Unbinding
the Unbindable Bound Man
Below is
a rough translation and some initial comments regarding Luke 8:26-39, the
gospel reading the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost in to the Revised Common
Lectionary for 2022. When I say “rough,” please take me literally. This is a long text
and Luke’s Greek is very sophisticated (it seems to me) relative to Mark’s Greek,
with which I am more familiar. So, please chime in with your corrections,
suggestions, and ideas as we journey through this story together.
In the
process of bringing a critical reading apparatus to the text, my hope is not to
lose sight of this man, tormented by oppressive spirits, a real problem and
bane to the community, who tried to protect itself or him by binding him in
chains, but even that didn’t work. My assumption is that everyone is at wit’s
end with this situation. And yet, the surrounding community ultimately is
driven by their fears to reject Jesus’ presence among them. The sociological
and psychological possibilities of this story are endless and heartbreaking.
As some
of my comments will suggest, the next step in my own work will be to identify
words that might suggest the dynamics of power at play in this story.
26Καὶ κατέπλευσαν εἰς τὴν χώραν τῶν Γερασηνῶν, ἥτις ἐστὶν ἀντιπέρα τῆς
Γαλιλαίας.
And they sailed into the region of
the Gerasenes, which is over-against Galilee.
κατέπλευσαν: AAI 3p, καταπλέω, 1) to sail
down from the deep sea to the land
ἐστὶν: PAI 3s, εἰμί, 1) to be, to
exist, to happen, to be present
27 ἐξελθόντι δὲ αὐτῷ ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ὑπήντησεν ἀνήρ τις ἐκ τῆς πόλεως ἔχων
δαιμόνια: καὶ χρόνῳ ἱκανῷ οὐκ ἐνεδύσατο ἱμάτιον, καὶ ἐν οἰκίᾳ οὐκ ἔμενεν
ἀλλ' ἐν τοῖς μνήμασιν.
Yet to him having come out onto
the land a man who was out of the city having demons approached; and for a long
time he was not wearing a garment, and was not staying in a house but in the tombs.
ἐξελθόντι: AAPart dsm, ἐξέρχομαι, 1) to go
or come forth of 1a) with mention of the place out of which one goes, or
the point from which he departs
ὑπήντησεν: AAI 3s, ὑπαντάω, 1) to go to
meet, to meet 2) in military reference 2a) of a hostile meeting
ἔχων: PAPart nsm, ἔχω, 1) to have,
i.e. to hold
ἐνεδύσατο: AMI 3s, ἐνδύω, 1) to sink into
(clothing), put on, clothe one's self
ἔμενεν: IAI 3s, μένω, 1) to remain, abide
1. It’s a small thing, but the awkwardness of my translation
preserves the fact that the pronoun “him” and the participle connected to it
(having come out) are in the dative case, where “a man” is in the nominative
case. In order for the translator to keep the subject (“a man,” nominative
case) and the relative pronoun (“him,” dative case) intact, the verb order
needs to be moved around a little bit. The NIV keeps the verb order but says
“he was met by a man,” making the pronoun (he, “dative”) into the subject, the
active participle (“having come out”) into a passive verb (“was met”), and the
subject (“a man,” nominative) into the object of the preposition “by.”
2. The note that the man what “out of the city” is similar to last
week’s reading of the woman, who was a “sinner” and “in the city.” In v. 34
below, the herders will go “in the city” and tell about what Jesus had done.
Luke is keeping the lines of communication between the city and the events at
the shore or in the Pharisee’s house open.
28 ἰδὼν δὲ τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἀνακράξας προσέπεσεν αὐτῷ καὶ φωνῇ μεγάλῃ εἶπεν,
Τί ἐμοὶ καὶ σοί, Ἰησοῦ υἱὲ τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ὑψίστου; δέομαί σου, μή με βασανίσῃς.
Yet having seen Jesus having cried
out he fell before him and said in a loud voice, “What to me and to you, Jesus
son of the God most high? I beg you, that you may not torture me.”
