One large piece of evidence concerning the Aramaic authorship
of Mark is the sheer amount of Aramaic that is quoted in the Greek versions
of the book. Here, I have compiled a list, which I hope is exhaustive,
that deals with all aspects of these quotes.
Mark 3:17 |
"and James the son of Zebedee, and John
the brother of James; and them he surnamed Boanerges, which is,
Sons of thunder." |
Byzantine |
βοανεργες ο
εστιν υιοι βροντης
(Boanerges ho estin uioi brontés) |
Textus Receptus |
βοανεργες ο
εστιν υιοι βροντης
(Boanerges ho estin uioi brontés) |
Westcott-Hort |
βοανηργες ο
εστιν υιοι βροντης
(Boanerges ho estin uioi brontés) |
Peshitta |
ܒܢܝ-ܪܓܫܝ ܕܐܝܬܘܗܝ
ܒܢܝ ܕܥܡܐ (Bani-Regshi,
d-éituhi Bani R'ama) |
Sinaitic Palimpsest |
ܒܢܝ ܪܓܫܝ (Bani Regshi) |
NOTES: |
Here, we notice two things. First the differences in spelling
in the Greek; second, how close the Greek word for "thunder"
(βροντης) is to this Aramaic
phrase. This is why there probably was the addition of the clarification.
What strikes my further is how the Peshitta mimics the Greek text,
clarifying an already Aramaic phrase.
ܒܢܝ ܪܓܫܝ means quite
litterally, "My Sons, My Senses" but can mean "My
Sons, My Tumults" hence the Peshitta and Greek clarification
to "thunder" (ܕܥܡܐ and βροντης
respectively). The clarification is awkward, and is most likely,
seeing the evidence, an interpolation or scribal gloss. The Aramaic
just does not mean "Sons of Thunder."
|
In favor of: |
Old Syriac |
Mark 5:1 |
"And they came to the other side of the
sea, into the country of the Gerasenes." |
Byzantine |
γαδαρηνων (Gadarˇn™n) |
Textus Receptus |
γαδαρηνων (Gadarˇn™n) |
Westcott-Hort |
γερασηνων (Gerasˇn™n) |
Peshitta |
ܓܕܪܝܐ (Gˇdarˇya) |
Sinaitic Palimpsest |
ܓܪܓܣܝܐ (Gˇrgesˇya) |
NOTES: |
Here, the Byzantine and Textus agree with the Peshitta, where
the Westcott agrees with the Sinaitic palimpsest. The only way
to check for this validity properly would be to look up the city's
name and spelling elsewhere. However, the texts are 2 to 1 for
the Peshitta here.
|
In favor of: |
Peshitta |
Mark 5:41 |
"And taking the child by the hand, he saith
unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel,
I say unto thee, Arise." |
Byzantine |
ταλιθα κουμι
(talitha koumi) |
Textus Receptus |
ταλιθα κουμι
(talitha koumi) |
Westcott-Hort |
ταλιθα κουμ
(talitha koum) |
Peshitta |
ܛܠܝܬܐ ܩܘܡܝ
(ghalitha kumi) |
Sinaitic Palimpsest |
Lost... |
NOTES: |
Directly quoted Aramaic. The only thing different in spelling
with the Greek being vowels. Unfortunately, we don't have the
Old Syriac to this passage.
|
In favor of: |
Unknown |
Mark 7:11 |
"but ye say, If a man shall say to his father
or his mother, That wherewith thou mightest have been profited by
me is Corban, that is to say, Given to God;" |
Byzantine |
κορβαν |
Textus Receptus |
κορβαν |
Westcott-Hort |
κορβαν |
Peshitta |
ܩܘܪܒܢܝ |
Sinaitic Palimpsest |
ܩܘܪܒܢ |
NOTES: |
This Aramaic was used to describe a Jewish concept. The Greek
does not varry, but the Aramaic does, ܩܘܪܒܢܝ
having an extra yod at the end that the Sinaitic does not have.
|
In favor of: |
Sinaitic Palimpsest |
|