i c a l ”e l e me ntc oul dbedi s pe ns e dwi t honc eo nea r r i v e da t “ t he ol o gy . ”Ra t he r ,r e a di ngt heChr i s t i a nBi b l et he ol o gi c a l l yde ma ndsa n e v e n mor ei ns i s t e nthi s t or i c a la ppr oa c h,onet ha ti nc or por a t e sa nc i e nt J e wi s ha ndChr i s t i a nnonb i b l i c a lwr i t i ngsi nt hee x pl or a t i onofb i b l i c a l t he ol ogy .Byi nc l udi ngt hi sl i t e r a t ur et ha tl i e sbe yondt heboundsoft he c a non,onei sa b l et odi s c e r n“ al i v i ngpr oc e s s ”whi c hb r i ngs“ a l lt hi s 5 6 ma t e r i a lmuc hc l os e rt ot hepe opl eofGodi ne v e r ya g e . ” 5 6 S e enot e1 .