ἰδὼν: AAPart nsm, ὁράω, 1) to see with
the eyes 2) to see with the mind, to perceive, know
ἀνακράξας: AAPart nsm, ἀνακράζω, 1) to
raise a cry from the depth of the throat, to cry out
προσέπεσεν: AAI 3s, προσπίπτω,1) to fall
forwards, fall down, prostrate one's self before, in homage or
supplication: at one's feet 2) to rush upon, beat against 2a) of
winds beating upon a house
εἶπεν: AAI 3s, λέγω, 1) to say, to
speak
δέομαί: PMI 1s, δέομαι, 1) to want,
lack 2) to desire, long for 3) to ask, beg 3a) the thing
asked for 3b) to pray, make supplications
βασανίσῃς: AASubj 2s, βασανίζω, 1) to test
(metals) by the touchstone, which is a black siliceous stone used to test
the purity of gold or silver by the color of the streak produced on it by
rubbing it with either metal 2) to question by applying torture 3)
to torture 4) to vex with grievous pains (of body or mind), to
torment
1. The root of ἀνακράζω , “cry out” (κράζω ‘krazō’) is something of an onomatopoeia in Greek, like the croak of a
raven. I suppose it would be like the English word “squawk.” I wonder if it is
somehow related to κηρύσσω, “to preach.” It wouldn’t be the last time someone
likened preaching to squawking.
2. The use of δέομαι, to beg, is one of many words in this story
that seem to denote who is in deference to whom, whether as suppliant and
benefactor or in stark opposition.
3. Reading along, one can ask, “Who is speaking?” The man? The
demons? The language about the speaker is singular, but “demons” in v.27 is
plural. When we get to v.29, however, Luke will speak of a singular “unclean
spirit.”
29 παρήγγειλεν γὰρ τῷ πνεύματι τῷ ἀκαθάρτῳ ἐξελθεῖν ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου.
πολλοῖς γὰρ χρόνοις συνηρπάκει αὐτόν, καὶ ἐδεσμεύετο ἁλύσεσιν καὶ πέδαις
φυλασσόμενος, καὶ διαρρήσσων τὰ δεσμὰ ἠλαύνετο ὑπὸ τοῦ δαιμονίου εἰς
τὰς ἐρήμους.
For he ordered to the unclean
spirit to come out from the man. For many times it had seized him, and he was
bound in chains and foot shackles being held under guard, and breaking apart
the bonds he was driven by the demon into the deserts.
παρήγγειλεν: AAI 3s, παραγγέλλω, 1) to
transmit a message along from one to another, to declare, announce 2) to
command, order, charge
ἐξελθεῖν: AAInf ἐξέρχομαι, 1) to go or
come forth of 1a) with mention of the place out of which one goes, or
the point from which he departs
συνηρπάκει: PluperfectAI 3s, συναρπάζω, 1)
to seize by force
ἐδεσμεύετο: IPI 3s, δεσμεύω, 1) to put in
chains 2) to bind up, bind together
φυλασσόμενος: PPPart nsm, φυλάσσω, 1) to guard
1a) to watch, keep watch
διαρρήσσων: PAPart nsm, to break???
ἠλαύνετο: IPI 3s, ἐλαύνω, 1) to
drive 1a) of the wind driving ships or clouds
1. One would think that when Jesus ordered the unclean spirit to
come out of the man, it would warrant having its own moment in the narrative.
Instead, Luke gives the spirit’s words in v.28, and then says that it was a
response to Jesus’ order in v.29. That’s curious story-telling.
2. This description is starting to sound like a Marvel comic book.
And yet, none of the power that this demonized man exhibits seems to be causing
harm to the community itself. By binding and guarding him, they seem to be
attempting to protect the man himself.
3. The word “demon” here is singular, unlike in v.27.
30 ἐπηρώτησεν δὲ αὐτὸν ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Τί σοι ὄνομά ἐστιν; ὁ δὲ εἶπεν, Λεγιών, ὅτι
εἰσῆλθεν δαιμόνια πολλὰ εἰς αὐτόν.
Then Jesus interrogated him, “What
is your name?” Then he said, “Legion,” because many demons entered into him.
