Corpus-Paul

[Tony Costa <tmcos AT rogers.com>]

Russell Booth wrote: "The author of the Gospel of Mark is thought to have been an associate of Paul."

 

Tony Costa responded: Actually, early extra-canonical sources such as Papias asserted that Mark was an associate or companion of Peter. This is not to say Mark did not know Paul, but the earliest traditions seem to link Mark with Peter.

 

Russell Booth: "After Peter also forgot the meaning of his supernatural vision of the sheet, Peter and his cohorts in Jerusalem issued a decree claiming no change in food purity laws. Who changed the law?"

 

Tony Costa: The case of the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15 dealt with the issue of Gentile admission into the Jesus movement. The point that the Council decided was that Gentiles were not under the Mosaic law. I don't think it is necessary for Peter to have spelled out the details of his vision of the sheet. The proscriptions of Acts 15:29 reflect in fact the terms of the Nohadic covenant which even rabbinic sources believed Gentiles should observe. The prohibition to eat blood is also part of the Nohadic covenant (Gen.9:2-4)and thus believed to be binding on all. Note that in Gen.9:2-4 the permission is given to eat all animals. It is only later with the Mosaic law that certain animals are forbidden only for the Jews (Lev.11). The issue of sabbath observance for Gentiles is not mentioned either in Acts but this cannot be used to argue that Gentile Christians therefore observed the sabbath. The first day of the week seems to have prominence in this case (Acts 20:7)

 

Russell Booth: "If Jesus had initiated a change in food purity codes someone who had been with Jesus during his lifetime would surely have known this. They did not know this."

 

Tony Costa: I disagree. Mark makes the parenthetical remark about Jesus' discourse on what renders a person unclean, "(Thus He declared all foods clean.)" - Mark 7:19 NASB. While this may not be Jesus' own words, Mark interprets it that way and if Mark was an associate of Peter as early tradition attests, then it is quite probable that this info. came from Peter and Peter was someone who "had been with Jesus during his lifetime [and[ would surely have known this."

 

Tony Costa

Toronto, Canada