Mark 9:12

The construction of this sentence also is somewhat puzzling. After Ἡλίας comes μὲν in the best MSS., raising expectation of a δὲ in the apodosis, instead of which we have καὶ (πῶς γέγραπται). Examples of such substitution occur in classic authors; concerning which Klotz, Devar., p. 659, remarks: when καὶ, τὲ, or the like are put for δὲ after μὲν, it is not properly a case of construction, but rather: “quaedam quasi legitima orationis ἀνακολουθία ”. Perhaps we are at a loss from merely reading the words instead of hearing them spoken with a pause between first and second half of sentence, thus: Elias, indeed, coming first, restoreth all things (so teach the scribes) and how stands it written about the Son of Man? that He should suffer many things and be set at nought! The aim is to awaken thought in the mind of the disciples by putting together things incongruous. All things to be restored in preparation for Messiah; Messiah Himself to suffer and be set at nought: what then can the real function and fate of Elijah the restorer be? Who is Elijah? ἐξουδενηθῆ : this form, found in [74] [75] and adopted by W.H [76], is rare. The verb occurs in three forms ἐξουδενέω, ἐξουδενόω (T.R.), ἐξουθενέω; the latter two in more common use. The word in any form is late Greek. Vide Grimm's Lexicon, and Lobeck, Phryn., p. 181 (from ἐξ, οὐδέν or οὐθέν =to treat as nought).

[74] Codex Vaticanus (sæc. iv.), published in photographic facsimile in 1889 under the care of the Abbate Cozza-Luzi.

[75] Codex Bezae

[76] Westcott and Hort.