angels

PER366 The Angels’ Message

The pericope PER366 analyzes the message of the angels to the women at the tomb on the Sunday morning of the resurrection. Comparing Matthew, Mark and Luke, it examines the differences in the number of angels, the vocabulary used, and the place of the women as the first witnesses. These variations reflect the evangelists’ editorial freedom and are indicators of the historical authenticity of the resurrection account.

Mark 16.2-4 (King James Version) :

And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

PER367 The Women Warn the Disciples

Pericope 367 examines the moment when the women warn the disciples of the resurrection, comparing Matthew 28.8, Mark 16.9-11, Luke 24.9-11 and John 20.2. A notable divergence appears: Mary Magdalene seems unaware of the angels’ message, unlike the other women. The hypothesis that Mary left early, before the angelic appearance, makes it possible to harmonize the accounts and to explain her persistent incomprehension before the empty tomb.

John 20.11-18 (King James Version) :

But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

PER368 The Reaction of Peter and John

Pericope 368 examines the reaction of Peter and John after Mary Magdalene's testimony about the empty tomb. The two apostles run to the sepulchre, discover the burial linens and the folded face cloth, but do not yet grasp the reality of the resurrection. The article harmonizes the accounts of Luke 24.12 and John 20.3-12, distinguishes two successive announcements to the disciples, and highlights the initial lack of understanding in the face of Jesus' prophecies about his resurrection.

John 20.3-12 (King James Version) :

Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

PER369 Mary Magdalene Remains at the Tomb

An episode unique to John (John 20.11), this passage describes Mary Magdalene remaining alone at the tomb after Peter and John have left. A faithful witness since the ministry of Jesus, she first interprets the disappearance of the body as a removal, before becoming the first person to whom the Risen One appears personally. The article offers a chronological analysis and a harmonization of the Gospel accounts of the resurrection.

John 20.2 (King James Version) :

Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

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