The title of the Gospel exists in various forms, none of which can be part of the original autograph. No Evangelist would write such a heading; least of all would the earliest Evangelist do so. These titles point to a time when the Gospels had already been collected into one volume, with the general... [ Continue Reading ]
ΥἹΟΥ͂ ΘΕΟΥ͂ ([39]a[40][41][42] υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ ([43][44][45][46][47][48] etc.), Latt. Syrr. Memph. Arm. Goth. Aeth., Iren-lat. ⅔ Amb. Aug. Omit [49][50] 28 (omits Χριστοῦ also) 255, Iren-lat. ⅓, Orig. Bas. “The evidence for omission is weighty but meagre” (Swete). “Neither reading can be safely reject... [ Continue Reading ]
1–8. PREPARATORY MINISTRY OF THE BAPTIZER Matthew 3:1-12; Luke 3:1-6. Cf. John 1:6-31... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΝ ΤΩ͂Ι ἩΣΑΊΑΙ ΤΩ͂Ι ΠΡΟΦΉΤΗΙ ([51][52][53][54][55] 33, Latt. Syrr. Memph. Goth.) rather than ἐν τοῖς προφήταις ([56][57][58][59][60][61] etc., Aeth.), which is an obvious correction. For a similar reason Bas. Epiph. Victorin. omit Ἰδοὺ … τὴν ὀδόν σου, as not being in Isaiah. [51] Codex Sinaiticus.... [ Continue Reading ]
3. Here the only variation from LXX. is αὐτοῦ instead of τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν, a change which allows Κυρίου to be understood of the Messiah. We may take ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ with ἑτοιμάσατε, but the usual connexion with βοῶντος is probably correct. The imagery is taken from the practice of eastern conquerors, who s... [ Continue Reading ]
4. [62] 33 omit καί before κηρύσσων. [62] Codex Vaticanus. 4th cent., but perhaps a little later than א. In the Vatican Library almost since its foundation by Pope Nicolas V., and one of its greatest treasures. The whole Gospel, ending at Mark 16:8. Photographic facsimile, 1889. 4. ἘΓΈΝΕΤΟ ἸΩΆΝΝΗΣ... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΞΕΠΟΡΕΎΕΤΟ … ἘΒΑΠΤΊΖΟΝΤΟ. Both actions went on continually. The latter verb is passive (Mark 1:9; Mark 8:3), not middle (Acts 22:16; 1 Corinthians 10:2). ΠΑ͂ΣΑ … ΠΆΝΤΕΣ. Popular hyperbole, which misleads no one, cf. Mark 1:37. But it is difficult for us to estimate the enthusiasm caused by the hope... [ Continue Reading ]
6. The form ἜΣΘΩΝ ([63][64][65][66] 33) is freq. in the [67] text of LXX. [63] Codex Sinaiticus. 4th cent. Discovered by Tischendorf in 1859 at the Monastery of St Katharine on Mount Sinai. Now at St Petersburg. The whole Gospel, ending at Mark 16:8. Photographic facsimile, 1911. [64] Codex Vatica... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΚΉΡΥΣΣΕΝ. Mk alone has this imperf. of continued action, which fits on well to ἦν ἐνδεδ. κ. ἔσθων. Mt., Lk. and Jn have aorists of other verbs. By some John was believed to be the Messiah, and this compelled him to be more explicit about his relation to the Messiah. ἹΚΑΝΌΣ. It is clear from Matthew... [ Continue Reading ]
8. Many texts ([68][69][70] etc.) insert ἐν before ὕδατι and before πνεύματι ἁγίῳ. The evidence for the latter insertion is stronger than that for the former, but in neither should it be made. R.V. retains ἐν in both places. [68] Codex Alexandrinus. 5th cent. Brought by Cyril Lucar, Patriarch of Co... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ἘΓΈΝΕΤΟ … ἮΛΘΕΝ. A Hebraism, introducing a fact that is of importance. Burton, _Moods and Tenses_, § 357. ἘΝ ἘΚΕΊΝΑΙΣ ΤΑΙ͂Σ ἩΜΈΡΑΙΣ. _Sc._ ἐν αἷς ἐκήρυσσε τὸ βάπτισμα τῆς μετανοίας ὁ Ἰωαν. (Euthym. Zig.). Another Hebraism (Mark 8:1; Mark 13:17; Mark 13:24). The date is very vague. ἮΛΘΕΝ ἸΗΣΟΥ͂... [ Continue Reading ]
