The Wider Mercy #1 The Missing Bride

Matt. 25
Then shall the kingdom of Heaven be likened unto 10 virgins which took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom
and 5 of them were wise and five were foolish.
they that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them
but the wise took oil with their lamps
while the bridegroom tarried they all slumbered and slept
and at midnight there was a cry made "behold the bridegroom cometh go ye out to meet him"

But in more ancient Latin and Syrian texts than St Jerome's Latin vulgate of the 4th century it has
and at midnight there was a cry made "behold the bridegroom cometh with his bride go ye out to meet him."

I am perhaps being a little bold in accepting this translation over the ancient text of St Jerome. But even if you accept St Jerome's version there is still the matter of the bride, she is made the more conspicuous by her absence. She ought to be there alongside her bridegroom.

Why did St. Jerome leave her out?

He had a dilemma for he had already espied the church or so he thought in the wise virgins, he knew well that he could not have 2 representations [I'm only surmising here folks] of the church and certainly if the bride was there alongside her bridegroom she is the true representation of the church, so he solved his problem by leaving her out. He solved his dilemma but completely altered the meaning of the parable.

Whether she is present or absent the bride is the church, so who are the virgins whether wise or foolish? if they are not the bride they are not the church and yet they gain admittance to the kingdom.

The bride will not need to knock to gain admittance.

In another post mebbe I will show this dilemma of St Jerome again in his relating the last day judgement from the same chapter of Matthew.

But in more ancient Latin and Syrian texts than St Jerome's Latin vulgate of the 4th century it has "and at midnight there was a cry made "behold the bridegroom cometh with his bride go ye out to meet him."

So here is the Latin from the Clementine Vulgate

Tunc simile erit regnum cælorum decem virginibus: quæ accipientes lampades suas exierunt obviam sponso et sponsæ. Quinque autem ex eis erant fatuæ, et quinque prudentes: sed quinque fatuæ, acceptis lampadibus, non sumpserunt oleum secum: prudentes vero acceperunt oleum in vasis suis cum lampadibus. Moram autem faciente sponso, dormitaverunt omnes et dormierunt. Media autem nocte clamor factus est: Ecce sponsus venit, exite obviam ei. Matthew 25:1-6 Vulgatam Clementinam

tunc simile erit regnum caelorum decem virginibus quae accipientes lampadas suas exierunt obviam sponso et sponsae

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be like to ten virgins, who taking their lamps went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride.

quinque autem ex eis erant fatuae et quinque prudentes

And five of them were foolish and five wise.

sed quinque fatuae acceptis lampadibus non sumpserunt oleum secum

But the five foolish, having taken their lamps, did not take oil with them.

prudentes vero acceperunt oleum in vasis suis cum lampadibus

But the wise took oil in their vessels with the lamps.

moram autem faciente sponso dormitaverunt omnes et dormierunt

And the bridegroom tarrying, they all slumbered and slept.

media autem nocte clamor factus est ecce sponsus venit exite obviam ei

And at midnight there was a cry made: Behold the bridegroom cometh. Go ye forth to meet him.

Contrasted with the Clementine 1597 post reformation version of the Jerome Original completed in 405

Here is the Textus Receptus (Received Text) where the Gk νυμφιος (manuscript) appears. The Gk νύμφη is translated bride, whereas νυμφιος in the manuscript for Matthew 25:6 translates as [a] bridegroom.

μεσης δε νυκτος κραυγη γεγονεν ιδου ο νυμφιος ερχεται εξερχεσθε εις απαντησιν αυτου v6

τοτε ομοιωθησεται η βασιλεια των ουρανων δεκα παρθενοις αιτινες λαβουσαι τας λαμπαδας αυτων εξηλθον εις απαντησιν του νυμφιου πεντε δε ησαν εξ αυτων φρονιμοι και αι πεντε μωραι αιτινες μωραι λαβουσαι τας λαμπαδας εαυτων ουκ ελαβον μεθ εαυτων ελαιον αι δε φρονιμοι ελαβον ελαιον εν τοις αγγειοις αυτων μετα των λαμπαδων αυτων χρονιζοντος δε του νυμφιου ενυσταξαν πασαι και εκαθευδον μεσης δε νυκτος κραυγη γεγονεν ιδου ο νυμφιος ερχεται εξερχεσθε εις απαντησιν αυτου. Matthew 25:1-6

