Mark: Course Notes for Mark 1:1-3

­EVANGELIUM

SECUNDUM MARCUM

CHAPTER ONE

1      Initium evangelii Iesu Christi Filii Dei.  2 Sicut scriptum est in Isaia propheta:  “Ecce mitto angelum eum ante faciem tuam, qui praeparabit viam tuam;

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1:1 Initium evangelii Iesu Christi Filii Dei  The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the son of God.  Supply “The.”  Unlike English, Latin lacks the definite and indefinite articles. Initium stands in the nominative case as the subject and belongs to the class of neuter nouns in the 2d declension.  evangelii is the genitive, of evangelium, a neuter noun in the 2d declension [App 7],  and is governed by “Initium.”  “evangelii” is a partitive genitive since it follows a word denoting part of a whole [App 3].  Iesu Christi, an appositive genitive (or “genitive of description” [App 3], more explicitly explains the meaning of the more general “evangelii.” The title “Christi” is the genitive of “Christus,” a masculine noun of the 2d declension.  “Christi” is the Latin transcription of the Greek Χριστοῦ, “the anointed one.”  Filii Dei is an appositional genitive.  Both nouns are masculine nouns of the 2d declension. 

1:2 Sicut scriptum est as it is written; the verb is an impersonal use of the 3d person singular perfect passive indicative of scribo. [Look up “scribo” in 501 Latin Verbs [“501”].  Check the perfect tense.]  The perfect tense denotes completed action that continues with present result:  it has been written (and is so now).  In Isaia propheta is a compressed way of saying:  in the writings of Isaiah.  “Propheta” is nominative singular of the first declension [App 6] noun propheta, prophetae,m. “Propheta” stands in apposition to “Isaia,” more fully identifying him. Ecce mitto behold, I will send; “ecce” is a demonstrative particle.   A demonstrative particle arouses the attention of the audience.  The verb “mitto” is first person singular present active indicative [Look up “mitto” in 501]; the present tense connotes a future.  Angelum meum my messenger; the 2d declension noun “angelum”, a masculine singular accusative of angelus, angeli, m., is the direct object of the verb “mitto.”  “meum,” accusative singular of the possessive pronoun meus, mei, m., is translated as a possessive adjective in English.  ante faciem tuam before your face; the preposition “ante” governs the accusative.  “faciem” is the singular accusative of the 5^th declension [App. 12] feminine noun facies, -ei, “face, countenance.”  “tuam” is the accusative of the feminine possessive pronoun tua, tuae, f.  qui praeparabit viam tuam who will prepare your way; “qui” is nominative singular of the relative pronoun qui, quae, quod [App 20].  It agrees in gender and number with its antecedent “angelum,” i.e, masculine singular. “praeparabit.”  The verb “praeparabit” is 3d person singular future active indicative of praeparo, praeparare, praeparavi, praeparatum [Look up “paro” in 501. Check the future tense].  “viam tuam”:  the noun is feminine singular accusative of the first declension noun via, viae, f. and the direct object of the verb “praeparabit.” 

               

3  vox clamantis in deserto:

‘Parate viam Domini,

Rectas facite semitas eius.’’

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1:3       vox clamantis the voice of one crying; supply “he is.”  The Gospel of John the Baptist prefaces the statement with the person pronoun “Ego,” I am as he responds to the priest and Levites (1:23).  “Vox” is the nominative singular of the 3d declension [App. 9] feminine noun vox, vocis.  “Clamantis” is the masculine singular present active participle [App. 41] of clamo, clamare, clamavi, clamatum.  A participle agrees in gender, number, and case with its subject or antecedent.  The antecedent of a man or of one must be supplied from the participle itself.  The participle prepares the reader for the upcoming direct quote.  In deserto the preposition [App. 47] governs the ablative case.  Parate viam Domini prepare the way of the Lord.  “Parate” is the plural imperative of paro, parare, paravi, paratum.  “Viam” is the direct object of the verb and stands in the accusative case.  Rectas facite semitas eius The adjective “rectas” is a feminine plural accusative of rectus, -a, -um, in agreement with its subject “semitas.”   “Facite” is a 2d person plural imperative of facio, facere, feci, factum, “do, make.”  Both this and the previous line are a parallel couplet which emphasizes a similar theme of preparation.  The first quotation is a composite of Exodus 23:20 and Malachi 3:1, and the second quotation is of Isaiah 40:3.