I've lately being doing some analysis of Jesus' amēn sayings. Jesus' tendency in the Gospels to begin sayings with amēn legō humin ('Truly I say to you') is one of the most distinctive features of his teaching style, and undoubtedly historically authentic.1 There is scholarly debate over whether this saying formula was unique to Jesus,2 as well as its linguistic background. One intriguing hypothesis is that Jesus took it from the expression ē/ei mēn in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible)3 and translated it into Aramaic, whence it was transliterated back into Greek.4 New Testament scholars are generally agreed that the formula adds emphasis and solemnity to a saying.5
I would not want to suggest that sayings of Jesus prefaced with the amēn formula are of a different order of importance from those prefaced simply with 'I say to you'. Nevertheless, in honour of this distinctive and majestic formula used by our Lord, I am reproducing in a single table all of the amēn sayings of the Gospels. I hope it may prove useful for further study. The sayings are quoted in the World English Bible, not because it is such a great translation but because the table was generated using a computer program, and the World English Bible is freely available in a text file format, which facilitated this.
There are 79 amēn sayings all together.6 Where an identical or nearly identical amēn saying occurs in multiple Gospels, it is quoted only once, but the parallel is noted.7 Hence there are 63 entries in the table. A few linguistic and statistical notes about the sayings are included beneath the table for those who may be interested.
Some think the amēn sayings are Christologically significant, telling us something profound about Jesus' self-understanding. I tend to agree. It is quite possible that the use of this emphatic formula contributed to the crowds' reaction to Jesus' teaching recorded in Matt. 7:28-29: 'And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.'
Reference
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World English Bible Translation
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Link
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Matt. 5:18
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For most certainly, I tell you, until
heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen
stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are
accomplished.
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Matt. 5:26
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Agree with your adversary quickly, while
you are with him in the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the
judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison.
Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there, until you
have paid the last penny.
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Matt. 6:2
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Therefore when you do merciful deeds, don't
sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and
in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you,
they have received their reward.
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Matt. 6:5
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"When you pray, you shall not be as
the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the
corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell
you, they have received their reward.
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Matt. 6:16
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"Moreover when you fast, don't be like
the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces, that they may
be seen by men to be fasting. Most certainly I tell you, they have received
their reward.
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Matt. 8:10
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When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said
to those who followed, "Most certainly I tell you, I haven't found so
great a faith, not even in Israel.
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Matt. 10:15
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Most certainly I tell you, it will be more
tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for
that city.
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Matt. 10:23
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But when they persecute you in this city,
flee into the next, for most certainly I tell you, you will not have gone
through the cities of Israel, until the Son of Man has come.
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Matt. 11:11
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Most certainly I tell you, among those who
are born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptizer;
yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.
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Matt. 13:17
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For most certainly I tell you that many
prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which you see, and
didn't see them; and to hear the things which you hear, and didn't hear them.
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Matt. 17:20
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He said to them, "Because of your
unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of
mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it
will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
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Matt. 18:13
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If he finds it, most certainly I tell you,
he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray.
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Matt. 18:18
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Most certainly I tell you, whatever things
you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever things you
release on earth will have been released in heaven.
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Matt. 18:19
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Again, assuredly I tell you, that if two of
you will agree on earth concerning anything that they will ask, it will be
done for them by my Father who is in heaven.
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Matt. 19:23
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Jesus said to his disciples, "Most
certainly I say to you, a rich man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with
difficulty.
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Matt. 19:28
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Jesus said to them, "Most certainly I
tell you that you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of
Man will sit on the throne of his glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
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Matt. 21:31
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Which of the two did the will of his
father?" They said to him, "The first." Jesus said to them,
"Most certainly I tell you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes
are entering into the Kingdom of God before you.
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Matt. 23:36
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Therefore, behold, I send to you prophets,
wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of
them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city;
that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the
blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom you
killed between the sanctuary and the altar. Most certainly I tell you, all
these things will come upon this generation.