And here is the Codex Sinaiticus (Tichendorf) 360AD

τοτε ομοιωθησεται η βασιλεια των ουρανων δεκα παρθενοις αιτινες λαβουσαι τας λαμπαδας αυτων εξηλθον εις υπαντησιν του νυμφιου πεντε δε εξ αυτων ησαν μωραι και πεντε φρονιμοι αι γαρ μωραι λαβουσαι τας λαμπαδας ουκ ελαβον μεθ εαυτων ελαιον αι δε φρονιμοι ελαβον ελαιον εν τοις αγγειοις μετα των λαμπαδων εαυτων χρονιζοντος δε του νυμφιου ενυσταξαν πασαι και εκαθευδον μεσης δε νυκτος κραυγη γεγονεν ιδου ο νυμφιος εξερχεσθε εις απαντησιν. Matthew 25:1-6

The expression with his bride according to your claim, brother is missing from Jerome's Vulgate as it is from both the received Text and Sinaiticus.



Syriac 2nd Century

ܗܳܝܕܷ݁ܝܢ ܬܷ݁ܕܱ݁ܡܶܐ ܡܰܠܟܾ݁ܘܬ݂ܴܐ ܕܱ݁ܫܡܰܝܳܐ ܂ ܠܱܥܣܰܪ ܒ݁ܬ݂ܾܘܠܴܢ̈ ܂ ܗܳܢܷ̈ܝܢ ܕܱ݁ܢܣܰܒ݂ ܠܱܡܦܻ݁ܕ݂ܰܝ̈ܗܶܝܢ ܁ ܘܰܢܦ݂ܰܩ ܠܾܐܘܪܱܥ ܚܰܬ݂ܢܳܐ ܘܟ݂ܰܠܬ݂ܴܐ ܂ܚܰܡܶܫ ܕܷ݁ܝܢ ܡܶܢܗܶܝܢ ܚܰܟܻ݁ܝ̈ܡܳܢ ܗ̄ܘܰܝ ܂ ܘܚܰܡܶܫ ܣܰܟ݂ܠܴܢ̈ ܂ ܘܗܳܢܷ̈ܝܢ ܣܰܟ݂̈ܠܴܬ݂ܴܐ ܂ ܢܣܰܒ݂ ܠܱܡܦܻ݁ܕ݂ܰܝ̈ܗܶܝܢ ܆ ܘܠܴܐ ܢܣܰܒ݂ ܥܰܡܗܶܝܢ ܡܶܫܚܳܐ ܂ ܗܳܢܷ̈ܝܢ ܕܷ݁ܝܢ ܚܰܟܻ݁ܝ̈ܡܳܬ݂ܴܐ ܆ ܢܣܰܒ݂ ܡܶܫܚܳܐ ܒ݁ܡܳܐܢܷ̈ܐ ܂ ܥܰܡ ܠܱܡܦܻ݁ܕ݂ܰܝ̈ܗܶܝܢ ܂ ܟܱ݁ܕ݂ ܐܱܘܚܰܪ ܕܷ݁ܝܢ ܚܰܬ݂ܢܳܐ ܆ ܢܳܡ ܟܾ݁ܠܗܶܝܢ ܂ ܘܰܕ݂ܡܶܟ݂ ܂ ܘܰܒ݂ܦ݂ܶܠܓ݂ܶܗ ܕ݁ܠܻܠܝܳܐ ܂ ܗܘܳܬ݂ ܩܥܳܬ݂ܴܐ ܂ ܗܳܐ ܚܰܬ݂ܢܳܐ ܐܴܬ݂ܷܐ ܂ ܦܾ݁ܘܩܘ ܠܾܐܘܪܥܶܗ ܂(Peshitta, (Syriac Matthew 25:1-6)

ܘܰܒ݂ܦ݂ܶܠܓ݂ܶܗ ܕ݁ܠܻܠܝܳܐ ܂ ܗܘܳܬ݂ ܩܥܳܬ݂ܴܐ ܂ ܗܳܐ ܚܰܬ݂ܢܳܐ ܐܴܬ݂ܷܐ ܂ ܦܾ݁ܘܩܘ ܠܾܐܘܪܥܶܗ ܂ v6

Inflected (bridegroom) ܚܰܬ݂ܢܳܐ (root) ܚܬܢ

Can I ask where your translation comes from?

