Mark 2 (BHT-FTN)

“Son, Your Sins Are Forgiven”

1 When Jesus+ returned to Capernaum a few days later, the word got out+ that he was back+ home.+ 2 So many people gathered that there was no longer any room, not even near the door. Jesus+ was speaking the message+ to them 3 when+ some people+ arrived trying+ to bring to him a paralyzed man being carried by four men. 4 When they were unable to bring the man to him because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above the place where Jesus+ was. After digging out the opening, they lowered down the mat on which the paralyzed man was lying. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Well, some of the Torah-experts were sitting there and wondering in their hearts, 7 “How dare+ this man say such+ a thing! He is speaking blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!+”

8 Knowing+ without being told+ that this was what+ they were thinking to themselves, Jesus said to them, “Why is it+ ᵖyou are thinking these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier: To say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your mat and walk’? 10 Well, in order that ᵖyou may understand+ that the Son of Man has authority over the earth+ to forgive sins….” He said to the paralyzed man, 11 “To you I say: Get up, pick up your mat and go home.” 12 At that,+ the man+ got up and picked up his mat and went out in front of everyone! All the people+ were in awe and began to glorify God. “Never have we seen anything like this+!” they exclaimed.

“It Is Not the Healthy Who Need a Physician, but Those Who Are Sick”

13 Then Jesus went out again to the lakeshore.+ Coming to him was the whole crowd,+ and he was teaching them. 14 As he was walking along, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Come along with me as my disciple,”+ Jesus+ said to him. So Levi+ got up and began+ to accompany him.

15 Later+ Jesus+ was reclining at the table for a meal in Levi’s+ house, when these+ people began to recline at the table to eat with Jesus and his disciples: A large number of tax collectors and sinners. (There were many of them among Jesus’ followers,+ you see.) 16 Some Torah-experts who belonged to the Pharisee party,+ when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, began saying to his disciples, “Tax collectors and sinners?+ Why is he eating with such people?”

17 When Jesus heard this, he said to them, “It is+ not the healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick.+ I’m here+ to call+ not+ the righteous,+ but sinners.”

“New Wine Is Put into New Wineskins”

18 John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people+ came and said to Jesus,+ “John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast regularly. Your own+ disciples, however, don’t fast. Why+ is this?”

19 “Surely the wedding guests can’t fast, can they,+ while the bridegroom is with+ them?” Jesus said to them. “Of course not.+ As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 The time+ will come, however, when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then+ they will fast—at that time.+ 21 No one sews onto an old garment a patch of unshrunk cloth.+ If someone were to do that,+ the patch would pull away from it—the new from the old—and an even+ worse tear is sure to occur. 22 Likewise, no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If a person were to do that,+ the wine would cause the wineskins to burst apart, and the wine would be lost, as would the wineskins. No, new wine is put+ into new wineskins.”

“The Son of Man Is Lord Even of the Sabbath”

23 Jesus+ was passing through the grainfields on the Sabbath,+ and his disciples, as they walked along,+ began picking the heads of wheat. The Pharisees began saying to him, 24 “Look! Why are they doing what is forbidden on the Sabbath+?”

25 “Have ᵖyou never read what David did when he was hungry and in need—he and those with him, too?” Jesus said to them. 26 “When he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest,+ what was it that he ate?+ The very Bread of the Presence,+ which is forbidden to be eaten by anyone except+ the priests.+ And he gave some to those who were with+ him, too.” 27 Then he said to them, “In regard to the Sabbath,+ it was+ for the benefit+ of mankind+ that it was made, and not mankind for the benefit of the Sabbath. 28 So then, the Son of Man is Lord+ even of the Sabbath.”

