An interesting variant of this technique of extracting information about the present from the Old Testament is found in the references in Hebrews to Jesus's temptation. 94 Hebrews says: (2: 8)
(4:15)
The author clearly assumes that Jesus was tempted, in order to be like other men. But no details are given, and the most pregnant part of the passage, (3:8)
harks back to Psalm 95:8:
Accordingly, the words of God, directed to the ancient Jews in the desert, are here applied to the earthly Jesus. It is the last part of this passage that apparently forms the basis of the elaboration in Mark 1: 12-13:
, with 'forty days' substituted for 'forty years'.
'He himself hath suffered being tempted';
(4:15)
'He was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.'
The author clearly assumes that Jesus was tempted, in order to be like other men. But no details are given, and the most pregnant part of the passage, (3:8)
'As the Holy Ghost saith ... Harden not your hearts as in the day of provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness'
harks back to Psalm 95:8:
'Today if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness, when your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation.'
Accordingly, the words of God, directed to the ancient Jews in the desert, are here applied to the earthly Jesus. It is the last part of this passage that apparently forms the basis of the elaboration in Mark 1: 12-13:
'And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan, and was with the wild beasts'
, with 'forty days' substituted for 'forty years'.
(Alvar Ellegard, Jesus — One Hundred Years Before Christ, p. 72, my bold)
- In Mark the Temptation Story is an elaboration of Hebrews 4:15.
- But Hebrews 4:15 is an anti-marcionite passage.
- Therefore in Mark the Temptation Story is anti-marcionite.
You don't need to explain that his humanity was without sin, unless you are addressing people who didn't accept a human Jesus, i.e. Marcionites.
Statistics: Posted by Giuseppe — Thu Apr 18, 2024 1:24 am