Mark 1:2

Mark 1:2 [Textus Receptus (Elzevir) (1624)]115
Ὡς γέγραπται ἐν τοῖς προφήταις· Ἰδού, ἐγὼ ἀποστέλλω τὸν ἄγγελόν μου πρὸ προσώπου σου, ὃς κατασκευάσει τὴν ὁδόν σου ἔμπροσθέν σου.

MSS: F (f71rc1), M, S (f79r), Ω, 5 (ἄγελόν?) (f238r), 6, 7, 8, 11, 13 (f42r), 438, 439, 480, 481, 482, 579 (f38r), 901 (f54r), 1443, 1444, 1445, 1701 (f69r)

Critical Apparatus :

(1) ως : A, D, E, F, G^supp, M, S, W, Y, Ω, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 438, 439, 480, 481, 482, 579, 901, 1443, 1444, 1445, 1701, 2268, ℓ1086
(2) καθως : א, B, K, L, Δ, 1, 4, 22, 33, 265, 389, 652, 700, 892, 1500, 1582

(3) τοις προφηταις : A, E, F, G^supp, K, M, S, W, Y, Σ, Ω, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 265, 389, 438, 439, 480, 481, 482, 579, 652, 901, 1443, 1444, 1445, 1500, 1701, 2268, ℓ1086
(4) τω ησαια τω προφητη : א, B, Δ, 33, 892, Peshitta (ܒ݁ܶܐܫܰܥܝܳܐ ܢܒ݂ܺܝܳܐ), Vulgate (Esaia propheta)
(5) τω ισαια το προφητη : L
(6) ησαια τω προφητη : D, 1, 22, 700, 1582

(7) εγω : א, A, E, F, G^supp, K, L, M, S, W, Y, Δ, Σ, Ω, 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 22, 33, 265, 389, 438, 439, 480, 481, 482, 579, 652, 700, 892, 901, 1443, 1444, 1445, 1500, 1582, 1701, 2268, ℓ1086
(8) OMIT εγω : B, D

(9) αποστελλω : A, B, D, E, F, G^supp, K, L, M, S, W, Y, Δ, Σ, Ω, 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 22, 33, 265, 389, 438, 439, 480, 481, 482, 579, 652, 700, 892, 901, 1443, 1444, 1445, 1500, 1582, 1701, 2268
(10) αποστελω : א, ℓ1086

(11) ος : א, A, B, D, E, F, G^supp, K, M, S, W, Y, Δ, Σ, Ω, 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 22, 33, 265, 389, 438, 439, 480, 481, 482, 579, 652, 700, 892, 901, 1443, 1444, 1445, 1500, 1582, 1701, 2268, ℓ1086
(12) ως : L

(13) την οδον : א, A, B, D, E, F, G^supp, K, L, M, S, W, Y, Δ, Σ, Ω, 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 22, 33, 265, 389, 438, 439, 480, 481, 482, 579, 652, 700, 892, 901, 1443, 1444, 1445, 1500, 1582, 1701, ℓ1086
(14) την την οδον : 2268

(15) εμπροσθεν σου : A, E, F, G^supp, M, S, Y, Δ, Σ, Ω, 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 22, 33, 438, 439, 480, 481, 482, 579, 700^mg, 892, 901, 1443, 1444, 1445, 1582, 1701, 2268, ℓ1086 Elzevir
(16) εμπροσθε σου : 9
(17) OMIT εμπροσθεν σου : א, B, D, K, L, W, 265, 389, 652, 700*, 1500, Peshitta, Vulgate

A Textual Commentary On Mark 1:2

(a) The quotations from the Old Testament found in the New, open a wide field for criticism ; for here copyists have so often brought such passages into verbal conformity, both in the New Testament and in the LXX., that a two-fold discrimination is needed. Also difficulties connected with the manner in which a citation is introduced have led to what may be deemed as unconscious corrections; hence the common reading in Mark i. 2. ἐν τοῖς προφήταις, instead of εν Ησαια (or τω Ησ.) τω προφητη, which many have approved, just because of the Evangelist having actually cited from two prophets, and not from Isaiah only. This approval, however, of the later reading is not only uncritical, but it is connected with a very superficial apprehension of the true depth of significance found in the use of Scripture.¹

¹ “In St. Mark i. 2 , where the reading adopted in the English version ‘As it is written in tlie Prophets’ (ἐν τοῖς προφήταις), is certainly incorrect, — and where we should read ‘in Isaiah the prophet’ (εν Ησαια τω προφητη), — we find the language of Mal. iii. 1. combined with that of Isai. xl. 3. It is obvious that the words of Malachi, ‘he shall prepare the [a] way before me’ are based upon the expression of Isaiah, ‘Prepare ye the Gate way of the Lord;’ and that this is not a mere undesigned coincidence on the part of the later prophet is proved by Malachi (iii. 2., iv. 5.) having similarly incorporated in his own statements, the language of another and earlier servant of God, viz. Joel ii. II. and 31. The design of Malachi here was to show the Jews who had returned from the exile, and whose temporal condition seemed to present a contradiction to the promised glories of Messiah’s reign, that Isaiah himself had already foretold that the evangelical promises were not as yet at hand, and that the preparation of the way must precede Messiah’s glory. The passage quoted by St. Mark from Malachi, therefore, is not an independent prediction. Malachi is merely the auctor secundarius, and the Evangelist points out that this is the case by ascribing both commentary and text to Isaiah, whom he thus represents as the auctor primarius, — the commentary being placed first, as it serves to elucidate the text. St. Mark’s exordium, ‘ The beginning of the Gospel,’ also shows that he had in view the closing book of the Old Testament. That in St. Matt. iii. 1- 4. these words of Isaiah are in like manner quoted with reference to Malachi is clear from the use of μετανοειτε, ver. 2., compared with MaL iv. 5, 6„ where ‘Elijah the prophet’ is described as the preacher of μετανοια.” The Inspiration of Holy Scripture, its Nature and Proof: Eight Discourses preached before the University of Dublin. By William Lee, M. A., Fellow and Tutor of Trinity College, p. 333. foot-note ; where the accompanying context contains much that is interesting and valuable on the quotations from the Old Testament in the New; their purport, form, &c

(S. P. Tregelles, An Introduction to Textual Criticism of the New Testament, pp. 397-398)