Coals, or Gems?
By Jonathan Mitchell
Prov. 25:21-22 is quoted from the LXX, in Rom. 12:20. The common rendering, in both texts, speaks of putting "coals of fire" upon an enemy's head. Scholars have puzzled, for centuries, about the meaning of this metaphor.
Let us consider the first part of Rom. 12:20, and discern the immediate context that leads to the following enigmatic metaphor:
"If your enemy (the one hostile to you) should perhaps be hungering (or: continues hungry), continue feeding him morsels (supplying him with food); if he may continue thirsting (be constantly thirsty), continue giving drink to him (causing him to drink)..."
This kind of behavior is an admonition for humane treatment and kindness to someone who has been hostile to us. It is the giving of basic good to one's enemy.
This advice is followed by a metaphor which is given to explain what such action will do to, or for, this enemy, as commonly translated:
"you will heap coals of fire upon his head."
Now, the actions of feeding and giving drink are acts of blessings for this hostile person. So what does the explanatory metaphor mean?
In Rom. 12:21b, Paul follows up this quote from Proverbs by saying,
"be constantly conquering (overcoming; victorious over; vanquishing) the worthless (the unsound, the bad and the ugly; the evil) [by being] in union with, and in the sphere of, The Good One (or: [being a participant,] centered within what is profitable; or: in [living] in the midst of this Virtue),"
and so we can see his train of thought. Therefore, it seems obvious that the
"coals of fire"
are intended to be a picture of doing something good to someone who has been adversarial to us.
But still, why do both authors use this metaphor of "coals of fire"? And why did Paul include this part of Prov. 25:22? Why did he not just stop after the admonition of feeding and giving drink? Why add the confusing metaphor? He did not even quote the rest of vs. 22,
"so [the] LORD will keep on giving back (or: rewarding) good and excellence to you."
Pondering the above considerations has led to further research about how the word commonly rendered "coal" (anthrax) was used. Along with the meaning, "coal," is the meaning,
"precious stone of dark red color, including the carbuncle, ruby and garnet."
Our investigation of this word in the OT will be in the LXX, the third century BC Greek translation. It is first used in Gen. 2:12. Beginning with vs. 10, we read of the river which proceeds forth from Eden and then divides into four heads, or "sources." The first of these four flows through a region where there is gold and carbuncle (anthrax) and emerald (vs. 12).
The next LXX occurrence is in Ex. 28:18 (repeated in 36:18), as one of the twelve gems in the breastplate of the high priest, representing one of the tribes of Israel. But the next time we find anthrax used is in Lev. 16:12, where its use is obviously "coals," for in this passage it speaks of a
"censer full of coals of fire off the altar."
In the thanksgiving psalm of 2 Sam. 22, David uses figurative, symbolic pictures of God's presence, in action. There, vs. 13 states,
"From the light, luster and splendor before Him, gem stones of fire were suddenly caused to light up (or: coals, from a fire, were at one point made to flame forth)" (LXX, JM).
In Isa. 6:6-7, a "burning one" (seraph) took an anthrax from the altar and touched it to Isaiah's mouth, and then told him that it would take away his lawlessness and purify his sins (failures; mistakes; deviations). We find a visionary use of this word in Ezk. 1:13, which speaks of
"an appearance of continuously burning coals (or: gem stones) of fire" in the midst of "the living beings."
Then, in 10:2, we see them
"in the midst of the cherubim."
But 10:9b tells us that
"the appearance of the wheels was as the appearance of a stone (lithos) of carbuncle (anthrax)."
Ezk. 28:1-19 offers us apocalyptic imagery concerning the ruler of Tyre, and vss. 13-15 reveal:
"In the delight of the Paradise of God (Heb.: in Eden, God's Garden) you were at one point born (or: came into existence); every precious stone (lithos) has been bound on, and continues being bound to, you: carnelian and topaz and emerald and carbuncle (anthrax).... From the day you were created, I place you with the cherub on the set-apart (holy) Mountain of God; you were born (came into existence) within the midst of stones (lithos) of fire. You were born blameless (faultless) within your days, from the day you were created, until the effects of injustice and the results of absence of the Way pointed out were at one point found within you (or: centered in you)." (LXX, JM)
This is the last place where we find anthrax in the OT. So, let us pass on to the new, where it is used in Rom. 12:20,
"If your enemy (the one hostile to you) should perhaps be hungering (or: continues hungry), continue feeding him morsels (supplying him with food); if he may continue thirsting (be constantly thirsty), continue giving drink to him (causing him to drink), for while constantly practicing (performing; doing) this you will progressively pile on and heap up gem stones (or: coals) of fire upon his head (source)."
