Date
12-4-2025
Department
Rawlings School of Divinity
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Bible Exposition (PhD)
Chair
Myron Kauk
Keywords
antithesis formula, antitheses, Matthew 5:21–48, historical Jesus, historical criticism, literary criticism
Disciplines
Religion | Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion
Recommended Citation
Herbert, Michael W., "In His Own Words? An Argument for Jesus as the Origin of the Antithesis Formula in Matthew 5:21–48" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7725.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7725
Abstract
This dissertation explores the origin and authenticity of the antithesis formula, “You have heard that it was said…[OT reference]…but I say to you…,” which appears only in the Gospel of Matthew (Matt 5:21–48). This uniqueness of the antithesis formula contributes to it being one of the most intriguing yet contentious New Testament phrases. As such, there is no scholarly consensus regarding the origin of the antithesis formula. The relevant English language literature presents theories concerning the origin of the antithesis formula that generally conform to form-critical, source-critical, and redaction-critical approaches. However, this literature lacks an extended argument for this formula originating with the historical Jesus.
To contribute to this field of knowledge, this dissertation will argue that the antithesis formula likely originated with the historical Jesus. Individual chapters will examine the principal historical-critical theories of the origin of the antithesis formula and contrast these theories with typical evangelical ideas of the authority, inerrancy, and inspiration of Scripture. Eschewing the prevailing historical-critical criteria of authenticity, this dissertation will propose four novel criteria by which to reasonably assume the authenticity of a Gospel saying. This dissertation will also expositionally compare the antithesis formula to other New Testament passages, including the statements of other first-century Jewish teachers, Jesus’s “amen” sayings, “I say to you” statements, and examples of other rhetorical techniques used by Jesus. In doing so, it will be demonstrated that Jesus and other first-century Jewish voices were credited with saying similar things using similar syntax and vocabulary, in similar contexts, as the antithesis formula. Moreover, the antithesis formula will be shown to be consistent with these sayings and with what could be deduced as an authentic saying of Jesus. Therefore, the antithesis formula is likely to have originated with the historical Jesus.
