Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Mark: Chapter 13].
Tacitus (_Annals_ xvi. 10-13) describes the hurricanes and storms
in Campania in A.D. 65.
13:9 {But take heed to yourselves} (\Blepete de humeis
heautous\). Only in Mark, but dominant note of warning all
through the discourse. Note \humeis\ here, very emphatic.
{Councils} (\sunedria\). Same word as the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem.
These local councils (\sun, hedra\, sitting together) were
modelled after that in Jerusalem. {Shall ye be beaten}
(\dar•sesthe\). Second future passive indicative second person
plural. The word \der•\ means to flay or skin and here has been
softened into {beat} like our tan or skin in the vernacular.
Aristophanes has it in this colloquial sense as have the papyri
in the _Koin•_. Before governors and kings (\epi h•gemon•n kai
basile•n\). Gentile rulers as well as before Jewish councils.
{Shall stand} (\stath•sesthe\). First aorist passive indicative
second person plural of \hist•mi\.
13:10 {Must first be preached} (\pr•ton dei k•ruchth•nai\). This
only in Mark. It is interesting to note that Paul in Col 1:6,23
claims that the gospel has spread all over the world. All this
was before the destruction of Jerusalem.
13:11 {Be not anxious beforehand what ye shall speak} (\m•
promerimn•te ti lal•s•te\). Negative with present imperative to
make a general prohibition or habit. Jesus is not here referring
to preaching, but to defences made before these councils and
governors. A typical example is seen in the courage and skill of
Peter and John before the Sanhedrin in Acts. The verb \merimna•\
is from \meriz•\ (\meris\), to be drawn in opposite directions,
to be distracted. See on ¯Mt 6:25. They are not to be stricken
with fright beforehand, but to face fearlessly those in high
places who are seeking to overthrow the preaching of the gospel.
There is no excuse here for the lazy preacher who fails to
prepare his sermon out of the mistaken reliance upon the Holy
Spirit. They will need and will receive the special help of the
Holy Spirit (cf. Joh 14-16).
13:13 {But he that endureth to the end} (\ho de hupomeinas eis
telos\). Note this aorist participle with the future verb. The
idea here is true to the etymology of the word, remaining under
(\hupomen•\) until the end. The divisions in families Jesus had
predicted before (Lu 12:52f.; 14:25f.). {Be saved}
(\s•th•setai\). Here Jesus means final salvation (effective
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/MR13.RWP.html (3 of 6) [28/08/2004 09:04:41 a.m.]