**Tell us what you think of Mark 14:66-72.**
US??? Am I talking to ‘Legion’? JUST KIDDING!
Jesus’prophecy in Mark tells of the cock crowing twice, which it did crow twice in the actual three denials passage. Matthew, Mark, and Luke simply speak of the cock crowing following the three denials. Same story, just more details in Mark. The prophecy of the denials takes place at the end of the last supper in all four gospels.
We can haggle about their exact GPS positioning; were they coming down the steps, but still in the building? were they coming out of the building? were they in the street right out front? What does Luke 22:39 mean by “he came out”....coming out of the upper room, the building itself, or the city to go to the mount of Olives?
How about the miracles? They have variations from gospel to gospel? Speaking of ‘Legion’, the account in Matthew has Jesus encountering two possessed with devils, while in Mark and Luke, only one possessed is mentioned. The location is the same (Gadarenes), the swine possessed and drowned, and it takes place right after the account of Jesus awakening to still the storm. Personally, I happen to think that there were two, but one was much more fierce than the other, and had the name of ‘Legion’.
This type of investigative study can be interesting, but the result is usually not some new earth shaking discovery. But, some people write books for a living. Some of them are interesting, and some aren’t worth the paper they are written on. IMO, the ‘harry potter’ books are a waste of perfectly good trees, and I’m no a tree hugger. And the woman that wrote them got filthy rich making up stories. Like my wife says, “the world is getting everything backwards”.
Oh well,
Lord bless
Yes, and it's not just entertainment literature that makes money while wasting paper (and precious time). The general thrust of writings is to reach the Public's attention to twist its fancy for one's own purpose. I believe one goal behind the hundred or so of new copyrighted English-language "Bible" versions mainly are as an economic enterprise, and one suspects that's the main reason, at least of the publishing industry. Some religious authors seem to be also looking for fame.
That is not true of the charter of Happy Heralds, Incorporated (HHI). One should not minimize that the leading page, and every portion of "The Gospels -- A Precise Translation" proclaims "NOT TO BE SOLD." "Freely ye have received, freely give" is the overriding principle of distribution in the conduct of HHI.
The resources for the ministry are completely subscribed through fellowship in The Gospel. Through the years, hundreds of thousands of incisive, informative tracts (not of the 'hokey' type, but sermonettes inviting to a new life) have been sent across the world, prior to the recent appearance of APT segments. This is a heart-based--not cash-based--ministry toward those who wish to make or become disciples for life. (Packets of such tracts are freely available through application at the HHI site.)
Dr. Wittman, as the author, translator, and radio voice of HHI has lived, with his wife Norma, in a most prudent and frugal fashion, yet honoring The Lord for His Provision. At at age 83, it speaks of time-tested commitment to their early calling. It is not a life that gathers wide acclaim, often even among so-called "believers" whose forte is hypocrisy and sarcasm more than harmony and support.
But referring to his translation "The Gospels," this volume also contains an introductory section featuring a concise summary of the purpose and language of the New Testament, which contents (10 pages) should be clear to one having tenth grade English proficiency.
A longer appendix includes a glossary of Koine grammar terms and examples (39 pages) for the reader who has knowledge of languages, but who is not a student of the Greek.
Another extremely useful exegetic tool is a chronological harmony (60 pages) relating the progression of the Gospels. Every page of the translation gives the time frame of the events described. Certain themes have a connectedness leading one from Gospel to Gospel, back and forth stepwise to give a "blow-by-blow" account of the action taking place. Thus the pastor with less-than-scholarly Greek understanding will get the time-sense and first-century observer's mindset of the developing story which he wishes to relate to his audience.
IMO, the ‘harry potter’ books are a waste of perfectly good trees, and I’m no a tree hugger. And the woman that wrote them got filthy rich making up stories. Like my wife says, “the world is getting everything backwards”.
There is another god who answer the prayers of his children, and honors (temporarily) the dedication and motivation of his committed disciples -- the god of this world--this kosmos. Also IMHO and observation.
US??? Am I talking to ‘Legion’? JUST KIDDING!
Well, it could be, but my intent was the "US" of Free Republic who are waiting with 'bated breath for your next pronouncement? I trust I am not alone--although by this time on this thread, it is more likely that there are not more than two or three. But I think that you can be quite sure that this is not escaping The Heavenly Father's attention, nor that of His opponent.
Perhaps your reading is mistaken. There is no mention of 'Legion' in Matthew, and two were delivered of demons.
while in Mark and Luke, only one possessed is mentioned. The location is the same (Gadarenes),
The location in Matthew is on the east shore of Genessaret, in the land of the Gergasenes (which then existed and is recognized by Biblical geographers). The location of this event is not at the same location as Gadara, which was on the southern tip of the lake near the Jordan outlet, and was not at the same time of year as the one described in Mark and Luke.
the swine possessed and drowned, and it takes place right after the account of Jesus awakening to still the storm.
Well, in this case, Levi recorded that the disturbance of the sea was caused by a great earthquake (along the Jordan Rift, perhaps?), though Jesus rebuked both the winds and the sea. They landed at Gergasa (now called Kursi and recently excavated). The time was in Second Adar (Feb. - Mar.) of 31 AD, about 8 months before the Gadara event.
Personally, I happen to think that there were two, but one was much more fierce than the other, and had the name of ‘Legion’.
A hypothesis that necessitates disbelief in the reliability of the Bible as written, first by the text compilers, then by translators. However, the 'Legion' incident did not occur at Gergasa, according to Scripture. The miracle at Gadara lines up with other events in Heshvan (Oct. - Nov.) of 31 AD. Prior to that, the cause of the waves was a furious wind (Mk 4:37, Lk. 8:23-24), with no mention of an earthquake.
A part of your quandrary arises from the choices taken by the compilers of the Nestle-Aland Critical Text for corrupted manuscripts from which the synthesis of these events became one, rather than two; reflected in translations based on the CT; which do not agree with archaeology. Through the CT variously confusing Gadara with a "Gerasa" and joins them in time, the wielders of "higher criticism" generate a paradox where there is none in the Majority/Byzantine/Textus Receptus tradition.
You may agree or disagree with this analysis, but it would not be wise to ignore it, I believe. So also for Peter's six denials. A facile explanation can be invented, but not accepted by scrutinizing the Faithful Scripture inspired, not by men, but by the Holy Ghost.
Respectfully --