Kunigunde Kreuzerin wrote:.
a further point
| Mark 1:16 | Matthew 4:18 | Neil's comment |
1:16 And passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishers.
ἀμφιβάλλοντας ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ
literal: throwing around in the sea |
4:18 And walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brethren, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishers.
βάλλοντας ἀμφίβληστρον εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν
literal: casting a net into the sea |
Jesus is walking along by the sea when he notices Simon Peter and Andrew “amphiballontas in the sea” (1:16).
The Greek word literally means “to throw around” and is frequently used in reference to nets. Here it is used in connection with the sea, so it is usually translated “casting a net”. But the word “net” does not appear in the text.
The omission of “net” is not to be ignored, for the verb amphiballo without an object also carries the meaning “to vacillate/to be doubtful,” which would make it a particularly apt allusion to the apostles’ behavior . . . . |
JW:
As James Woods said in
Contact "That is interesting, isn't it." The Christian lexicons are going to be limited/obfuscate so you have to go to
Perseus
4. [select] encompass, beset, “δυσμενὴς ὅρι᾽ ἀμφιβάλλει” B.17.6; “πόλιν φόνῳ” E.Andr.799, cf. Trag.Adesp.127.6(lyr.); ἀ. φῦλον ὀρνίθωνsurround them with nets, S.Ant.344; strike or hit on all sides, “τινὰ βέλεσι” E.HF422.
*b. [select] abs., fish (cf. ἀμφίβληστρον), Ev.Marc.1.16, cf. PFlor.2.119.3 (ii A. D.).
...
III. [select] doubt, “περί τινος” Plb. 39.5.2: also folld. by inf., Hld.5.17; by ὡς . . Ael.NA9.33; by ὅτι . . Hermog.Id.2.10; “περί τινος” Id.Meth.23.
IV. [select] intr., ἀ. εἰς τόπον go into another place, E.Cyc.60.
2. [select] to be doubtful or in dispute, Arist.EE1243a12,25; ἀμφιβάλλειν εἴωθε τὰ φίλτρα are uncertain in their action, Alciphr.1.37:—Pass., to be in dispute, Simp.in Ph.21.11.
Note that Perseus inventories 1:16 as in the context of fishing. As Christian Obvious has pointed out the narrative makes clear that at the Text/Literal level the context of "casting" here is fishing. On the other (use of ) hands (so to speak):
- 1) I have not seen any example of ancient use of the offending word without an object that was used in the context of fishing.
2) GMatthew adds "net" to the story.
3) Even though Textual Criticism accepts that "net" is not original to GMark here, the overwhelming majority of copies added "net":
TVU 11 NA28 Mark 1:16
txt ἀμφιβάλλοντας 01, B, L, 33
Note the variation of the impostors, a good sign of editing of a difficult original.
Thus it's safe to say that GMark's lack of a direct object such as "net" would have been considered unorthodox (so to speak). Looking at possible significance of this observation, KK has righteously pointed out that the offending word without an object can, by the book, have a meaning of doubt. Under Wallack's Criteria for Evidence of Intentional Fiction, an important criterion is does the use connect with the author's overall
Theme? Here it clearly does as doubt on the part of the disciples is one of GMark's most important themes.
I think it likely that at the Sub-text/Figurative level "Mark" (author), a Master of Greek, has intentionally omitted "net" to leave the connection of the meaning of doubt for the native Greek reader/hearer. Regarding Gundry/"GMatthew" redaction I think overall GMatthew is trying to take GMark narrative as literal so even though I accept Gundry's point that often times GMatthew worsens GMark's Peter, GMatthew is more likely to edit out figurative negatives of Peter, not to improve GMatthew's Peter, but to try and make the story sound more literal. GMatthew also likes/loves using the figurative, but in speech and editorial, not narrative.
Joseph
The New Porphyry
