Wise and Foolish Virgins

The different translations of Matthew 13 tell you just how much using the right translations and understanding the social context matters.

To a 21st reader of the King James, the context would be clear. Coming to the text fresh, one would assume that in a first-century environment the bridegroom is arriving to marry the virgins - or as many, apparently, as are well-equipped with lighting equipment. Why, looking at a lifetime of marriage as a whole, the bridegroom might decide that having a working lamp is a particular recommendation, would never be clear under this hypothetical reading. But the lack of any mention of a bride in the parable might also point this way. Maybe he was going to choose the one with the best torch?

But the NRSV interprets the virgins as "bridesmaids".  This strikes me as indeed an interpretation - an assumption has been made that this is their function at the wedding feast. I suppose - for we don't have the information - that their job was to stand around holding lamps, in which case the interpretation "bridesmaids" would be wrong - and the groom's reaction in not letting them in would be quite reasonable. After all, if you're at a function with no unction, that's a pretty bad junction.

So the best I can conclude is, I don't know. Perhaps the moral we can draw from all this, in this modern world, is that you should always keep your environmentally-friendly rechargable torch charged up. Or maybe invest in a wind-up one. Then you will know, at whatever hour the groom arrives, that you'll have a bit of light and you won't get locked out.

Now we will sing "This little light of mine". Which, having an upbeat and a slow way of playing it, can be found both at the front and back of Burton's new hymn book.