Matthew’s Titulus and Psalm 2’s King on Mount Zion

Abstract

Origen, Augustine, Aquinas, and others thought that the titulus crucis was an ironic divine decree that recalled Ps 2:6: “I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.” Although this reading is no longer mentioned in modern commentaries on Matthew, this article attempts to demonstrate that it is, in fact, quite plausible, given larger Matthean themes. The argument begins by suggesting that Matthew’s passion narrative and crucifixion scene frequently recall the enthronement scenario in Ps 2:6–8—including the opposition to God and God’s Messiah in vv. 1–3. Then it suggests that Matthew makes the crucifixion the climax of the opposition to Jesus as described in Psalm 2 and shapes the titulus into an ironic proclamation of the kingship of Jesus. The article thus concludes that Origen’s proposed linkage between Psalm 2 and Matthew’s inscription can be defended intratextually, if not intertextually.