Matthew 27:16
The evidence here indicates that "Jesus Barabbas" is likely original:And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. (ASV)
Historical Commentary on the Gospel of Mark
Chapter 15
Evidence that "Jesus Barabbas" is original to GMatthew here:v6-7: Barabbas, literally "son of the father" is a probable doublet for Jesus himself (the Son of the Father). Indeed, there are manuscripts of Matthew that have "Jesus Barabbas" in this passage, and this must have been the case in the early days of Christianity, for Origen defensively insists that many manuscripts of Matthew in his time did not contain the offensive "Jesus" before "Barabbas." As a consequence some scholars have argued that this was the original usage in Mark (which Matthew copied) although this is a minority view. "Abba" was also a personal name in ancient Judaism, so the name may simply mean "Son of Abba."
Patristic:
Origen :
Origen. Contra Celsus BOOK I.
The Greek has the Greek definite article before Barabbas, "the Barabbas", which suggests that Origen was exorcising the "Jesus"' before it as otherwise it would be unusual to use the definite article before a proper name.2..."Which of the two do ye wish that I should release unto you, Barabbas or Jesus, who is called Christ?"
TVU 378 136. Difficult variant: Minority reading: NA28 Matthew 27:1
Origen [Ben, a little help here?]
and Scribal evidence:(Sermon 121, on Matthew)
"In multis exemplaribus non continetur, quod Barabbas etiam Jesus dicebatur, et
forsitan recte, ut ne nomen Jesu conveniat alicui iniquorum"
Origen also mentions in passing (Sermon 33):
"quemadmodum secundum quosdam Barabbas dicebatur et Jesus"
Manuscript, Internal, Authority and Difficult Reading Principle evidence to follow. And even if "Matthew's" (author) id of "Jesus Barabbas" does not indicate that name in "Matthew's" GMark source it is still evidence that "Matthew" understood GMark's Barabbas as Jesus Barabbas or at least that GMark showed some type of name connection between the two.Scholion, possibly from Origen: (This scholion appears in S/028 and some minuscule manuscripts..."But in many old copies I have encountered, I found also Barabbas himself called Jesus. For thus the question of Pilate reads there, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Christ?"
Metzger writes: "This scholium, which is usually assigned in the manuscripts either to Anastasius bishop of Antioch (perhaps latter
part of the 6th CE) or to Chrysostom, is in one manuscript attributetd to Origen, who may indeed be its ultimate source.
Joseph
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