Questions about Fasting; New Cloth and Wineskins
Mark 2:18-22
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Mark.2.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- ησαν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- μαθηται: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- Ιωαννου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- Φαρισαιοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- νηστευοντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- ερχονται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,pl
- και: CONJ
- λεγουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτω·Δια: PRON,dat,sg,m
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- μαθηται: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- Ιωαννου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- μαθηται: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- Φαρισαιων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- νηστευουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
- μαθηται: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- ου: PART,neg
- νηστευουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Matthew 9:14-15 (verbal): Direct synoptic parallel: same question about why John’s disciples and the Pharisees fast while Jesus’ disciples do not; Jesus gives the same bridegroom/fasting response.
- Luke 5:33-35 (verbal): Synoptic parallel in Luke with nearly identical wording and Jesus’ explanation that guests of the bridegroom cannot fast while he is present.
- Matthew 11:18-19 (thematic): Contrasts John’s austere, fasting lifestyle with Jesus’ openness to eating and drinking; explains the broader social context for the question about fasting.
- Luke 18:11-12 (thematic): Parable of the Pharisee who boasts, “I fast twice a week,” showing Pharisaic fasting practices and the religious significance of fasting in Jewish piety.
- Isaiah 58:3-7 (thematic): Prophetic teaching on fasting—questions the value and form of fasting when divorced from justice and righteous behavior, illuminating prophetic critique behind debates about fasting.
Alternative generated candidates
- And John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, "Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"
- And John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees were fasting; and they came and said to him, "Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"
Mark.2.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους·Μη: PROPN,nom,sg,m
- δυνανται: VERB,pres,mid/pass,ind,3,pl
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- υιοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- νυμφωνος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- ω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- νυμφιος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- μετ᾽αυτων: PREP+PRON,gen,pl,3
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- νηστευειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- οσον: CONJ
- χρονον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εχουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- νυμφιον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- μετ᾽αυτων: PREP+PRON,gen,pl,3
- ου: PART,neg
- δυνανται: VERB,pres,mid/pass,ind,3,pl
- νηστευειν·: VERB,pres,act,inf
Parallels
- Matthew 9:15 (verbal): Nearly identical saying in the Matthean parallel: Jesus explains that the 'sons of the bridegroom' cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them.
- Luke 5:34-35 (verbal): Lukan parallel of the same teaching, contrasting fasting with the presence of the bridegroom and noting that fasting will occur after he is taken away.
- Mark 2:20 (structural): Immediate continuation of the pericope in Mark: explains the timing ('days will come') when the bridegroom is taken away and then they will fast—clarifies the meaning of 2:19.
- John 3:29 (allusion): Uses the bridegroom imagery ('friend of the bridegroom rejoices at the bridegroom’s voice'); thematically echoes the joy/celebration motif that explains why fasting is inappropriate while the bridegroom is present.
- Isaiah 62:5 (thematic): OT wedding language ('as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride') provides the background metaphor of joy and celebration that undergirds Jesus' refusal of fasting while the bridegroom is present.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
- And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding-guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.
Mark.2.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ελευσονται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,pl
- δε: CONJ
- ημεραι: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- οταν: CONJ
- απαρθη: VERB,aor,pass,subj,3,sg
- απ᾽αυτων: PREP+PRON,gen,pl,3
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- νυμφιος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- τοτε: ADV
- νηστευσουσιν: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
- εν: PREP
- εκεινη: PRON,dat,sg,f
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- ημερα: NOUN,dat,sg,f
Parallels
- Matthew 9:15 (verbal): Nearly identical saying in the Matthean parallel: the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away and then they will fast — a direct synoptic parallel.
- Luke 5:35 (verbal): Lukan parallel preserving the same saying about fasting once the bridegroom is taken away; part of the synoptic tradition.
- John 3:29 (thematic): Uses the bridegroom/friend-of-the-bridegroom imagery (the friend rejoices while the bridegroom is present), highlighting the contrast between joy in the bridegroom's presence and lament/fasting in his absence.
- Isaiah 62:5 (allusion): Old Testament bridal motif — the bridegroom rejoices over his bride — provides background imagery for New Testament sayings about rejoicing in the bridegroom’s presence and mourning when he is absent.
Alternative generated candidates
- But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day.
- But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them; and then will they fast in that day.
Mark.2.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ουδεις: PRON,nom,sg,m
- επιβλημα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- ρακους: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- αγναφου: ADJ,gen,sg,n
- επιραπτει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- επι: PREP
- ιματιον: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- παλαιον·ει: ADJ,dat,sg,n
- δε: CONJ
- μη: PART
- αιρει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πληρωμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- απ᾽αυτου: PREP+PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- καινον: ADJ,acc,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- παλαιου: ADJ,gen,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- χειρον: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- σχισμα: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- γινεται: VERB,pres,mp,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Matthew 9:16 (verbal): Near-verbatim Synoptic parallel: same image of not sewing a new, unshrunk patch on an old garment; identical teaching context.
- Luke 5:36 (verbal): Synoptic parallel in Luke with the same wording and point about the incompatibility of a new patch on an old garment.
- Mark 2:22 (structural): Immediate literary continuation in Mark: the saying about new wine and wineskins follows and complements the patch-on-garment image within the same teaching unit.
- Matthew 9:17 (verbal): Parallel saying to Mark 2:22 in Matthew — the new wine/wineskins image that parallels and completes the garment/patch metaphor.
- Luke 5:37-38 (verbal): Luke’s parallel to the new wine/wineskins saying; thematically paired with the patch-on-garment proverb to teach about newness and incompatibility with the old.
Alternative generated candidates
- No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; otherwise the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear results.
- No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; if he does, the patch pulls away from the garment, and a worse tear is made.
Mark.2.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ουδεις: PRON,nom,sg,m
- βαλλει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- οινον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- νεον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- ασκους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- παλαιους·ει: ADJ,acc,pl,m+PART,cond
- δε: CONJ
- μη: PART
- ρηξει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- οινος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- ασκους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- οινος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- απολλυται: VERB,pres,mid/pas,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- ασκοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- αλλα: CONJ
- οινον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- νεον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- ασκους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- καινους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Matthew 9:17 (verbal): Nearly identical saying in Matthew's Gospel: Jesus uses the new-wine/old-wineskins image to teach that new realities require new forms (same words and context).
- Luke 5:37-39 (verbal): Luke records the same metaphor (with the added remark about those who prefer the old); verbal parallel and shared teaching context with Mark 2:22.
- Jeremiah 31:31 (allusion): Promises a 'new covenant' replacing the old; provides Old Testament background for the contrast between old and new that underlies Jesus' metaphor.
- Hebrews 8:13 (thematic): Applying Jeremiah, the author declares the first covenant obsolete—theological echo of Jesus' claim that new realities cannot be contained by old structures.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 (thematic): Paul's 'new creation' language employs the same new/old contrast to describe radical transformation, thematically resonant with the wineskins metaphor.
Alternative generated candidates
- And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is put into fresh wineskins."
- And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine and the skins are ruined. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins.
Now the disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, 'Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?' And Jesus said to them, 'Can the guests of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on those days.
No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; if he does, the new patch will pull away from the garment, and the tear will be made worse. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine must be put into new wineskins.