The controversy over fasting.

Matthew 9.14-17 = Mark 2.18-22 = Luke 5.33-39  (John 3.25-36).

Current mode: View.

Notes and quotes.

§ I count the following agreements between Matthew and Luke against Mark:

1. Matthew 9.14 uses προς (toward) as a prefix in the verb προσερχονται (they come toward), and Luke 5.33 uses the preposition προς on its own, while Mark 2.18 has no parallel prefix or preposition.
2. Matthew 9.14 has νηστευομεν πολλα (we fast much); Luke 5.33 has νηστευουσιν πυκνα (they fast often). Mark 2.18 simply has νηστευουσιν (they fast), without modifier.
3. Matthew 9.16 and Luke 5.36 both have επιβαλλει (puts upon or casts upon) where Mark 2.21 has επιραπτει (sews upon).
4. Matthew 9.16 follows the preposition απο (away from) with the article and noun (or substantive) του ιματιου (the clothing); Luke 5.36 follows the preposition απο with the article and substantive adjective του καινου (the new). But Mark 2.21 follows the preposition απο with the pronominal αυτου (it).
5. Matthew 9.17 and Luke 5.37 each have the almost untranslatable particle γε, while Mark 2.22 lacks it.
6. Matthew 9.17 has εκχειται (pours out or is poured out) and Luke 5.37 has εκχυθησεται (will be poured out) where Mark 2.22 has no parallel.
7. Matthew 9.17 and Luke 5.37 each have the plural verb απολλυνται (perish) with ασκοι (skins or wineskins) as its subject, while Mark 2.22 has the singular verb απολλυται (perishes) with οινον (wine) as its subject.
8. Matthew 9.17 has βαλλουσιν (they put) and Luke 5.38 has βλητεον (must be put) where Mark 2.22 has no parallel.

The last three agreements I combine as a major agreement.

§ From Thomas 47:

ΜΑΡΕΡΩΜΕ CΕΡ̅ΠΑC ΑΥΩ Ν̅ΤΕΥΝΟΥ Ν̅ϤΕΠΙΘΥΜΕΙ ΑCΩ ΗΡΠ Β̅ΒΡΡΕ ΑΥΩ ΜΑΥΝΟΥϪΗΡΠ Β̅ΒΡ̅ΡΕ ΕΑCΚΟC Ν̅ΑC ϪΕΚΑΑC Ν̅ΝΟΥΠΩϨ ΑΥΩ ΜΑΥΝΕϪΗΡΠ Ν̅ΑC ΕΑCΚΟC Β̅ΒΡ̅ΡΕ ϢΙΝΑ ϪΕ ΝΕϤΤΕΚΑϤ ΜΑΥϪΛ̅ϬΤΟΕΙC Ν̅ΑC ΑϢΤΗΝΝ̅ϢΑΕΙ ΕΠΕΙ ΟΥΝΟΥΠΩϨ ΝΑϢΩΠΕ.

No man drinks old wine and immediately desires to drink new wine. And new wine is not put into old wineskins, lest they burst. Nor is old wine put into a new wineskin, lest it spoil it. An old patch is not sewn onto a new garment, because there would be a tear.

Thomas 104:

ΠΕϪΑΥ Ν̅Ι̅C̅ ϪΕ ΑΜΟΥ Ν̅ΤΝ̅ϢΛΗΛ Μ̅ΠΟΟΥ ΑΥΩ Ν̅ΤΝ̅Ρ̅ΝΗCΤΕΥΕ. ΠΕϪΕ Ι̅C̅ ϪΕ ΟΥ ΓΑΡ ΠΕ ΠΝΟΒΕ Ν̅ΤΑΕΙΑΑϤ Η Ν̅ΤΑΥϪΡΟ ΕΡΟΕΙ ϨΝ̅ΟΥ ΑΛΛΑ ϨΟΤΑΝ ΕΡϢΑΝΠΝΥΜΦΙΟC ΕΙ ΕΒΟΛ ϨΜ̅ΠΝΥΜΦΩΝ ΤΟΤΕ ΜΑΡΟΥΝΗCΤΕΥΕ ΑΥΩ ΜΑΡΟΥϢΛΗΛ.

They said to Jesus: Come pray today and fast. Jesus said: What is the sin that I have committed, or in what have they won over me? But, when the bridegroom comes out of the bridal chamber, then let them fast and pray.

§ This pericope is also available in a somewhat different format in a file supplied by a correspondent of mine named Ovadyah, who has modified certain synopses by S. C. Carlson in order to take broad text types into account.