You are on page 1of 3

Logos Bible Software Blog: Help from Left Field Page 1 of 3

May 02, 2008

Help from Left Field

Today's guest post is from Dr. Steve Runge, a scholar-in-residence at Logos Bible Software, whose work focuses
on the discourse grammar of Hebrew and Greek.

I am currently teaching a class on the parables of Jesus at my church. We are


looking at the parables that occur in more than one gospel and taking note of
how they are used in each. Along the way we have come across differences in
wording, begging that question: So what?

This week we looked at the salt passages, found in Matthew 5:13 ; Mark
9:49-50 ; and Luke 14:34-35 . We noticed that there are some significant
differences in how this parable is related to the preceding context in the different
gospels. There are two new resources called the Lexham High Definition New
Testament and the Lexham Discourse Greek New Testament that provide some
really helpful insight into issues like this. These resources annotate where the
NT writers used various devices to get our attention, emphasize things, build
suspense, etc.

Another important contribution of these resources is a description in the left column that tells you what each line
of the text is doing. This analysis is informed by things like the Greek conjunction used, the morphology of the
verb, and the role that it plays in the larger context. We were using the Lexham High Definition New Testament in
class, and it was really easy to point out how the different gospel writers wanted to connect the salt parable to the
preceding context, since it was plainly spelled out in the left column. Proposition means that there are no specific
instructions about how to relate what follows to what precedes. Support indicates that what follows in intended
to strengthen or support what precedes, but does not advance the story or the argument. Principle indicates that
what follows is a summary or conclusion drawn from what precedes, often providing the big idea for the section
that follows. Take a look at the highlighted descriptions in the left column.

In Matthews gospel, the saying follows right on the heals of the Beatitudes. In Greek there is no specific
conjunction that tells the reader how to connect it; it is just the next saying.

In Mark the section just before describes how it is better to cast off a part of you that causes you to sin than to
keep it and risk being thrown into hell. The saying about the salt is connected to this with the Greek conjunction

mhtml:file://C:\D\SIL\Work\Translation\Biblical Languages\Greek\Runge, devices i... 19-Jun-2008


Logos Bible Software Blog: Help from Left Field Page 2 of 3

(for). This instructs us to understand what follow as supporting or strengthening what precedes, rather than
introducing a new point. In other words, Mark has signaled with that the saying about the salt is connected to
what precedes, supporting and strengthening it.

If you look at Luke 14:34 , you will see that the verse begins with a bullet. In the ESV English-Greek Reverse
Interlinear New Testament, you can see that the bullet stands in the place of the Greek conjunction
(therefore). This word signals that what follows is a principle or summary drawn from what precedes. In other
words, it either summarizes what precede, or introduces a new principle that is drawn from what precedes. The
preceding section in Luke describes counting the cost of discipleship, illustrated by the consideration that should
be given before building a tower or going to war against a superior force. This means that Luke wanted us to read
the saying about the salt as drawing from and building upon what precedes.

In each of these gospels, the saying about the salt losing its saltiness warns us about the hazard of losing the
distinctive quality that makes us who we are, illustrated by salt losing its saltiness. In Matthew Jesus has just
taught that when we encounter persecution for pursuing righteousness, we should rejoice and be glad. In such
circumstances, one might be tempted to water down their faith, or put their light under a basket (cf. 5:15). The
reference to salt adds to this same point by asking the question: What good is salt if it loses its saltiness? If we
water-down or hide our faith, then whats the point?

In Mark, the same point is made by the reference to salt. If there is some part of us that is causing us to sin, that
might destine us for hell, is it really worth hanging on to? The reference to salt presents the same issue from a
different angle. The salting with fire suggests a refining process. But if this process does not produce real, salty
salt, then whats the point? The Christian life is not about hanging on to what Jesus died to free us from, but
about being the salt and light that he redeemed us to be.

In Luke, Jesus has just given a summary principle in v. 33 drawn from the illustrations of building a tower and
going to war: So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple (ESV).
The saying about the salt is building upon this point, providing a practical illustration of what happens when
someone follows without renouncing all: he or she is salt that is not salty. If the salt is no longer salty, then whats
the point?

This is just a one example of the kind of help that the left column information of the Lexham High Definition New
Testament and the Lexham Discourse Greek New Testament can provide. It can really pay dividends in helping
you understand the really hairy passages that use very complex grammar, unpacking it one bit at a time. Check
out Romans 2:17 in the HDNT:

Paul wants to set up a very complex state of affairs, one which can get confusing in a hurry if you are just reading
it in a continuous paragraph. His main point is this: Do you not teach yourself? The complex marker tells you

mhtml:file://C:\D\SIL\Work\Translation\Biblical Languages\Greek\Runge, devices i... 19-Jun-2008


Logos Bible Software Blog: Help from Left Field Page 3 of 3

that the line that is only indented one place is the main idea of the complex clause. In this case, the main thought
is the principle line. The rest of the parts are indented and labeled to help you understand what role each plays,
and to let you easily find the main idea.

We are nearing completion on this project, which means two things: it will be shipping soon, and the price will be
going up when it is removed from Pre-Publication. Take warning; buy soon if you havent already!

If you missed them, be sure to check out Steve'


s previous posts.

Who Cares About Participles? I Do!


Making of the Lexham High Definition New Testament
Stylistic Variation or Intentional Shaping? A Look at Characterization in John 11
Waiting for the Next Shoe to Drop, Part 1
Waiting for the Next Shoe to Drop, Part 2
Talking about What I Am Talking About
Paying Attention to This and That

Posted by Phil Gons at May 2, 2008 06:00 AM

Comments

I notice that the "gathering interest" bar on the HDNT is much shorter than that on the LGDNT. From your last
paragraph above it seems that they both will be shipped soon. So does the usual "gathering interest" phase not
apply here as it does with books that must be scanned because these are resources that have been produced in
house? Will both the HDNT and the LGDNT made available at the same time?

Also, are there plans to do something similar with the Old Testament?

Thanks.
Brad

Posted by: Brad at May 3, 2008 03:46 AM

Our in-house products like these don'


t function like normal Pre-Pubs that require 100% of the production costs to
be covered before they go into production. Both Lexham products are getting close to completion and will likely
ship at the same time.

Depending on how well the NT version does and based on the feedback we get, we'
ll see if there is sufficient
interest in producing OT counterparts.

Posted by: Phil Gons at May 6, 2008 01:17 PM

mhtml:file://C:\D\SIL\Work\Translation\Biblical Languages\Greek\Runge, devices i... 19-Jun-2008

You might also like