From: ata@hfsi.uucp (John Ata - FSO)
Subject: Re: Crucifixion of Jesus?
Reply-To: ata@hfsi.UUCP (John Ata - FSO)
Organization: HFSI, McLean VA.
Distribution: world,local
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 02:06:11 GMT

In article <21DEC199223563848@skyblu.ccit.arizona.edu> lippard@skyblu.ccit.arizona.edu (James J. Lippard) writes:

>
>I haven't done a systematic study, but I have compared the wording
>of some passages with a Greek interlinear translation and identified
>word-for-word copying.  (I don't presently own such a translation and
>so can't give any examples, but you can get a good idea by looking
>at a harmonization of the gospels and comparing the English translations
>of parallel accounts.  Look, for example, at the account of the
>paralytic lowered through the roof of a house and healed by Jesus
>in Mark 2:1-12 and Luke 5:18-26 (also Matthew 9:2-8).  The wording
>is not identical, but there are many of the same words used, and
>the sentence-by-sentence pattern is the same.)

Jim, the English translation I have barely supports this the
theory.  I have transcribed the NIV translation below of the
passages you site.  If both of these texts started out as word by
word copying, then the translation certainly leaves something to
be desired!  Note, for example, that Matthew doesn't even mention
that the paralytic is lowered through the roof.  This certainly
can't be a by-product of translation, now can it?  Looking at the
English, this is about as good a case of paraphrasing a commonly
known account that I can think of. 

--

MAR 2:1     A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people
            heard that he had come home.
MAR 2:2     So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside
            the door, and he preached the word to them.
MAR 2:3     Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of
            them.
MAR 2:4     Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they
            made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging
            through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.
MAR 2:5     When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,
            "Son, your sins are forgiven."

MAR 2:6     Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to
            themselves,
MAR 2:7     "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can
            forgive sins but God alone?"

MAR 2:8     Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they
            were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them,
            "Why are you thinking these things?  
MAR 2:9     Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, `Your sins are forgiven,'
            or to say, `Get up, take your mat and walk'?
MAR 2:10    But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth
            to forgive sins...." He said to the paralytic,
MAR 2:11    "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home."
MAR 2:12    He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all.
            This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying,
            "We have never seen anything like this!"    
----

LUK 5:18    Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him
            into the house to lay him before Jesus.
LUK 5:19    When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd,
            they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the
            tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

LUK 5:20    When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are
            forgiven."

LUK 5:21    The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to
            themselves, "Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can
            forgive sins but God alone?"

LUK 5:22    Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, "Why are you
            thinking these things in your hearts?
LUK 5:23    Which is easier: to say, `Your sins are forgiven,' or to say,
            `Get up and walk'?
LUK 5:24    But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth
            to forgive sins...." He said to the paralyzed man,
            "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home."  
LUK 5:25    Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been
            lying on and went home praising God.
LUK 5:26    Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with
            awe and said, "We have seen remarkable things today."

--

MAT 9:2     Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus
            saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your
            sins are forgiven."

MAT 9:3     At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves,
            "This fellow is blaspheming!"

MAT 9:4     Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil
            thoughts in your hearts?
MAT 9:5     Which is easier: to say, `Your sins are forgiven,' or to say,
            `Get up and walk'?
MAT 9:6     But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on
            earth to forgive sins...." Then he said to the paralytic,
            "Get up, take your mat and go home."
MAT 9:7     And the man got up and went home.
MAT 9:8     When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they
            praised God, who had given such authority to men.
                                                                  
                                                                  
>
>Jim Lippard           Lippard@ccit.arizona.edu
>Dept. of Philosophy   Lippard@arizvms.bitnet
>University of Arizona
>Tucson, AZ 85721


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