Lectionary Year B
February 2, 2003
Mark 1:21-28

Initial Acquaintance/Rough Translation


A. Comparing Translations

(JFC) The New Living Translation (1996) and the New Revised Standard Version (1978) differ slightly as these notes indicate:

21b and every Sabbath day . . . he taught the people. - NLT
and when the Sabbath came, . . . he taught. - NRSV

22 They were amazed . . . who had real authority -- . . . quite unlike teachers of religious law. - NLT
They were astounded . . . as one having authority, and not as the scribes. - NRSV

23 possessed by an evil spirit was in the synagogue, - NLT
in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, - NRSV

24 "Why are you bothering us, - NLT
"What have you to do with us, - NRSV

25 Jesus cut him short. - NLT
But Jesus rebuked him. - NRSV

27 Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened. - NLT
They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, "What is this? - NRSV

"What sort of new teaching is this?" they asked excitedly. It has such authority! - NLT
A new teaching - with authority! - NRSV

B. Textual Criticism

(JFC) 21b For eivselqw.n eivj th.n sunagwgh.n evdi,dasken, one Alexandrian Witness (D) omits ei',jelqw.n, while the greater preponderance of such Witnesses retain the text as printed. However, Taylor says that other Western Witnesses omit that participle, too, and he suggests the variant, evdi,dasken eivj th.n sunagwgh.n, seems original and "should probably be accepted." Metzger (TCGNT), on the other hand, notes the awkwardness of the omission, yet the Committee keeps the text as received, too.

24 A few Alexandrian Witnesses change the singular oi=da,, to a plural oidamen, which could have been original, but the apparatus presents no alternative manuscripts having it as received and printed.

25 For the final words, evx auvtou/, a few significant manuscripts read, ek tou anqrwpou, pneuma akaqartwn, while a few more retain the Textus Receptus. It does seem to clarify the objects to add the variant, yet, to the first century readers/hearers it was possibly unnecessary to need further such clarification. So, it is probably original as printed. And, Taylor finds it, "fully in harmony with Mark's style and should be read."

26 A few Alexandrian Witnesses replace the printed, fwnh/san, "produce a sound/call/cry out", with another and noticeably stronger verb, kraxan, "cry out/scream/shriek", while an equal number of same retains the printed version, which seems a little weak, especially with the noun, fwnh/, following. Ergo, the variant might be original, unless Mark's lower literary skills permit repeating such root words.

27 For the rather abrupt received, Ti, evstin tou/toČ didach. kainh. katV evxousi,an\, many variants attempt to tone it down. However, the abrupt and/or awkward frequently for that reason appears to be more likely original in the primitive use of that age's terms.

C. Rough Translation

(JFC) 21 And they are brought [present, middle or passive] into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbaths he was entering [aorist, active, participle] in(to) the synagogue (where) he taught [imperfect, active, indicative]. 22 And they were amazed/astounded/overwhelmed at/upon the teaching of his; for he was teaching them as authority having and not as the scribes.
23 And immediately was in the synagogue of theirs a man in a spirit unclean and he was shouting/crying out 24 saying; "What (are you) to us and to you (yourself), Jesus the Nazarene? Did you come to destroy us? I know you who you are, the holy of the God." 25 And commanded/scolded/rebuked him the Jesus saying, "Be silent and come out of him." 26 And was convulsing [aorist, active, participle] him the spirit the unclean and cried/screamed/shrieked in a voice great and went out from him. 27 And they were amazed/shocked so as to discuss/argue/question to themselves saying, "What is this? (What) teaching new according to authority; and the spirit the unclean/defiled he commands/orders and they obey him." 28 And went the report of him immediately everywhere into the surrounding region of the Galilee.



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