Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Mark 13:27

27. [2969][2970][2971] omit αὐτοῦ after ἀγγέλους. It may come from Mt.

[2969] Codex Bezae. 6th cent. Has a Latin translation (d) side by side with the Greek text, and the two do not quite always agree. Presented by Beza to the University Library of Cambridge in 1581. Remarkable for its frequent divergences from other texts. Contains Mark, except Mark 16:15-20, which has been added by a later hand. Photographic facsimile, 1899.

[2970] Codex Regius. 8th cent. An important witness. At Paris. Contains Mark 1:1 to Mark 10:15; Mark 10:30 to Mark 15:1; Mark 15:20 to Mark 16:20, but the shorter ending is inserted between Mark 16:8 and Mark 16:9, showing that the scribe preferred it to the longer one.

[2971] Codex Athous Laurae. 8th cent. Like N and Σ, it is written in silver letters on purple vellum. Contains Mark 9:5 to Mark 16:20, and, as in L, the shorter ending is inserted between Mark 16:8 and Mark 16:9. As in Δ, the text of Mark is specially good.

27. ἀποστελεῖ τ. ἀγγέλους. See crit. note. Although αὐτοῦ is probably not genuine, we may translate “His Angels”; cf. Mark 4:26; Mark 4:36; Mark 6:32; Mark 7:2. It is of more moment to make clear that the elect are His than that the Angels are (John 6:37; John 6:39; John 10:14; John 10:16; John 10:27-29; John 17:2; John 17:6; John 17:9; John 17:24).

ἐκ τεσσάρων�. A colloquial expression found in both O.T. and N.T. It occurs in a papyrus of the second cent. A.D. (Deissmann, Bib. St. p. 248). The sentence is an echo of Deuteronomy 30:4 and Zechariah 2:6. The meaning is obvious. Cf. Jeremiah 29:14; Jeremiah 32:37.

ἀπʼ ἄκρου γῆς κ.τ.λ. The meaning of this is less obvious. “From the ends of heavens to their ends” (Mt.) means “throughout the whole extent of the heavens.” But here the antithesis between earth and heaven, while it gives a great impression of vastness, is less easy to understand. It seems to mean “throughout space in all directions.” However remote a corner of the universe may be, if any of the elect are there, they will be remembered and gathered in. Cf. 2Ma 1:27; 2Ma 2:7. For Christ’s mention of Angels see on Mark 8:38 and Mark 12:25.

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Mark 13:27

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