Mark 9.29: 'Only by prayer and fasting'

[Amy]

A friend recently asked why (in some manuscripts) the phrase "and fasting" is omitted when Jesus said, "This kind can only come out by nothing but prayer and fasting" in St. Mark 9:29. It appears in the KJV, but not the NASB, for example.

My Orthodox study bible says in the notes that this phrase , and fasting, is omitted in some ancient manuscripts, but gives no clue as to why.

The St. Matthew account 17:21 has this phrase included without controversy.

Any ideas as to why or how the phrase in St. Mark came to be omitted in some of our current Bible versions?

[Michael Stickles]

Here are two articles which may help on this:

http://www.ibs.org/niv/mct/4.php
http://www.tyndale.org/TSJ/13/thiede.html

The first is on the International Bible Society website, and is a rationale for the eclectic Greek text used for the NIV. The specific discussion of Mark 9:29 (and by extension Matthew 17:21) is in a paragraph about two-thirds of the way down the page.

The second is on the Tyndale Society website; the entire page is devoted to arguing for the retention of "and fasting" in Mark 9:29. It has much more information on specific manuscripts than the IBS article.

Both pages speculate on the reasons - IBS's on why the phrase may have been added; Tyndale's on why it may have been dropped.

In Christ,
Mike

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

The Slavonic text has without comment, "prayer and fasting."

[Kusanagi]

There are many reasons that could be taken into consideration why it was skipped out.

I just found out what NASB means after I wrote the above sentence so the reason being could be what people of certain christian denomination believe in.

Some might not think fasting is necessary so they take it out.
I read in Fr Seraphim Rose's book that some left out the cruxcifiction and resurrection because they don't believe it or think it is necessary.

Also it could be to do with the translator adding or taking out parts according to their judgment.

These things happen that's why it's best to take care to read books from certain publications that is trusted.

[Christophoros]

The Slavonic text has without comment, "prayer and fasting."

The words "but prayer and fasting" are contained in the authorized Greek text of the Church of Constantinople and the Church of Greece, the Latin Vulgate, the Syriac Peshitta, and is contained in "Explanation" of the New Testament by Blessed Theophylact of Ochrid (11th c.). I am interested in learning what manuscripts were used to produce the Slavonic version you are referencing.

In Christ,
Chris

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

I am interested in learning what manuscripts were used to produce the Slavonic version you are referencing.


I'm sorry- I don't know anything about this.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Father David Moser]

The words "but prayer and fasting" are contained in the authorized Greek text of the Church ... I am interested in learning what manuscripts were used to produce the Slavonic version you are referencing.


I think this might be a misunderstanding. Fr Raphael is NOT saying that the words "prayer and fasting" do not appear - rather he is stating that they DO appear and that there is no comment about other textual variations.

Fr David Moser

[Christophoros]

Dear Fr. David,

You are right - a misunderstanding on my part! Thank you for bringing it to my attention.

In Christ,
Chris

[Effie Ganatsios]

I looked this up in my husband's bible which has the ancient Greek text and a more modern translation beside it :

1st version : εν προσευχη και νηστεια
en prosefhi ke nisteia (phonetically)

2nd version προσευχην συνοδευομενην και με νηστειαν
prosefhin sinothevomenin ke me nisteia


Translation : 1st version : with prayer and fasting
2nd version : prayer accompanied by fasting


Hope the greek letters appear correctly.

Effie

[Amy]

Thank you kindly for your responses; very helpful!

Blessings,
amy