SALTY CONTEXT OF PEACE

#bible study #greeknewtestament #mark #gospel #salt

There's a couple of verses in Marks' Gospel often described as enigmatic and yet as reading the same way in English Greek and Hebrew/Aramaic due to the grammar and words choices.

Yes I'm typing about Chapter 9  Verses 49 - 50

All for with fire will be salted. (lovely example of future passive and dative of agent)

Fine/good (is) SALT if (conditional form ean) the salt saltless / unsalt becomes (note geneetai subjunctive in/ with  what / which you will season it ?  or is it season with it?
have in yourselves salt and be at peace in / amongst each other.

Thing is this whole dscussion started with the disciples arguing about who was the greatest amongst them and moved through several topics and then ...I think there should be a pause between verse 48 and 49.
Jesus had just cited a belief that Hell was a place in which fire never was extinguished

I think this gave him an idea.

Some burnt offerings were slated before being placed in flames and there is a also a cooking technique of using salt crusts to seal in seasonings and flavours.

Maybe he was being ironic . 
Maybe as he spoke to his followers some one nearby was preparing a dish for an oven.

You will be salted for the fire ? Or everything is salted for the fire.

Salt used for cooking can not be reused but salt is an essential thing.

Was someone nearby arguing about how much salt should be used?

The disciples had been arguing and look how verse 50 ends.

Be at peace amongst yourselves and each other.

Keep your salt. Don't waste it?

Maybe those two verses aren't so enigmatic but more ironic?

Maybe the most important message is not about salt but about PEACE

eireeneute en alleelois 

BE PEACEFUL

and revise the uses of the dative case !

Matthew 5:13 SALT

Matthew 5:13

I am not going to type up the whole of the greek this Sunday because there is only one or two unusual features and I  dont need to show you the greek to explain them.

Please compare this verse to Luke 14:34 -5 and Mark 9: 50.

How can salt lose its taste?  The verb mooranthee is an aorist passive subjunctive form of moorainoo and yes that is related to moron!

So while we say loses its taste in English the verb also means that the salt has been foolish useless distorted and insipid.

Bear in mind at that time salt was valuable and sometimes not stored or prepared perfectly so salt could be spoiled or contaminated?

Look at Luke's version and Mark. Do not obsess on the minor differences such as Luke saying seasons instead of salts.

The idea is the same. Admittedly not obvious in an age when salt can be stored in air and water tight containers. Salt is something precious and valuable that must be prepared and guarded to maintain its value.

The textual differences may simply be due to jesus using the same concept in more than one teaching session?