9–11. THE MESSIAH IS BAPTIZED BY JOHN Matthew 3:13-17; Luke 3:21-22. Cf. John 1:32-34... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕΥ̓ΘΎΣ ([71][72][73][74] 33), not εὐθέως ([75][76][77][78]), is the form used in Mk. So in Mark 1:18; Mark 1:21; Mark 1:29, etc. Elsewhere in N.T. εὐθέως is more freq. ἘΚ ΤΟΥ͂ ὝΔΑΤΟΣ ([79][80][81][82] 33) rather than ἀπὸ τ. ὕδ. ([83][84][85][86][87]). ΕἸΣ ΑΥ̓ΤΌΝ ([88][89] rather than ἐπʼ αὐτόν ([90]... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΝ ΣΟΊ ([96][97][98][99][100] 33) rather than ἐν ᾧ ([101][102][103] of. Matthew 3:17. [96] Codex Sinaiticus. 4th cent. Discovered by Tischendorf in 1859 at the Monastery of St Katharine on Mount Sinai. Now at St Petersburg. The whole Gospel, ending at Mark 16:8. Photographic facsimile, 1911. [97]... [ Continue Reading ]
12, 13. THE MESSIAH IS TEMPTED BY SATAN Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ΕΥ̓ΘΎΣ. All three Synoptists intimate that the Temptation followed immediately after the Baptism, and that it took place under the guidance of the Spirit. Mt. has his favourite τότε, and Mk his favourite εὐθύς. Jesus knows that He is the Messiah, and He must meditate on His work, and the means,... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΕΣΣΕΡΆΚΟΝΤΑ ἩΜΈΡΑΣ. Vulg. adds _et quadraginta noctibus_ from Matthew 4:2. Mt. mentions the nights to show that the fasting was continuous; but Mk does not mention fasting. Mk and Lk. indicate that temptations continued throughout the forty days; cf. Exodus 34:28 of Moses, and 1 Kings 19:8 of Elija... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ΜΕΤΆ ([104][105] rather than μετὰ δέ ([106][107][108] Mk throughout prefers καί to δέ. So Mark 1:28; Mark 2:5; Mark 9:9; Mark 10:42; Mark 11:4; Mark 11:8; Mark 12:3; Mark 12:14; Mark 13:11-12;... [ Continue Reading ]
14, 15. THE MESSIAH BEGINS HIS MINISTRY Matthew 4:12-17; Luke 4:14-15... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ΛΈΓΩΝ. Mk often accumulates participles; Mark 1:31; Mark 1:41; Mark 2:6; Mark 3:5; Mark 3:31; Mark 4:8; Mark 5:25-27; Mark 5:30; Mark 5:33; Mark 6:2;... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ΠΑΡΆΓΩΝ ([112][113][114][115] 33) rather than περιπατῶν δέ ([116][117][118][119]); cf. Matthew 4:18. ἈΜΦΙΒΆΛΛΟΝΤΑΣ ([120][121][122][123][124] rather than βάλλοντας� ([125][126][127][128]); of. Matthew 4:18. [112] Codex Sinaiticus. 4th cent. Discovered by Tischendorf in 1859 at the Monastery of... [ Continue Reading ]
16–20. THE MESSIAH CALLS HIS FIRST DISCIPLES Matthew 4:18-22. Cf. Luke 5:1-11 Here, in the fullest sense, the main portion of the Gospel begins, and the authority for it goes back to eye-witnesses, of whom St Peter may be regarded as the chief. We do not know how long an interval there is between... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΕΥ͂ΤΕ ὈΠΊΣΩ ΜΟΥ. Cf. 2 Kings 6:19. A magisterial invitation, almost a command. No reason is given, except the promise which follows, and we assume that He is already known to the two brothers. As in Mark 11:24; Mark 11:29, the imperative takes the place of a protasis with εἰ or εἰ. Δεῦτε = δεῦρο ἴτ... