[B-Greek] Word order for Parallel Passages in Mark, Matthew and Luke

Carl W. Conrad cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu
Mon Oct 27 07:37:41 EST 2003


At 4:41 AM -0500 10/27/03, sheldon bryan wrote:
>I am doing a study in the Synoptic gospels and was wondering if anyone could
>give me some information on the importance, if any, of word order in the
>Parallel passages found in Mark 2: 28, Matt 12: 8 and Luke 6:5.
>Thanks in advance.

The text in question:
Mk 2;28 hWSTE KURIOS ESTIN hO hUIOS TOU ANQRWPOU KAI TOU SABBATOU
Mt 12:8 KURIOS ESTIN TOU SABBATOU hO hUIOS TOU ANQRWPOU
Lk 6:5 KAI ELEGEN AUTOIS: KURIOS ESTIN TOU SABBATOU hO hUIOS TOU ANQRWPOU.

Of course it will be important to view and interpret the formulation in
each of the Synoptic gospels within the context of the pericope of which
this is a climactic element (in Matthew's version this statement is
preceded by a unique comment on understanding God's desire for compassion
rather than sacrifice; in Mark's version the statement is a conclusion
following upon a different unique comment on the institution of the Sabbath
in relationship to humanity), but the question here is limited to the
importance of the word order in these formulations. So far as I can see,
there is no difference whatsoever between the phrasing and word-order
between the Matthaean and Lucan versions. In the Marcan version however the
introductory hWSTE marks the saying as a sort of conclusion to be inferred
from what has been expounded in the preceding remarks. Otherwise TOU
SABBATOU is positioned at the end of the clause and adverbially qualified
by KAI. I think KAI TOU SABBATOU is emphatic in the Marcan clause, but
those who hold a doctrine of frontal prominence might disagree; as I see
it, the Marcan clause underscores that, while there are other matters over
which the Son of Man holds authority, the Sabbath is also such a matter.
That is to say, the assertion that the Son of Man holds authority over the
Sabbath is a straightforward declaration in the Matthaean and Lucan
versions, but in the Marcan version it is set forth as a provocative and
unexpected claim at which the disgruntled Pharisaic observers may well be
shocked.
-- 

Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Emeritus)
1989 Grindstaff Road/Burnsville, NC 28714/(828) 675-4243
cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu
WWW: http://www.ioa.com/~cwconrad/



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