Thanks Duncan. See also https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/2051677017715676
Onken, Brian. "Able to teach an analysis of didaktikos in the Pastoral Epistles /." Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN), 1987. http://www.tren.com.
I'm inclined to view the use of didaktikos in the Pastoral Epistles as active rather than passive, but I'm not denying that it might have a passive sense. I'm all for studying culture in conjunction with grammar/semantics, but Numbers 12:3 is one contentious text in scholarship.
In any event, teacher in the congregation need to teach well but be teachable. God cannot use the haughty, prideful or supercilious ones. Prov. 16:18.
"First, while the Teacher of Righteousness is never termed a "prophet" in the community's writings, it has been noted that the passage in the community's commentary on Habakkuk, lQpHab II 1-3, "those who were unfaithful together with the Liar, in that they [did] not [listen to the word received by] the Teacher of Righteousness from the mouth of God," is "reminiscent" of the passage in Numbers 12:8 in which YHWH declared that he spoke with Moses "mouth to mouth" = "face to face" in NRSV).
John ch.8:28NIV"28So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up a the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me." The best teachers tend to first be the best students.
Duncan, I should have clarified that when I said Numbers 12:3 is a contentious text, I did not mean that its authenticity is necessarily in question, but its meaning is. I've seen scholars argue that the verse is not claiming that Moses was the meekest man on earth or the most teachable. I'm sure you've seen those discussions too.
On the other hand, the text you quote from the DSS might lend weight to the teachable/meekness aspect. Compare Zephaniah 2:2-3.
Servant: yes, effective/the best teachers should be the best students, particularly, of God's Word. See Nehemiah 8:1, 8, 12; Malachi 2:7. Cf. James 3:1.
There are those who think the term means "vulnerable", one could even say weak, but we know that he had to rely on knowledge and power that was not his own, the one time he claims the power for his own is when he fails. John 5:19 also carries that tradition.
Agree 100% about Moses: he loses his temper, speaks rashly and glorifies himself rather than Jehovah.
I believe the Insight On the Scriptures likewise discusses how numerous people have mistaken meekness for weakness, but one scholar said (if I recall properly) that a meek person is like a domesticated lion.
Glad I looked up the article I was thinking about. See https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1970360?q=meekness&p=par
Quote: But do not think that this mildness or meekness means weakness. Not at all! Moses was ‘the meekest man in all the earth’ in his day but he was by no means a weakling. (Num. 12:3) As Greek scholar William Barclay shows, praoʹtes, the Greek word translated “mildness” or “meekness,” does not mean weakness but strength that is controlled. In ancient Greece, a wild horse that had been tamed was said to be mild, meek.
https://margmowczko.com/didaktikos-teachable/
ReplyDeleteThanks Duncan. See also https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/2051677017715676
ReplyDeleteOnken, Brian. "Able to teach an analysis of didaktikos in the Pastoral Epistles /." Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN), 1987. http://www.tren.com.
https://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/handle/2263/67968/Bumie_Critical_2018.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
“teachable” in the tradition of Moses - Numbers 12:3. This is where these papers should include culture.
ReplyDeleteI'm inclined to view the use of didaktikos in the Pastoral Epistles as active rather than passive, but I'm not denying that it might have a passive sense. I'm all for studying culture in conjunction with grammar/semantics, but Numbers 12:3 is one contentious text in scholarship.
ReplyDeleteIn any event, teacher in the congregation need to teach well but be teachable. God cannot use the haughty, prideful or supercilious ones. Prov. 16:18.
I am looking to get access to the DSS of Numbers 12, which do not appear to have been translated yet.
ReplyDeletehttps://studybible.info/interlinear/Numbers%2012:3
If we have a similar text then it does not really matter whether it was "original", it would be in the contemporary culture.
"First, while the Teacher of Righteousness is never termed a "prophet" in the community's writings, it has been noted that the passage in the community's commentary on Habakkuk, lQpHab II 1-3, "those who were unfaithful together with the Liar, in that they [did] not [listen to the word received by] the Teacher of Righteousness from the mouth of God," is "reminiscent" of the passage in Numbers 12:8 in which YHWH declared that he spoke with Moses "mouth to mouth" = "face to face" in NRSV).
ReplyDelete4Q27 Numbers - Translates as - Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all the men who were on the face of the land.
ReplyDeleteThere are other texts I need to consult.
John ch.8:28NIV"28So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up a the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me."
ReplyDeleteThe best teachers tend to first be the best students.
Duncan, I should have clarified that when I said Numbers 12:3 is a contentious text, I did not mean that its authenticity is necessarily in question, but its meaning is. I've seen scholars argue that the verse is not claiming that Moses was the meekest man on earth or the most teachable. I'm sure you've seen those discussions too.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, the text you quote from the DSS might lend weight to the teachable/meekness aspect. Compare Zephaniah 2:2-3.
Servant: yes, effective/the best teachers should be the best students, particularly, of God's Word. See Nehemiah 8:1, 8, 12; Malachi 2:7. Cf. James 3:1.
Humility is also key.
Duncan, you and others might like https://rep.adw-goe.de/handle/11858/00-001S-0000-0022-C832-4
ReplyDeleteWevers notes to the Greek Text of Numbers.
There are those who think the term means "vulnerable", one could even say weak, but we know that he had to rely on knowledge and power that was not his own, the one time he claims the power for his own is when he fails. John 5:19 also carries that tradition.
ReplyDeleteAgree 100% about Moses: he loses his temper, speaks rashly and glorifies himself rather than Jehovah.
ReplyDeleteI believe the Insight On the Scriptures likewise discusses how numerous people have mistaken meekness for weakness, but one scholar said (if I recall properly) that a meek person is like a domesticated lion.
Glad I looked up the article I was thinking about. See https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1970360?q=meekness&p=par
ReplyDeleteQuote: But do not think that this mildness or meekness means weakness. Not at all! Moses was ‘the meekest man in all the earth’ in his day but he was by no means a weakling. (Num. 12:3) As Greek scholar William Barclay shows, praoʹtes, the Greek word translated “mildness” or “meekness,” does not mean weakness but strength that is controlled. In ancient Greece, a wild horse that had been tamed was said to be mild, meek.
Okay, so a horse and not a lion in that article.