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Matt. 24:2
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But he answered them, "You see all of
these things, don't you? Most certainly I tell you, there will not be left
here one stone on another, that will not be thrown down."
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Matt. 24:47 (par. Luke 12:448)
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"Who then is the faithful and wise
servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in
due season? Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he
comes. Most certainly I tell you that he will set him over all that he has.
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Matt. 25:12
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Afterward the other virgins also came,
saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us.' But he answered, 'Most certainly I tell
you, I don't know you.'
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Matt. 25:40
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"The King will answer them, 'Most
certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my
brothers, you did it to me.'
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Matt. 25:45
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"Then he will answer them, saying,
'Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you didn't do it to one of the least
of these, you didn't do it to me.'
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Mark 3:28
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Most certainly I tell you, all sins of the
descendants of man will be forgiven, including their blasphemies with which
they may blaspheme; but whoever may blaspheme against the Holy Spirit never
has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin"
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Mark 8:12
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He sighed deeply in his spirit, and said,
"Why does this generation seek a sign? Most certainly I tell you, no
sign will be given to this generation."
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Mark 9:1 (par. Matt. 16:28; Luke 9:279)
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He said to them, "Most certainly I
tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste death until
they see the Kingdom of God come with power."
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Mark 9:41 (par. Matt. 10:42)
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For whoever will give you a cup of water to
drink in my name, because you are Christ's, most certainly I tell you, he
will in no way lose his reward.
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Mark 10:15 (par. Matt. 18:3; Luke 18:17)
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Most certainly I tell you, whoever will not
receive the Kingdom of God like a little child, he will in no way enter into
it."
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Mark 10:29-30 (par. Luke 18:29-30)
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Jesus said, "Most certainly I tell
you, there is no one who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father,
or mother, or wife, or children, or land, for my sake, and for the sake of
the Good News, but he will receive one hundred times more now in this time,
houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land, with persecutions;
and in the age to come eternal life.
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Mark 11:23 (par. Matt. 21:21)
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For most certainly I tell you, whoever may
tell this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and doesn't doubt in
his heart, but believes that what he says is happening; he shall have
whatever he says.
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Mark 12:43-44 (par. Luke 21:3-410)
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He called his disciples to himself, and
said to them, "Most certainly I tell you, this poor widow gave more than
all those who are giving into the treasury, for they all gave out of their
abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live
on."
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Mark 13:28-30 (par. Matt. 24:32-34; Luke
21:29-32)
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"Now from the fig tree, learn this
parable. When the branch has now become tender, and puts forth its leaves,
you know that the summer is near; even so you also, when you see these things
coming to pass, know that it is near, at the doors. Most certainly I say to
you, this generation will not pass away until all these things happen.
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Mark 14:9 (par. Matt. 26:13)
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Most certainly I tell you, wherever this
Good News may be preached throughout the whole world, that which this woman
has done will also be spoken of for a memorial of her."
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Mark 14:18 (par. Matt. 26:21; John 13:21)
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As they sat and were eating, Jesus said,
"Most certainly I tell you, one of you will betray me--he who eats with
me."
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Mark 14:25
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Most certainly I tell you, I will no more
drink of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it anew in the
Kingdom of God."
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Mark 14:30 (par. Matt. 26:34; John 13:38)
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Jesus said to him, "Most certainly I
tell you, that you today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice,
you will deny me three times."
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Luke 4:24
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He said, "Most certainly I tell you,
no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.
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Luke 4:25-2611
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But truly I tell you, there were many
widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up three years
and six months, when a great famine came over all the land. Elijah was sent
to none of them, except to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who
was a widow.
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Luke 12:37
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Blessed are those servants, whom the lord
will find watching when he comes. Most certainly I tell you, that he will
dress himself, and make them recline, and will come and serve them.
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Luke 23:42-43
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He said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me
when you come into your Kingdom." Jesus said to him, "Assuredly I
tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
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John 1:51
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He said to him, "Most certainly, I
tell you, hereafter you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God
ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
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John 3:3
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Jesus answered him, "Most certainly, I
tell you, unless one is born anew, he can't see the Kingdom of God."
