The Transfiguration of Jesus:
Narrative Meaning and Function of Mark 9:2–8, Matt 17:1–8 and Lk 9:28–36
editrice pontificio istituto biblico—roma 2000
Romae, die 12 octobris 2000
R.P. Robert F. O’Toole, S.J.
Rector Pontificii Instituti Biblici
ISBN 88-7653-144-0
© E.P.I.B.—Roma—2000
Iura editionis et versionis reservantur
Editrice Pontificio Istituto Biblico
Piazza della Pilotta, 35-00187 Roma, Italia
The following investigation of the stories of the transfiguration of Jesus in the Gospels of Mark, Matthew, and Luke assumes no particular theory of literary dependency among the Synoptic Gospels. It is primarily a narrative-critical study that concentrates on the meaning and function of each account within its respective Gospel. Because of the similarities of the three accounts, a certain amount of repetition in the presentation is to be expected. On the other hand, what often appears on the surface as mere repetition from one account to the other sometimes involves subtle differences and nuances. One of the advantages of retaining the repetition is that the chapters on the individual accounts can be read as continuous and autonomous wholes, without the annoyance of numerous cross references.
The abbreviations, footnotes, and bibliographical entries are given according to the conventions adopted by the Catholic Biblical Quarterly 60 (1998) 829–56.
The stories of the transfiguration of Jesus were of special interest to the late Fritzleo Lentzen-Deis, S.J. This investigation is dedicated to his memory.
John Paul Heil
B. New Methodological Approach
C. Preliminary Analysis and Comparison
1. Introduction: Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a mountain
2. Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James and John
3. Moses and Elijah appear and speak with the transfigured Jesus
4. Peter offers to build a tent each for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah
6. A voice from the cloud commands them to listen to God’s Son
Chapter 2: The Epiphany Genre of the Transfiguration Narrative
B. The Transfiguration Narrative as an Epiphany
1. The Angelophany in Judges 6:11–24 and the Transfiguration Epiphany
2. The Angelophany in Judges 13:2–24 and the Transfiguration Epiphany
Chapter 3: The Transfiguration Narrative as a Pivotal Mandatory Epiphany
A. Definition of a Pivotal Mandatory Epiphany
1. The Pivotal Mandatory Epiphany in Numbers 22:31–35 and the Transfiguration Epiphany
2. The Pivotal Mandatory Epiphany in Joshua 5:13–15 and the Transfiguration Epiphany
3. The Pivotal Mandatory Epiphany in 2 Maccabees 3:22–34 and the Transfiguration Epiphany
Chapter 4: Jesus’ Transfiguration as an Epiphanic Motif
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About The Transfiguration of Jesus: Narrative Meaning and Function of Mark 9:2–8, Matt 17:1–8 and Luke 9:28–36This is the first monograph devoted to all three accounts of the transfiguration of Jesus from a narrative-critical, audience-oriented perspective. It proposes a new literary genre designation for all three versions, that a “pivotal mandatory epiphany,” based upon the precedents in Numbers 22:31–35, Joshua 5:13–15, and 2 Maccabees 3:22–34. The background and meaning of each of the major motifs of the three accounts of the transfiguration is explained: Jesus is externally and temporarily transformed into a heavenly figure to anticipate his future attainment of heavenly glory and to enable him to speak with the heavenly figures of Moses and Elijah. Rather than symbols of the Law and the Prophets, Moses and Elijah represent prophetic figures who, in contrast to Jesus, attained heavenly glory without being put to death by their people. The three tents Peter wants to build have their background primarily in the Tent of Meeting as a place of divine communication. The cloud overshadows only Moses and Elijah; it has both a vehicular function of implicitly transporting Moses and Elijah back to heaven and an oracular function of providing the divine mandate that serves as the climax of the mandatory epiphany. The climactic divine mandate to listen to Jesus as God’s Son refers primarily to the various predictions of his suffering, death and resurrection throughout the narrative. The “pivotal” nature of this divine mandate is confirmed by a demonstration of the narrative function of the transfiguration epiphany in relation to its preceding and succeeding contexts in each Gospel. |
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