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Guarding Entry to the Kingdom: The Place of Eunuchs in Mt. 19.12
Llewelyn, Stephen R. Wearne, Gareth Sanderson, Bianca L.
Llewelyn, Stephen R.
Wearne, Gareth
Sanderson, Bianca L.
Abstract
The article argues that, contrary to the majority view, the metaphor of the eunuch in Mt. 19.12 should be understood against the backdrop of the royal eunuch, as encountered in story, if not in experience. As such the saying must be situated with other sayings that speak of entry to the Kingdom. The change of the metaphor’s focus from that of guardian/gatekeeper to that of sexualized trope, as it is now met in Matthew, was facilitated by the saying’s performance to a new audience, i.e. to a Greek-speaking rather than Semitic-speaking audience. At the same time the saying was repunctuated to idealize the last class of eunuch who now became the model of chastity within the ekklesia.
Keywords
Date
2012
Type
Journal article
Journal
Journal for the Study of the Historical Jesus
Book
Volume
10
Issue
3
Page Range
228-246
Article Number
ACU Department
School of Theology
Faculty of Theology and Philosophy
Faculty of Theology and Philosophy
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Relation URI
Source URL
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Open Access Status
License
File Access
Controlled