Thank you so much for writing this piece - the type of storyteller you describe is the one that I am praying God helps me to become even if it scares me ✨
I was curious to see what _The Underground History of American Education_ was about, but when I went to look for it, I could only find it for sale in paperback, which is difficult for me to read. I dug around, though, and located (with considerable difficulty -- archive sites appear to be vanishing from the Web -- a PDF of some edition (possibly the preprint) of the book. I haven't read it yet, but I skimmed through portions, noticing many familiar topics that I had come across through the years, from various sources. It's nice to see these brought together in one place. Thanks for mentioning that!
In regard to Mt. 5:13, the first thing I notice is that it is bracketed beforehand by a statement about persecution, and afterward by another about "being a light". This isn't a case of random placement. The first word of v. 13 is Ὑμεῖς -- "You" (plural), tying v. 13 to 11-12 as something directed at the disciples (Osborne). It is uncertain which metaphor Jesus was using "salt". One commentary (Davies and Allison) lists 11 possibilities. He could have had several or all in mind. The point he was making, however -- "if the salt loses its savor" -- is much clearer.
The Greek verb is μωρανθῇ, here meaning something to the effect of "would be made tasteless", or "...foolish". In addition to the preceding "if" (ἐὰν), the verb is in the aorist passive subjunctive, indicating a possibility, and the meaning "made foolish" would appear to pair with "made tasteless", with "tasteless" applying to the salt and "foolish" potentially applying to the disciples! So it can be read as a warning to them, following the warning about persecution, and followed by the statement about being a light and being seen.
Salt doesn't lose its taste over time, but things can happen to it that render it useless. It's a warning about "don't let such things happen to you."
You wrote "We bring out the truth, and make it appealing." A direct tie-in to the above is v. 16: “Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
It is vital to understand that Jesus did not speak in "verses", nor did the evangelists write in them. While there are topical transitions in the narration, the verse numbering did not exist in the original* and what we see today as verses will frequently represent tightly-connected statements meant to be understood together. For that matter, the topics will tend to connect as well.
I've heard a lot of people try to make this verse about some other aspect of salt than its ability to make bland things taste good. But at you pointed out, he makes it clear exactly which property of salt matters.
Thank you, Terry. It was a refreshing reminder to step outside the world of perceived expectations and let sincerity and curiosity take precedence.
Thank you so much for writing this piece - the type of storyteller you describe is the one that I am praying God helps me to become even if it scares me ✨
Wonderful advice - from a source of wisdom and love.
Thank you!
I was curious to see what _The Underground History of American Education_ was about, but when I went to look for it, I could only find it for sale in paperback, which is difficult for me to read. I dug around, though, and located (with considerable difficulty -- archive sites appear to be vanishing from the Web -- a PDF of some edition (possibly the preprint) of the book. I haven't read it yet, but I skimmed through portions, noticing many familiar topics that I had come across through the years, from various sources. It's nice to see these brought together in one place. Thanks for mentioning that!
In regard to Mt. 5:13, the first thing I notice is that it is bracketed beforehand by a statement about persecution, and afterward by another about "being a light". This isn't a case of random placement. The first word of v. 13 is Ὑμεῖς -- "You" (plural), tying v. 13 to 11-12 as something directed at the disciples (Osborne). It is uncertain which metaphor Jesus was using "salt". One commentary (Davies and Allison) lists 11 possibilities. He could have had several or all in mind. The point he was making, however -- "if the salt loses its savor" -- is much clearer.
The Greek verb is μωρανθῇ, here meaning something to the effect of "would be made tasteless", or "...foolish". In addition to the preceding "if" (ἐὰν), the verb is in the aorist passive subjunctive, indicating a possibility, and the meaning "made foolish" would appear to pair with "made tasteless", with "tasteless" applying to the salt and "foolish" potentially applying to the disciples! So it can be read as a warning to them, following the warning about persecution, and followed by the statement about being a light and being seen.
Salt doesn't lose its taste over time, but things can happen to it that render it useless. It's a warning about "don't let such things happen to you."
You wrote "We bring out the truth, and make it appealing." A direct tie-in to the above is v. 16: “Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
It is vital to understand that Jesus did not speak in "verses", nor did the evangelists write in them. While there are topical transitions in the narration, the verse numbering did not exist in the original* and what we see today as verses will frequently represent tightly-connected statements meant to be understood together. For that matter, the topics will tend to connect as well.
*For examples of early copies of originals see, for example, https://biblearchaeologyreport.com/2019/02/15/the-earliest-new-testament-manuscripts/
I've heard a lot of people try to make this verse about some other aspect of salt than its ability to make bland things taste good. But at you pointed out, he makes it clear exactly which property of salt matters.