Although anthrax is not used, we find Paul using the metaphor of "precious stones" in 1 Cor. 3:
10. Corresponding to, in accord with, to the level of, and in the sphere of, God's Grace and Favor [which are] being given to (or: by; [cf Rom. 12:3]) me, as [being] a skillful master-carpenter (wise chief-builder; clever head-artisan; learned, competent leading-stonemason; like a wise architect, engineer, foreman or director of works) I lay [other MSS: have laid] a foundation (or: laid a foundation [Stone]), yet now another, of the same kind, is progressively building a house upon [it]. So now, let each one continue watching to observe (take a comprehensive and considered look at, regard and take care; [cf 1:26, above]) how he keeps on building the house upon [it] (or: she proceeds constructing further upon the house)....
13. each one's work will make itself to be visible in clear light (or: will become apparent), for this (or: The) Day will continue making [it] evident (showing [it] plainly). Because it is being progressively unveiled (continually revealed) within the midst of Fire, and the Fire, Itself, will progressively test, examine and put to the proof what sort of work each one's exists being. [cf Mal. 4:1]
14. If (or: Assuming that) the work of anyone, which he or she built upon [it], will remain, he or she will proceed in receiving wages (pay; compensation; meed).
15. If anyone's work will be burned down, he or she will proceed in incurring a loss (sustaining the damage; forfeiting), yet he himself, or she herself, will be saved (rescued and delivered; healed; restored; made whole; kept safe), and as in this way - through means of Fire! [cf 5:5, below; Job 2:6, LXX; Isa. 4:4-5; Mal. 3:2-3; Mat. 3:11b]
16. Have you folks not seen, to now know, that you people continuously exist being God's Temple (a residence of God; a Divine habitation; holy place and holy of holies; inner sanctuary), and God's Spirit is constantly dwelling (God's Breath keeps on making Its home, and living; the Wind, which is God, is habitually housing Himself; the Breath-effect and Attitude from God is progressively co-habiting) within the midst of, centered in, and in union with, you folks? [cf 2 Cor. 6:16-18]
17. If anyone habitually spoils, ruins, wrecks or corrupts God's Temple, God will spoil, ruin, wreck and corrupt this person; for you see, God's Temple - which you folks, yourselves, are (exist being) - is set-apart (holy; sacred; different from the common; [cf 1:2, 30, above; 6:2-8, 15-20; 7:19; 10:17-22; 11:27-31, below]).
We see the results of this ongoing building in the description of the Bride, the Lamb's Wife (symbolically pictured as the New Jerusalem, descending from out of the atmosphere) in Rev. 21:11-21. This is "the Jerusalem which is above, which is the mother of us all," (Gal. 3:26).
We have another witness, in 1 Pet. 2:
(or: a holy, sacred, and different from the ordinary, effect of a body officiating as priests) to bear back up
(or: carry back and offer again) spiritual sacrifices and offerings [that are] pleasingly acceptable toward, with a view to, and face-to-face with, goodness, ease and well-being in God (or: by God; to God; for God; with God) through Jesus Christ,
6. so thus (or: inasmuch as; or: Because of this), it continues being contained (encompassed; included) in Scripture: "Consider (Behold; Look)! I am progressively setting (placing; laying) within Zion a chosen (picked-out), precious (held in honor and value) Cornerstone lying at the extreme angle, and the one habitually trusting (relying; believing; investing loyalty) upon It may by no means be disgraced or brought to shame or be disappointed." [Isa. 28:16; cf Mat. 16:18]
So what should we conclude, concerning Rom. 12:20?
First of all that the second half of the verse describes the positive results of the actions of doing "good" to our enemies (the first half of the verse). Next, we might conclude that such actions of Love will produce a purification of them - from their heads to their "sources." And finally, that these good works provide the "building stones" for the Temple of God, in these individuals.
Jonathan
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