THE BEGINNING (αρχη). There is no article in the Greek. It is possible that the phrase served as a heading or title for the paragraph about the ministry of the Baptist or as the superscription for the whole Gospel (Bruce) placed either by Mark or a scribe. And then the Gospel of Jesus Christ mean... [ Continue Reading ]
IN ISAIAH, THE PROPHET (εν τω Εσαια τω προφητη). The quotation comes from Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3. The Western and Neutral classes read Isaiah, the Alexandrian and Syrian, "the prophets," an evident correction because part of it is from Malachi. But Isaiah is mentioned as the chief of the pro... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING (φονη βοωντος). God is coming to his people to deliver them from their captivity in Babylon. So the prophet cries like a voice in the wilderness to make ready for the coming of God. When the committee from the Sanhedrin came to ask John who he was, he used this very langua... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN CAME (εγενετο Ιωανης). His coming was an epoch (εγενετο), not a mere event (ην). His coming was in accordance with the prophetic picture (καθως, Mark 1:2). Note the same verb about John in John 1:6. The coming of John the Baptizer was the real beginning of the spoken message about Christ. He... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN WENT OUT UNTO HIM (εξεπορευετο προς αυτον). Imperfect indicative describing the steady stream of people who kept coming to the baptism (εβαπτιζοντο, imperfect passive indicative, a wonderful sight).IN THE RIVER JORDAN (εν τω Ιορδανη ποταμω). In the Jordan river, literally.... [ Continue Reading ]
CLOTHED WITH CAMEL'S HAIR (ενδεδυμενος τριχας καμηλου). Matthew (Matthew 3:4) has it a garment (ενδυμα) of camel's hair. Mark has it in the accusative plural the object of the perfect passive participle retained according to a common Greek idiom. It was, of course, not camel's skin, but rough clo... [ Continue Reading ]
MIGHTIER THAN I (ο ισχυροτερος μου). In each of the Synoptics. Gould calls it a skeptical depreciation of himself by John. But it was sincere on John's part and he gives a reason for it.THE LATCHET (τον ιμαντα). The thong of the sandal which held it together. When the guest comes into the house... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH WATER (υδατ). So Luke (Luke 3:16) the locative case,IN WATER . Matthew (Matthew 3:11) has εν (in), both with (in) water and the Holy Spirit. The water baptism by John was a symbol of the spiritual baptism by Jesus.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE JORDAN (εις τον Ιορδανην). So in verse Mark 1:10, εκ του υδατος, out of the water, after the baptism into the Jordan. Mark is as fond of "straightway" (ευθυς) as Matthew is of "then" (τοτε).RENT ASUNDER (σχιζομενους). Split like a garment, present passive participle. Jesus saw the heavens... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU ART (συ ε). So Luke 3:22; Matthew 3:17 hasTHIS IS (ουτος εστιν) which see. So both Mark and Luke have "in thee," while Matthew has "in whom.... [ Continue Reading ]
DRIVETH HIM FORTH (αυτον εκβαλλε). Vivid word, bolder than Matthew's "was led up" (ανηχθη) and Luke's "was led" (ηγετο). It is the same word employed in the driving out of demons (Mark 1:34; Mark 1:39). Mark has here "straightway" where Matthew has "then" (see on verse Mark 1:9). The forty days i... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH THE WILD BEASTS (μετα τωυ θηριων). Mark does not give the narrative of the three temptations in Matthew and Luke (apparently from the Logia and originally, of course, from Jesus himself). But Mark adds this little touch about the wild beasts in the wilderness. It was the haunt at night of the... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS CAME INTO GALILEE (ηλθεν ο Ιησους εις την Γαλιλαιαν). Here Mark begins the narrative of the active ministry of Jesus and he is followed by Matthew and Luke. Mark undoubtedly follows the preaching of Peter. But for the Fourth Gospel we should not know of the year of work in various parts of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND PASSING ALONG BY THE SEA OF GALILEE (κα παραγων παρα την θαλασσαν της Γαλιλαιας). Mark uses παρα (along, beside) twice and makes the picture realistic. He catches this glimpse of Christ in action. Casting aNET (αμφιβαλλοντας). Literally casting on both sides, now on one side, now on the oth... [ Continue Reading ]
BECOME (γενεσθα). Mark has this word not in Matthew. It would be a slow and long process, but Jesus could and would do it. He would undertake to make fishers of men out of fishermen. Preachers are made out of laymen who are willing to leave their business for service for Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
A LITTLE FURTHER (ολιγον). A Marcan detail.MENDING THEIR NETS (καταρτιζοντας τα δικτυα). See on Matthew 4:21. Getting ready that they might succeed better at the next haul.... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH THE HIRED SERVANTS (μετα των μισθωτων). One hired for wages (μισθος), a very old Greek word. Zebedee and his two sons evidently had an extensive business in co-operation with Andrew and Simon (Luke 5:7; Luke 5:10). Mark alone has this detail of the hired servants left with Zebedee. They left... [ Continue Reading ]