+1:1The second genitive here has been interpreted as an objective genitive (though it may be functioning here on a plenary level; see Wallace, Grammar, 119). This is reflected in the translation. Cf NIV, NLT, TEV. Cf also UBSHS (Mk), 2.+1:1Cf Ac 1:22.+1:1Lit The beginning of the gospel about Jesus the Messiah, just as it is written…. Here, the first genitive has been translated as a subjective genitive. Following the lead of L-N in connecting this phrase with what follows (see L-N, 68.1). Cf also NAC (Mk), 38; UBSHS (Mk), 2.+1:2Lit before your face. ME(I/F) (see L-N, 67.19).+1:2Ml 3:1+1:3Following the MT in translation. Cf NLT.+1:3Lit the paths, or your paths. ME(I/F) (see note at Mt 3:3).+1:3εὐθείας ( eutheias) is in P2 (see BART Display and LDGNT), and has therefore been italicized for extra focus and emphasis.+1:3Is 40:3+1:4In this context, ἐγένετο ( egeneto) is similar in meaning to παραγίνεται ( paraginetai) at Mt 3:1 (see translation and notes there; cf BSL, Mk 1:4, sv γίνομαι). Cf CJB, TEV.+1:5VPR. See VCC (Mt 3:5).+1:5Or confessing.+1:5Cf Ps 32:3.+1:6Cf 2 Ki 1:8, Lk 1:17.+1:8Or in.+1:9Lit In those days. ME (see UBSHS [Mt], 56). Cf NIV, NCV.+1:10According to Stephen Levinsohn and Randall Buth (based on personal correspondence with Dr. Levinsohn), in Mark καὶ εὐθὺς ( kai euthus) often functions as a development marker, somewhat similar to δὲ ( de) in Matthew. Though this is not necessarily always the case, in situations where it does seem to be functioning on this level, it is either translated as a development marker or is left untranslated.+1:10Lit he.+1:10Or the skies. So throughout this section.+1:10ὡς περιστερὰν ( hōs peristeran) is in an embedded focal position (see BART Display and LDGNT), and therefore italics have been used to give this element extra focus and emphasis.+1:11φωνὴ ( phōnē) is in P2 (see BART Display and LDGNT), and has therefore been placed in clause final for extra focus and stress (with the help of a dummy subject).+1:11Cf Gn 22:2, 16; Is 42:1.+1:12Lit him.+1:13ἄγγελοι ( angeloi) is in P2 (see BART Display and LDGNT), and has therefore been italicized for extra focus and emphasis.+1:13Cf Ge 21:15-19; 1 Ki 19:5-8; Ps 78:23-25, 91:11; Lk 22:43; Heb 1:14.+1:14Cf Ps 40:9-10 (see LXX); Is 40:9, 52:7, 61:1 (see LXX); Rm 1:1.+1:15Cf Dn 2:21, 9:24-27; Ga 4:4; Eph 1:10.+1:15VPR. See VCC (Mt 3:2).+1:15Cf Is 13:6-9; Dn 2:34-35, 44-45; Jl 1:15, 2:1, 2:11, 2:31, 3:14; Ob 15; Zp 1:7-9, 14-18; Ml 4:5; Mt 5:20-24; Lk 10:11-12, 21:31; Rm 13:12; 1 Pt 4:7.+1:15Cf ISV. It must be remembered here that Jesus is addressing a Jewish audience familiar with the OT and the promises of the covenants.+1:15Lit in the gospel. ME(OTB)/IT. In both the OT and NT, the “gospel” isn’t just a generic message, but relates specifically to the promises of the covenants. Cf Gn 12:1-3, 22:18, 26:4, 28:14; 2 Sm 7; 1 Ch 17; Ps 2, 40:9-10 (cf LXX), 89, 132; Is 40:9, 52:7, 61:1 (cf LXX); Ac 7:5, 13:23, 13:32, 26:6; Rm 1:1, 4:14-16; 2 Co 1:20; Ga 3:7-29 (see esp vs 8); Tit 1:2; Re 10:7. Cf πιστεύετε ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ ( pisteuete en euangeliō) here with ἐπίστευσαν ἐν τοῖς λόγοις αὐτοῦ ( episteusan en tois logois autou) at Ps 105:12 in the LXX (Ps 106:12 in the MT), and with the HCSB, NET, NIV, NLT, and TEV renderings of the MT there.+1:15Cf Is 40:27-31; Hab 2:3.+1:16Lit he.+1:16Lit and Andrew the brother of Simon.+1:17Lit Come after me. ME(H) (see note at Mt 4:19).+1:18VPR. See VCC (Mt 4:20, 22).+1:19Lit and. Koine Greek often used parataxis to link words or clauses when some sort of hypotactic relationship was implied (see BDAG, 494, sv καί 1.b.β., γ.; BDF, §471; Wallace, Grammar, 19; NET Bible Notes, Mk 10:28). Cf ESV, NASB, NRSV, RSV.+1:21IT. Cf NLT, TEV.+1:21See note at “well” in Mk 1:10.+1:21Lit he.+1:22Lit they.+1:22Cf NLT.+1:23See note at “well” in Mk 1:10.+1:23ἄνθρωπος ἐν πνεύματι ἀκαθάρτῳ ( anthrōpos en pneumati akathartō) is in a DFE position (see BART Display), and has thus been placed in clause-final for extra focus (with the help of a dummy subject).