The Empty Tomb Discovered
John 20:1-9
John.20.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- δε: CONJ
- μια: NUM,nom,sg,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- σαββατων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- Μαρια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- Μαγδαληνη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- ερχεται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- πρωι: ADV
- σκοτιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ετι: ADV
- ουσης: VERB,pres,act,part,gen,sg,f
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- μνημειον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- βλεπει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- λιθον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ηρμενον: PART,perf,pass,acc,sg,m
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- μνημειου: NOUN,gen,sg,n
Parallels
- Matthew 28:1 (structural): Both narrate events 'at/after the sabbath' with Mary Magdalene (and other women) at the tomb and the stone being removed—Matthew places the women at dawn and reports the stone rolled away by an angel.
- Mark 16:1-4 (verbal): Mark describes the women coming to the tomb very early (Mark 16:2) and finding the stone rolled away (16:4). The basic elements (women, early visit, stone removed) closely parallel John 20:1, though Mark has multiple women and sunrise rather than 'still dark.'
- Luke 24:1-3 (structural): Luke likewise places the visit on the first day of the week and reports the women finding the stone removed and the tomb empty—paralleling John’s account of a female visitor encountering an opened tomb.
- John 20:11 (thematic): Within John’s narrative the scene continues: Mary Magdalene remains at the tomb weeping after seeing the stone removed (20:11), linking directly to the moment described in 20:1 and highlighting her solitary, grief-stricken role.
Alternative generated candidates
- Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
- Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
John.20.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τρεχει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ουν: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- ερχεται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- προς: PREP
- Σιμωνα: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- Πετρον: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- προς: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- αλλον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- μαθητην: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ον: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- εφιλει: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις·Ηραν: PRON,dat,pl,m+VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- κυριον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- μνημειου: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- ουκ: PART,neg
- οιδαμεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,pl
- που: ADV
- εθηκαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- John 20:1 (verbal): Immediate parallel in the same scene: Mary Magdalene discovers the stone removed and runs to tell Peter and the other disciple (same sequence of discovery and report).
- Mark 16:1-8 (thematic): Mark recounts women finding the empty tomb and being told of Jesus' resurrection; parallels the discovery of the empty tomb and the women’s role in reporting it (similar motifs of fear, amazement, and testimony).
- Luke 24:1-10 (thematic): Luke reports the women (including Mary Magdalene) finding the tomb empty and bringing the news to the apostles; parallels the report that the body is missing and the community’s initial bewilderment.
- Matthew 28:11-15 (allusion): Matthew preserves the rival explanation that Jesus’ body was taken (the soldiers’ report that the disciples stole the body); this corresponds to Mary’s claim that ’they have taken the Lord’ and to later attempts to account for the empty tomb.
- John 20:8 (structural): Direct internal parallel: the other (beloved) disciple runs with Peter, enters the tomb, sees the linen cloths and believes—contrasting Mary’s report of a taken body with the disciple’s visual confirmation and belief.
Alternative generated candidates
- So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him."
- So she ran and brought Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved; and she said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him."
John.20.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εξηλθεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ουν: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Πετρος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- αλλος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- μαθητης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ηρχοντο: VERB,impf,mid,ind,3,pl
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- μνημειον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
Parallels
- John 20:4 (structural): Immediate parallel within the same scene — the two disciples run together toward the tomb (continuation of v.3).
- John 20:6 (verbal): Describes Peter’s arrival and entry into the tomb shortly after v.3; closely linked in sequence and detail (Peter first into the tomb).
- Luke 24:12 (thematic): Synoptic parallel: Luke alone records Peter running to the tomb and looking in, echoing the detail of Peter’s hurried visit to the sepulchre.
- Mark 16:7 (allusion): The angel’s message singles out Peter by name among the disciples in the resurrection appearance instructions, presupposing Peter’s central role in the tomb narrative.
- Matthew 28:8–10 (thematic): Women depart the tomb to report to the disciples and encounter the risen Jesus, paralleling the motif of those at the tomb informing and involving the disciples.
Alternative generated candidates
- So Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb.
