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<DIV><FONT size=4>With v. 49 the salt sayings begin. The obscurity of the verse
has triggered several scribal attempts to clarify it. It has also spawned
several interpretations. "Everyone will be salted with fire" refers to the
purifying fire of the judgment. Or it refers to the Spirit. Or it refers to the
use of salt and fire in amputations. Or it results from a mistranslation of a
Semitic original. The interpretation hinges to a great extent on the force of
the γάρ in this verse. If γαρ is simply a weak linking particle used to string
sayings loosely together, then there is no need to relate v. 49 to the preceding
section. But if, as is more probable, the γάρ clause is an explanatory clause,
then v. 49 is a comment on v. 48 and thus belongs with vv. 43-48, even though
the catchword "salt" forms the transition to the two sayings in v. 50. Verse 49
attempts to explain the last half of v. 48, "and the fire is not extinguished."
Mark appeals to the common use of salt as a preservative and transfers this
property of salt to the fire of gehenna, "for all will be salted with fire."
Mark has redacted the saying from Lev 2:13a LXX: καί παν δώρον θυσίας υμών αλί
άλισθήσεται. At first this may seem an improbable hypothesis. However, closer
examination reveals that it has some support. The similarity of the Leviticus
passage and the Marcan text was noted long ago by the copyists responsible for
the variant readings. The similarity lies in the use of πας and the verb
άλισθήσεται preceded by a dative. In Lev 2:13b we have one of the primary texts
in which salt is a symbol of the covenant. Mark will use this symbolism in v.
50b. He could have adopted the symbolism from Lev 2:13b; and while he was
working with this verse, his attention could also have fallen on Lev
2:13a.</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV><FONT size=4><FONT
size=4>
<DIV>THE CATHOLIC BIBLICAL QUARTERLY, 43, 1981, Pages 70-71</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></FONT></FONT>
<DIV><FONT size=4>HARRY FLEDDERMANN </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>The closing admonition of our text is the claim and promise of
God and Jesus' call to live as God's intended purpose in creating us for life:
"Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another" (9:50b). This is the
call, identity, and promise of discipleship which is the peace that Jesus offers
to all his followers. We are called by Jesus into a cosmic engagement against
the powers of evil and injustice and to serve our neighbor in love.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><A
href="http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching_print.aspx?commentary_id=397"><FONT
size=4>http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching_print.aspx?commentary_id=397</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Paul S. Berge, 2009</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><EM>Verses 43-47</EM>: Some scholars see these verses as
referring to short-comings within an individual, rather than of the effect of
members on the community. The “hand” is often the member of the body that does
the wrong deed; the “foot” goes in the direction of temptation (in Jewish
teaching, a moral life is spoken of as a journey); per Job </FONT><FONT
size=4>31:1</FONT><FONT size=4>, the eye can provoke one to sin. The message is:
Do not fail to control your own actions and impulses; God will punish such
undisciplined behaviour.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><A
href="http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/bpr26l.shtml">http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/bpr26l.shtml</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Chris Haslam</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>The discourse concludes with the saying on "salt," which must
here refer to the temperament that disciples must sustain as they interact with
each other and with others who are committed to Christ. All this is set in the
context of eschatological testing that lies ahead for everyone who claims to be
an authentic disciple; that is consistent with what has been said in 8:34-9:1 of
those who would "follow the course" of Jesus, but the focus in the present
discourse is specifically upon the temperament to be sustained by believers
toward others who belong to the "household" of Jesus.<BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><A
href="http://artsci.wustl.edu/~cwconrad/Mark/mk8notes.html#anchor889364">http://artsci.wustl.edu/~cwconrad/Mark/mk8notes.html#anchor889364</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Carl W. Conrad</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">v50</SPAN>: Fledderman
(1981, p73) observes that in the OT "salt" is a symbol of the covenant.
Leviticus 2:13 says: <BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT size=4><BR></FONT> </DIV></TD>
<TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">
<DIV><SMALL><FONT size=4><BIG><FONT size=4>Season all your grain offerings
with salt. <SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Do not leave the salt of the
covenant of your God </SPAN>out of your grain offerings; add salt to all
your</FONT> <FONT size=4>offerings.</FONT></BIG>
</FONT></SMALL></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT><FONT size=4></FONT><FONT size=4></FONT><BR><FONT
size=4>Similarly, Numbers 18:19 (paralleled in 2 Chron 13:5)
offers:<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>
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<TR>
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<DIV><FONT size=4><BR></FONT> </DIV></TD>
<TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">
<DIV><FONT size=4>Whatever is set aside from the holy offerings the
Israelites present to the LORD I give to you and your sons and daughters
as your regular share. <SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">It is an
everlasting covenant of salt before the LORD</SPAN> for both you and your
offspring." </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><BIG></BIG></FONT> </DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV>
<DIV><A href="http://www.michaelturton.com/Mark/GMark09.html#9.p.38.41"><FONT
size=4>http://www.michaelturton.com/Mark/GMark09.html#9.p.38.41</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Michael A. Turton</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
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