Mark 13:1-8
The end and the coming of the Son
13:1As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!”
13:2Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”
13:3When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,
13:4″Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?”
13:5Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray.
13:6Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray.
13:7When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come.
13:8For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.
[1]Καὶ ἐκπορευομένου αὐτοῦ ἐκ τοῦ ἱεροῦ λέγει αὐτῷ εἷς τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ· διδάσκαλε, ἴδε ποταποὶ λίθοι καὶ ποταπαὶ οἰκοδομαί.
[2]καὶ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτῷ· βλέπεις ταύτας τὰς μεγάλας οἰκοδομάς; οὐ μὴ ἀφεθῇ ὧδε λίθος ἐπὶ λίθον ὃς οὐ μὴ καταλυθῇ.
[3]Καὶ καθημένου αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸ ὄρος τῶν ἐλαιῶν κατέναντι τοῦ ἱεροῦ, ἐπηρώτων αὐτὸν κατ᾿ ἰδίαν Πέτρος καὶ ᾿Ιάκωβος καὶ ᾿Ιωάννης καὶ ᾿Ανδρέας·
[4]εἰπὲ ἡμῖν πότε ταῦτα ἔσται, καὶ τί τὸ σημεῖον ὅταν μέλλῃ πάντα ταῦτα συντελεῖσθαι;
[5]ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἀποκριθεὶς ἤρξατο λέγειν αὐτοῖς· βλέπετε μή τις ὑμᾶς πλανήσῃ.
[6]πολλοὶ γὰρ ἐλεύσονται ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματί μου λέγοντες ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι, καὶ πολλοὺς πλανήσουσιν.
[7]ὅταν δὲ ἀκούσητε πολέμους καὶ ἀκοὰς πολέμων, μὴ θροεῖσθε· δεῖ γὰρ γενέσθαι, ἀλλ᾿ οὔπω τὸ τέλος.
[8]ἐγερθήσεται γὰρ ἔθνος ἐπὶ ἔθνος καὶ βασιλεία ἐπὶ βασιλείαν, καὶ ἔσονται σεισμοὶ κατὰ τόπους, καὶ ἔσονται λιμοὶ καὶ ταραχαί.
Comments
Graphic, apocalyptic predictions in vv. 2, 6, and 7; the syntax of v. 2 assures us in no uncertain terms that not a stone will be left intact and that the destruction of the building will be complete.
[1] ποταποὶ λίθοι καὶ ποταπαὶ οἰκοδομαί: ποταπός, ‘of what sort?’ (Muraoka s.v.), e.g., Su 54, referring to Paradise. The phrase expresses the disciple’s breathless, admiring exclamation.
[2] οὐ μὴ ἀφεθῇ ὧδε λίθος ἐπὶ λίθον ὃς οὐ μὴ καταλυθῇ: generally, the cluster of the two neg. οὐ μὴ + 1st or 3rd pers. aor. subjunctive (or indicative future) indicates an extremely strong negation in the future, ‘By no means will….’ Jesus is more than emphatic: ‘By NO means will a stone be left that will NOT be utterly (κατά + λύω) be destroyed.’ He expresses absolute certainty about complete destruction in the future.
[4] συντελεῖσθαι: pass., ‘be completed, come to an end’ (EDNT s.v. συντελέω); the meaning is much more dramatic than ‘happen’. τελ- suggests completion, consummation, reaching fullness.
[8] ἔθνος ἐπὶ ἔθνος καὶ βασιλεία ἐπὶ βασιλείαν, καὶ ἔσονται σεισμοὶ κατὰ τόπους, καὶ ἔσονται λιμοὶ: ἔθνος ἐπὶ ἔθνος καὶ βασιλεία ἐπὶ βασιλείαν are parallel. In the two parallel phrases ‘there will earthquakes (σεισμοὶ) in places, and there will be famines (λιμοὶ)’ σεισμοὶ and λιμοὶ rhyme. Chaos, disharmony, and destruction are formulated with symmetry and an ear for assonance.
Insights into Biblical Greek Grammar and Syntax 