- Then Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb.
John.20.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ετρεχον: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- δε: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- δυο: NUM,acc,pl,m
- ομου·και: ADV
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- αλλος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- μαθητης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- προεδραμεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ταχιον: ADV,comp
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Πετρου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ηλθεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- πρωτος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- μνημειον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
Parallels
- John 20:2 (verbal): Mary Magdalene runs to tell Peter and the other disciple that the tomb is empty — same running motif and verb (Greek: ἔδραμεν/ἔτρεχεν) in the immediate narrative context.
- John 20:3 (structural): Sets up the same episode: Peter and the other disciple depart for the tomb together — explains the participants and motion that lead to the race described in 20:4.
- John 20:8 (structural): The immediate narrative follow-up: the other disciple arrives first and enters, sees, and believes — shows the significance of his arriving before Peter.
- Luke 24:12 (verbal): Luke records that Peter ran to the tomb (ἔδραμεν), paralleling the motif of urgent running to inspect the empty tomb and specifically Peter's rapid response.
- Matthew 28:8 (thematic): The women 'departed quickly... and ran' to tell the disciples after the resurrection — a parallel theme of haste and urgent movement in the Gospel resurrection accounts.
Alternative generated candidates
- They were both running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
- Both were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
John.20.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- παρακυψας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- βλεπει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- κειμενα: PART,perf,pas,acc,pl,n
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- οθονια: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- ου: PART,neg
- μεντοι: PTCL
- εισηλθεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- John 20:6-7 (verbal): Immediate continuation: Peter enters the tomb and also sees the linen cloths and the separate face‑cloth (the head‑cloth rolled up), repeating and expanding the same visual detail found in v.5.
- John 20:8 (structural): The other disciple’s subsequent reaction—after stooping and seeing the linens he believes—links the visual detail in v.5 to faith in the resurrection and shows the narrative function of the linen motif.
- Luke 24:12 (verbal): Peter runs to the tomb, stoops and looks in, and sees the linen cloths by themselves, then goes away marveling—close verbal and narrative parallel to John’s description of seeing the linens.
- Matthew 28:6 (thematic): The angel’s declaration “He is not here; he has risen” reflects the same empty‑tomb/resurrection theme for which John’s detail about the linen cloths serves as physical evidence.
Alternative generated candidates
- Stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in.
- Stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in.
John.20.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ερχεται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- ουν: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- Σιμων: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- Πετρος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ακολουθων: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- εισηλθεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- μνημειον·και: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- θεωρει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- οθονια: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- κειμενα: PART,perf,pas,acc,pl,n
Parallels
- Luke 24:12 (verbal): Peter runs to the tomb, stoops and looks in, and sees the linen cloths; closely parallels John’s account of Peter entering and seeing the grave clothes.
- John 20:7 (verbal): Immediate continuation in John’s narrative: the face-cloth (separate from the linen strips) is found rolled up—detail directly connected to verse 6’s mention of the linen cloths.
- Mark 16:5-6 (thematic): The women enter the tomb and find it empty and are told Jesus has risen; parallels the empty-tomb discovery theme (though Mark differs in specific details about the grave clothes).
- Matthew 28:6 (thematic): The angel announces that Jesus is not here, for he has risen—connects thematically to Peter’s observation of the empty tomb and the implications of the grave clothes.
- 1 Corinthians 15:5 (thematic): Paul reports that Christ appeared first to Cephas (Peter); connects to Peter’s central role in the resurrection narrative and the eyewitness dimension behind John’s tomb scene.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying there,
- Then Simon Peter arrived, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying there,
John.20.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- σουδαριον: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- επι: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- κεφαλης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ου: PART,neg
- μετα: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- οθονιων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- κειμενον: PART,perf,pass,nom,sg,n
- αλλα: CONJ
- χωρις: PREP,gen
- εντετυλιγμενον: PART,perf,pass,nom,sg,n
- εις: PREP
- ενα: NUM,acc,sg,m
- τοπον·: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- John 20:6 (structural): Immediate parallel in the same scene: Peter enters the tomb and sees the linen cloths (including the head cloth) lying there, directly connected to v.7's description of the grave clothes.
