[B-Greek] Mk 8:33 -- ANQRWPOI

Iver iver_larsen at sil.org
Fri Oct 3 05:41:28 EDT 2003


>
> At Mark 8:33 Mark has Jesus rebuke Peter and call him Satan because
> Peter has shown himself with respect to his disdain for a Messiah who
> suffers to be thinking the things of "men" (FRONEIS... TA TWN ANQRWPWN).
>
> What if anything is there in Mark's Gospel or elsewhere that might
> support the idea that for Mark the term ANQRWPOI is a reference to,  or
> a cipher for, or in some way synonymous with, the Jewish leaders who,
> according to Mark, oppose Jesus?

As far as I can see there is nothing that might support this idea. The word
means a human being.
However, in this particular context the contrast is between what God thinks
and what people in general thinks. So the focus must be on people in and by
themselves without any revelation from God and without proper understanding
of the plans and thoughts of God. By opposing God's plan, Peter has
unwillingly in his ignorance become the spokesperson of Satan. This might
even be a temptation for Jesus, and that would make the designation "Satan"
the more appropriate.

If we look at Mark 7:7-8, we find ENTALMATA ANQRWPWN and THN PARADOSIN TWN
ANQRWPWN. Here the reference would be to the Jewish leaders and teachers,
but not because of ANQRWPWN, but because of the words for commandments and
traditions, the prerogative of the Jewish teachers and leaders.

My thoughts,
Iver Larsen




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