Dave's Mark Passage

Mark John the Baptist prepares the way 1 1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way’ – 3 ‘a voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.” ’ 4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptised by him in the River Jordan. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt round his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: ‘After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptise you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.’ The baptism and testing of Jesus 9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan.

ESV Phrasing

Mark 1:1-8

esv

(This is) The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,

“Behold,

na28

I send my messenger before your face,

who will prepare your way,

Purpose?

(Hear) the voice of one crying in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord,

na28

make his paths straight,’”

John appeared,

baptizing in the wilderness

Manner

and proclaiming a baptism of repentance

for the forgiveness of sins.

Purpose

And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him

and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan,

confessing their sins.

Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist

Periphrastic

and ate locusts and wild honey.

And he preached, saying,

“After me comes he who is mightier than I,

na28

the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.

I have baptized you with water,

but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Ἀρχὴ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ [υἱοῦ θεοῦ].

Καθὼς γέγραπται ἐν τῷ Ἠσαΐᾳ τῷ προφήτῃ• ἰδοὺ ἀποστέλλω τὸν ἄγγελόν μου πρὸ προσώπου σου, ὃς κατασκευάσει τὴν ὁδόν σου•

φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ• ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν κυρίου, εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ,

ἐγένετο Ἰωάννης [ὁ] βαπτίζων ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ καὶ κηρύσσων βάπτισμα μετανοίας εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν.

καὶ ἐξεπορεύετο πρὸς αὐτὸν πᾶσα ἡ Ἰουδαία χώρα καὶ οἱ Ἱεροσολυμῖται πάντες, καὶ ἐβαπτίζοντο ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ Ἰορδάνῃ ποταμῷ ἐξομολογούμενοι τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν.

καὶ ἦν ὁ Ἰωάννης ἐνδεδυμένος τρίχας καμήλου καὶ ζώνην δερματίνην περὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐσθίων ἀκρίδας καὶ μέλι ἄγριον.

Καὶ ἐκήρυσσεν λέγων• * ἔρχεται ὁ ἰσχυρότερός μου ὀπίσω μου, οὗ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς κύψας λῦσαι τὸν ἱμάντα τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτοῦ.

ἐγὼ ἐβάπτισα ὑμᾶς ὕδατι, αὐτὸς δὲ βαπτίσει ὑμᾶς ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ.

phrasing

Greek Phrasing

Mark 1:1-8

na28

(...) Ἀρχὴ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ [υἱοῦ θεοῦ].

Καθὼς γέγραπται ἐν τῷ Ἠσαΐᾳ τῷ προφήτῃ•

ἰδοὺ

na28

ἀποστέλλω τὸν ἄγγελόν μου πρὸ προσώπου σου,

ὃς κατασκευάσει τὴν ὁδόν σου•

Purpose?

(...) φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ•

ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν κυρίου,

na28

εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ,

ἐγένετο Ἰωάννης

[ὁ] βαπτίζων ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ

καὶ κηρύσσων βάπτισμα μετανοίας

εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν.

καὶ ἐξεπορεύετο πρὸς αὐτὸν πᾶσα ἡ Ἰουδαία χώρα καὶ οἱ Ἱεροσολυμῖται πάντες,

καὶ ἐβαπτίζοντο ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ Ἰορδάνῃ ποταμῷ

ἐξομολογούμενοι τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν.

καὶ ἦν ὁ Ἰωάννης ἐνδεδυμένος τρίχας καμήλου καὶ ζώνην δερματίνην περὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ

καὶ ἐσθίων ἀκρίδας καὶ μέλι ἄγριον.

Καὶ ἐκήρυσσεν λέγων•

* ἔρχεται ὁ ἰσχυρότερός μου ὀπίσω μου,

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οὗ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς κύψας λῦσαι τὸν ἱμάντα τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτοῦ.

ἐγὼ ἐβάπτισα ὑμᾶς ὕδατι,

αὐτὸς δὲ βαπτίσει ὑμᾶς ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ.

Ἀρχὴ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ [υἱοῦ θεοῦ].

φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ• ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν κυρίου, εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ,

ἐγένετο Ἰωάννης [ὁ] βαπτίζων ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ καὶ κηρύσσων βάπτισμα μετανοίας εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν.

ἐγὼ ἐβάπτισα ὑμᾶς ὕδατι, αὐτὸς δὲ βαπτίσει ὑμᾶς ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ.

Arc

editing

Mark 1:2-8

na28

Καθὼς γέγραπται ἐν τῷ Ἠσαΐᾳ τῷ προφήτῃ•

as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

ἰδοὺ ἀποστέλλω τὸν ἄγγελόν μου πρὸ προσώπου σου,

‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,

ὃς κατασκευάσει τὴν ὁδόν σου•

who will prepare your way’ –

actionpurpose

φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ•

‘a voice of one calling in the wilderness,

ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν κυρίου,

“Prepare the way for the Lord,

εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ,

make straight paths for him.” ’

series

ideaexplanation

ἐγένετο Ἰωάννης [ὁ]

And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness,

βαπτίζων ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ

[baptising in the wilderness]

καὶ κηρύσσων βάπτισμα μετανοίας εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν.

[and] preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

actionmanner

καὶ ἐξεπορεύετο πρὸς αὐτὸν πᾶσα ἡ Ἰουδαία χώρα καὶ οἱ Ἱεροσολυμῖται πάντες,

The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him.