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ΕΥ̓ΘΈΩΣ�. Δ. There is no hesitation. Like Bartimaeus with his ἱμάτιον (Mark 10:50), they leave their valuable possessions; and apparently there is neither father nor servant present to take care of the nets. As Theophylact says, τὸν Ἰάκωβον σαγηνεύει καὶ τὸν Ἰωάννην. Mt. often omits the εὐθύς of... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΟΥ͂ ΖΕΒΕΔΑΊΟΥ. We may infer from Mark 15:40 that the mother’s name was Salome. As James is mentioned first and John is described as “his brother,” we conclude that John was the younger, or that, at the time when this Gospel was written, James was the better known. In Acts 12:2, “James the brother o... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ΕΥ̓ΘῪΣ ἘΚΆΛΕΣΕΝ. As soon as He saw them, being certain of success, He called them. Mt. again preserves the εὐθύς, but employs it, as before, to mark the immediate response to Christ’s invitation. James and John apparently had more to leave than Peter and Andrew had, but in each case all was left... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑΦΑΡΝΑΟΎΜ ([129][130][131][132] 33) rather than the softer Καπερναούμ ([133][134][135][136][137]). [138][139][140][141], Syr-Sin. Syr-Pesh. Memph., Orig. omit εἰσελθών. Syr-Sin. omits καὶ εἰσπορεύονται εἰς Καφ. [129] Codex Sinaiticus. 4th cent. Discovered by Tischendorf in 1859 at the Monastery of... [ Continue Reading ]
21–28. CURE OF A DEMONIAC AT CAPERNAUM Luke 4:31-37. Omitted by Mt.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΞΕΠΛΉΣΣΟΝΤΟ. _They began to be amazed_, or _they continued to be amazed_. Amazement was a common result of Christ’s teaching and acts (Mark 5:20; Mark 6:2; Mark 6:6; Mark 7:37; Mark 10:26; Mark 11:18). What amazed people in His teaching was its authoritative tone. Jewish teachers quoted Scripture,... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕΥ̓ΘΎΣ ([142][143][144] 33, Memph., Orig.) may be retained, although [145][146][147] Syr-Sin., and many other authorities omit. [142] Codex Sinaiticus. 4th cent. Discovered by Tischendorf in 1859 at the Monastery of St Katharine on Mount Sinai. Now at St Petersburg. The whole Gospel, ending at Mark... [ Continue Reading ]
ἜΑ ([148]3[149][150][151][152][153][154]) is an interpolation from Luke 4:34; [155][156][157][158] Latt. Syr-Sin. Syr-Pesh. Memph. omit. [148] Codex Sinaiticus. 4th cent. Discovered by Tischendorf in 1859 at the Monastery of St Katharine on Mount Sinai. Now at St Petersburg. The whole Gospel, endin... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠΕΤΊΜΗΣΕΝ. In class. Grk the verb has three meanings, the second and third growing out of the first; (1) “lay a value on, _rate_”; (2) “lay an estimated penalty on, sentence”; (3) “chide, rebuke, _rate_.” In Greek there is a real connexion between the first and third meanings; but in English we hav... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣΠΑΡΆΞΑΝ … ΦΩΝΗ͂ΣΑΝ. Accumulation of participles; see on Mark 1:15. _Convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out_. “Tearing him” suggests that there was permanent injury, and Lk. tells us that there was none; cf. Mark 9:20, where [192] has ἐτάραξεν for συνεσπάραξεν. Here, for σπαράξαν (_di... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΊ ἘΣΤΙΝ ΤΟΥ͂ΤΟ; ΔΙΔΑΧῊ ΚΑΙΝΉ ([159][160][161] 33). These abrupt sentences have been smoothed in different ways in [162] and [163] and other texts. [159] Codex Sinaiticus. 