ἐπηρώτησεν: AAI 3s, ἐπερωτάω, 1) to accost
one with an enquiry, put a question to, enquiry of, ask,
interrogate 2) to address one with a request or demand 2a) to ask
of or demand of one
ἐστὶν: PAI 3s, εἰμί, 1) to be, to
exist, to happen, to be present
εἶπεν: AAI 3s, λέγω, 1) to say, to
speak
εἰσῆλθεν: AAI 3s, εἰσέρχομαι, 1) to go out
or come in: to enter
1. The verb ἐπερωτάω can often signal a confrontation, which is why
I use ‘interrogated’ here. See the contrast with ἐρωτάω in the comments of v.37 and the chart below of their uses
in Luke.
2. As in many stories of persons who have a demon, the pronouns are
hard to keep separate. In the phrase “He said” the ‘he’ is Legion. In the
phrase “into him” the ‘him’ is the man, not Legion. It is not a linguistic
problem, it is the problem of identity with anyone who has a demon. Who am I?
Who am I apart from or in cohesion with this demon? Can ‘I’ be separated from
‘it’? I find stories of persons with demons to be powerfully insightful into
the real dilemmas facing anyone with controlling habits, diseases, afflictions,
or conditions. We become identified with the disease and the behaviors, whether
via pity or anger. What worse condition is there than to ask, “Who am I” and
not to be able to answer?
3. We also get a sense of why Luke’s language about the demon/s is
so flexible. If a demon’s name is Legion, “for we are many,” is it a singular,
a plural, or a collective single plurality of demons? I think “yes” is the
answer.
31καὶ παρεκάλουν αὐτὸν ἵνα μὴ ἐπιτάξῃ αὐτοῖς εἰς τὴν ἄβυσσον ἀπελθεῖν.
And they were calling him in order
that he might not order them to go away into the abyss.
παρεκάλουν: IAI 3p, παρακαλέω, 1) to call to
one's side, call for, summon
ἐπιτάξῃ: AASubj 3s, ἐπιτάσσω, 1) to
enjoin upon, order, command, charge
ἀπελθεῖν: AAInf, ἀπέρχομαι, 1) to go away,
depart
1. Now it is not the single voice, but the plural voice of Legion,
calling out to Jesus. This would be an utterly mind-blowing scene face-to-face.
2. The word “abyss” is transliterated here. A/bussos is ‘without
bottom.’ It does not necessarily mean infinite depth, because sometimes it is
used of the ‘ocean.’ It seems more like “good luck trying to measure the
depth.” It appears only here in the gospels, once in Paul’s letters (Rm.10:7)
and seven times in Revelation.
32 ην δὲ ἐκεῖ ἀγέλη χοίρων ἱκανῶν βοσκομένη ἐν τῷ ὄρει: καὶ παρεκάλεσαν αὐτὸν ἵνα ἐπιτρέψῃ αὐτοῖς εἰς ἐκείνους εἰσελθεῖν: καὶ ἐπέτρεψεν αὐτοῖς.
Then there was a herd of many pigs
there feeding on the mountainside; and they called him in order that he might allow
them to go into them; and he allowed them.
ην: IAI 3s, εἰμί, 1) to be, to
exist, to happen, to be present
βοσκομένη: PPPart nsf, βόσκω, 1) to
feed
παρεκάλεσαν: AAI 3p, παρακαλέω, 1) to call to
one's side, call for, summon
ἐπιτρέψῃ: AASubj 3s, ἐπιτρέπω, 1) to turn
to, transfer, commit, instruct 2) to permit, allow, give leave
εἰσελθεῖν: AAInf εἰσέρχομαι, 1) to go out
or come in: to enter
ἐπέτρεψεν: AAI 3s, ἐπιτρέπω, 1) to turn to,
transfer, commit, instruct 2) to permit, allow, give leave
1. In the Abbott and Costello reading of this story, Abbott reads,
“Herd of pigs” and Costello quickly replies, “Sure, I’ve heard of pigs. Who
hasn’t?”
2. The verb παρεκάλεσαν (literally ‘to call alongside’) is
translated as “begged” in some translations, but I don’t want to confuse it
with the other verbs in vv. 30 (interrogated) and 37 (begged).
