Peter Kirby

There are three alternatives in the ancient manuscripts for the Greek of 10:1.

"He set out from there and went into the district of Judea through the other side (dia tou peran) of the Jordan." This is supported by A, K, X, and so on. It is the Byzantine/Textus Receptus.

"He set out from there and went into the district of Judea and beyond (kai peran) the Jordan." This is supported by Sinaiticus, B, C*, L, and so on. It is in Westcott-Hort.

"He set out from there and went into the district of Judea beyond (peran) the Jordan." This is supported by C2, D, W, Delta, Theta, and so on. It corresponds to Matthew.

Here is what Gundry has to say: "Mark lumps Judea and Transjordan together. Even though he will have Jesus approach Jerusalem from the direction of Transjordan (vv 32, 46; 11:1, 11; see G. Dalman, SSW 233-39, on Galilean pilgrims' usually avoiding the direct route through Samaria), he mentions Judea first because the events of the Passion will take place there (cf. his putting the ultimate goal Jerusalem first in 11:1 and then working backward through Bethphage and Bethany--also 7:31, and see 1:5; 13:14 for his knowledge that Jerusalem is located in Judea)." (Mark, p. 529)

best,
Peter Kirby

Vinnie

Thx for the summary. That helps.

Vinnie

Peter Kirby

To start with, the textual evidence is confused.

Submit for your review Metzger's Textual Commentary:





For GMark 5:1, Metzger suggests that "Gadarenon" is an assimilation to Mt 8:28 and that "Gergesenon" is a correction (proposed in Origen Commentary on John?). Thus he chooses "Gerasenon."

You may want to consult Gundry's Mark pp. 255-257 on this verse.

best,
Peter Kirby

Peter Kirby

Here is what Origen had to say.

In the matter of proper names the Greek copies are often incorrect, and in the Gospels one might be misled by their authority. The transaction about the swine, which were driven down a steep place by the demons and drowned in the sea, is said to have taken place in the country of the Gerasenes. Now, Gerasa is a town of Arabia, and has near it neither sea nor lake. And the Evangelists would not have made a statement so obviously and demonstrably false; for they were men who informed themselves carefully of all matters connected with Judaea. But in a few copies we have found, "into the country of the Gadarenes; "and, on this reading, it is to be stated that Gadara is a town of Judaea, in the neighbourhood of which are the well-known hot springs, and that there is no lake there with overhanging banks, nor any sea. But Gergesa, from which the name Gergesenes is taken, is an old town in the neighbourhood of the lake now called Tiberias, and on the edge of it there is a steep place abutting on the lake, from which it is pointed out that the swine were cast down by the demons. Now, the meaning of Gergesa is "dwelling of the casters-out," and it contains a prophetic reference to the conduct towards the Saviour of the citizens of those places, who "besought Him to depart out of their coasts." The same inaccuracy with regard to proper names is also to be observed in many passages of the law and the prophets, as we have been at pains to learn from the Hebrews, comparing our own copies with theirs which have the confirmation of the versions, never subjected to corruption, of Aquila and Theodotion and Symmachus.

best,
Peter Kirby

Vorkosigan

Great set of posts, guys.

spin

Here's a table I did a few days ago:I think that it makes certain aspects clearer.

In the Greek we have a tendency for Mk and Lk to agree against Mt, but there is an interesting split between Byzantine (TR) and Alexandrian (WH) versions, with the Peshitta following the Byzantine tradition and the Vulgate following the Alexandrian. Both P & V have smoothed out the Mt wrinkle.


spin

Vinnie

bumping this as someone asked me about geo erros in mark and i linked them here

Vinnie

judge

The original aramaic reads gadarenes

Vinnie

Original Arimaic? I was under the impression Mark was written in Greek?

Vinnie

Vorkosigan

Re this topic: the other day my wife turned to me and asked: Is Fengyuan (large town north of where we live) in Changhua (large county south of where we live)? -- which would be like a Chicagoan asking if Milwaukee was in the state of Indiana. Do pre-industrial people have a solid grip on geography? My experience in Africa and Taiwan says no. I don't think Mark's confusions and geographical problems qualify as evidence by themselves that he didn't know anything about Palestine.

Vorkosigan