+1:24Or Leave us alone! Lit What to us and to you? ME(I/F) (see NET Bible Notes, Mt 8:28). Cf CJB, ISV, NCV, NIV.+1:24Lit Did you come, or Have you come. Cf TEV.+1:25Lit to him.+1:26Or after. Since the aorist participles are used with an aorist indicative main verb, it isn’t completely clear whether the relative time of the participles is contemporaneous or antecedent. For further discussion, see Wallace, Grammar, 624.+1:26Lit him.+1:27τοῖς πνεύμασι τοῖς ἀκαθάρτοις ( tois pneumasi tois akathartois) is in P2 (see BART Display and LDGNT), and therefore καὶ ( kai) has been rendered ascensively to give this constituent extra focus.+1:29See note at “well” in Mk 1:10.+1:29ἐκ τῆς συναγωγῆς ( ek tēs sunagōgēs) is in P2 (see BART Display and LDGNT), and therefore italics have been used to give this element extra focus and emphasis.+1:30Lit immediately. ME. Cf TEV.+1:32Ὀψίας ( opsias) is in P2 (see BART Display and LDGNT), and has therefore been placed in clause-final for primary focus and stress.+1:32This was a Sabbath (cf Mk 1:21, 29). Healing was forbidden on the Sabbath (see, eg, Mt 12:2, Jn 9:16), and therefore the people had to wait until evening to bring the sick to Jesus.+1:32Lit they. This is an indefinite plural.+1:32Lit to him.+1:32κακῶς ( kakōs) is in an embedded focal position (see BART Display and LDGNT), and has thus been italicized for extra focus and emphasis+1:34Lit he.+1:34κακῶς ( kakōs) is in an embedded focal position (see BART Display and LDGNT), and has thus been italicized for extra focus and emphasis.+1:34δαιμόνια πολλὰ ( daimonia polla) is in P2 (see BART Display and LDGNT), and therefore repetition and italics have been used to give this constituent extra focus and emphasis.+1:35πρωῒ ἔννυχα λίαν ( prōi ennucha lian) is in P2 (see BART Display and LDGNT), and therefore commas have been used to give extra focus to this constituent, which has also been placed in clause-final for primary focus and stress.+1:35Cf NCV, TEV.+1:35Lit he.+1:35The direct object is implied from the context. Cf NCV, NIV, TEV.+1:35The imperfect tense of the verb here “implies some duration to the prayer (see NET Bible Notes, Mk 1:35). Cf NET.+1:37πάντες ( pantes) is in P2 (see BART Display and LDGNT), and has thus been italicized for extra focus and emphasis.+1:38Lit he.+1:38IT. Cf CJB; UBSHS (Mk), 63.+1:38καὶ ἐκεῖ ( kai ekei) is in P2 (see BART Display and LDGNT), and therefore καὶ has been used as a spacer to give extra focus to this element.+1:38εἰς τοῦτο ( eis touto) is in P2 (see BART Display and LDGNT), and therefore an emphatic adjective has been used to give extra focus and emphasis to this constituent.+1:38IT. Cf ISV.+1:39τὰ δαιμόνια ( ta daimonia) is in P2 (see BART Display and LDGNT; note, though, that the BART Display is marked for focal ambiguity), and therefore repetition has been used to give extra focus to this constituent (“demons” is used in a context in which the verbs are functioning progressively and distributively [ie, the demons are coming out of multiple people as Jesus travels “all over Galilee”]). Mark really seems to love this aspect of Jesus’ ministry!+1:40Lit a leper. Cf Lv 13.+1:40Lit to him.+1:40Lit he.+1:40Lit cleanse. IT (see BDAG, 488, sv καθαρίζω 2). Cf NLT.+1:41Or Jesus was moved with compassion. Lit Being moved in the inward parts. ME(I/F) (see DBL Greek, #5072). An independent clause has been used in translation to allow for more natural expression of the idiom in English.+1:41Lit he.+1:42Lit left him.+1:43Lit him.+1:43Lit he.+1:44IT. Cf NCV, NLT, TEV.+1:44Lit show yourself to the priest. ME(OTB) (see Lv 14:1-32). Following the lead of the UBSHS in translation here (see UBSHS [Mt], 224). Cf CJB, NLT, TEV.+1:44Lit the things. ME(OTB)/IT (see Lv 14:1-32). Cf NIV, TEV.+1:44Cf Lv 14:1-32.+1:44Or as proof, or as a witness, or as a testimony.+1:44Or to them. The dative here has been interpreted as a dative of location. This is reflected in the translation. Cf Lv 14.+1:45Lit he.