Forgiveness and Healing of a Paralytic
Mark 2:1-12
Mark.2.1 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- εισελθων: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- παλιν: ADV
- εις: PREP
- Καφαρναουμ: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- δι᾽ημερων: PREP+NOUN,gen,pl,f
- ηκουσθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- οτι: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- οικω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- εστιν·: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Matthew 9:1 (structural): Begins the same pericope: Jesus returns to his own city and the account of the paralytic/house scene parallels Mark's opening setting.
- Luke 5:17 (thematic): Luke records the same healing episode (men bringing a paralytic into a house while Jesus was teaching), paralleling Mark's house-setting and crowd context.
- Mark 1:29 (verbal): Earlier in Mark Jesus also 'entered into the house' in Capernaum (Peter's), where healings and crowds gather—similar house-based ministry setting.
- Matthew 4:13 (allusion): States that Jesus made his home in Capernaum, explaining why he is 'in the house' there and providing geographical/thematic background to Mark's scene.
Alternative generated candidates
- After some days he returned to Capernaum; and it became known that he was at home.
- And after some days he entered Capernaum again, and it was heard that he was in the house.
Mark.2.2 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- συνηχθησαν: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,pl
- πολλοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- ωστε: CONJ
- μηκετι: ADV
- χωρειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- μηδε: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- προς: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- θυραν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- ελαλει: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- λογον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Matthew 9:2 (structural): Synoptic parallel to the healing of the paralytic: same narrative setting (a crowd around Jesus, a man brought in) and Jesus’ authoritative words and healing action.
- Luke 5:17 (structural): Parallel account of the paralytic episode: a large gathering of teachers and people prevents normal entry, prompting the roof-opening and emphasizing the crowded setting for Jesus’ teaching and healing.
- Mark 1:32-34 (thematic): Within Mark’s Gospel: crowds bring the sick to Jesus and he heals many and teaches—similar language about large numbers gathering and Jesus’ ministry of word and healing.
- John 6:2 (thematic): Describes large multitudes following Jesus because of his miracles—echoes the motif of crowds pressing in around Jesus as he teaches and heals.
Alternative generated candidates
- So many were gathered together that there was no longer room, not even at the door; and he was preaching the word to them.
- And many were gathered, so that there was no longer room, not even at the door; and he was speaking the word to them.
Mark.2.3 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ερχονται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,pl
- φεροντες: VERB,pres,act,ptcp,nom,m,pl
- προς: PREP
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- παραλυτικον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- αιρομενον: VERB,pres,mp,ptcp,acc,m,sg
- υπο: PREP
- τεσσαρων: NUM,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Matthew 9:2 (verbal): Matthew recounts the same scene—'they brought to him a paralytic'—with nearly identical wording and the emphasis on the friends bringing the sick man and Jesus' response to their faith.
- Luke 5:18-20 (verbal): Luke provides the parallel pericope: men carry a paralytic on a bed, lower him through the roof before Jesus, and Jesus perceives their faith; closely parallels Mark's account of the four men bringing the paralytic.
- Acts 3:2-8 (thematic): Peter and John's healing of the lame man at the temple gate echoes the motif of Jesus' (and the apostles') authority to heal a paralytic and the public amazement that follows.
- Mark 1:40-42 (thematic): An earlier Markan healing narrative (the leper) shares the theme of a physically afflicted person approaching Jesus (or being brought to him) and receiving a miraculous restoration, highlighting Jesus' compassion and power to heal.
Alternative generated candidates
- They came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four.
- And some men came, bringing to him a paralytic who was carried by four.
Mark.2.4 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- μη: PART,neg
- δυναμενοι: PART,pres,mid,nom,pl,m
- προσενεγκαι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- δια: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- οχλον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- απεστεγασαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- στεγην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- οπου: ADV,rel
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- εξορυξαντες: PART,aor,act,nom,pl,m
- χαλωσι: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- κραβαττον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- οπου: ADV,rel
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- παραλυτικος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- κατεκειτο: VERB,impf,mid/pass,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Luke 5:18-19 (structural): Near-identical synoptic account: friends remove part of the roof and lower the paralytic on a stretcher to reach Jesus; shares the roof-lowering detail and setting of the healing.
