miracles contained in chapters viii. and ix., including the cure of Peter’s mother-in-law, the wholesale cures on the Sabbath evening, and the healing of the leper, all reported in the first chapter of Mark. Of course, in regard neither to the sermon nor to the group of miracles can the first Gospel lay claim to chronological accuracy. In the corresponding part of his narrative, Luke follows Mark closely, reporting the cure of the demoniac in the synagogue of Capernaum, of Peter’s mother-in-law, of many sick people on the Sabbath evening, and of the leper in the same order. There is only one deviation. The call of Peter, which in Luke replaces that of the four, Peter and Andrew, James and John, comes between the Sabbath evening cures and the cure of the leper.
The variations in style raise a much subtler question, which can only be dealt with adequately by a detailed comparative exegesis, such as that so admirably exemplified in the great work of Dr. Bernhard Weiss on the Gospel of Mark and its synoptical parallels." Suffice it to say here that it is not difficult to suggest a variety of causes which might lead to literary alteration in the use ofa source. Thus, if the style of the source was peculiar, markedly individualistic, colloquial, faulty in g.amme~, one can understand a tendency to replace these characteristics by smoothness and elegance. The style of Mark is of the character described, and instances of literary correction in the parallel accounts can easily be pointed out. Another cause in operation might be misunderstanding of the mean- ing of the source, or disinclination to adopt the meaning obviously suggested. Two illustrative instances may be mentioned. In reporting the sudden flight of Jesus from Capernaum in the early morning, Mark makes Him say to the disciples in connection with the reason for departure, “to this end came I forth,” 1.ε., from the town. In Luke this is turned into, “therefore was I sent,” i.e., into the world. In the incident of the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Mark makes Jesus bid the two disciples say to the owner of the colt, ‘straightway He (Jesus) will send it back,” 1.ε., return it to its owner when He has had His use of it. In Matthew this is turned into, “ straightway he (the owner) will send them (the ass and her colt) ”’.° Yet another source of verbal alteration might be literary taste acting instinctively, leading to the substitution of one word or phrase for another, without conscious reason.
10. Thus far of the matter common to the three Gospels, or what amay be called the triple tradition. But Matthew and Luke contain
1 Das Marcusevangelium und seine synoptischen Parallelen, 1872. 1 Mark i. 38, Luke iv. 43. 3 Mark xi. 3, Matthew xxi. 3.