29. He saith (érypéra). More correctly, he questioned or asked. So Rey.- Mark omits the commendation of Peter. See Introduction.
On vy. 31-33, compare notes on Matt. xvi. 21-28.
32. He spake the saying openly. Mark only. Not as a secret or mystery, as in his words about being léfted up, or buald- ing the temple in three days. Not ambiguously, but explicitly. Wyc., plainly.
34. Jesus now pauses; for what he has to say now is to be said to all who follow him. Hence he calls the multitude with his disciples. Peculiar to Mark.
Will (9ére). Rev., would. See on Matt. i.19. It is more than zs wishful.
His cross. The pronoun avrod, Ais, is in an emphatic posi- tion.
35. And the gospel’s. Peculiar to Mark. 36. Gain—lose. See on Matt. xvi. 26.
38. My words. Bengel remarks that one may confess Christ in general and yet be ashamed of this or that saying.
In this adulterous and sinful generation. Peculiar to Mark.
208 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. IX.
Compare Matt. xvii. 1-13; Luke ix. 28-36.
2. Transfigured. See on Matt. xvii. 2.
3. Shining (or/ABovta). Rev., glistering. The word is used of a gleam from polished surfaces—arms, sleek horses, water in motion, the twinkling of the stars, lightning.
As no fuller, etc. Peculiar to Mark.
5. Answered. Though no question had been asked him: but the Lord’s transfiguration was an appeal to him and he de-. sired to respond.
7. Sore afraid. Wyc., aghast by dread.
Beloved son. . Wyc., most dearworthy.
8. Suddenly (¢&dwa). The Greek word only here in the New Testament.
9. Tell (Senyjcwvra). Mark’s word is more graphic than Matthew’s e’rnre. The word is from dud, through, and %ryéopar, to lead the way. Hence to lead one through a series of events : to narrate.
Questioning. Wye., asking. Tynd., disputing.
14. The scribes. The particularizing of the scribes as the questioners, and vy. 15,16, are peculiar to Mark.
15. Were greatly amazed (é£c9auBy9ncav). A word pe- culiar to Mark. See Introduction.
Cz, IX.] MARK. 209
18. It taketh him («ataddBn). Lit., seizeth hold of him. Our word catalepsy is derived from this.
Teareth ({rjocer). Rev., dasheth down, with rendeth in margin. The verb is a form of pyyvymi, to break. The form poo is used in classical Greek of dancers beating the ground, and of beating drums. Later, in the form pdocew, a term of fighters: to fell, or knock down, which is the sense adopted by Rev.
Gnasheth with his teeth. Rev., grindeth. This and the pining away are peculiar to Mark.
19. Faithless (doros). Faithless has acquired the sense of treacherous, not keeping faith. But Christ means without faith, and such is Tyndale’s translation. Wyc., out of belvef. Unbelieving would be better here. The Rev. retains this ren- dering of the A. V. at 1 Cor. vii. 14, 15 3- THO e155 A poc. xxi. 8, and elsewhere.
20. Mark is more specific in his detail of the convulsion which seized the lad as he was coming to Jesus. He notes the convulsion as coming on at the demoniac’s sight of our Lord. “When he saw him, straightway the spirit,” ete. Also his fall- ing on the ground, wallowing and foaming. We might expect the detail of these symptoms in Luke, the physician.
91-27. Peculiar to Mark. He gives the dialogue between Jesus and the boy’s father, and relates the process of the cure in graphic detail.
92. Us. Very touching. The father identifies himself with the son’s misery. Compare the Syro-Phoenician, who makes her daughter’s case entirely her own: “Have mercy on me” (Matt. xv. 22).
93. If thou canst believe (70 ed dvv7). Lit., the of thow canst. The word believe is wanting in the best texts. It is difficult to explain to an English reader the force of the definite article