4th cent. Discovered by Tischendorf in 1859 at the Monastery of St Katharine on Mount Sinai. Now at St Petersburg. The whole Go... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΚΟΉ. Here again (see on Mark 1:25) we have a word with three meanings, of which the second and third spring directly from the first: (1) “hearing,” as “by hearing ye shall hear,” Isaiah 6:9; then, seeing that “hearing” may mean either the sense of hearing or hearsay, we have (2) “the ear,” Mark 7:3... [ Continue Reading ]
29. For ἘΞΕΛΘῺΝ ἮΛΘΕΝ ([164][165] good cursives, f g Arm. Aeth.) many witnesses have ἐξελθόντες ἦλθον. [164] Codex Vaticanus. 4th cent., but perhaps a little later than א. In the Vatican Library almost since its foundation by Pope Nicolas V., and one of its greatest treasures. The whole Gospel, end... [ Continue Reading ]
29–31. HEALING OF SIMON’S WIFE’S MOTHER Matthew 8:14-15; Luke 4:38-39... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΕΝΘΕΡΆ. It is certain that πενθερά means “mother-in-law” (Luke 12:53; Ruth 1:14; Ruth 2:11; Ruth 2:18-19; Ruth 2:23; Micah 7:6); “step-mother” is μητρυιά; and it is clear from 1 Corinthians 9:5 that Peter was married. Clem. Alex. (_Strom_. iii. 6) says that Peter had children and that his wife help... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΡΑΤΉΣΑΣ ΤΗ͂Σ ΧΕΙΡΌΣ. We have the same action in the cases of Jairus’s daughter (Mark 5:41), the blind man at Bethsaida (Mark 8:23), and the demoniac boy (Mark 9:27); cf. Mark 9:36. Lk. substitutes that “He stood over her and rebuked the fever.” Κρατέω _c. acc._ implies complete control (Mark 3:21;... [ Continue Reading ]
ὈΨΊΑΣ ΔῈ ΓΕΝΟΜΈΝΗΣ, ὍΤΕ ἜΔΥΣΕΝ Ὁ ἭΛΙΟΣ. The Sabbath ended at sunset, and then the work of moving the sick could begin. The double statement illustrates Mk’s love of fulness of expression; cf. Mark 1:42; Mark 2:23; Mark 2:25; Mark 3:27; Mark 6:25; Mark 7:13; Mark 7:20; Mark 9:3; Mark [ Continue Reading ]
32–34. HEALINGS AFTER SUNSET Matthew 8:16; Luke 4:40-41... [ Continue Reading ]
ὍΛΗ Ἡ ΠΌΛΙΣ. Popular hyperbole, like πᾶσα and πάντες in Mark 1:5, and πάντες in Mark 1:37. ἘΠΙΣΥΝΗΓΜΈΝΗ ΠΡῸΣ ΤῊΝ ΘΎΡΑΝ. “Flocked towards the door and formed a dense crowd there.” Note the periphrastic tense (Mark 1:6; Mark 1:22), and the double compound; one concourse came on the top of another. Cf... [ Continue Reading ]
ΧΡΙΣΤῸΝ ΕἾΝΑΙ ([166][167][168] 33, Syr-Hark. Arm. Memph. Aeth.) is powerfully supported (τὸν Χν εἶναι, [169]c[170][171] but [172][173][174][175][176][177] etc., Latt. Syr-Sin. Syr-Pesh. Goth. omit. It may come from Luke 4:41. [166] Codex Vaticanus. 4th cent., but perhaps a little later than א. In t... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΡΩΪ̀ ἜΝΝΥΧΑ. Either word would suffice, and Syr-Sin. omits ἔννυχα: and either ἐξῆλθεν or ἀπῆλθεν would suffice: καὶ� may come from Mark 6:32; Mark 6:46; it is omitted by [208] and other witnesses. Nowhere else does ἔννυχα occur; cf. πάννυχα (Soph. _Ajax_, 929). _A great while before day_ (A.V., R.... [ Continue Reading ]
