By James Rochford, article
Claim:
Critics claim that Paul deliberately twisted the OT text. Paul writes that God “gave gifts to men” (Eph. 4:8). However, in the original text, we read that God “received gifts among men” (Ps. 68:18). Which is true?
Response:
A number of points can be made.
First, we need to consider the context of Psalm 68. This psalm is a plea with God to liberate his people the way he did back in the old days. In verse 7, God walked in triumph in front of the people. In verses 11-14, the kings scattered before him. The transfer of the ark to Zion is made analogous to the march of Yahweh, conquering his enemies. Normally, when a conqueror returned home from battle, he would take his booty and distribute it to the people, rather than receive it.
Second, the original Hebrew could either read “received” or “brought.” Stott writes that either translation is permissible. He also writes, “It is not without significance that two ancient versions or translations, one Aramaic and the other Syriac, render it ‘gave’. So evidently this was already a traditional interpretation.”[1]
Third, therefore, understanding both the original context and the original language, Paul shows Christ as giving out gifts, when he is raised. We see the same theme in Acts 2:33, when Peter says, “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.” In other words, Christ –similar to an ancient conqueror for his people (Ps. 68) –was received from God only to give to us.
- ^ Stott, John R. W.: God’s New Society : The Message of Ephesians. Downers Grove, Ill. : InterVarsity Press, 1979, 1980. 157.
LXX or Hebrew
The assumption is that Paul was only quoting from the LXX instead of Hebrew or any other language when even commentary listed on Bible Hub, highlights this.
- “In the Psalm, ‘received gifts for men,’ Hebrew, ‘among men,’ that is, ‘thou hast received gifts’ to distribute among men… The impartation of the gifts and graces of the Spirit depended on Christ’s ascension (John 7:39; 14:12).” – Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
- “In the Hebrew text it is, ‘thou hast ascended’; there the psalmist speaks to the Messiah, here the apostle speaks of him… wherefore the Jews have no reason to quarrel with the version of the apostle as they do; who, instead of ‘received gifts for’ men, renders it, ‘gave gifts to men’; since the Messiah received in order to give, and gives in consequence of his having received them; and so Jarchi interprets the words, ‘to give them’ to the children of men; and besides, as a learned man has observed, one and the same Hebrew word signifies to give and to receive; to which may be added that their own Targum renders it ‘and hast given gifts to the children of men’…” – Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Dr. Gregory K. Beale
In the light of our overall discussion, the proposal of many that the NT’s exegetical approach to the OT is characteristically non-contextual is a substantial overstatement. It would take more space than allowed in this article to discuss all the relevant cases where the OT is used in the NT, but the present aim has been to focus on methodological and presuppositional issues which often influence the exegetical task itself. I remain convinced that once the hermeneutical and theological presuppositions of the NT writers are considered, there are no clear examples where they have developed a meaning from the OT which is inconsistent or contradictory to some aspect of the original OT intention. [26] However, there will probably always remain some enigmatic passages that are hard to understand under any reading.
[26] This conclusion is corroborated by the articles of Moo, ‘The Problem of Sensus Plenior,’ R. Nicole, ‘The New Testament Use of the Old Testament’ in Revelation and the Bible, ed. C. F. H. Henry (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1958), 135-151 and idem., ‘The Old Testament in the New Testament’ in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary I, ed. F. E. Gaebelein (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1979), 617-628.
