World English Bible · Under Rome
Mark 9
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He said to them, "Most certainly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste until they see Kingdom come with ." After six days took with him , , and , and brought them up onto a high mountain privately by themselves, and he was changed into another form in front of them. His clothing became glistening, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. and appeared to them, and they were talking with . answered , "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let's make three tents: one for you, one for , and one for ." For he didn't know what to say, for they were very afraid. A cloud came, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him." Suddenly looking around, they saw no one with them any more, except only. As they were coming down from the mountain, he commanded them that they should tell no one what things they had seen, until after had from . They kept this saying to themselves, questioning what the "rising from " meant. They asked him, saying, "Why do the say that must come first?" He said to them, " indeed comes first, and restores all things. How is it written about , that he should suffer many things and be despised? But I tell you that has come, and they have also done to him whatever they wanted to, even as about him." Coming to , he saw a great multitude around them, and questioning them. Immediately all , when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and running to him, greeted him. He asked the , "What are you asking them?" One of answered, "Teacher, I brought to you my son, who has a mute ; and wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; and he foams at the , grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your to cast it out, and they weren't able." He answered him, "Unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to me." They brought him to him, and when he saw him, immediately convulsed him and he fell on the ground, wallowing and foaming at the . He asked his , "How long has it been since this has been happening to him?" He said, "From childhood. Often it has cast him both into the and into the water to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have on us and help us." said to him, "If you can , all things are possible to him who believes." Immediately of the child cried out with tears, "I . Help my unbelief!" When saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the , saying to him, "You mute and deaf , I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!" After crying out and convulsing him greatly, it came out of him. The boy became like one , so much that most of them said, "He is ." But took him by the hand and him up; and he arose. When he had come into the house, his asked him privately, "Why couldn't we cast it out?" He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing but by and ." They went out from there and passed through . He didn't want anyone to know it, for he was teaching his , and said to them, " is being handed over to the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, on the third day he will ." But they didn't understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him. He came to , and when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you arguing among yourselves on ?" But they were silent, for they had disputed with one another on about who was the greatest. He sat down and called the twelve; and he said to them, "If any man wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and all." He took a little child and set him in the middle of them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, doesn't receive me, but him who sent me." said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone who doesn't follow us casting out in your name; and we forbade him, because he doesn't follow us." But said, "Don't forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name and be able quickly to speak evil of me. For whoever is not against us is on our side. For whoever will give you a of water to drink in my name because you are , most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward. "Whoever will cause one of these little ones who in me to stumble, it would be better for him if he were thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around his neck. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having your two hands to go into , into the unquenchable , 44'where their worm doesn't , and the is not quenched.' If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame, rather than having your two feet to be cast into , into the that will never be quenched— 46'where their worm doesn't , and the is not quenched.' If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out. It is better for you to enter into Kingdom with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the of , 'where their worm doesn't , and the is not quenched.' For everyone will be salted with , and every will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."
A public domain modern English translation, free to read and share. Notes and cards are EKLI’s own.
The world at this moment · Under Rome, 63 BC to AD 100 ›
Judea as a client kingdom and then a province. Roads, garrisons, taxes, crucifixion, and a common Greek language that let a message travel the empire faster than any before it.
- Rome
- The republic tears itself apart in civil war and comes out as an empire under Augustus. What follows is two centuries of relative peace across the whole Mediterranean, enforced by legions and paid for by taxes, with safe roads and safe sea lanes. Every one of Paul's journeys depends on that.
- Judea
- Governed first through Herod the Great, a client king of enormous ability and enormous brutality who rebuilds the temple into one of the wonders of the ancient world, then directly by Roman prefects. Crucifixion is the standard penalty for sedition and is used often and publicly.
- The wider world
- Greek is spoken from Spain to Syria, which means a letter written in Corinth can be read in Rome without translation. Jewish communities already exist in most major cities, which is where the first Christian preaching lands. Mystery religions, imperial cult, and philosophy all compete in the same marketplace.
- Further afield
- The Han dynasty rules China and trades silk westward along routes that touch the Roman world at second hand. In Britain the Roman conquest begins within a decade of the crucifixion.