Salt of the Earth

In all three of the synoptic gospels, Jesus tells his disciples, "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot." (Matt. 5:17, Mk. 9: 50, Lk. 14:34)

A theologian named Christopher Bryan wrote, "In rabbinic writing 'salt' is often a metaphor for wisdom. Note that the basic meaning of the corresponding verb 'lost its taste' (RSV: Greek moranthe[i]) is 'be foolish.'" The word moranthei is a passive version of moraino, to be silly, foolish, and is closely related to moros, dull, sluggish, stupid — which, of course, has given English such words as "moron" and "sophomore [wise fool]."

Now look at this quotation from the apocryphal Gospel of Philip: "The apostles said to the disciples, 'May our whole offering obtain "salt"!' They called Sophia 'salt.' Without salt, no offering is acceptable. But Sophia is barren and without children. Because of this, she is called, 'the pillar of salt.' Wherever they shall [____?] in their way, there the Holy Spirit [____?]. And so her children are none the less many."

If salt is meant to represent the Holy Spirit, that is, Wisdom, this would also explain why it is so important in so many church services. A friend of mine lent me his copy of A Manual for Priests, and it is clear that salt is meant to be used wherever holy water is used, and that it is indeed meant to represent the Holy Spirit/Wisdom/Sophia. [FN1]

The Bible goes on to say, "For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another." In other words, "For everyone will be given opportunities to learn wisdom through 'fire' — bitter experience. Wisdom is obviously of extraordinary value. However, if wisdom has turned into foolishness, you won't be able to get it back again, any more than you can restore saltiness to salt. Therefore, don't compare yourselves, saying, e.g., 'She is greater than I am, but I am greater than he is,' lest you lose what little wisdom you've managed to acquire. Have the wisdom inside yourselves, and be at peace with one another."

[FN1] For example, "The Blessing of Salt To Be Used in Baptism" begins with a quotation from the Church of England's 1543 Manual: "'And then he' that is, the Priest, 'puts hallowed salt into his mouth' that is, the mouth of the child whom he is baptizing, 'to signify the spiritual salt, which is the Word of God, wherewith he should be seasoned.'" During the baptism, the priest is to say, "Receive the salt of wisdom: may it be unto thee a pledge of everlasting life." A Manual for Priests of the American Church (Cambridge, MA: Society of Saint John the Evangelist, 1970), pp. 128, 161-62. Return to text.

The Salt of the Earth