Walking on Water
Mike Parsons
Mike Parsons <Mike_Parsons@baylor.edu>
Wed, 03 Nov 1999 10:03:56 -0500
Reply to: RE: [gmark] Re: Walking on Water
Boring, Berger, and Colpe, Hellenistic Commentary to the NT (Abingdon, =
list several 'parallels' to the walking on water scene in Mark 6. In The =
Third Discourse on Kingship 30 by Dio Chrystom (40-120CE), Xerxes, king =
of Persia, has the power to walk on the water, and it is explicitly =
considered a divine power. They also cite Isocrates (4th BCE) =
Panergyricus 88-89; Iambllichus, Life of Pythagoras, 91 attributes this =
power to Pythagoras.
Though you don't mention it, I have always found curious the little note =
at the end of 6:48, "he meant to pass them by." My colleague, David =
Garland, in his NIV Application Commentary (which I highly recommend for =
church bible study groups) gives the various options of interpretations =
and then settles (on the basis of the LXX parallels with the verb =
parechomai) on the reading that the phrase when connected to a divinity =
refers to an epiphany. Especially relevant are Exod 33:19-34:7 (where the =
glory of God "passes by" Moses) and 1 Kings 19:11-12 where "the LORD is =
about to pass by" Elijah." Garland (263) concludes "that when Jesus wants =
to pass by his disciples, he wills for them to see his transcendent =
majesty as a divine being and to give them reassurance." And the response =
of Jesus, "I am" EGO EIMI (v. 50) of course, also is integral to this =
epiphany theme. =
Mikeal C. Parsons
Department of Religion
Baylor University
Waco, TX 76798
Voice: 254-710-4591
FAX: 254-710-3740