33 ἐξελθόντα δὲ τὰ δαιμόνια ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου εἰσῆλθον εἰς τοὺς χοίρους, καὶ ὥρμησεν ἡ ἀγέλη κατὰ τοῦ κρημνοῦ εἰς τὴν λίμνην καὶ ἀπεπνίγη.
Then having gone out from the man the
demons went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep into the lake and
was drowned.
ἐξελθόντα: AAPart npn, ἐξέρχομαι, 1) to go
or come forth of
εἰσῆλθον: AAI 3p, εἰσέρχομαι, 1) to go out
or come in: to enter
ὥρμησεν: AAI 3s, ὁρμάω, 1) to set in
rapid motion, stir up, incite, urge on 2) to start forward impetuously,
to rush
ἀπεπνίγη: API 3s, ἀποπνίγω, 1) to
choke 1a) to suffocate with water, drown
1. The assumption here seems to be that you can’t just send demons off
on their way. They must have a place, whether it be in the life of a ruined
man, the abyss, or even in a herd of swine. And it seems that there must be
torment involved, they are either tormenting or being tormented. That is a
powerful symbol of evil, that it can’t simply vanish, but must be and must be
somewhere. I think there is a lot of 1st century thinking and wisdom
that may come by exploring the assumption that evil exists and will continue to
exist, so the question is ‘where?’ rather than ‘whether?’
2. Is Jesus showing mercy to demons? And if the host pigs merely
killed themselves, was that a demonstration that the demons are, literally,
hell-bent on destruction?
3. And, speculating beyond this text, if demons must go somewhere,
where do they go when their hosts are dead? Do they die with them? Is that why
the community was so hard-pressed with this man, that they were in pitched
battle against these demons who were intent on destroying him?
34 ἰδόντες δὲ οἱ βόσκοντες τὸ γεγονὸς ἔφυγον καὶ ἀπήγγειλαν εἰς τὴν πόλιν
καὶ εἰς τοὺς ἀγρούς.
Then the ones who were feeding having
seen fled and reported what had happened in the city and in the fields.
ἰδόντες: AAPart npm, ὁράω, 1) to see with
the eyes 2) to see with the mind, to perceive, know
βόσκοντες: PAPart npm, βόσκω, 1) to
feed
γεγονὸς: PerfAPart asn, γίνομαι, 1) to
become, i.e. to come into existence, begin to be, receive being
ἔφυγον: AAI 3p, φεύγω, 1) to flee away,
seek safety by flight
ἀπήγγειλαν: AAI 3p, ἀπαγγέλλω, 1) to bring
tidings (from a person or a thing), bring word, report 2) to proclaim, to
make known openly, declare
1. Evangelists! No? Tattletales?
35 ἐξῆλθον δὲ ἰδεῖν τὸ γεγονὸς καὶ ἦλθον πρὸς τὸν Ἰησοῦν, καὶ εὗρον καθήμενον τὸν ἄνθρωπον ἀφ' οὗ τὰ δαιμόνια ἐξῆλθεν ἱματισμένον καὶ σωφρονοῦντα παρὰ τοὺς πόδας τοῦ Ἰησοῦ, καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν.
Then they came out to see what had
happened and went to Jesus, and came upon the man out of whom the demons had
exited having been clothed and right-minded seated at the feet of Jesus and
they were afeared.
ἐξῆλθον: AAI 3p, ἐξέρχομαι, 1) to go or
come forth of
ἰδεῖν: AAInf, ὁράω, 1) to see with the
eyes 2) to see with the mind, to perceive, know
γεγονὸς: PerfAPart asn, γίνομαι, 1) to
become, i.e. to come into existence, begin to be, receive being
ἦλθον: AAI 3p, ἔρχομαι, 1) to
come 1a) of persons
εὗρον: AAI 3p, εὑρίσκω, 1) to come
upon, hit upon, to meet with
καθήμενον: PMPart asm, κάθημαι, 1) to sit
down, seat one's self 2) to sit, be seated, of a place occupied 2a)
to have a fixed abode, to dwell
ἐξῆλθεν: AAI 3s, ἐξέρχομαι, 1) to go or
come forth of
ἱματισμένον: PerfPPart asm, ἱματίζω, 1) to
clothe
σωφρονοῦντα: PAPart asm, σωφρονέω, 1) to be
of sound mind 1a) to be in one's right mind
ἐφοβήθησαν: API 3p, to strike with fear,
scare, frighten. Middle or passive as here, to be put in fear, take fright
1. I have not heard anyone use the word ‘afeared’ since the passing
of my grandfather, but it is my way of expressing the passive voice in this
fright. They were put to fright; the fear was evoked, not their selected
reaction. In case we miss this motive, Luke reiterates it in v.37.
