[B-Greek] Time Reference in Jn 6:16-21, Matt. 14:22-27, Mk 6:45-62

Carl Conrad cwconrad2 at mac.com
Tue Jun 3 16:17:41 EDT 2008


On Jun 3, 2008, at 4:08 PM, Elizabeth Kline wrote:

> The question: Was it still dark when Jesus came to disciples?
>
> Based on the LANGUAGE of Jn 6:16-21, Matt. 14:22-27, Mk 6:45-62 can we
> determine if Jesus arrived near the boat before the predawn light?
>
> MT 6:25 TETARTHi DE FULAKHi THS NUKTOS HLQEN PROS AUTOUS PERIPATWN EPI
> THN QALASSAN.  26 hOI DE MAQHTAI IDONTES AUTON EPI THS QALASSHS
> PERIPATOUNTA ETARACQHSAN LEGONTES hOTI FANTASMA ESTIN, KAI APO TOU
> FOBOU EKRAXAN.
>
> MARK 6:45 KAI EUQUS HNAGKASEN TOUS MAQHTAS AUTOU EMBHNAI EIS TO PLOION
> KAI PROAGEIN EIS TO PERAN PROS BHQSAIDAN, hEWS AUTOS APOLUEI TON
> OCLON.  46 KAI APOTAXAMENOS AUTOIS APHLQEN EIS TO OROS PROSEUXASQAI.
> 47 KAI OYIAS GENOMENHS HN TO PLOION EN MESWi THS QALASSHS, KAI AUTOS
> MONOS EPI THS GHS.  48 KAI IDWN AUTOUS BASANIZOMENOUS EN TWi ELAUNEIN,
> HN GAR hO ANEMOS ENANTIOS AUTOIS, PERI TETARTHN FULAKHN THS NUKTOS
> ERCETAI PROS AUTOUS PERIPATWN EPI THS QALASSHS KAI HQELEN PARELQEIN
> AUTOUS.  49 hOI DE IDONTES AUTON EPI THS QALASSHS PERIPATOUNTA EDOXAN
> hOTI FANTASMA ESTIN, KAI ANEKRAXAN:  50 PANTES GAR AUTON EIDON KAI
> ETARACQHSAN.
>
> JOHN 6:16 hWS DE OYIA EGENETO KATEBHSAN hOI MAQHTAI AUTOU EPI THN
> QALASSAN  17 KAI EMBANTES EIS PLOION HRCONTO PERAN THS QALASSHS EIS
> KAFARNAOUM. KAI SKOTIA HDH EGEGONEI KAI OUPW ELHLUQEI PROS AUTOUS hO
> IHSOUS,  18 hH TE QALASSA ANEMOU MEGALOU PNEONTOS DIEGEIRETO.  19
> ELHLAKOTES OUN hWS STADIOUS EIKOSI PENTE H TRIAKONTA QEWROUSIN TON
> IHSOUN PERIPATOUNTA EPI THS QALASSHS KAI EGGUS TOU PLOIOU GINOMENON,
> KAI EFOBHQHSAN.
>
> The time references in the different accounts are not really very
> precise. Is it possible based on the LANGUAGE to determine if it was
> still dark when Jesus was seen approaching the boat?


The indication in John 6:17 is that it was dark (SKOTIA HDH EGEGONEI).  
The indication in Mt is "in the fourth watch"; in Mk it is "around the  
fourth watch." The Fourth Watch is the fourth of the segments of  
darkness between dusk and dawn -- and the length of the watches of the  
night and of the hours of the day is flexible for time of year. It  
seems to me pretty clear that the time indicated is well before any  
dawn light.

Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Retired)






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