- Matthew 9:2-7 (structural): Synoptic parallel of the healing of the paralytic brought to Jesus by others; while Matthew omits the explicit roof detail, it recounts the same miracle, Jesus’ forgiveness and healing, and the crowd’s reaction.
- John 5:2-9 (thematic): Different healing of a paralytic (at Bethesda) that also emphasizes a prolonged disability, Jesus’ initiative in healing, and controversy about authority/ Sabbath—thematically related to Jesus’ power to heal and the surrounding responses.
- Acts 3:2-8 (thematic): Peter heals a lame man at the temple gate—another early Christian healing narrative that parallels motifs of a formerly incapacitated person made able to walk and the public reaction to the miracle, linking apostolic/Jesus healing authority.
Alternative generated candidates
- And when they could not bring him near to Jesus because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and removed part of it; and after making an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay.
- And because they could not bring him to Jesus on account of the crowd, they removed the roof above where he was; and when they had made an opening, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay.
Mark.2.5 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ιδων: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- πιστιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- παραλυτικω·Τεκνον: NOUN,dat,sg,m+NOUN,voc,sg,n
- αφιενται: VERB,pres,pass,ind,3,sg
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- αι: ART,nom,pl,f
- αμαρτιαι: NOUN,nom,pl,f
Parallels
- Matthew 9:2 (verbal): Parallel Synoptic account of the healing of the paralytic. Jesus sees the men’s faith and declares the man’s sins forgiven (near-identical wording).
- Luke 5:20 (verbal): Luke’s parallel narrative: Jesus perceives the faith of those who brought the paralytic and pronounces forgiveness of sins; same core scene and language.
- Luke 7:48 (verbal): Jesus tells the forgiven sinful woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” Different context but a directly comparable pronouncement demonstrating Jesus’ authority to forgive sins.
- Mark 2:9-10 (structural): Immediate literary context where Jesus challenges the scribes and asserts the Son of Man’s authority to forgive sins, explaining the significance of his saying in 2:5.
- John 5:14 (thematic): After healing at Bethesda Jesus links healing and sin—“Sin no more”—highlighting the thematic connection between forgiveness and physical restoration present in Mark 2:5.
Alternative generated candidates
- And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
- When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."
Mark.2.6 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ησαν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- δε: CONJ
- τινες: PRON,nom,pl,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- γραμματεων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- εκει: ADV
- καθημενοι: PTCP,pres,mid,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- διαλογιζομενοι: PTCP,pres,mid,nom,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- ταις: ART,dat,pl,f
- καρδιαις: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- αυτων·: PRON,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Matthew 9:3 (verbal): Parallel Synoptic account of the same episode: scribes say in their hearts that Jesus is blaspheming; language and function of their secret thoughts correspond to Mark 2:6–7.
- Luke 5:21 (verbal): Direct Lukan parallel: scribes and Pharisees question Jesus' authority and inner thoughts are highlighted (‘Why do you think these things in your hearts?’), matching Mark's emphasis on private reasoning.
- Mark 2:8 (structural): Immediate Markan follow-up: Jesus perceives their thoughts in his spirit and addresses them—connects directly to the note that scribes were reasoning in their hearts.
- John 2:24-25 (thematic): John observes that Jesus did not entrust himself to people because he knew what was in man—the theme of Jesus perceiving human thoughts/hearts parallels Mark's depiction of scribes reasoning privately.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts,
- Now some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts,
Mark.2.7 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- Τι: PRON,nom,sg,neut
- ουτος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- ουτως: ADV
- λαλει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- βλασφημει·τις: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg+PRON,nom,sg,m
- δυναται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- αφιεναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- αμαρτιας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- μη: PART
- εις: PREP
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Luke 5:21 (verbal): Nearly identical wording in the parallel account of the healing: the scribes ask, 'Who can forgive sins but God alone?', directly matching Mark's report.
