Mark 5 - In Depth Bible Commentaries

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632(...continued)characterize Mark’s description of what happened as “actual, historical fact”? Orshould we rather say that Mark is reporting the stories about Jesus told by first-handwitnesses, such as Peter in his preaching and teaching in Rome? How do you think amodern nespaper reporter would tell this same story–especially if the person wassuffering from alcoholism or drug addiction, or was labeled as “criminally insane”?3. If the source of spiritual “uncleanness” is demon-possession, how do you explainthe teaching of Jesus in Mark 7 that uncleanness originates in the human heart, not inanything external, that “comes from without”?4. What do you take the overall point of this story to be for Mark?5. In earlier stories in Mark, Jesus has been described as forbidding the personshealed from reporting what has happened to them. But here, Jesus refuses to let thisperson stay with him, and instead, sends him to report to others what he has experienced.Why the difference?6. Does this ancient story have any real relevance to the modern world and itsproblems? What is that relevance, if any? Should we conclude from this story that theonly real hope for the mentally ill and “insane” is exorcism by priests (or “Spirit-filledhealers”), not the type of psychiatric medicine that is practiced by modern professionaldoctors in the mental health field?7. The author of these notes holds that this story has great meaning andimportance for the modern world. It pictures Jesus as tackling the most difficult problemsknown to first century society, and doing victorious battle with the toughest evils thatafflicted people. Even though the picture is painted in terms of the first-century world-view,a view that is very difficult (or impossible) to hold in the modern western world, the storystill has importance and valid meaning–because it shows how Jesus and his followers aresent into the world of human suffering, to do battle with the most difficult and grievous ofhuman problems; and at the same time it assures the reader that Jesus of Nazareth is theultimate Victor over every form of human evil and uncleanness. What do you think?402
633 6345.1 And they came to the other side of the Sea, into the country of the635 636 637[Gerasenes]. 5.2 And coming out of the boat, [immediately] there met him, out of the633The third person plural aorist verb ëèïí, elthon, “they came,” is changed to the thirdperson singular form of the same verb h=lqen, elthen, “he came,” by a corrector ofSinaiticus (probably), Ephraemi Rescriptus, L, Delta, Theta, Family 13 of Minuscules,Minuscules 28, 579, 700, 892, 1241, 2542, some other Greek manuscripts, the Old LatinManuscript q, the Syriac tradition, the Bohairic Coptic and Epiphanius of Constantia (whodied 403 A.D.).The variant does not change the meaning of Mark, but only makes it center in Jesushimself, rather than in Jesus and his disciples.634What Mark evidently means is that Jesus and his followers went across the northernend of the Sea of Galilee, from the northwest shore to somewhere on the eastern side ofthe Sea. Compare footnote 605 on Mark 4:35.635The name Ãåñáóçíí, Gerasenon, “(of the) Gerasenes” (as is also read by Luke8:26), is read by the first writer of Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, Bezae, Minuscule 2427(probably), the entire Latin tradition and the Sahidic Coptic.It is changed to read (as does Matthew 8:28) Gadarhnw/n, Gadarenon, “(of the)Gadarenes,” by Alexandrinus, Ephraemi Rescriptus, Family 13 of Minuscules, the“Majority Text,” the Peshitta Syriac and the Harclean Syriac.It is changed to read Gergusthnw/n, Gergustenon, “(of the) Gergustenes,” by W.It is changed to read Gergeshnw/n, Gergesenon, “(of the) Gergesenes,” by acorrector of Sinaiticus, L, Delta, Theta, Family 1 of Minuscules, Minuscules 28, 33, 565,579, 700, 892, 1241, 1424, 2542, some other Greek manuscripts, the Sinaitic Syriac andthe Bohairic Coptic.With this array of variant readings, it is very difficult to say what the original readingactually was. Taylor notes that “The textual variations are due to the fact that both Gerasa(30 miles to the southeast)...and Gadara (6 miles to the Southeast) are too far from thelake, and to the necessity of finding a site where the mountains run down steeply into thelake...” (P. 278)France likewise comments that “The complicated textual variants among the threesynoptic versions are perhaps best accounted for by an original Gadarhnw/n, Gadarenon inMatthew and an original Ãåñáóçíí, Gerasenon in Mark and Luke, with Gergeshnw/n,Gergesenon and related variants as subsequent attempts (perhaps originating withOrigen...) to provide a more suitable lakeside location...Near El Kursi, further north on theeast shore, there is a suitably steep bank. Hence the attraction of the later readingGergeshnw/n, Gergesenon, since ‘Gergesa’ is traditionally associated with El Kursi, and the(continued...)403
Page 1 and 2: NOT ONLY THE WIND AND THE WAVES-BUT
Page 3: 632(...continued)like a farmer plan
Page 7 and 8: 638(...continued)were haunted by de
Page 9 and 10: 640(...continued)But even if we are
Page 11 and 12: Because he had many times been boun
Page 13 and 14: 647 6485.6 And seeing the Jesus fro
Page 15 and 16: 652you should not torment me.” 5.
Page 17 and 18: 660 661 662and over that he should
Page 19 and 20: 664(...continued)Leviticus 11:7 (th
Page 21 and 22: 667the pigs, and the herd rushed do
Page 23 and 24: 676“Legion”; and they were made
Page 25 and 26: 684 685 686says to him: “Go to yo
Page 27 and 28: 689 690proclaim in the Ten-City Are
Page 29 and 30: 691(...continued)Petrine [that is,
Page 31 and 32: 691(...continued)429
Page 33 and 34: SIGNS OF THE COMING KINGDOM:SICKNES
Page 35 and 36: 693 694 6955.21 And when the Jesus
Page 37 and 38: 700 701 702 703 704[look-] one of t
Page 39 and 40: 705(...continued)addiction, over wh
Page 41 and 42: 713And a great crowd was following
Page 43 and 44: 718 719under many physicians, and w
Page 45 and 46: 718(...continued)Oepke shows how be
Page 47 and 48: 724 7255.28 For she was saying that
Page 49 and 50: 7335.30 And immediately the Jesus,
Page 51 and 52: 743 744 7455.34 So then he said to
Page 53 and 54: 749 7505.35 While he is still speak
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756 757afraid. Only believe!" 5.37
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763 764did not die, but is sleeping
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767mother, and those with him, and
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775 776 777[immediately] with great
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779(...continued)Anderson, however,
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PRAYERLord Jesus, we are learning f
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Mark 5 - In Depth Bible Commentaries

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