demoninho

I don't know a lot about how the NT came about but I heard there is supposed to be an original source called Q and that both Mt and Lk borrowed from Mk and all from Q, right? So have a look at the 3 passages below:

Mt 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

Mk 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

Lk 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.[/i]

Could someone tell me more about the origin of these quotes and if the reference to the cross (of course christians would see it as a prophesy) indicate that the source was already an mythologisedl story too?

John Kesler

Not quite. Matthew and Luke borrowed from Mark and from an additional source, "Q," which contains material not in Mark.

The reference to the cross is missing in some manuscripts of Mark 10:21, and may have been added to conform it to the Matthean and Lukan passages. Also, Gospel of Thomas saying 55 says something very similar:

I don't see the reference to the cross as proof of inauthenticity since death by crucifixion was common and would make an apt metaphor for self-denial.

andrewcriddle

The reference to the cross in Mark 10:21 is, as John Kesler said, unlikely to be the original text.

However there is a firm reference to taking up the cross and following Jesus in Mark 8:34 which is paralleled in Matthhew 16:24 and Luke 9:23

The standard explanation would be that something like this was originally in both Mark and Q Matthhew 16:24 and Luke 9:23 are based on Mark and Matthew 10:38 and Luke 14:27 are based on Q

Andrew Criddle