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John 3:5
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Jesus answered, "Most certainly I tell
you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can't enter into the Kingdom
of God!
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John 3:11
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Most certainly I tell you, we speak that
which we know, and testify of that which we have seen, and you don't receive
our witness.
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John 5:19
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Jesus therefore answered them, "Most
certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees
the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does
likewise.
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John 5:24
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"Most certainly I tell you, he who
hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn't
come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
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John 5:25
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Most certainly, I tell you, the hour comes,
and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God's voice; and those who
hear will live.
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John 6:26
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Jesus answered them, "Most certainly I
tell you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the
loaves, and were filled.
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John 6:32
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Jesus therefore said to them, "Most
certainly, I tell you, it wasn't Moses who gave you the bread out of heaven,
but my Father gives you the true bread out of heaven.
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John 6:47
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Most certainly, I tell you, he who believes
in me has eternal life.
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John 6:53
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Jesus therefore said to them, "Most
certainly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink
his blood, you don't have life in yourselves.
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John 8:34
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Jesus answered them, "Most certainly I
tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin.
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John 8:51
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Most certainly, I tell you, if a person
keeps my word, he will never see death."
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John 8:58
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Jesus said to them, "Most certainly, I
tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM."
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John 10:1
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"Most certainly, I tell you, one who
doesn't enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way,
the same is a thief and a robber.
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John 10:7
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Jesus therefore said to them again,
"Most certainly, I tell you, I am the sheep's door.
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John 12:24
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Most certainly I tell you, unless a grain
of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it
dies, it bears much fruit.
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John 13:16
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Most certainly I tell you, a servant is not
greater than his lord, neither one who is sent greater than he who sent him.
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John 13:20
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Most certainly I tell you, he who receives
whomever I send, receives me; and he who receives me, receives him who sent
me."
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John 14:12
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Most certainly I tell you, he who believes
in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and he will do greater works
than these, because I am going to my Father.
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John 16:20
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Most certainly I tell you, that you will
weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your
sorrow will be turned into joy.
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John 16:23
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"In that day you will ask me no
questions. Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in
my name, he will give it to you.
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John 21:18
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Most certainly I tell you, when you were
young, you dressed yourself, and walked where you wanted to. But when you are
old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you, and carry
you where you don't want to go."
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Further statistical and linguistic notes about the sayings
- Matthew contains the most amēn sayings (31), followed by John (25), Mark (13) and Luke (10).
- The Johannine Jesus always uses a double 'amēn amēn'. This double formula doesn't occur outside John except as a textual variant in Matt. 6:2, Luke 4:24, Luke 18:17.
- In Luke 9:27, 12:44 and 21:32, instead of amēn we find the adverb alēthōs, 'truly'.12 In Luke 4:25 we find ep' alētheias, 'of a truth'. These are the only instances where the (presumed) original Aramaic word אמן has been translated rather than transliterated. They help to confirm the meaning of amēn in the other sayings. I have still counted them as amēn sayings.
- There are 70 cases where the pronoun 'you' is plural (humin), indicating Jesus is addressing a group, and nine cases where the pronoun 'you' is singular (soi), indicating Jesus is addressing an individual.13 The three individual people who have the distinction of being the addressee of a canonical amēn saying are Peter, Nicodemus, and le bon larron.
- The word order of the formula almost never changes. The only exceptions are Luke 9:27 (where alēthōs occurs at the end rather than the start of the formula - literally 'I say to you truly') and Luke 23:43 (where soi and legō are transposed - literally 'Truly to you I say').
Footnotes
- 1 'There can be no doubt that the expression is a historically authentic expression of Jesus' (Aune, David E. (1983). Prophecy in Early Christianity and the Ancient Mediterranean World. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, p. 165.) I simply mean that historical Jesus is very likely to have actually used such a formula when teaching, while acknowledging that the term 'authentic' has now become very controversial in historical Jesus research. See, e.g., Keith, Chris (2016). The Narratives of the Gospels and the Historical Jesus: Current Debates, Prior Debates and the Goal of Historical Jesus Research. Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 38(4), 426-455.