2. I love Luke’s description of the man. What a blessing after such
torment to simply be clothed, right-minded, and sitting - at Jesus’ feet!
36 ἀπήγγειλαν δὲ αὐτοῖς οἱ ἰδόντες πῶς ἐσώθη ὁ δαιμονισθείς.
Then the ones who saw reported to
them how the one having been demonized was rescued.
ἀπήγγειλαν: AAI 3p, ἀπαγγέλλω, 1) to bring
tidings (from a person or a thing), bring word, report
ἰδόντες: AAPart npm, ὁράω, 1) to see with
the eyes 2) to see with the mind, to perceive, know
ἐσώθη: API 3s, σῴζω, 1) to save, keep
safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction
δαιμονισθείς: APPart nsm, δαιμονίζομαι, 1) to
be under the power of a demon.
1. One wonders what the initial report was, to bring people out to
see what had happened, if this secondary report is about the man who had been
demonized. Had they forgotten about him and only initially reported about the
loss of the herd? I’ve noticed over the last few weeks that Luke’s stories seem
to refocus the attention to the victim and not to the hoopla surrounding the
victim or the victim’s rescue.
2. I shy away from ‘save’ language for σῴζω, preferring ‘rescued’
here, because ‘saved’ has taken on such religious connotation of an eternal
heaven/hell nature and it is a far more meaningful, rich, and lovely word than
that.
37καὶ ἠρώτησεν αὐτὸν ἅπαν τὸ πλῆθος τῆς περιχώρου τῶν Γερασηνῶν
ἀπελθεῖν ἀπ' αὐτῶν, ὅτι φόβῳ μεγάλῳ συνείχοντο: αὐτὸς δὲ ἐμβὰς εἰς
πλοῖον ὑπέστρεψεν.
And all
the people of the surrounding region of the Gerasenes begged him to go from
them, because they were held together in great fear; Then having boarded onto a
boat he went back.
ἠρώτησεν: AAI 3s, ἐρωτάω, 1) to question 2) to ask 2a) to
request, entreat, beg, beseech
ἀπελθεῖν: AAInf ἀπέρχομαι, 1) to go away, depart
συνείχοντο: IPI 3p, συνέχω, 1) to hold together 1a) any whole, lest it
fall to pieces or something fall away from it 2) to hold together with
constraint, to compress
ἐμβὰς: AAPart nsm, ἐμβάλλω, 1) to throw in, cast into
ὑπέστρεψεν: AAI 3s, ὑποστρέφω, 1) to turn back 1a) to turn about
2) to return
1. Unlike ἐπερωτάω in v. 30 above, ἐρωτάω is a kind of questioning that often
takes the form of a request. See the charts below comparing ἐπερωτάω and ἐρωτάω.
2. I read thick tension here. The whole surrounding region is
begging Jesus to go and they are bound together by fear.
3. Is it irony that those who had once chained the demonized man
are now bound, literally ‘held together’ by fear (συνέχω = συν together + έχω
to hold)? The ESV says, “seized with great fear,” but it is a different verb
than the word “seized” used in v.29.
