Matthew 17, Mark 9 One improvement Matthew makes over Mark is in how Matthew edits the episodes in his Gospel versus how Mark does. For instance, Mark 9 begins with what appears to be the wrap up of the previous episode where Yeshua predicts what’s going to happen in Jerusalem. And he said to them, … Continue reading Real Bible Studies: Matthew and Mark, Transfiguration
Tag: philosophy
Author’s Intent: Endings
I don’t like endings. I rarely go to funerals and whenever I leave someone’s presence, I frequently say, “See you later” rather than “Goodbye”. Equally, I never joke about death or dying. The comedian, Dick Shawn, is said to have ended his act by feigning a heart attack to avoid encores. When he suffered a … Continue reading Author’s Intent: Endings
Real Bible Studies, Matthew and Mark
Tradition of the Elders Chapters 15-16 of Matthew are an almost word for word insertion from Mark 7-8 though Matthew makes several changes to the source material. Both cite passages from various scriptures in condemning the Pharisees and Scribes for dishonoring their elders (Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16, Exodus 21:17, Leviticus 20:9). Given that Yeshua himself … Continue reading Real Bible Studies, Matthew and Mark
Author’s Intent: Allegory
All art is at once surface and symbol. Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril. Those who read the symbol do so at their peril.Oscar Wilde In his preface to The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde lays out his manifesto for artists. Among the tenets he mentions is the quote … Continue reading Author’s Intent: Allegory
Real Bible Studies, The Gospel of Mark
Baptism, Temptation, and Disciples Most scholars agree that Mark was the first Gospel and both Matthew and Luke made liberal usage of Mark, going so far as to lift entire passages without changing a word. Mark tells a simple, straightforward story of an itinerant preacher and miracle worker who begins as a follower of John … Continue reading Real Bible Studies, The Gospel of Mark
Author’s Intent: Motivation
A common question for any writer is why we write. For me, I have a desire to express myself and do so better in writing than speaking. This has been consistent throughout my life. When speaking extemporaneously, I often disengage my brain, leading to either saying the exact wrong thing at the exact wrong time, … Continue reading Author’s Intent: Motivation
Real Bible Studies, Matthew 14, The Death of John
The entirety of Matthew 14 corresponds with Mark 6:14-56. As with other sections borrowed from Mark, Matthew makes notable changes to the story, which tailors the meaning to his audience, and these changes hint at the message Matthew wishes to convey to his readers. Mark 6 begins with the story of Yeshua’s rejection at Nazareth … Continue reading Real Bible Studies, Matthew 14, The Death of John
Author’s Intent: Expanded Universe
My Expanded Universe of Fictional Atlanta came about when I realized a character I created for a play I was writing in 2011 was the same individual maligned by the lead character in a novel I had shelved around 2000. That novel, Boom Town, featured a character named David Cairo (pronounced “kay-ro” like the Georgia … Continue reading Author’s Intent: Expanded Universe
Real Bible Studies: Matthew 11
Messengers from John After giving his disciples their marching orders, Yeshua is approached by messengers from John, inquiring if he’s the leader John has been predicting. Rather that state it outright, Yeshua instructs the messengers to report what they’ve seen to John and let him decide. In much of Christian orthodoxy, John is heralded as … Continue reading Real Bible Studies: Matthew 11
Real Bible Studies: Matthew 9-10
Tax Collectors and Sinners Yeshua returns to Capernaum, where the crowd brings out a paralyzed man. Yeshua is quick to forgive his sins, which raises charges of blasphemy from the scribes. To counter this, Yeshua tells the man to rise, take up his bed and walk, which the individual does, astounding the crowd. Afterward, we’re … Continue reading Real Bible Studies: Matthew 9-10