THE RECEPTION OF ZECHARIAH 9:9 IN THE NEW TESTAMENT AND IN THE EARLY CHURCH
THE RECEPTION OF ZECHARIAH 9:9 IN THE NEW TESTAMENT AND IN THE EARLY CHURCH

Summary/Abstract: The present paper analyzes the reception of a classical messianic prophecy ‒ Zechariah 9:9 ‒ in the Gospels of Matthew and John, respectively, highlighting the particular way in which the two evangelists quote and embed this text into their own theological fabric. The second part of the paper presents the early Rezeptionsgeschichte of Zechariah 9:9, surveying a wide variety of Christian authors who span five centuries (Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Cyril of Jerusalem, John Chrysostom, Jerome, Augustine and Caesarius of Arles). Our analysis shows that while some early commentators read the text allegorically, others see in it an important witness about the earthly life of Jesus or, more generally, the history of salvation. A few important commentators use the text pollemically as they wrestle theologically with various categories of opponents (Jews, Ebionites, Valentinians, Marcionites, pagans).

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