38 ἐδεῖτο δὲ αὐτοῦ ὁ ἀνὴρ ἀφ' οὗ ἐξεληλύθει τὰ δαιμόνια εἶναι σὺν αὐτῷ:
ἀπέλυσεν δὲ αὐτὸν λέγων,
Then the
man out of whom the demons had gone to him was begging (bound?) to be with him;
but he freed him saying,
ἐδεῖτο: IMI 3s, δέομαι, 1) to want, lack 2) to desire, long
for 3) to ask, beg 3a) the thing asked for 3b) to pray, make
supplications
ἐξεληλύθει: PluperfectAI 3s, ἐξέρχομαι, 1) to go or come forth of
εἶναι: PAInf, εἰμί, 1) to be, to exist, to happen, to be present
ἀπέλυσεν: AAI 3s, ἀπολύω, 1) to set free 2) to let go, dismiss, (to
detain no longer)
λέγων: PAPart nsm, λέγω, 1) to say, to speak
1. greekbible.com has δέω (to bind tie,
fasten) as the root of ἐδεῖτο, while greattreasures.org has δέομαι (to
beg). To be honest, δέω has a lot more interesting possibility, but every major
translation that I’ve seen goes with δέομαι. I’m guessing there is an
etymological connection between δέω and δέομαι, but my resources for word
studies is in my office and I’m working from home at the moment. (This calls
for someone to do a word study! Get back to me, would you?)
2. If it were δέω, it would imply that the rescued man was bound
again (either by choice or custom) this time to Jesus who had rescued him. And
that would work better with Jesus ‘freeing’ him to go home.
3. However, the word δέομαι has appeared before in this story, through
the mouth of the man, but with the voice of Legion (v.28). That too is an
interesting juxtaposition.
4. Depending on how one translates δέομαι, the word ἀπέλυσεν
can take on differing shades of either being “freed” or being “sent away.” If
the man is bound to be with Jesus as his rescuer, then Jesus could be releasing
him from that bond. If the man is begging to be with Jesus, then Jesus could be
sending him. Either way, the man becomes quite the evangelist.
39 Ὑπόστρεφε εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου, καὶ διηγοῦ ὅσα σοι ἐποίησεν ὁ θεός. καὶ
ἀπῆλθεν καθ' ὅλην τὴν πόλιν κηρύσσων ὅσα ἐποίησεν αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς.
Go into your home, and describe
that which God did for you.” And he went away to the whole city proclaiming
that which Jesus did for him.
Ὑπόστρεφε: PAImpv 2s, ὑποστρέφω, 1) to turn
back 1a) to turn about 2) to return
διηγοῦ: PMImpv 2s, διηγέομαι, 1) to lead
or carry a narration through to the end 2) set forth, recount, relate in
full, describe
ἐποίησεν: AAI 3s, ποιέω, 1) to make
ἀπῆλθεν: AAI 3s, ἀπέρχομαι, 1) to go
away, depart
κηρύσσων: PAPart nsm, κηρύσσω, 1) to be a
herald, to officiate as a herald
ἐποίησεν: AAI 3s, ποιέω, 1) to make
1. Like many who had been rescued or healed in the Synoptics, one
wonders if this man’s response was obedience or disobedience. Certainly the
parallel between Jesus’s words “that which God did for you” and the man’s
actions “that which Jesus did for him” is suggestive of a contrast. But, does
that contrast point to disobedience or obedience? Is it different, for Luke, or
one-in-the-same to speak of God’s doings and Jesus’ doings? (Incidentally, Mk.
5:19-20 contrasts “the Lord” and “Jesus,” which may be more ambiguous. Matthew
leaves it out.)
Here are Luke’s uses of the verb ἐπερωτάω (from v.30), followed by his use of ἐρωτάω (from v.37). I
can’t tell if they are essentially interchangeable or if they suggest certain
dynamics of power in who is asking whom.
ἐπερωτάω
...hearing them, and asking them questions.
|
|
And the people asked him, saying, What...
|
|
...the soldiers likewise demanded of him,
saying...
|
|
...Jesus unto them, I will ask you one
thing...
|
|
And his disciples asked him, saying, What...
|
|
And Jesus asked him, saying, What...
|
|
...with him: and he asked them, saying,
Whom...
|
|
And when he was demanded of the Pharisees...
|
|
...a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good...
|
|
...was come near, he asked him,
|
|
And they asked him, saying, Master...
|
|
...any resurrection: and they asked him,
|
|
...they durst not ask him any question...
|
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And they asked him, saying, Master...
|
|
...the face, and asked him, saying,
Prophesy...
|
|
...heard of Galilee, he asked whether the
man...
|
|
Then he questioned with him in...
|
ἐρωτάω
...great fever; and they besought him for
her...
|
|
...was Simon's, and prayed him that he...
|
|
...of the Jews, beseeching him that he...
|
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...of the Pharisees desired him that he...
