Mark Study
Mark 1:1
Shared January 16th, 2020
1:16–20
1:16–20
NT
Mark 1:16-20
na28
cuv
The Calling of Simon and Andrew
παράγων παρὰ τὴν θάλασσαν τῆς Γαλιλαίας
耶 穌 順 著 加 利 利 的 海 邊 走 、
na28
Attendant Circumstance 16b
Καὶ ... εἶδεν Σίμωνα καὶ Ἀνδρέαν τὸν ἀδελφὸν Σίμωνος ἀμφιβάλλοντας ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ•
看 見 西 門 、 和 西 門 的 兄 弟 安 得 烈 、 在 海 裡 撒 網 ．
ἦσαν γὰρ ἁλιεῖς.
他 們 本 是 打 魚 的 。
Ground for 16b
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς•
耶 穌 對 他 們 說 、
δεῦτε ὀπίσω μου,
來 跟 從 我 、
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καὶ ποιήσω ὑμᾶς γενέσθαι ἁλιεῖς ἀνθρώπων.
我 要 叫 你 們 得 人 如 得 魚 一 樣 。
Result of 17b
ἀφέντες τὰ δίκτυα
他 們 就 立 刻 捨 了 網 、
na28
Attendant Circumstance 18b
καὶ εὐθὺς ... ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ.
跟 從 了 他 。
The Calling of James and John
προβὰς ὀλίγον
耶 穌 稍 往 前 走 、
na28
Attendant Circumstance 19b
Καὶ ... εἶδεν Ἰάκωβον τὸν τοῦ Ζεβεδαίου καὶ Ἰωάννην τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ
又 見 西 庇 太 的 兒 子 雅 各 、 和 雅 各 的 兄 弟 約 翰 、
καὶ αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ καταρτίζοντας τὰ δίκτυα,
在 船 上 補 網 。
καὶ εὐθὺς ἐκάλεσεν αὐτούς.
耶 穌 隨 即 招 呼 他 們 ．
ἀφέντες τὸν πατέρα αὐτῶν Ζεβεδαῖον ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ μετὰ τῶν μισθωτῶν
他 們 就 把 父 親 西 庇 太 、 和 雇 工 人 留 在 船 上 、
na28
Attendant Circumstance 20c
καὶ ... ἀπῆλθον ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ.
跟 從 耶 穌 去 了 。
Secondary Event; change of deictic center? Not necessarily, but more an indication of movement. Since Jesus arrives at Capernaum in the next scene, we can infer that this happened as he was walking on the west side of the sea, since he came from the region of Jericho.
Explanation: maybe Mark needed to explain because his readers would be from urban areas and did not make the connection? Or Mark was intentional about connecting it with Jesus' statement. Jesus chose commoners to follow him, unlike what we would perhaps expect of a king: "... their role is crucial to the achievement of his mission, for it is through this flawed and vulnerable group of people that God’s kingship will be established. And it is in tracing their development as Jesus’ disciples, both in its successes and in its more frequent failures, that Mark will expect his readers to find the basis, whether by example or by warning, for their own discipleship" (France).
Secondary Event The brothers leaving their nets represent a shift in their lifestyle, even though it will be evident later that they haven't renounced all ties (Mark 1:29–31; see also 1 Cor 9:5) despite Peter's claim in Mark 10:28.
Secondary Event
We don't know what Jesus said, unlike the calling of Simon and Andrew
Secondary Event. The fact that their father could hire workers shows that they were not among the poor or a "dominated class" (France).
Both episodes in this passage have the exact same structure: 1-Jesus comes to a place and sees the disciples; 2-Mark explains briefly their situation; 3-Jesus calls out to them; 4-The disciples leave something and follow him
Necessary part of the object
No article = an unknown Simon, or Simon is well-known enough that he needs no introduction?
My hunch is that Simon (Peter) was well-known in the Christian world of that time, but Andrew not as much. That's why Andrew is introduced with a qualifier.
Although this clause begins with "and," this seems like a result clause. The result of their responding to the call is that Jesus will make them fishers of men.
Am I fishing for men as a disciple of Christ?
