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(September 5, 2012 at 10:33 am)FallentoReason Wrote: show that Paul's teachings are found in Mark as Jesus saying them, but Paul never attributes them to Jesus.
I have continued my research into the Gospel that fascinates me the most; Mark. In this post, I want to show that the author of Mark was actually familiar with the Pauline epistles. The repercussions of these particular examples I will share are as follows:
Jesus seems to be quoting Paul (an impossibility).
From the first point, it follows that Paul (again) knew of no human Christ.
Mark most likely believed Jesus was a spirit like Paul did (as these parallels suggest Mark followed closely the teachings of Paul).
Mark was definitely not recording genuine history as these allegories/parallels leave no room for such thing.
The thing to note with these three examples is that Paul never attributes these teachings as being from Christ. Instead, it seems like Paul genuinely came up with them himself and Mark later put them in Jesus' mouth. Let's get straight into it.
WORKS OF THE FLESH
Galatians 5:19
Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Mark 7:21
For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, 22 adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.'
MIRACULOUS SIGNS
1 Corinthians 1:22
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles
Mark 8:12
And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, 'Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.'
GIVING BACK THE OWNER WHAT IS HIS
Romans 13:7
Pay to all what is due to them—taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
Mark 12:17
Jesus said to them, 'Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's.' And they were utterly amazed at him.
These are just 3 examples of rather explicit copy + paste that went on, with none of these being attributed to Jesus by Paul. Instead, it seems like it went the opposite way with Mark grabbing Paul's teachings and using them as he pleased.
Here is an example that is rather more intricate. The interesting thing with this one is that it's actually an impossibility for Jesus to be saying this in the first place! I'll explain why.
Romans 8:5,15
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit set their minds on the things of the spirit.
...
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, 'Abba! Father!'
Mark 14:36-41
He said, 'Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.' 37 He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, 'Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? 38 Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.' 39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him. 41 He came a third time and said to them, 'Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough!
It seems like Mark has fabricated a scene which depicts the teaching of Paul. Here we see that the Apostles are struggling with the 'things of the flesh' while Jesus leads by example and is living by the 'things of the spirit'. What is actually impossible in this scenario for Jesus is him saying the expression 'Abba, Father'. 'Abba' is the Aramaic word for Father, where Father has been written in Greek, which Jesus did not speak. The reason why Paul says 'Abba, Father' is because he has a habit of first using the Jewish exclamation and then translating that for his audience in Greek. Therefore, it seems like this can't be genuine history, but rather another case of Mark grabbing what's already there and using to construct the life of Jesus.
*BONUS CONTENT*
I want to reinforce the idea that Paul didn't know of any historical Christ by challenging the best case for an historical Jesus (within Paul's epistles).
1 Corinthians 2:7-9
But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written,
"What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"
On the surface it seems like Paul is talking about an earthly Christ that was crucified, but if we read on, he makes it perfectly clear that's not the case:
[10]these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. //so Jesus revealed nothing himself while on earth?
[11]...so also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. //Surely Jesus could comprehend those thoughts. Otherwise what rubbish was Jesus preaching?!
[13]and we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit. //Didn't Jesus come to earth to teach as a human?
It seems like Paul was referring to the rulers of the lower heavens who crucified Jesus, which really lines up very well with what we know about the historicity of Jesus--non existent.
Haven't I shown in the last 3 or 4 of these things that your research to be sub par and easily dismantled? How many times does your faith against the bible require you to try and destroy the gospel works? Why not simply say I do not want to believe in the bible like your peers and move on with your life? what is with trying to make this a legitmate persuit? why do you need a legitmate reason to move away from Christianity? Why not just go? that way when your life plays out and you wish to return you can. The path you have taken will leave you with no way to return home IF you should want to go.
