Exegesis of Matthew 17:1-9
RLD
Step I - (Initial) Acquaintance
A. Comparison of English or other published translations
NRSV CEV Peterson
transfigured completely changed appearance
changed from the
inside out
dwellings shelters
memorials
my Son, the Beloved my own dear Son my Son, marked by my
love,
focus of my delight
with him I am well pleased I am pleased with him
the vision what they had seen what you''ve
seen
Son of Man has been raised Son of Man had been raised Son of Man is
raised
B. Greek/Hebrew Textual Criticism
v. 9 - anasth in a few Alexandrian texts. Does not parallel well with
v. 7.
C. One's Own Rough Translation
1 And after six days, Jesus takes Peter and Jacob and his brother John,
and leads them up to a high mountain, by themselves.
2 And he was metamorphosized in front of them, and his face shone as the
sun, but his garments became white as the light.
3 And, Behold!, by them was seen Moses and Elias talking with him.
4 But Peter answering said to Jesus, ""Lord, good it is us here to be.
If you will, I will make here three tents, for you one, and for Moses
one, and for Elias one.
5 While he was speaking, Behold!, a shining cloud overshadowed them,
and,
Behold!, a voice out of the cloud saying, ""This is my beloved son, in
whom I have been pleased. Y''all listen to him.""
6 And listening, the disciples fell on their faces and feared
exceedingly.
7 And Jesus approached and touching them said, ""Y''all be raised and do
not fear.""
8 And lifting up their eyes, no one they saw, except only Jesus himself.
9 And coming down out of the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, ""To
no one tell the vision until the Son of Man out of dead be raised. (Same
verb as in verse 7.)
Step II - Disposition
A. Genre - How the text says what it says
This is a vision, as in Deut. And Daniel, but it is shared by three
waking people, plus Jesus. And the vision includes Moses and Elijah, not
just God. It is told in straight forward narrative, even though the
events are very unusual and dream-like. There is a foretelling of
Jesus'' death, as well as the use of the mysterious apocalyptic title
""Son of Man.""
B. Personal Interaction - Questions and observations
Why is it important to specify ""6 days later""?
How is it that Moses and Elijah appear? Are they alive? Why are these
two the ones who appear? Why not Abraham or David?
Why does Jesus command secrecy?
On what mountain does this occur?
C. Organization - Where the elements of "B" are located
Several words are of interest, such as the correct translation of skhnas
and the use of the idea of being raised.
The vision and theophany/christophany indicate an apocalyptic genre, but
the voice God sound more like an ethical commandment rather than an end
of time saying.
Step III - Composition
A. Immediate Context - preceding/following pericope
In Chap. 16, The Saducees and Pharisees question Jesus, then Jesus gives
the sign of Jonah, then Peter names Jesus as the Messiah, then Jesus
predicts his death for the first time.
Afterwards, Jesus'' disciples fail to cast out a demon. Then follows
another passion prediction.
B. Organization of the Compositional Whole
John Meier puts this in the fourth of five discourses of Jesus.
Beginning to proclaim the kingdom (3.1-7.29)
Mission of Jesus and disciples in Galilee (8.1-11.1)
Opposition from Israel (11.2-13.53)
* The Messiah forms his Church and prophesies his passion
(13.54-18.35)
On the way to the Passion (19.1-25.46)
C. Issues of Authorship
The author seems to be confirming Peter''s recognition of Jesus. The
author seems to want us to connect the future heaven-empowered
resurrection, with the present Jesus, and past mountain-top revelations
to Moses and Elijah.
The command to ""Listen to him!"" gives divine authority to the teachings
of Jesus, and the claims of this author.
Step IV - Context
A. Primitive Christianity
2 Peter 1.16-18 We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we
were with him on the holy mountain.
Rev 1.16 his face was like the sun shining with full force
1.17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he placed
his right hand on me . . .
only Mt. Calls this a vision (to orama). Mk. - (a eidon - what they
saw);
Lk. (wn ewrakan - of which they have seen)
B. Old Testament and Judaism
Exodus 24.13-16 Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went
up the mountain of God . . . The cloud covered the mountain . . . The
cloud covered it for six days . . . He called to Moses out of the cloud
Ex 34.29 Moses came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the
covenant . . . the skin on his face shone because he had been talking to
God.
Dt 18.15 The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet (or prophets)
like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet (or
prophets)
Dn 10.9 when I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a trance, face
to the ground. But then a hand touched me . . . Daniel, greatly
beloved, pay attention to the words that I am going to speak to you . .
.
Hab 3 God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran . . . The
brightness was like the sun
C. Hellenistic World
In Mt. 16:13, Jesus and his disciples enter the district of Caesarea
Philippi, on the border of Jewish and gentile territory. This is where
Peter names Jesus as the Messiah. This is also where King Herod had
built a temple and dedicated it to Caesar. Six days later, the
transfiguration occurs on an unnamed mountain and Jesus forbids the
building of a memorial site.
Step V - Distillation
A. Summary of Salient Features
Jesus is the fulfillment of the law (Moses) and prophets (Elijah) and
has God''s authority to teach us. In fact, this Jesus is the Son of God.
B. Smooth Translation
1 And after six days, Jesus takes Peter and Jacob and his brother John,
and leads them up to a high mountain, by themselves.
2 And he was metamorphosized in front of them, and his face shone as the
sun, and his garments became as white as light.
3 And, Behold!, They saw Moses and Elijah talking with him.
4 But Peter responding, said to Jesus, ""Lord, it is good for us to be
here. If you wish, I will make here three tents, one for you, and one
for Moses, and one for Elijah.
5 While he was speaking, Behold!, a shining cloud overshadowed them,
and,
Behold!, a voice out of the cloud said, ""This is my beloved son, in
whom I have been pleased. Y''all listen to him.""
6 And listening, the disciples fell on their faces and feared
exceedingly.
7 And Jesus approached, and touching them, said, ""Y''all be raised and do
not fear.""
8 And lifting up their eyes, no one they saw, except only Jesus himself.
9 And coming down out of the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, ""Tell
no one of the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.
C. Hermeneutical Bridge
The One who will be raised from the dead, touches us and says, ""Be
raised.""
Step VI - Contemporary Address
A. Description of Audience
B. Intended Goals for the Address
C. Address