Biblical Criticism & History Forum - earlywritings.com

So John "appeared" in the wilderness and began preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. If that statement appeared in a non-Christian jewish text of the same era (instead of Mark's gospel), would it have made sense? What would it have meant in a strictly jewish (messi...

One of Farmer's arguments for Markan posteriority is his many latinisms, at the same time noting that he always translates Aramaic words for the reader. But I'm still at a loss as to Mark's use of Aramaic words. For example how the witnesses misunderstand Jesus in 15:34 Yes, that is a puzzle. Ben, ...

It means the traditions have gone through a cross cultural evolution as Hellenist in the Diaspora borrowed traditions from a geographic location where Aramaic was one of the primary languages. Thanks outhouse... But can we be more specific that "the traditions". What parts of the Jesus st...

But the issue in Mark 15.16 is a bit different. It is not just a matter of Mark having used a Latin loan word. In this case, he has used a fairly ordinary Greek word and glossed it with a Latin loan word. No one blinks when Mark glosses Aramaic or Hebrew terms with Greek translations, as in Mark 3....

what is the original story, other than that of a failed messianic teacher? There was no original story. If he lived he was just another crucified teacher in Galilean cultures. The mythology and theology developed in the Diaspora by people looking to divorce cultural Judaism. And why would anyone ta...

In Mark 5.15, after the demoniac has been restored to sanity, the narrator notes that he is clothed; but he was not noted as naked before. I think this sort of thing can happen when narrating a story (indeed, even worse can happen; think of people who cannot tell a joke to save their skin): the nar...

I agree there may be some tension there. But, just to be clear, in verse 2 the people are amazed at his teachings, not at any miracles. Hey, thanks for the reply Ben! Your point above, "just to be clear", doesn't seem clear to me... maybe verse 2 renders differently in the Greek? In Engli...

[1] Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. [2] When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable m...

Was Mark making a comparison with the ancient Greek Brontes, initially freed by the castration, only to be imprisoned again? James and John imprisoned again by having to keep the entire law? (Gal 5:3). I suppose that most ancient readers or hearers of Mark’s tale would not readily make such a conne...

Interesting. It's not the most romantic of Jesus stories. That's the only reason I can think... Yes that's the suggestion I'm running with. But it would be something if the church was filtering the gospels in a sense in order that common churchgoers (ie not avid bible readers) intentionally remaine...