- Matthew 9:6 (structural): Parallel pericope of the paralytic’s healing where Jesus demonstrates the Son of Man’s authority to forgive sins—addressing the same charge of blasphemy.
- Mark 2:10 (structural): Immediate sequel within Mark’s narrative: Jesus declares that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, directly answering the scribes’ objection in 2:7.
- Isaiah 43:25 (thematic): God’s exclusive role in removing/blotting out transgressions ('I blot out your transgressions') echoes the theological claim behind the scribes’ objection that only God can forgive sins.
Alternative generated candidates
- "Why does this man speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
- "Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming. Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
Mark.2.8 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ευθυς: ADV
- επιγνους: PART,aor,act,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- πνευματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- οτι: CONJ
- ουτως: ADV
- διαλογιζονται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,pl
- εν: PREP
- εαυτοις: PRON,dat,pl,m
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις·Τι: PRON,dat,pl,m
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- διαλογιζεσθε: VERB,pres,mid,ind,2,pl
- εν: PREP
- ταις: ART,dat,pl,f
- καρδιαις: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
Parallels
- Matthew 9:4 (verbal): Parallel account of the same incident (healing of the paralytic): Jesus perceives the thoughts of the scribes and asks why they entertain such thoughts, using similar wording to Mark 2:8.
- Luke 5:22 (verbal): Luke's parallel narration of the paralytic episode likewise reports that Jesus perceived the reasoning of those present, closely matching Mark's depiction of Jesus discerning inner thoughts.
- John 2:25 (thematic): John remarks that Jesus 'knew what was in man,' a theological statement about Jesus' insight into human hearts that parallels Mark's depiction of his perception of others' inner thoughts.
- Matthew 12:25 (verbal): In a different context Jesus 'knew their thoughts' and responds accordingly; this passage parallels Mark 2:8 in portraying Jesus' ability to discern the inward reasoning of others.
- Luke 6:8 (verbal): In the synagogue-healing scene Luke notes Jesus perceiving the thoughts of his opponents, echoing the motif in Mark 2:8 of Jesus detecting and addressing inner deliberations.
Alternative generated candidates
- And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you entertain these questions in your hearts?"
- But Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you reason these things in your hearts?"
Mark.2.9 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ευκοπωτερον: ADJ,comp,nom,sg,n
- ειπειν: VERB,aor,act,inf
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- παραλυτικω·Αφιενται: ADJ,dat,sg,m + VERB,pres,mid/pass,ind,3,pl
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- αι: ART,nom,pl,f
- αμαρτιαι: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- ειπειν·Εγειρε: VERB,aor,act,inf + VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- και: CONJ
- αρον: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- κραβαττον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- και: CONJ
- περιπατει: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,sg
Parallels
- Matthew 9:5 (verbal): Synoptic parallel with essentially the same wording and rhetorical question contrasting forgiving sins and commanding a paralytic to rise and walk.
- Luke 5:23 (verbal): Another close synoptic parallel; Luke preserves the same challenge about which is easier—pronouncing forgiveness or healing the paralytic.
- John 5:8–9 (structural): Jesus' command to the paralytic at Bethesda—'Rise, take up your mat and walk'—parallels the healing command formula used in Mark and highlights the motif of authoritative, immediate restoration.
- Psalm 103:3 (thematic): Couples forgiveness of sins with physical healing ('who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases'), thematically linking the two actions Mark contrasts in his rhetorical question.
Alternative generated candidates
- "Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your pallet and walk’?
- Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your mat, and walk'?
Mark.2.10 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ινα: CONJ
- δε: CONJ
- ειδητε: VERB,aor,act,sub,2,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- εξουσιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εχει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- υιος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ανθρωπου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- επι: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αφιεναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- αμαρτιας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- παραλυτικω·: NOUN,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Matthew 9:6 (verbal): Synoptic parallel with nearly identical wording: Jesus declares the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins (same pericope of the paralytic).
- Luke 5:24 (verbal): Luke's parallel account repeats the claim that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins, mirroring Mark's testimony and the healing narrative.
