[B-Greek] Mark 10:37,40
Jeffrey B. Gibson
jgibson000 at comcast.net
Sun Nov 2 21:00:14 EST 2003
Maurice Fuller wrote:
> My handy dandy Polymicrian Greek Lexicon says that ARISTERWN was, among superstitious Greeks, a word of bad import, as all omens on the left denoted misfortune. EUWNUMWN is from EU and ONOMA, good name or omen. It is interesting that Jesus apparently refuses to use a word that would suggest that He agreed with the superstition. The disciples, on the other hand seem not yet to be free of it.
>
As I see it, there are four problems with this view ( even if what your
lexicon says about the "left" is true).
First, it assumes that Mark is portraying James and John as Greeks.
Second, it ignores context -- where what is spoken of in terms of right
and left is seats and where James and John have no problems with asking
for them.
Third, it does not take into account the fact that the form and imagery
of this request is drawn from contemporary courtly idiom. The disciples
specifically ask Jesus to `grant' something, indicating that the
substance of the request is an official boon to be bestowed on them only
through imperial fiat.
Fourth, as such texts as 1 Kngs 2.19; 1 Esdras 4.29; Eccl. 12.12; and
Josephus, Ant. 6.11.9. show, The seat `on the right' and next to it the
seat `on the left' are the places of honour next to a king.
Yours,
Jeffrey
Yours,
Jeffrey Gibson
>
> Maurice L. Fuller
> ---
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--
Jeffrey B. Gibson, D.Phil. (Oxon.)
1500 W. Pratt Blvd. #1
Chicago, IL 60626
jgibson000 at comcast.net
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