I think the parables context is on being ready and full of the Spirit of God for the Lords coming. The coming of the Lord accompanied by his Bride is scriptural . When King Jesus descends, believers will rise to meet Him in the clouds and then promptly proceed to escort Him and His angelic host back to earth. I would prefer not to get into a lengthy discourse of the greek on the details of the this event. A lot of work . But Italics is the gist of it.

Alas

All I have is the margin of the ARV which says "other ancient manuscripts add and the bride" I admit this is weak and yet as I said whether she is mentioned or not she is still there. The virgins are bridal attendants, they are not the bride.

# 2 St Jeromes sheeps, who are they? will show what I see as his dilemma again but this time with much greater scripture backing.

Well I look forward to reading that second point you are going to make to reinforce the argument implied in the first point. Whilst I wait for that I will source the index reference from the ASV and find the codex source.

but they are not filled with oil, even their lamps were not filled. only they brought took oil with them. There is another problem with saying the oil represents the Holy Ghost in this parable in the response of the wise to the foolish that they should go to those who bought and sold to get oil.

That’s exactly right one half of them were not filled with oil, It is a parable the foolish virgins. They are fully one half of the company / they were not ready for the return of the Bridegroom. The Lord expounding the difference between being ready and not being ready. If you do the 10 previous and after scriptures for context or This likening is further expounded , two woman are at a mill one taken another left, beginning in verse 36 ( You know not the day or hour of the Lords return) verse 44 Be Ready. Chapter 25 is a continuation of this thought. And also being a good steward. The Kingdom of heaven is like 24:41 one shall be taken and another left ? 5 shall be taken and 5 shall be left ?Five were ready five were not ? What is the oil Evmur? How do you see it ? Not that I will not continue to see it as representing the Love of God ?. Half that thought they were the church were not.

Matthew 25. 31 - 33.
When the son of Man shall come in His glory and all His holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory.
and before Him shall be gathered all nations and He shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divideth his shep from his goats.
And He shall set the sheep on His right hand but the goats on the left.

In my first little treatise I attempted to show that St Jerome faced a dilemma in depicting who should be the church, I concede that lacking better scripture support it is a weak case although it is my firmly held conviction that it is so.

Here I believe in this same chapter of Matthew he encounters the very same problem, he knows that he cannot have the church twice depicted in the same story, he has already determined that the sheep set at the Lord's right hand are the church and the goats set upon the left are everybody else.

The word presented to him as "all His holy ones" he translates as "sacredos" which may indeed be translated into english as "holy angels" it may also be translated as "saints."

If it is saints then they are the church and suddenly the whole story takes on a different meaning and I might say makes better sense to the way it has been understood down the centuries.

I don't know how other folks read their bibles, when I read a passage like this I actually visualize the scene in my mind. I can see the Lord sat upon His throne surrounded by His saints and I can see stood before Him and facing Him the sheep on the right hand and the goats on the left.

Now suddenly the interchange makes better sense "Lord when did we see Thee naked and hungry etc" and His reply "in as much as ye did it to one the least of these My brethren ... " I can visualize Him waving His hand toward the saints around Him ... it doesn't quite make sense with Him commending the sheep for ministering to the needs of themselves.

The sheep are not the brethren.

Now whereas in my first post my scripture support was weak in this instance it is very strong indeed for we are quite definitely taught that we the church are not subject to this judgement at all, "we are" says John "passed over from judgement to life" Jesus has been judged on our behalf, found guilty [although innocent] and executed all on our behalf.

Paul teaches us that when He comes God will bring us with Him "don't you know" ... he cries ... that the saints are to judge the world?"

But look here I have something more.