35–39. DEPARTURE FROM CAPERNAUM. CIRCUIT IN GALILEE Luke 4:42-44... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑΤΕΔΊΩΞΑΝ. “Pursued Him _closely_,” “followed Him _down_.” Freq. in LXX., but here only in N.T. The verb generally implies interference with the person pursued, and sometimes implies persecution. But cf. Psalms 23:6. Considering the simple character of Mk’s Greek, he uses compound words more often... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΆΝΤΕΣ ΖΗΤΟΥ͂ΣΊΝ ΣΕ. _All men are seeking Thee_. He had no house of His own at which they could be sure of finding Him. Cf. Mark 1:5; Mark 1:33.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἌΓΩΜΕΝ. Intrans. as in Mark 14:42 and always in N.T. Cf. ἔγειρε, Mark 2:11. ἈΛΛΑΧΟΥ͂. _Elsewhere_; nowhere else in N.T., and omitted in many texts here. But it is certainly to be retained with [209][210][211][212][213] 33, Arm. Memph. Aeth. [209] Codex Sinaiticus. 4th cent. Discovered by Tischendo... [ Continue Reading ]
ἮΛΘΕΝ ([178][179][180] rather than ἦν ([181][182][183][184][185]); cf. Luke 4:44. [178] Codex Sinaiticus. 4th cent. Discovered by Tischendorf in 1859 at the Monastery of St Katharine on Mount Sinai. Now at St Petersburg. The whole Gospel, ending at Mark 16:8. Photographic facsimile, 1911. [179] Co... [ Continue Reading ]
ΛΕΠΡΌΣ. The physician (Luke 5:12) says that he was “full of leprosy,” which perhaps shows that he was not ceremonially unclean (Leviticus 13:12-13), and therefore was able to approach Christ. But his misery might make him desperate, and those near Christ would draw away when the leper approached. ... [ Continue Reading ]
40–45. THE CLEANSING OF A LEPER Matthew 8:2-4; Luke 5:12-16 The three Evangelists give this miracle in different connexions. Mt. places it first in his three triplets of specimens of the Messiah’s mighty works, just after Christ had come down from delivering the Sermon on the Mount. Lk. places it j... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣΠΛΑΓΧΝΙΣΘΕΊΣ. See Lightfoot on Philippians 1:8. The verb in N.T. is found in the Synoptists only, and (except in parables) it is used of no one but Christ. It is the moving cause of His mighty works (Mark 9:22; Matthew 9:36; Matthew 14:14; Matthew 15:32; Matthew 20:34; Luke 7:13). The outstretched... [ Continue Reading ]
42. Here again (see on Mark 1:32) Mk expresses one fact in two ways, of which Mt. and Lk. each have one. Lk. Has ἡ λέπρα�ʼ αὐτοῦ, while Mt. has ἐκαθαρίσθη αὐτοῦ ἡ λέπρα. Both have εὐθύς. Syr-Sin. has “And in that hour he was cleansed.” In Naaman’s case (2 Kings 5:14) ἐκαθαρίσθη is used. Naaman expec... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΜΒΡΙΜΗΣΆΜΕΝΟΣ … ἘΞΈΒΑΛΕΝ. The two verbs, esp. when rendered _comminatus … ejecit_ (Vulg.), give the impression that our Lord was angry with the man; but the impression is probably wrong. Ἐμβριμάομαι occurs in four other places in N.T. (Mark 14:5; Matthew 9:30; John 11:33; John 11:38), and nearly al... [ Continue Reading ]
ὍΡΑ ΜΗΔΕΝῚ ΜΗΔῈΝ ΕἼΠΗΙΣ. Winer, p. 625. The ὅρα and the double negative indicate the urgency of the command. Mk is fond of double negatives; Mark 2:2; Mark 3:27; Mark 5:3; Mark 5:37; Mark 7:12; Mark 9:8; Mark 11:2; Mark 11:14; Mark 12:34;... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΞΕΛΘΏΝ. “From the place” or “from the crowd.” The man, of necessity, yields to the ἐξέβαλεν, but he forthwith disregards the μηδενὶ μηδὲν εἴπῃς. Cf. Mark 7:36; Matthew 9:30-31. ἬΡΞΑΤΟ. Very freq. in Mk and Lk., but only once in Jn. Cf. John 5:17; John 6:7. Such fulness of expression is Hebraistic.... [ Continue Reading ]