- Luke 24:12 (verbal): Luke reports Peter seeing the linen clothes 'laid by themselves' in the empty tomb (Greek and narrative detail parallel to John's note that the head cloth was set apart).
- Matthew 27:59-60 (thematic): Matthew describes Jesus' body being wrapped in a clean linen cloth and laid in the tomb, providing the burial-action background for the grave clothes John later observes.
- John 19:40 (thematic): John's earlier account of Joseph and Nicodemus wrapping Jesus with linen and spices links directly to the presence of the linen wrappings described in John 20:7.
Alternative generated candidates
- and the cloth that had been about his head—not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself.
- and the cloth that had been over his face—not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself.
John.20.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τοτε: ADV
- ουν: CONJ
- εισηλθεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- αλλος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- μαθητης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ελθων: PART,aor,act,nom,sg,m
- πρωτος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- μνημειον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- ειδεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- επιστευσεν·: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- John 20:3-7 (structural): Same scene: Peter and the other disciple run to the tomb; Peter enters and inspects the linen wrappings—this sets up verse 8's report that the other disciple 'saw and believed.'
- John 20:9 (verbal): Immediate literary continuation explaining the nature/limits of the disciples' belief ('for as yet they did not understand the Scripture that he must rise from the dead'), directly qualifying John 20:8.
- Luke 24:12 (thematic): Luke narrates Peter's finding of the empty tomb and his amazement—a parallel focus on disciples' reaction to the empty tomb and the attempt to interpret its significance.
- Mark 16:5-7 (thematic): Mark's account includes the angelic message at the tomb announcing Jesus' resurrection and instructing the disciples—paralleling John 20's empty-tomb revelation that provokes belief/understanding.
- 1 Corinthians 15:5-8 (thematic): Paul's summary of post-resurrection appearances to Peter and the apostles echoes the eyewitness foundation for belief reflected in John 20:8's note that the disciple 'saw and believed.'
Alternative generated candidates
- Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in; he saw and believed.
- Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in; he saw and believed.
John.20.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ουδεπω: PART
- γαρ: PART
- ηδεισαν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- γραφην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- οτι: CONJ
- δει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- εκ: PREP
- νεκρων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- αναστηναι: VERB,aor,act,inf
Parallels
- Luke 24:25-27 (thematic): Jesus rebukes the disciples for unbelief and then interprets the Scriptures concerning the Messiah's suffering and rising, paralleling John's point that they had not yet understood Scripture about the resurrection.
- Luke 24:44-47 (quotation): Jesus tells the disciples that everything written about the Son of Man in the Law, Prophets, and Psalms must be fulfilled — that he would suffer and rise — directly matching John's reference to 'the Scripture' that he must rise.
- Acts 2:25-32 (quotation): Peter cites Scripture (Psalm 16) at Pentecost to show that David foresaw the Messiah's resurrection, illustrating the apostolic use of 'the Scripture' to prove Jesus' rising from the dead.
- Acts 13:34-37 (quotation): Paul, preaching in Antioch, cites Scripture (again appealing to Psalm 16 and Davidic texts) to argue that God raised Jesus from the dead, paralleling John's claim that Scripture predicts the resurrection.
- Psalm 16:10 (verbal): 'You will not abandon me to Sheol' is the key verse quoted by Peter and Paul as prophetic of resurrection; it is the sort of Scripture John says the disciples had not yet recognized as predicting Jesus' rising.
Alternative generated candidates
- For as yet they did not understand the scripture that he must rise from the dead.
- For as yet they did not understand the Scripture that he must rise from the dead.
On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early, while it was still dark, to the tomb and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him."
Then Peter and the other disciple set out toward the tomb.
Both were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
He bent down and saw the linen wrappings lying there, yet he did not go in.
Then Simon Peter also arrived, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there,
and the face cloth that had been on his head was not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.
Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in; he saw and believed.
For they did not yet understand the Scriptures that he must rise from the dead.