The interpretation timeline

Mark 6:53

How this passage has been read — the sources, oldest to newest.

From the early Church Fathers to now.

3 Patristic witnesses · 2 Orthodox witnesses · 1 Medieval witness

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Patristic before A.D. 750
Bede the Venerable · c. A.D. 672–735 A.D. 735
“(ubi sup.) But they knew Him by report, not by His features; or through the greatness of His miracles, even His person was known to some. See too how great was the faith of the men of the land of Gennesaret, so that they were not content with the healing of those who were present, but sent to other towns round about, that all might hasten to the Physician; wherefore there follows, And ran through the whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.”
Catena Aurea: Gospel of Mark, as excerpted in the Catena Aurea on Mark 6:53-56 PD · J. H. Newman (Oxford, 1842) ↗
Bede the Venerable · c. A.D. 672–735 A.D. 735
“(ubi sup.) Again, in a mystical sense, do thou understand by the hem of His garment the slightest of His commandments, for whosoever shall transgress it shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven, (Matt. 5:19) or else His assumption of our flesh, by which we have come to the Word of God, and afterwards, shall have the enjoyment of His majesty.”
Catena Aurea: Gospel of Mark, as excerpted in the Catena Aurea on Mark 6:53-56 PD · J. H. Newman (Oxford, 1842) ↗
372 years pass — nothing from this stretch is hosted yet
Scholastic c. 1100 – 1500
Theophylact of Ohrid · c. 1055–1107 1107
“For they did not call Him to their houses that He might heal them, but rather the sick themselves were brought to Him. Wherefore it also follows, And whithersoever he entered into villages, or cities, or country, &c. For the miracle which had been wrought on the woman with an issue of blood, had reached the ears of many, and caused in them that great faith, by which they were healed. It goes on, And as many as touched him were made whole.”
Catena Aurea: Gospel of Mark, as excerpted in the Catena Aurea on Mark 6:53-56 PD · J. H. Newman (Oxford, 1842) ↗
Undated date unknown
Glossa Ordinaria
“(non occ.) The Evangelist, having shewn the danger which the disciples had sustained in their passage, and their deliverance from it, now shews the place to which they sailed, saying, And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.”
Catena Aurea: Gospel of Mark, as excerpted in the Catena Aurea on Mark 6:53-56 PD · J. H. Newman (Oxford, 1842) ↗

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