- Mark 2:7 (structural): Immediate contextual objection—'Who can forgive sins but God alone?'—frames Jesus' statement as a claim to divine prerogative and explains the charge of blasphemy.
- John 20:23 (thematic): Jesus gives the apostles authority to forgive or retain sins; thematically related to Jesus' exercise of authority over forgiveness and its delegation in the early church.
- Isaiah 43:25 (allusion): OT background for divine forgiveness—'I, I am he who blots out your transgressions'—provides theological precedent for the claim that forgiving sins is God's prerogative, which Jesus appropriates.
Alternative generated candidates
- "But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"—he said to the paralytic—
- But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins—
Mark.2.11 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- Σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
- λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- εγειρε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,sg
- αρον: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- κραβαττον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- και: CONJ
- υπαγε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,sg
- εις: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- οικον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
Parallels
- Matthew 9:6-7 (verbal): Parallel account of the healing of the paralytic; Jesus likewise commands the man to rise and take up his mat, and the man departs healed (close verbal and narrative correspondence).
- Luke 5:24-25 (verbal): Luke’s parallel preserves the same command — Jesus tells the paralytic to rise, take up his bed, and go home — and links the command to Jesus’ authority to forgive sins.
- John 5:8 (verbal): At Bethesda Jesus (or in John’s narrative, Jesus) says to the invalid, “Rise, take up your bed, and walk,” a nearly identical verbal formula for a commanded healing.
- Acts 3:6-8 (thematic): Peter commands the lame man to ‘rise up and walk’ in the name of Jesus; thematically continues the New Testament motif of authoritative commands effecting instantaneous healing.
- Mark 1:31 (thematic): Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law and she immediately rises and begins to serve; thematically parallels the motif of immediate physical restoration and rising to new activity after Jesus’ healing command.
Alternative generated candidates
- "I say to you, rise, take up your pallet, and go to your house."
- he said to the paralytic, "I say to you, rise, take up your bed, and go to your house."
Mark.2.12 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ηγερθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- ευθυς: ADV
- αρας: VERB,part,aor,act,nom,m,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- κραβαττον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εξηλθεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- εμπροσθεν: PREP
- παντων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- ωστε: CONJ
- εξιστασθαι: VERB,pres,pass,inf
- παντας: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- δοξαζειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- θεον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- λεγοντας: VERB,part,pres,act,nom,m,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- Ουτως: ADV
- ουδεποτε: ADV
- ειδομεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,pl
Parallels
- Mark 2:11 (structural): Immediate antecedent command—'I say to you, rise, pick up your pallet and go home'—which directly explains the paralytic's action in v.12.
- Matthew 9:6-8 (verbal): Parallel account of the same healing: Jesus commands the man to rise and take up his bed; the crowd is amazed and glorifies God (adds the motif of Jesus' authority to forgive sins).
- Luke 5:24-26 (verbal): Lukan parallel of the healing: Jesus' words produce the man's immediate standing and walking, provoking amazement and praise of God.
- John 5:8-9 (thematic): Different episode (Bethesda) but similar verbal formula—'Rise, take up your bed and walk'—and the healed man carrying his mat, highlighting the motif of instantaneous bodily restoration.
- Isaiah 35:6 (thematic): Prophetic backdrop to New Testament healings: promises that the lame will leap and the mute sing, providing a theological frame for the crowd's amazement and glorifying of God.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he rose, took up the pallet, and went out before them all; and they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."
- And he rose, took up the bed, and went out before them all; and they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this."
And again he entered into Capernaum; and it was told that he was in the house. And immediately many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even at the door; and he was preaching the word to them. And they came to him, bringing a paralytic carried by four. And when they could not come near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above where he was; and having made an opening, they lowered the bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, 'Son, your sins are forgiven.' Now some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts,
'Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who can forgive sins but God alone?' And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, said to them, 'Why do you reason these things in your hearts?'
Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your bed, and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins—
'I say to you, rise, take up your bed, and go home.' And he rose, and immediately took up the bed, and went out before them all; and they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, 'We have never seen anything like this.'