[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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