Re: Mark 4:10

Edgar Krentz (ekrentz@lstc.edu)
Thu, 10 Jul 1997 09:42:55 -0500

>Mk 4:10 (NIV) reads "When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around
>him asked him about the parables."
>
>"the others around him" is "hoi peri auton"
>
>Since his reply is to these people, it is important exegetically whether
>"hoi peri auton" refers to those physically nearby at the time, or those
>of his followers just outside the circle of the twelve. That is, those
>around him could mean those in committed relationship to him.
>
>Can anyone comment, please?

This is a Greek idiom. hOI PERI + genitive = "The students or disciples of
a person."

Thus Mark is restricting the audience to those who already have faith, i.e.
those to whom the mystery of the K of G has been revealed.

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