1001 Errors in the Christian Bible
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Mark -- Errors 175-181
#175
Mark 7: (KJV)
2 “And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled,
that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees,
and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the
tradition of the elders.”
The author of “Mark” is giving away the date of composition
here (after 70 CE). According to Rabbinic literature, prior to the destruction
of the Temple only Priests were required to wash before they ate. After
the destruction it became Rabbinic Law for all Jews to wash their hands
before meals. “Matthew” copied “Marks’” error.
#176
Mark 7: (KJV)
3 “For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their
hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.”
The word KJV has translated “oft” is translated as “ceremoniously”
by most modern Christian Bibles. The underlying Greek word though means
“with a closed fist”. There is no linguistic evidence that the
Greek word meant anything other than “with a closed fist”. No
major modern Christian translation uses “with a closed fist”
though because you are left with a translation of “with a closed
fist washed hands”. No wonder Jesus was sore at the Pharisees, making
everyone wash their hands with closed fists.
#177
Mark 7: (KJV)
4 “And when they come from the market, except they wash, they
eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold,
as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.”
The earliest extant manuscripts have “unless they sprinkle”
instead of “except they wash” above and grammatically the “sprinkle”
could refer to the people or whatever was from the market (food). The
context of the sentence indicates the sprinkling referred to the food
brought from the market. Later copyists replaced “sprinkle”
with “immerse” with the meaning that the Jews would not eat
unless they bathed first. Apparently the later copyists didn’t know
what the actual tradition was and simply wanted to reflect “the Jews”
in the most extreme ritual possible. Interestingly, two thousand years
later, most Christians “when they come from the market, except they
wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received
to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables”.
#178
Mark 7: (KJV)
15 “There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him
can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that
defile the man.”
Contradicted by all the dietary laws in the Tanakh.
#179
Mark 7: (KJV)
19 “Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly,
and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?”
A superior translation for “purging all meats” above is an editorial
comment by the author, “thus he declared all foods clean” and
this is the most common translation of a majority of modern Bible translations.
This contradicts the report of “Matthew” that Jesus claimed
he would not change the Law in any way. Note that “Mark” never
has Jesus promise that he won’t change the Law like “Matthew”
does. This subject is a good example of how “Mark” is more consistent
within itself than “Matthew” because it’s not based on
an editing of another Gospel like “Matthew” is. “Matthew”
didn’t accept “Mark’s” position that Jesus did change
the Law but Matthew still wanted to include specific stories from Mark
that showed Jesus changing the Law.
#180
Mark 8: (KJV)
4 “And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy
these men with bread here in the wilderness?”
“From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread”? How about
Mark 6: (KJV)?
41 “And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes,
he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them
to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among
them all. 42 And they did all eat, and were filled.”
That the disciples would have forgotten the previous feeding miracle reported
by the same author is not believable. A few desperate apologists claim
that “Mark” was illustrating the general lack of belief and
faith on the part of the disciples but “Mark’s” narrative
here demonstrates a lack of knowledge (regarding the previous feeding
miracle) on the part of the disciples and not a lack of faith.
#181
Mark 8: (KJV)
9 “And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent
them away.”
Compare to Matthew 16: (KJV)
38 “And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women
and children.”
It would appear that bread and fish are not the only things that multiply
in the Christian Bible.
Hold That Ghost
Let's see if we can contact the king of kings using the Key Of Solomon
and ask him where the term "Holy Ghost" comes from.
Let’s see, it’s midnight, I’m lining up Jerusalem with
Jupiter and I’m saying the incantation to Anael. Man, look at all
these charts and tables and incantatons. I hope I’m doing this right.
I mean, I can’t even figure out how to use my VCR for taping since
they installed the cable converter box.
Okay, finished. Let’s see if we can reach the king of kings. Uh oh,
I forgot to adjust for the difference in time zones. Hmmm, instead of
aligning Jerusalem with Jupiter, I aligned Las Vegas with Venus, I wonder
if that will make a difference?
Abdul : Hello, hello, anyone there?
The King : Yah, man. I’m here.
Abdul : Are you the king of kings?
The King : Nah, man. I’m Elvis Presley. Are you from the IRS? Man, you guys never give up.
Abdul : No, I’m not from the IRS. Hey, Mr. Presley I thought you were still alive. I read in the “Enquirer” that you were kidnapped by aliens.
The King : Jus call me Elvis, man. Actually, I was kidnapped by aliens.I died when I found out that Lisa Marie married Michael Jackson.
Abdul : I’m Abdul, Elvis, and me and some of the guys over on the Judaism Message Boards were trying to find out where the term “holy ghost” comes from.
The King : You’re Jewish, huh? Ya know, I love a hot corned beef sandwich, with lots of bacon on top smothered in onions and gravy. You ever had one?
Abdul : Sorry, Elvis, I don’t eat pork.
The King : Ya know, I should of had a Jewish agent, except they were a little hard to find in Mississippi. Never would have ended up in Vegas and I would have sold more records than the Beatles and Stones combined.
Abdul : Can’t argue with that Elvis. Now, do you know where the term “holy ghost” comes from?
The King : Lesee, wasn’t that a movie with Abbott and Costello? Man, I love those guys.
Abdul : The name of the movie was “Hold That Ghost”.
The King : Oh yeah, right. Sorry, man, can’t think of anything else.
Abdul : Okay Elvis, thanks anyway. Say hi to Buddy Holly for me.
The King : Sure thing man. Hey, Abdul, if you see anyone from the IRS, tell them I’ll have the money as soon as Jimmy Swaggert makes it up here.
Abdul : You got it, Elvis, goodnight.
The King : Goodnight, Abdul. Tell all my fans I still love them
tender.