This judgement related in Matthew is the same judgement that is related in Revelations, the Great White Throne judgement. The living and the dead are the sheep and goats. But this judgement takes place AFTER the 1, 000 year reign of Christ. The church will have been raptured 1, 000 years prior to this judgement and will have reigned with Him from heaven for 1, 000 years. The Jews will have reigned with Him on earth for 1, 000 years.

There is no way we will be judged at this judgement, whatever judgement we face for loss or reward it is not this judgement of final destinies for our destiny is already determined. hallelujah.

So who ARE these sheep? they do receive an inheritance. I believe they are the meek who will inherit the earth. There is to be a new earth as well as new heavens and someone will dwell there. Our dwelling is in heaven.

But dear bro they ALL slumbered and slept ... surely spirit filled folk do not slumber and sleep.


But do you see that they are the bridal attendants? they are not the bride. The bride will not seek to enter by knocking.

But dear bro they ALL slumbered and slept ... surely spirit filled folk do not slumber and sleep.

I admit interpreting the oil is difficult, I am not the only one who thinks so. These virgins were not themselves filled with oil but their lamps. 10 in the bible is a world number, it represents the nations.

But do you see that they are the bridal attendants? they are not the bride. The bride will not seek to enter by knocking.

But dear bro they ALL slumbered and slept ... surely spirit filled folk do not slumber and sleep.

I admit interpreting the oil is difficult, I am not the only one who thinks so. These virgins were not themselves filled with oil but their lamps. 10 in the bible is a world number, it represents the nations.

But do you see that they are the bridal attendants? they are not the bride. The bride will not seek to enter by knocking.

But dear bro they ALL slumbered and slept ... surely spirit filled folk do not slumber and sleep.

I admit interpreting the oil is difficult, I am not the only one who thinks so. These virgins were not themselves filled with oil but their lamps. 10 in the bible is a world number, it represents the nations.

But do you see that they are the bridal attendants? they are not the bride. The bride will not seek to enter by knocking.

Just a few thoughts, brother, before responding properly.

I am still trying to pin down the reference from the bible you cited. Do you have the ISBN number for the bible please?

Why do you say this parable of the sheep and the goats is the Great White throne judgement?

What do you believe the Bema Seat judgment means?

And do you have an eschatological crononoly that differentiates in time where and when these judgements take place? Specifically the Bema Seat and the Great White Throne?

I agree that the Sheep Nations are not the these my brethren else the expression these my brethren could scarcely be an appropriate judgement when speaking in answer to the sheep nations asking when did we do these things unto thee? Yet neither can that reality of its self explain who the these my brethren are. But I can see that you have given a Greek transliteration to imply your own meaning - so I'll do a Greek parse to open that up a bit later today.

By inference the sheep needing to be identified is as important as needing to identify the these my brethren.

Are there four groups?

The Sheep nations.
The Goat nations.
The these my brethren.
The first resurrection and the raptured saints.

I don't see any suggestion that the wise were wrong for falling asleep. If it is a parable instead of an allegory then it is a scene taken from something common to life and in this case a wedding custom. The issue here is not that they slept. The sleeping part is because there was a longer than expected delay in his coming. Jesus is teaching that there might be a longer than expected delay in His return but that believers are to live a life as though he will return at any moment and be found DOING what they were expected to be DOING, which in this case was carry a lit torch in the wedding procession. But the action and parable could have been something different as long as the emphasis is on them DOING what they were supposed to be DOING not simply Believing something was true or not.

The one who built his house on the sand was foolish because he heard the word but did not DO IT.
The one who build his house on the rock was wise because he heard the word and DID IT.

The sudden storm came and the wise stood and the foolish were destroyed. This is the same lesson. The Wise Virgins did what was necessary to have a lit lamp (they took the steps necessary in case there was a long delay) They were therefore able to perform the duty that was expected of them.

The foolish were not able to perform what was expected of them. They did not prepare for a long delay. They thought they would qualify by some last minute effort. It did not work out. They did not take it serious enough to make the preparations needed when they had the time.

How many have wasted time teaching things about this parable as an allegory about other things than what was intended, while living a life where compromise and sin is not dealt with on a personal level thinking that God would over look it all because of Grace or they could say a few hail Marys at the end and it wouldn't matter?