Mark 1-3:5.
1:2. — “Even as it is written in Isaiah the prophet.” The reading of the Authorized Version “in the prophets” is that of one important manuscript. The words “in Isaiah the prophet” no doubt present a difficulty, as the remainder of the verse is quoted not from Isaiah, but from Malachi 3. But there are several difficulties of this kind connected with quotations from the Old Testament.
1:14. — “Preaching the gospel of God.” One manuscript has “the gospel of the kingdom of God.” “The gospel of God,” and “the gospel of the kingdom” are common phrases in the New Testament; but we do not think that the expression “ the gospel of the kingdom of God” occurs anywhere, except in this passage.
1:24. —In this verse the clause, “Let us alone” is omitted by the Revisers, in accordance with some of the oldest manuscript.
2:14. “The place of toll” is possibly preferable to “ the receipt of custom,” as being more intelligible to modern readers. In Greek this idea is expressed in a single word, derived from the noun translated “custom” (both in the Authorized and Revised Versions) in Romans 13:77Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. (Romans 13:7).
2:18. — “John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting” this is the literal and evident meaning of the passage. The rendering of the Authorized Version, “used to fast,” is far less appropriate.
3:5. — “His hand was restored.” The words “whole as the other” have here been omitted.
(To be continued)