[B-Greek] Mark 9:33ff In the Way
Carl W. Conrad
cwconrad at ioa.com
Wed Jun 8 07:39:01 EDT 2005
On Jun 8, 2005, at 12:41 AM, Richard Richmond wrote:
>
> I seem to have problems getting things posted; I hope this meets
> the list specifications.
It's much better, although you are inconsistent in your efforts to
convert ASCII-converted
Greek font into our standard transliteration. Sometimes you use N for
Nu, elsewhere V.
OIVKIAi should be OIKIAi.
> KAI. HLQON EIS KAFARNAOUM KAI EV TH OIVKIAi
> And they came into Capernaum and in the house
>
> GENOMENOS EPHRWTA AUTOU TI EN TH hODWi
> coming to be he questioned them what
> in the way
>
> DIELOGIZESQE
> they debated
>
> hOI DE. ESIWPWN PRO ALLHLOUS GAR DIELEXQHSAN
> and they were silent toward one another for they were debating
>
> EN TH hODWi TIS QELEI
> in the way who was greater
>
> Note the peculiar placing of the phrase EN TH hODW in the sentence
> structure in both verses. Basic rules of syntax would suggest that
> the phrase “in the way” was intended to be more prominent than
> what was happening in the way.. In similar fashion when the all
> knowing narrator tells us what was happening he prefaces that
> statement with the redundant phrase-- EN TH hODW -- I would make
> the point that this emphasis on THE WAY by placement of the phrase
> is intended to be a cryptic reference to the movement called the
> Way and that Mark has a specific incident recorded elsewhere in the
> NT in mind. I have been asked not to discuss the theology of the
> text here and I want to comply so if you have an interest in what
> Mark may have been saying theologically please feel free to email
> me privately.
>
> Observing the phrase in the context can help us under stand it
> elsewhere within the text of Mark for it is a phrase he repeats
> many times.
(1) I think that "on the road" or "on the journey" would be a more
accurate sense for EN THi hODWi. "in the way" as an English phrase
suggests more of an impediment to travel, whereas the Greek phrase
simply reflects the realities of ancient travel on foot with companions
and discussion. As Apollodorus puts it in Plato's Symposium 172b,
PANTWS DE hH hODOS EIS ASTU EPITHDEIA POREUOMENOIS KAI
LEGEIN KAI AKOUEIN. "The trip to town is perfectly suited for people
traveling both to speak and to listen."
(2) That the hODOS referred to in this passage (Mk 9:33ff.) refers to
anything other than the passage made by Jesus and his disciples
to Jerusalem needs to be demonstrated more convincingly. On the
surface it really seems very dubious. And although I wouldn't doubt
that Mark's gospel narrative reflects phraseology current in the
early church, I think one ought to be rather cautious in asserting an
allusion
such as this. Louw & Nida do indicate hH hODOS used in this sense in
Acts 9:2:
41.35 hODOS.d, OU, f: (a figurative extension of meaning of hODOS.aa
‘road, way,’ 1.99) behavior in accordance with Christian principles
and practices — ‘Way, Christian way of life.’
But it's hard to see any such distinctive allusion in Mk 9:33;
although I wouldn't suggest the following figurative sense: either,
it seems to me a bit more likely allusion than what you're suggesting:
Mk 4:4 KAI EGENETO EN TWi SPEIREIN hO MEN EPESEN PARA THN hODON, KAI
HLQEN TA PETEINA KAI KATEFAGEN AUTO.
or
Mk 4:15 hOUTOI DE EISIN hOI PARA THN hODON, hOPOU SPEIRETAI hO LOGOS
KAI hOTAN AKOUSWSIN, EUQUS ERCETAI hO SATANAS
KAI AIREI TON LOGON ESPARMENON EIS AUTOUS.
In view of the fact the question actually under discussion in the
narrative introduced by Mk 9:33 reveals (as I think it is inteded to do)
the shallowness of the Marcan disciples' understanding of the message
of Jesus, I'd think it all the less likely that there's any allusion
here to the early Christian movement as "The Way."
> I would have preferred to put the text in its Greek context but
> apparently that would be inappropriate for this list.
I suppose you mean, "to cite the entire pericope" in the Greek text
rather than the passage you want to talk about.
Those who care to should have ready access to the Greek text of the
entire pericope, but it does help to have before
our eyes the precise phrasing of the text you wish to discuss.
Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Emeritus)
1989 Grindstaff Road/Burnsville, NC 28714/(828) 675-4243
cwconrad2 at mac.com
WWW: http://www.ioa.com/~cwconrad/
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