What does "fishers of men" mean? From the context, it seems to mean that they will find people to be part of the Kingdom of God. (Matt 13:47 supports this!) Would the disciples know this? If he's been preaching in the region of Galilee, chances are that the disciples have heard the message. Now, most people won't follow him, unless Jesus himself invites them. It's possible that to be called to follow a teacher is prestigious? Similar metaphor found in Jer 16:16; Amos 4:2; Hab 1:14–17, but all speaking about condemnation rather than good news. But here, Jesus wants the disciples to fish people to rescue them from condemnation, not for . (France)
We don't know much about Zebedee, but later on the mother of James and John would come to Jesus for a request (Matt 20:20). She will also be among the women who were looking at the crucifixion from a distance (Matt 27:55). James and John were often called this way, showing that they were known as such and perhaps indicating that their father were of some renown?
This time, the "immediately" modifies Jesus' calling, not the disciples' following. France believes there is no added meaning, Mark is simply employing the word to keep the story going.
Why repeat "them"?
Is there a play on word here with ἄφεσιν meaning "forgiveness" and the verb ἀφίημι meaning "to release"? Are the disciples "repenting and believing"?
Is Jesus' call to "come, follow me," a call to all disciples? Or is it just a call to those whom he will make leaders? The call to "repent and believe" seems to be proclaimed broadly, while the call to "come, follow me," is specific.
The names "Simon" and "Andrew" are Greek names. In John 1:44 we learn that Simon and Andrew were originally from Bethsaida, which is found in the tetrarchy of Philip, meaning they were exposed to more of the Greek culture. Their Greek names demonstrate a family that was open to Greek influence. This is not uncommon. (France)
While not always technical, in this context "after me" seems to imply discipleship more clearly, especially because of the disciples' response to "follow him" (France). However, this is not similar to the rabbis and their disciples. The disciples adopted their rabbis, not the other way around. This is more akin to the call of a charismatic leader. He's marked more as a prophet than a rabbi. See the case of Elijah and Elisha in 1 Kgs 19:19–21.
Why were the disciples so ready to leave everything and follow him? Possibility 1: Jesus' authority preceded him; Possibility 2: John 1:35–42; 3:24.
Isn't it interesting, so far, that Mark often fails to explain certain things? Like why Jesus had to be baptised by John? And why was he being tested in the wilderness? And now, why are the disciples so ready to follow him? Is there a reason why Mark omits an explanation? Is it because: 1- He assumes the audience knows why? 2- He simply wants to retell the events and let the readers explain? 3- Other reasons?
Would this be a referential and a situational point of departure, since the nouns are coming before the verb "to prepare/mend"? Or are they the direct and indirect object of Jesus "seeing"? Most likely the latter.
James and John left more than Simon and Andrew did, it seems. Their leaving their father to follow Jesus seems like a more radical turn (France)
Application for seekers: Do I see following Jesus as more desirable than all of my other aspirations in life? Do I see enough of Jesus (his authority, claim, or person) to make me wanna follow him?
Καὶ παράγων παρὰ τὴν θάλασσαν τῆς Γαλιλαίας εἶδεν Σίμωνα καὶ Ἀνδρέαν τὸν ἀδελφὸν Σίμωνος ἀμφιβάλλοντας ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ• ἦσαν γὰρ ἁλιεῖς.
G292+2
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς• δεῦτε ὀπίσω μου, καὶ ποιήσω ὑμᾶς γενέσθαι ἁλιεῖς ἀνθρώπων.
καὶ εὐθὺς ἀφέντες τὰ δίκτυα ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ.
Καὶ προβὰς ὀλίγον εἶδεν Ἰάκωβον τὸν τοῦ Ζεβεδαίου καὶ Ἰωάννην τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ καταρτίζοντας τὰ δίκτυα,
καὶ εὐθὺς ἐκάλεσεν αὐτούς. καὶ ἀφέντες τὸν πατέρα αὐτῶν Ζεβεδαῖον ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ μετὰ τῶν μισθωτῶν ἀπῆλθον ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ.
phrasing
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Disclaimer: The opinions and conclusions expressed on this page are those of the author and may or may not accord with the positions of Biblearc or Bethlehem College & Seminary.