Jeff Riddle reviews a sermon delivered by Zach Keele at Christ Presbyterian OPC (Janesville, WI) as something of a case study in how a Pastor’s text critical decisions will affect his interpretation and preaching of the Bible.
Jeff Riddle reviews a sermon delivered by Zach Keele at Christ Presbyterian OPC (Janesville, WI) as something of a case study in how a Pastor’s text critical decisions will affect his interpretation and preaching of the Bible.
I came across a sample sermon (“worked example”) that omits Mark 9:44,46. The text concerned is Mark 9:33-50 and the following is an extract from the sermon:
“Now there a lot of parts to this section [verses 42-50] that need to be clarified, so let me take them one by one.”
“First, why are some verses in the footnote of the ESV and modern translations? Very basically, while we believe that the original manuscripts were given without error, and we also believe that God in His sovereignty through manuscript transmission and translation has given us a Bible that is fully reliable in every respect, there is what C.S. Lewis called a ‘science’’ of scholarly decision. That makes it clear that verse 44 and verse 46 (in the footnotes) were added in later by come probably overzealous copyist. Jesus does say, verse 48, ‘’ Where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched,’ quoting from the end of Isaiah, but we don’t need to underline it three times, as it were (Moody and Weekes 2014, 116).”
Clearly, the Critical Text was used. A quick examination of the relevant footnote shows it as stating, “Some manuscripts add verses 44 and 46 (which are identical with verse 48)” (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+9%3A43&version=ESV). But why are these manuscripts (but not others) relegated to a footnote? Could our Lord Jesus not have said verse 48 three times to emphasize the seriousness of stumbling ourselves (“thy/thine … offend thee”)?
REFERENCE
Moody, Josh, and Weekes, Robin. Burning Hearts: Preaching to the Affections. Fearn: Christian Focus Publications, 2014.