+1:45Lit the word.+1:45Lit he.+1:45φανερῶς εἰς πόλιν ( phanerōs eis polin) is in P2 (see BART Display and LDGNT), and therefore ὥστε ( ōste) has been used as a spacer to give extra focus to this element.+1:45φανερῶς ( phanerōs) is in an embedded focal position (see BART Display), and has therefore been italicized for extra focus and emphasis.+1:45ἔξω ἐπʼ ἐρήμοις τόποις ( exō ep’ erēmois topois) is in P2 (see BART Display and LDGNT), and therefore ἀλλʼ ( all’) has been used as a spacer to give extra focus to this constituent.+1:45Lit they.+2:1Lit he.+2:1Lit it was heard. ME. Cf CJB, NET, NLT, NCV, TEV.+2:1IT. Cf CJB, NIV, NLT.+2:1ἐν οἴκῳ ( en oikō) is in P2 (see BART Display and LDGNT), and therefore italics have been used to give this element extra focus and emphasis.+2:2Lit He.+2:2Or the word.+2:3Lit and. Koine Greek often uses parataxis in places where English may prefer hypotaxis (see BDAG, 494, sv καί 1.b.β.-ζ.; BDF, §471; Wallace, Grammar, 19; NET Bible Notes, Mk 10:28). Cf ISV, TEV; UBSHS (Mk), 73.+2:3Lit they. Cf ISV, NET.+2:3VPR. See VCC (Mk 2:3)+2:4Lit he.+2:7Lit Why...? The rhetorical impact intended by the question here is, in my opinion, more effectively conveyed in English with something like “how dare.” Cf CJB, TEV; UBSHS (Mk), 78; translation and notes at Lk 5:21.+2:7οὕτως ( houtōs) is in P2 (see BART Display and LDGNT), and has therefore been placed in clause-final for primary focus and stress. Cf CJB.+2:7Lit Who can forgive sins except God alone? ME. Cf NCV, NLT, TEV.+2:8See note at “well” in Mk 1:10.+2:8Lit in his spirit. ME (see UBSHS [Jn], 212).+2:8οὕτως ( houtōs) is in P2 (see BART Display and LDGNT), and thus a demonstrative wh-cleft has been used to give extra focus to this constituent.+2:8τί ( ti) is in P2 (see BART Display and LDGNT), and therefore a cleft has been used to give extra focus to this element.+2:10Or know, or realize.+2:10Or on the earth. Cf Ps 2, 8; Dn 7:13-14. If ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ( epi tēs gēs) is to be grouped with “have authority,” then it is in a DFE position (confirmed through personal correspondence with Dr. Stephen Levinsohn). Because of the parallels in Mt and Lk, I am inclined to interpret it as such here. (This is the interpretation reflected in most English translations.) Italics have therefore been used to give this element extra focus and emphasis.+2:12See note at Mk 1:10.+2:12Lit he.+2:12ὥστε ( hōste) here is signaling result. That people are in awe and praising God in response to the healing is clear and obvious from the context, and thus ὥστε has not been translated. Cf CJB, NET, NLT, TEV.+2:12οὕτως ( houtōs) is in P2 (see BART Display and LDGNT), and therefore italics have been used to give this element extra focus and emphasis.+2:13Lit beside the lake. ME. Cf NLT, TEV.+2:13πᾶς ὁ ὄχλος ( pas ho ochlos) is in P2 (see BART Display; note, though, that the BART Display is marked for focal ambiguity), and has therefore been placed in clause-final for extra focus and stress.+2:14Lit follow me. ME(H) (see note at Mt 4:19).+2:14Lit he.+2:14Lit he.+2:14VPR. See VCC (Mt 4:20, 22).+2:15IT. Cf NCV, NLT, TEV.+2:15Lit he.+2:15Lit his.+2:15πολλοὶ τελῶναι καὶ ἁμαρτωλοὶ ( polloi telōnai kai hamartōloi) is in P2 (see BART Display and LDGNT), and therefore a forward-pointing device has been used to give extra focus to this element.+2:15Lit For they were many and were following/accompanying him. ME. Cf CJB, NLT. For a discussion of the interpretive options here, see UBSHS (Mk), 86.+2:16Lit the scribes of the Pharisees. ME(H) (see NET Bible Notes, Mk 2:16).+2:16μετὰ τῶν τελωνῶν καὶ ἁμαρτωλῶν ( meta tōn telōnōn kai hamartōlōn) is in P2 (see BART Display and LDGNT), and therefore a question and an adjective (“such”; cf NLT, TEV) have been used to give extra focus to this constituent (and to convey the surprise and contempt present contextually).+2:17See note at Mt 9:12. The same applies here.+2:17κακῶς ( kakōs) is in an embedded focal position (see BART Display), and has therefore been italicized for extra focus and emphasis.