Thursday, December 21, 2023

Édouard Massaux on Odes of Solomon 23:10-14 and its reference to Colossians 2:14

  

As for Odes Sol. 23:10-14, P. Batiffol’s hypothesis must be considered. The text of the Ode reads, “But those who saw the letter ran after it; / that they might know where it would land, / and who should read it, / and who should hear it. / But a wheel received it, / and it (the letter) came over it. / And with it was a sign, / of the Kingdom and of providence. / And everything which was disturbing to the wheel, / it mowed it and cut it down. / And restrained a multitude of adversaries; / and bridged rivers.” P Battifol notes that the letter certainly represents a living person, in this context it is Christ. The word τροχος may also mean a torture rack, and as such, it could then mean the cross. The letter has been attached to the cross: Saint Paul wrote that the decree of our condemnation has been nailed to the cross by Jesus Christ (Col. 2:14). There might, therefore, be a reminiscence of Col. 2:14. (Édouard Massaux, The Influence of the Gospel of Saint Matthew on Christian literature Before Irenaeus, Book 2: The Later Christian Writings [trans. Norman J. Belval and Suzanne Hecht; New Gospel Studies 5/2; Macon, Ga.: Mercer University Press, 1990, 1992], 75)