AND TAUGHT (εδιδασκεν). Inchoative imperfect, began to teach as soon as he entered the synagogue in Capernaum on the sabbath. The synagogue in Capernaum afforded the best opening for the teaching of Jesus. He had now made Capernaum (Tell Hum) his headquarters after the rejection in Nazareth as exp... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WERE ASTONISHED (εξεπλησσοντο). Pictorial imperfect as in Luke 4:32 describing the amazement of the audience, "meaning strictly to strike a person out of his senses by some strong feeling, such as fear, wonder, or even joy" (Gould).AND NOT AS THEIR SCRIBES (κα ουχ ως ο γραμματεις). Luke 4:3... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT (εν πνευματ ακαθαρτω). This use of εν "with" is common in the Septuagint like the Hebrew _be_, but it occurs also in the papyri. It is the same idiom as "in Christ," "in the Lord" so common with Paul. In English we speak of our being in love, in drink, in his cups, etc. The... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT HAVE WE TO DO WITH THEE? (τ ημιν κα σοι?) The same idiom in Matthew 8:29. Ethical dative. Nothing in common between the demon and Jesus. Note "we." The man speaks for the demon and himself, double personality. The recognition of Jesus by the demons may surprise us since the rabbis (the eccles... [ Continue Reading ]
HOLD THY PEACE (φιμωθητ). First aorist passive imperative of φιμοω. "Be quiet," Moffatt translates it. But it is a more vigorous word, "Be muzzled" like an ox. So literally in Deuteronomy 25:4; 1 Corinthians 9:9; 1 Timothy 5:18. It is common in Josephus, Lucian, and the LXX. See Matthew 22:12; Mat... [ Continue Reading ]
TEARING HIM (σπαραξαν αυτον). Margin,CONVULSING HIM like a spasm. Medical writers use the word for the rotating of the stomach. Luke 4:35 adds "when the demon had thrown him down in the midst." Mark mentions the "loud voice" (φονη μεγαλη), a screech, in fact. It was a moment of intense exciteme... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY QUESTIONED AMONG THEMSELVES (συνζητειν αυτους). By look and word.A NEW TEACHING (διδαχη καινη). One surprise had followed another this day. The teaching was fresh (καινη), original as the dew of the morning on the blossoms just blown. That was a novelty in that synagogue where only staid an... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REPORT OF HIM (η ακοη αυτου). Vulgate, _rumor_. See Matthew 14:1; Matthew 24:6. They had no telephones, telegraphs, newspapers or radio, but news has a marvellous way of spreading by word of mouth. The fame of this new teacher went out "everywhere" (πανταχου) throughout all Galilee.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HOUSE OF SIMON AND ANDREW (την οικιαν Σιμωνος κα Ανδρεου). Peter was married and both he and Andrew lived together in "Peter's house" (Matthew 8:14) with Peter's wife and mother-in-law. Peter was evidently married before he began to follow Jesus. Later his wife accompanied him on his apostolic... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE SUN DID SET (οτε εδυσεν ο ηλιος). This picturesque detail Mark has besides "at even" (οψιας γενομενης, genitive absolute, evening having come). Matthew has "when even was come," Luke "when the sun was setting." The sabbath ended at sunset and so the people were now at liberty to bring th... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THE DOOR (προς την θυραν). At the door of Peter's house. The whole city was gathered together there (n episungmen, past perfect passive periphrastic indicative, double compound επ and συν). Mark alone mentions this vivid detail. He is seeing with Peter's eyes again. Peter no doubt watched t... [ Continue Reading ]
DEVILS (δαιμονια). Demons it should be translated always.SUFFERED NOT (ουκ ηφιεν). Would not allow, imperfect tense of continued refusal. The reason given is "because they knew him" (οτ ηιδεισαν αυτον). Whether "to be Christ" (Χριστον εινα) is genuine or not, that is the meaning and is a direct... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE MORNING, A GREAT WHILE BEFORE DAY (πρω εννυχα λιαν). Luke has only "when it was day" (γενομενης ημερας). The word πρω in Mark means the last watch of the night from three to six A.M. Εννυχα λιαν means in the early part of the watch while it was still a bit dark (cf. Mark 16:2 λιαν πρω).ROS... [ Continue Reading ]
FOLLOWED AFTER HIM (κατεδιωξεν αυτον). Hunted him out (Moffatt). Perfective use of the preposition κατα (down to the finish). The verb διωκω is used for the hunt or chase, pursuit. Vulgate has _persecutus est_. The personal story of Peter comes in here. "Simon's intention at least was good; the M... [ Continue Reading ]
INTO THE NEXT TOWNS (εις τας εχομενας κωμοπολεις). It was a surprising decision for Jesus to leave the eager, excited throngs in Capernaum for the country town or village cities without walls or much importance. Only instance of the word in the N.T. Late Greek word. The use of εχομενας for next i... [ Continue Reading ]
THROUGHOUT ALL GALILEE (Εις ολην την Γαλιλαιαν). The first tour of Galilee by Jesus. We are told little about this great preaching tour.... [ Continue Reading ]
KNEELING DOWN TO HIM (κα γονυπετων). Picturesque detail omitted by some MSS. Luke 5:12 has "fell on his face.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING MOVED WITH COMPASSION (σπλαγχνισθεις). Only in Mark. First aorist passive participle.... [ Continue Reading ]
STRICTLY CHARGED (εμβριμησαμενος). Only in Mark. Luke 5:14 has παρηγγειλεν (commanded). Mark's word occurs also in Mark 14:5 and in Matthew 9:30 and John 11:38. See on Matthew 9:30. It is a strong word for the snorting of a horse and expresses powerful emotion as Jesus stood here face to face wit... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR A TESTIMONY UNTO THEM (εις μαρτυριον αυτοις). Without the formal testimony of the priests the people would not receive the leper as officially clean.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEGAN TO PUBLISH IT MUCH (ηρξατο κηρυσσειν πολλα). Luke 5:15 puts it, "so much the more" (μαλλον). One of the best ways to spread a thing is to tell people not to tell. It was certainly so in this case. Soon Jesus had to avoid cities and betake himself to desert places to avoid the crowds and eve... [ Continue Reading ]