What is a talent in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)? It is a unit of money for gold or silver. The Greek talent from Athens or Attic talent was equal to 26 kilogram (57 pounds) weight of silver. At the time of writing the spot price of silver was about $16 an ounce, giving a value of about $14,600 for a talent of silver. That value is somewhat helpful, but is a comparison for our time using volatile silver prices. Another way to measure a talent was used anciently. It was a value equivalent to nine year’s wages. If the current average wage is about $52,000 that would result in a talent being worth about $468,000. Whichever way we calculate it, it contradicts the criticism of the lazy servant. The master was very generous.
No comments:
Post a Comment