The "Focal Instance" as a Form of New Testament Speech: A Study of Matthew 5:39b-42

Abstract

The current discussion of religious language has reached the point where it needs to become more specific. Religious language is not all of one sort, and it cannot be neatly separated from the variety of ways in which language functions in contexts not generally recognized as religious. This means that we must investigate carefully the variety of modes of language used by religious men, noting carefully the characteristics of each mode, the particular functions which each is intended to fulfill, and the kind of response from the hearer proper to each. Discussions in general of myth, symbol, paradox, etc., may be helpful, but they are not sufficient. The manifold possibilities of language cannot be reduced to a few categories without loss. Therefore, the discussion will be furthered through study of important texts on the level of detail which has been characteristic of good Biblical exegesis. Biblical texts, in fact, are a good place for such study. Biblical scholarship has accumulated exegetical data and has developed scholarly skills which will be useful for the new task. Furthermore, we find in the Bible texts paradigmatic for religious expression, at least during the period of the Jewish-Christian tradition when men were unashamedly religious. To be sure, the discussion of religious language has attracted so much attention because traditional religious language, including Biblical language, has become dubious, because there has been a failure of language, and many who are concerned with the continuing vitality of Christian language find the problem, but not the answer, in the Bible. However, Biblical language is not simply identical with the language which has failed. The Bible contains a great variety of modes of language, a fact often ignored by its readers. Therefore, it may offer possibilities as well as problems for those interested in the continuing vitality of Christian language.