+2:17Lit came to call/invite, or have come to call/invite. See note at Mt 5:17. Cf TEV at Mk 1:24.+2:17Or to invite.+2:17δικαίους ( dikaious) and ἁμαρτωλούς ( hamartōlous) are in E-O, as part of a point-counterpoint series (see LDGNT), and thus the negative particle has been placed directly before the counterpoint in order to give extra focus to these constituents.+2:17Cf CJB.+2:18Lit they. Cf ISV, NIV, TEV.+2:18Lit to him.+2:18σοὶ ( soi) is in an embedded focal position (see BART Display), and therefore a possessive adjective has been used to give extra focus to this constituent.+2:18Lit Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your own disciples don’t fast? The question has been placed at the end of the verse in order to signal the switch in topic more smoothly in English.+2:19ἐν ᾧ ὁ νυμφίος μετʼ αὐτῶν ἐστιν ( en hō ho numphios met’ autōn estin) is in P2 (see BART Display and LDGNT), and therefore the IT (in Greek, questions that begin with μὴ [ mē] expect a negative answer [see Black, Grammar, 170; Mounce, Grammar, 296]) has been used as a spacer to give extra focus to this constituent.+2:19μετʼ ( met’) is in an embedded focal position (see BART Display), and has thus been italicized for extra focus and emphasis.+2:19In Greek, questions that begin with μὴ ( mē) expect a negative answer (see Black, Grammar, 170; Mounce, Grammar, 296).+2:20Lit days. Here ἡμέραι ( hēmerai) is being used in its generic sense of “time” (see, eg, BDAG, 438, sv 4). Cf CJB, HCSB, NCV, NIV.+2:20τότε ( tote) is in P2 (see BART Display and LDGNT), and has thus been italicized for extra focus and emphasis.+2:20Lit at/on/in that day.+2:21ἐπίβλημα ῥάκους ἀγνάφου ( epiblēma ‘rakous agnaphou) is in P2 (see BART Display and LDGNT), and has therefore been placed in clause-final for extra focus and stress.+2:21Lit If not/otherwise. ME. Cf CJB, ESV, ISV, NIV, RSV.+2:21χεῖρον σχίσμα ( cheiron schisma) is in P2 (see BART Display and LDGNT), and thus an adverb has been used to give extra focus to this constituent.+2:22Lit If not/otherwise. ME. Cf CJB, ESV, ISV, NIV, RSV.+2:22The verb is implied from the first part of the verse. Cf ISV, LEB, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, TEV.+2:23Lit he.+2:23ἐν τοῖς σάββασιν ( en tois sabbasin) is in P2 (see BART Display and LDGNT), and therefore italics have been used to give this element extra focus and emphasis.+2:23Lit to make a road. ME(I/F) (see UBSHS [Mk], 96). Cf NIV, TEV.+2:24τοῖς σάββασιν is ( tois sabbasin) is in an embedded focal position (see BART Display and LDGNT), and therefore italics have been used to give this element extra focus and emphasis.+2:26Cf Lv 16:32; 1Sa 21:1-6; 2 Sa 8:17;1 Ch 24:6.+2:26τοὺς ἄρτους τῆς προθέσεως ( tous artous tēs protheseōs) is in P2 (see BART Display and LDGNT), and therefore a rhetorical question and an emphatic adjective (“very”) have been used to give extra focus and emphasis to this constituent. Also, the verb in the preceding clause has been subordinated to ensure that primary emphasis lands on the focal element. Cf Mt 12:4 and Lk 6:3.+2:26Cf Ex 25:30; Lv 24:5-9; 1Sm 21:6.+2:26Lit which is forbidden for [one] to eat, except...+2:26Cf Lv 24:5-9.+2:26σὺν ( sun) is in an embedded focal position (see BART Display and LDGNT), and has thus been italicized for extra focus and emphasis.+2:27τὸ σάββατον ( to sabbaton) here is a topical frame (see BART Display and LDGNT).+2:27διὰ τὸν ἄνθρωπον ( dia ton anthrōpon) is in P2 (see BART Display and LDGNT), and therefore a cleft-construction has been used to give extra focus to this element.+2:27Here διά ( dia) is functioning as a marker of benefaction (see, eg, L-N, 90.38). Cf NCV, NLT, TEV.+2:27Lit man. ME. Cf CJB, NRSV, TEV.+2:28κύριος καὶ τοῦ σαββάτου ( kurios kai tou sabbatou) is in a split focal position (see BART Display and LDGNT). The preposed element has been italicized for extra focus and emphasis, with καὶ rendered ascensively to give extra focus to the split element.