Question: How to reconcile the differences found in Mark 6:8 and Matthew 10:9-10, Luke 9:3 where Mark says that Jesus told the Twelve to take on a staff, and those in Matthew and Luke were he said not to take any staffs?
Answer: First of all, it must be noticed that Matthew and Luke does not say to take any staff but rather not to take staffs. More about that later, but first allow me to allow me to introduce the subject in a broader manner.
Introduction:
Critics
have for a long time pointed out that the three accounts of the commissioning
of the Twelve vary with one, Mark, saying that Jesus said that they could take
a staff, whereas Matthew and Luke said they were not even to take that. I
believe that I know the answer to this dilemma; however, first of all, I
would like to give you the opinion of Matt Slick the President and Founder of
the Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry.[i]
The three narratives are found in Mark 6:8 and Matthew
10:9-10, Luke 9:3 which Mr. Slick breaks down in the following way (those
portions in bold are mine to highlight the significant wording):
Can take a
staff
(Mark 6:8)--"and
He instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff; no bread, no bag,
no money in their belt."
Cannot take a staff
(Matthew 10:9-10)--"Do not
acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, 10or a bag for
your journey, or even two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support."
(Luke 9:3)--"And He said to them, "Take nothing for your
journey, neither a staff, nor a bag,
nor bread, nor money; and do not even have two tunics apiece."
There are no
textual variants in these verses in the Greek manuscripts that would bear upon
this issue regarding the staff. The word for "take" in both Mark 6:8 and (Luke 9:3) is airo. In Matthew 10:9, the word for "acquire" is ktaomai. Each
account is preceded by the raising of the dead girl, so the context of each is
the same. It is possible that there is a textual variation not yet known. Yet,
this is not an acceptable explanation I would take since it is based on a
lack of proof. How then can this difficulty be reconciled?
The best
explanation I can offer is that Matthew clarifies the issue by telling the
disciples to not acquire anything more
than what they already had. It is possible that the "take" of Mark
and Luke can be interpreted to mean acquire, but I think this is a weak
explanation. Nevertheless, each verse is saying that the disciples are to go as
they are and to not take provisions--just trust the Lord.
I must note that I am not completely satisfied with this
explanation, and I wait further clarification should it arise. (Matt Slick)
My comments:
Whereas, I
believe that Mr. Slick is a better than average apologists, I do differ with
him on his analysis. What he had to say is applicable but it does not take into
consideration that much of his problem is acerbated by faulty translations.
Answer:
The simple
fact is that the King James Bible is one of the few Bibles that is right
where the Lord tells his disciples not to take STAVES (plural) in Matthew 10:10
and Luke 9:3, but tells them to take A STAFF (singular) in Mark 6:8. "STAVES"
(plural - ραβδους) is the Majority reading of all Greek manuscripts
in both Matthew 10:10 and in Luke 9:3
Correct translation:
Mark 6:8 (KJV)
8 And commanded them that they should take
nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in
their purse:
Matthew 10:9-10 (KJV)
9
Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
10
Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves:
for the workman is worthy of his meat.
Luke 9:3 (KJV)
3
And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor
scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.
Worthy of Note:
The overall
emphasis in each of the three narratives is that the disciples should not take
an excess of supplies as Mr. Slick points out, not to acquire any extra
supplies; but rather (it is implied) to depend on the generosity of others and
the Lord to make provision for them. This would certainly be in line with not
taking more than one staff in Mark, and prohibiting taking extra staffs
(staves) in Matthew and Luke.
We must take into account that the Biblical writers made generous us of paraphrasing; and, of course, each had their own grammatical peculiarities. So, there
is no contradiction here, just poor or weak exegesis.
Take care!
JimR_/
Take care!
JimR_/
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