- 2 In Hebrew, אמן was generally used responsorially. However, Strugnell draws attention to a 7th century B.C. Hebrew potsherd where the word seems to introduce a saying. He translates: 'and all my brethren will answer for me (i.e., on my behalf), those who were harvesting with me in the heat of the sun, ALL my brethren will answer for me. Truly ('mn), I am innocent of gu[ilt; pray return] my garment' (Strugnell, John (1974). "Amen, I say unto you" in the Sayings of Jesus and in Early Christian Literature. Harvard Theological Review, 67(2), 177-190; here p. 178.) He is responding to other scholars who had claimed that amen is used responsorially here, i.e. 'my brethren will answer me "Amen."' The amēn I say to you formula also occurs in Recension A of the Testament of Abraham, a Jewish pseudepigraphic work. However, it is disputed whether the saying there is independent of Christian influence (Lee, Sang-Il. (2012). Jesus and Gospel Traditions in Bilingual Context: A Study in the Interdirectionality of Language. Berlin: de Gruyter, p. 352). Allison, for instance, thinks it is a Christian interpolation (Allison, Dale C. (2003). Testament of Abraham. Berlin: de Gruyter, p. 389).
- 3 Both these Greek expressions mean something like 'surely'. For example, 'Say to them, As I live, saith the Lord: surely as ye spoke into my ears, so will I do to you.' (Num. 14:28 LXX, Brenton translation). LXX occurrences of ē mēn are Gen. 22:17; 42:16; Ex. 22:7, 10; Num. 14:23, 28, 35; Job 13:15; 27:3; Isa. 45:23. LXX occurrences of ei mēn are Job 1:11; 2:5; Ezek. 33:27; 34:8; 35:6; 36:5; 38:19.
- 4 This is argued by Lee (op. cit.). A Septuagint background to the term was originally proposed by Berger, Klaus. (1970). Die Amen-wort Jesu. Berlin: de Gruyter.
- 5 'There is a consensus that the ἀμήν-formula in the sayings by Jesus in the four gospels refers to emphasis and solemnity.' (Lee, op. cit., p. 356.)
- 6 amēn occurs as a textual variant in the sayings of Luke 7:9, 7:28 and John 6:56, but since they are excluded in the NA28 critical text, I have not counted them. In Matt. 18:19, some manuscripts lack amēn, but NA28 retains it (albeit in square brackets indicating its dubious authenticity), so I have counted it.
- 7 If an amēn saying has a parallel in which the word amēn is lacking, this parallel is not cited.
- 8 NA28 has alēthōs rather than amēn here. However, this is semantically equivalent: alēthōs is a translation whereas amēn is a transliteration. See discussion below.
- 9 Luke 9:27 has has alēthōs rather than amēn here. However, this is semantically equivalent: alēthōs is a translation whereas amēn is a transliteration. See discussion below.
- 10 Luke 21:4 has alēthōs rather than amēn here. However, this is semantically equivalent: alēthōs is a translation whereas amēn is a transliteration. See discussion below.
- 11 Luke 4:25 has ep' alētheias rather than amēn here. However, this is semantically equivalent: alēthōs is a translation whereas amēn is a transliteration. See discussion below.
- 12 In Luke 9:27, alēthōs occurs at the end of the formula rather than the beginning, and some manuscripts insert hoti before the content of the saying, indicating that the adverb is part of the saying itself, rather than part of the introductory formula. However, NA28 does not retain this hoti, and given that Luke is here relying on Mark 9:1 as a source (where we find an amēn saying), alēthōs is probably playing the role of amēn. In Luke 12:44, some manuscripts have amēn instead of alēthōs. Hence, Luke 21:32 is the only case where we can say with certainty that alēthōs has taken the place of amēn.
- 13 The nine individual instances are Matt. 5:26, 26:34, Mark 14:30, Luke 23:43, John 3:3, 3:5, 3:11, 13:38, 21:18.
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