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...Gadarenes round about besought him to
depart...
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...and they feared to ask him of that...
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...a certain Pharisee besought him to dine...
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...and see it: I pray thee have me...
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...to prove them: I pray thee have me...
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...sendeth ambassadors, and desireth conditions
of peace...
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Then he said, I pray thee therefore,
father...
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...if any man ask you, Why do...
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...unto them, I will also ask you
one thing...
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And if I also ask you, ye
will...
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And Pilate asked him, saying, Art...
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The next step in my process would be to follow through with some of the word studies that the exegesis began.
ReplyDeleteWith that, I would also look for intertextual echoes in this story. Is the rush off the cliff and into the lake an echo of Pharaoh's army getting drowned?
I'm also interested in the socio-political context. Is the name "legion" strictly a numerical reference, or is it indicative that this army of demons represents Roman oppression? Likewise, the pig industry would be onerous to Jews. Is this hog lot also an indicator of Roman influence? One of my text study friends cited a commentor who said they were for Roman sacrifices, but he couldn't locate the reference because the wi-fi was down. If this is coded language about the Roman Empire, would that strengthen the case of an echo of Pharaoh's army being drowned? What does that say about the people of the Gerasenes, who are afeared and who ask Jesus to leave?
Finally, is there a Girardian perspective here that merits attention? The demonized man might be a scapegoat figure, but certainly by the end of this story Jesus is the scapegoat, blamed for disrupting the pig industry and sent away as a way of keeping the peace. That seems classically Girardian.
Paul Neuchterlein's collations at http://girardianlectionary.net/reflections/year-c/proper_7c/ just blew me away. Classic Girardian indeed
ReplyDeleteI am not a Greek (or any other kind of ) scholar, but I am intrigued by pigs being the recipients of the demons, given their taboo status in Jewish society. Is there something to be inferred by this? have not seen any commentary regarding the pigs' status.
ReplyDeleteHi Kaherington, you ask a great question for someone who claims not to be a scholar.
DeleteI've seen some commentaries interpret the pigs to show that there were many Gentiles in the region, but population studies seem to question that assumption.
If pigs were a popular market for Roman soldiers, then it may be a symbol of Rome's presence and domination - which might also explain why the people asked Jesus to leave afterward.
I think any story that has a collective demon under the name of "Legion" wants us to be attentive to the influence of the Roman Empire.
Warren Carter, for example, in Matthew and Empire, draws attention to a Roman Legion that was stationed north of Syria, which had a wild pig as its symbol. Carter also has a provocative essay on Mark's account of this story - provocative even in its title - "Cross-Gendered Romans and Mark’s Jesus: Legion Enters the Pigs." The arguments in the latter essay seem a little forced to me, but he goes back to the symbolism of the pigs and the name Legion.
I want to think this mad herd of pigs might have been a very apt way of describing the people's experience of the Roman military. The idea that they rush to their deaths might have been a popular wish as well.
Though the pigs are taboo in Jewish society, they would not have been in the Gentile societies.
DeletePerhaps its a reflection of the clean/unclean of the Older Testament, could it also be a precursor to Acts 10?
I wondered too about the death of the pigs, the spirits are surely not killed by drowning, so are they loosed yet again?
ReplyDeleteI don't know enough about 1st century demonology to respond to that, Paul. Maybe they can die. Maybe they just go from one place to the other.
DeleteI really identified with your description of the person with demons not being able to separate his own identity from the demons. I have MS, and before it was controlled by medication, I remember telling someone that I felt like "a disease walking around." I can certainly understand how the person with demons would feel that way. Thanks, as always, for your insightful posts.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Caryn. I find myself really empathizing with these demonized persons, filled with some kinds of power, but subject to other kinds of power - really a heart-breaking story sometimes and all to familiar.
Deleteof course you are more familiar with your own greek as to someone elses but it is all greek to me which is why I so greatly appreaciate your hard work every week thanks
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