The meaning of ἕως οὗ in Matthew 1:25 [Part 1]

 

Matthew 1:25 is one of the most central texts when debating the issue of Mary's perpetual virginity. Here is what is says (ESV). I have included verse 24 for the sake of context:

"When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus." (Matthew 1:24-25)

Essentially, the debate on this texts often revolves around whether or not the word "until" tells us anything about what happened between Mary and Joseph after she had given birth to Jesus. In particular, the construction ἕως οὗ is translated as "until" in this verse. Often, Catholic apologists will point to other passages where ἕως  is used by itself or with some other conjunction. However, the relevant passages are the ones which contain the Greek construction ἕως οὗ specifically, since that is what is used in Matthew 1:25. Let's take a look at some of these passages. 

ἕως οὗ occurs seventeen times in the New Testament, and eighty-five times in the LXX and the Apocrypha. Some of these occurrences have the meaning of "while" such as Matthew 14:22, for example. However, the rest of these are usually with the meaning of "until". Essentially, here is the central question we must ask: does ἕως οὗ mean "until (but not after)"? Lets examine some passages:

Matthew 17:9 says this:

"And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, 'Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead." (Matt. 17:9)

NA28 Greek Text: Καὶ καταβαινόντων αὐτῶν ἐκ τοῦ ὄρους ἐνετείλατο αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς λέγων· μηδενὶ εἴπητε τὸ ὅραμα ἕως οὗ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐκ νεκρῶν ἐγερθῇ

Here, Jesus instructs His apostles to not tell anyone about the things they had seen, until He is raised from the dead after His crucifixion. But surely they were not supposed to stay that way afterwards! After that, they were supposed to go and preach the gospel after Jesus' resurrections (Acts 1:8). Thus, here ἕως οὗ does indeed give us information about what happened after Jesus was raised from the dead.

Luke 22:18

"For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." (Luke 22:18)

NA28 Greek Text: λέγω γὰρ ὑμῖν, [ὅτι] οὐ μὴ πίω ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν ἀπὸ τοῦ γενήματος τῆς ἀμπέλου ἕως οὗ ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ ἔλθῃ

It is obvious that after the kingdom comes, Jesus will then drink of the "fruit of the vine". This is an example of where ἕως οὗ gives information about what happens after the following clause. 

Matthew 18:34

"And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt." (Matthew 18:34)

NA28 Greek Text: καὶ ὀργισθεὶς ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ παρέδωκεν αὐτὸν τοῖς βασανισταῖς ἕως οὗ ἀποδῷ πᾶν τὸ ὀφειλόμενον

It is obvious that after he paid the debt, he would be freed from the jailers. Let's take a look at another example which I find to be even clearer.

John 13:38

"Jesus answered, 'Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.'" (John 13:38)

NA28 Greek Text: ἀποκρίνεται Ἰησοῦς· τὴν ψυχήν σου ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ θήσεις; ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω σοι, οὐ μὴ ἀλέκτωρ φωνήσῃ ἕως οὗ ἀρνήσῃ με τρίς

It is clear that the rooster did crow afterwards, however.