καὶ ἐβαπτίζοντο ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ Ἰορδάνῃ ποταμῷ

^... they were baptised by him in the River Jordan.

ἐξομολογούμενοι τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν.

^ [Confessing their sins,]

progression

situationresponse

καὶ ἦν ὁ Ἰωάννης ἐνδεδυμένος τρίχας καμήλου καὶ ζώνην δερματίνην περὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ

John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt round his waist,

καὶ ἐσθίων ἀκρίδας καὶ μέλι ἄγριον.

and he ate locusts and wild honey.

Καὶ ἐκήρυσσεν λέγων•

And this was his message:

* ἔρχεται ὁ ἰσχυρότερός μου ὀπίσω μου,

‘After me comes the one more powerful than I,

οὗ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς κύψας λῦσαι τὸν ἱμάντα τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτοῦ.

the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.

ἐγὼ ἐβάπτισα ὑμᾶς ὕδατι,

I baptise you with water,

αὐτὸς δὲ βαπτίσει ὑμᾶς ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ.

but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.’

alternative

temporal

anticipationfulfillment

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discourse

Arc Comments

The largest relationship is labelled as Ant-F (using the extended categories). vv2-3 form one Id-Exp seen in Mark's introduction (2a) and the quote itself (2b-3c). The issue of crediting this quote to Isa only (and not Malachi and Isaiah) is probably due to Isa been viewed as 'head of the prophets.' Within the quotation itself we see an series of statements: "I will send...a voice of one calling...". The first of the series is made up of an Ac-Pur whereby a messenger is sent for the purpose of preparation. The second part of the series consists of an Id-Exp giving details of what 'the voice' is saying. The voice says two things in series : prepare and make straight. These could be Ac-Mn (prepare by making straight). I have taken them as virtually synonymous. In vv4-5, Mark sets out a Sit-R . The situation is that John comes preaching and baptising ( Ac-Mn ) and, rather surprisingly, he receives a great deal of acceptance. The response to the situation is that many go out to him and are baptised ( progression ) and their baptism is one centred on confession ( Ac-Mn ). In the final section (vv6-8), vv6 and 7-8 could be a simple series ("he wore...and he preached..."). More likely these sections are Id-Exp . The significance of the clothing and eating is related to Elijah the Prophet. Mark is deliberately bringing this idea to the minds of his readers and then he explains why in vv7-8. The explanation is that John is well aware that this work is preparatory. Just as the Isa quote said a messenger would come to prepare, so JtB comes, knowing that "one more powerful" is coming after him. This is seen in the temporal link between v7 and v8. The climax of this section is that The Coming One will be able to perform a baptism far more significant that John's water baptism. He will have at his disposal not only the cleansing power of water, but the divine power of the Holy Spirit.

Exegetical Notes

v1 Is a title of the whole book. I've omitted from the bracket. The earliest manuscripts don't have book titles. (Although note that the recently Tyndale House GNT places gospel headings at the end of the book - this is interestingly related to Waltke's interpretation of Psalm headings). v2 Mark begins with the OT. His first port of call is to tie Jesus and the gospel to the OT promise. The quote from 'Isaiah' is actually a amalgamation of Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3: I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. The initial καθως ('as') phrase is subordinate to the main verb. All of vv2-3 are preparatory, pointing forward to the Hebraic εγενετο ('John appeared') in v3. As a paraphrase, it could be written, "Just like Isaiah said God would send a preparatory messenger, so look!, John came doing just that...!" V2 makes clear that John was a messenger preparing the way. V3 supplements this by explaining the means of his preparation: calling for others to get ready. This is what we see in vv7-8: John is preaching words to the effect of, "I am merely the forerunner, someone else, someone better is coming." Furthermore, John's baptism (vv4-5) makes clear that the ετοιμασατε...ευθειας ποιετε ('prepare...make straight') is brought about by repentance. v6 seems to function to connect John with the OT prophets, particularly Elijah (2 Kings 1:8). The main point then, is one of preparation: how do we get ready for Jesus. Illustration include decorations (sanding down, filling in, clearing furniture); or revision for exams, or packing for a holiday. Anticipation is significant. The magnitude of the forthcoming event, shapes the seriousness of the preparations. A teacher getting ready for school each morning, is not the same as a teacher getting ready for school when she received a phone call last night saying Ofsted were coming in today. So, how do we prepare for Jesus? Answer: repentance. That's the one, main thing. Tease that out: includes confession, knowing that we've done wrong, missed the mark, explain sin God is the one telling us - not just some human idea - God said it in OT, and JtB is portrayed as faithful proclaimer of God's word JtB is paralleled with Elijah who was calling the nation to repentance - even those who are religious need to hear this. The "good news" ties to the "forgiveness of sin" Baptism is closely related to repentance. It is a public declaration of the commencement of a new way of life - one no longer in rebellion but now in submission. Could this passage be preached "bottom up"? Starting with vv7-8: Jesus is coming, so how to get ready?

Questions to ask of the passage

Just like Ask Before You Answer - questions help us understand another person's view so also genuine, humble questions help us understand Mark's view. How many sentences? Words? Paragraphs? How many instances of direct speech/quotes? Who speaks the most? How divide it up into sections? Why? Paraphrase it. Summarise it. Underline all the connecting words. What words are repeated? What are the main verbs? Are there any imperatives/commands? What do you think Mark expects the reader to do in response? How/where do English versions vary? Why? How do you decide which to follow? What big bible words are there that you need to expand your understanding of? What parts would you be tempted to miss out/skim over? Why did Mark include them?

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