The Abomination of Desolation in Matthew 24.15

Description

Michael Theophilos investigates the term 'Abomination of desolation' in Matthew 24:15 proposing a revised model for understanding this enigmatic phrase. He adopts a contextual exegetical approach focusing strongly upon scriptural intertextual prophetic echoes. Because of the primary association of the phrase with Antiochus Epiphanes in the Daniel narrative, many commentators have argued for a contra-Jewish background to Mt 24:15. However, analysis of relevant prophetic literature reveals that similar vocabulary was often used to describe Israel's covenantal infidelity, and its consequences. Given the influence of prophetic literature on Daniel, Theophilos argues that Matthew was theologically motivated to ironically employ the Danielic material in describing Jerusalem's Mt destruction. Matthew envisions the cause for this destruction as rooted in Israel's rejection of Jesus as Messiah. In this sense, the coming 'Son of Man' in Matthew 24 may be seen as a metaphorical representation of the Roman Army destroying Jerusalem in 70 AD. This understanding of 'Son of Man' is consistent with the Danielic depiction where the appearance of the 'Son of Man' signified the destruction of Israel's enemies. Contents Acknowledgements Introduction Assumptions and Dating 1. Assumptions 2. Issues in Dating Chapter 1 Scholarship on the ... 1.1. Introduction 1.2. Survey 1.3. Context of Proposed Question Chapter 2 Structure and Significance 2.1. Introduction 2.2. A Structural Overview of Matthew 2.3. Lament over Jerusalem (Mt. 23.37-39) 2.4. The Problem of Textual Variation in Mt. 23.38 2.5. The Relationship of Chapter 23 to the Surrounding Material 2.6. The Problem of Mt. 23.39 2.7. The Problem of ‘Doing, Keeping and the “Seat of Moses’” in Mt. 23.2-3 2.8. The Problem of Hypocrisy as Deuteronomistic Curses 2.9. Significant Parallels in Jewish Literature 2.10. Preliminary Conclusion 2.11. A Residual Problem Concerning Dating Chapter 3 ‘Eschatological’ and ‘Apocalyptic’ Language in Matthew 24 3.1. Introduction 3.2. Matthew 24 in Recent Research 3.3. The Language of Matthew 24 3.4. Conclusion Chapter 4 Daniel and Intertextual Prophetic Texts 4.1. Introduction 4.2. Daniel’s Influence on Matthew 24 4.3. The Abomination of Desolation in Its Danielic Context 4.4. The Son of Man, the Stone, and the Defeat of the Beasts 4.5. Relevant Prophetic Texts as Background for the Abomination of Desolation 4.6. A Similar Trajectory at Qumran 4.7. The Influence of Prophetic Material on Daniel 4.8. Conclusion Chapter 5 Implications, Summary, and Conclusions 5.1. Introduction 5.2. Rationale for Typological and Metaphorical Association in Matthew 5.3. Jesus as Prophet in Matthew 5.4. Gentiles in Matthew and the Abomination of Desolation 5.5. Concluding Thoughts on the Son of Man in Matthew: A Varied Motif 5.6. Summary and Conclusion Bibliography Index of Biblical and Other Ancient Sources Index of Authors