Encomia in Marcum Euangelistam
Standard abbreviation: Encom. Mark
Other titles: none
Clavis numbers: ECCA 277; CANT 289
Category: Apocryphal Acts
Related literature: Acts and Miracles of Mark, Martyrdom of Mark
Compiled by: Tony Burke, York University
Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Burke, Tony. “Encomium on Mark, by John of Shmun.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/encomium-on-mark-by-john-of-shmun/.
Created October 2024.
1. SUMMARY
The encomium is delivered on 30 Parmoute, the feast day of Mark. John praises Mark as the apostle who brought Christianity to Egypt, for bringing light to darkness (a play on the native word for Egypt, which also means black). The first fragment of the text reveals that when Mark’s father died, his mother handed over to the care of Barnabas, his uncle. After a gap in the text, John tackles the problem of Paul’s refusal to allow Mark to accompany Paul and Barnabas in their travels (Acts 15:36–39) because Mark had abandoned them in Pamphylia (Acts 13:`13). John expands the story so that Paul and Barnabas argue over whether Mark’s repentance for his earlier offence is acceptable or not. John makes efforts to soften Paul’s actions, saying Barnabas is gentle and Paul harsh but both qualities are needed. Also, he says that readers may think Barnabas was gentle with Mark because of their kinship, but Barnabas was gentle with all people.
Separated from Paul, Mark turns to Peter and becomes his disciple. He composed Peter’s gospel and when Paul became aware of it, his attitude toward Mark softened, as is evident from his mention of Mark in Colossians 4:10.
Another fragment of the text takes place in Alexandria. The context is the healing of the cobbler Ananias. A speaker, likely Jesus, instructs Mark on the necessity of the injury receive by Ananias—this way the city will know a “new physician” has come to the city. At Jesus’ instruction, Mark heals the wound and blesses Ananias.
Named Historical Figures and Characters: Ananias/Anianos (of Alexandria), Barnabas, Mark (evangelist), Paul (apostle), Peter (apostle).
Geographical Locations: Alexandria, Antioch, Egypt, Pamphylia.
2. RESOURCES
3. BIBLIOGRAPHY
3.1 Manuscripts and Editions
3.1.1 Coptic (CC 0186; PAThs entry)
MONB.GQ, pp. 137–138, 155–156 (ca. 10th cent.)
MONB.NY (=Orlandi N)
MONB.AY (PAThs) [see Orlandi’s Mus article, pp. 354–55] (=Orlandi A)
SIUD.AB (PAThs) (=Orlandi C)
Orlandi, Tito. Studi copti. 1. Un encomio di Marco Evangelista. 2. Le fonti copte della Storia dei Patriarchi di Alessandria. 3. La leggenda di S. Mercurio. Testi e documenti per lo studio dell’Antichità 22. Milan: Instituto editoriale cisalpino, 1968 (text from portions of each extant MS with Latin trans., pp. 7–52).
Orlandi, Tito. “Un Codice copte del Monastero Bianco.” Mus 81 (1968): 351–405 (Coptic text from MONB.AY, pp. 374–81; Latin trans., pp. 397–98; discussion of text, pp. 402–405)
Crum, Walter E. Catalogue of the Coptic Manuscripts in the British Museum. London: British Museum, 1905 (p. 132).
3.2 Modern Translations
3.2.1 English
Sheridan, Mark. “The Encomium in the Coptic Literature of the Late Sixth Century.” Pages 443–64 in Christianity in Egypt: Literary Production and Intellectual Trends. Studies in Honor of Tito Orlandi. Edited by Paolo Buzi and Alberto Camplani. SEAug 125. Rome: Institutum Patristicum Augustinianum, 2011 (excerpts, pp. 451–54).
3.2.2 Latin
Orlandi, Tito. Studi copti. 1. Un encomio di Marco Evangelista. 2. Le fonti copte della Storia dei Patriarchi di Alessandria. 3. La leggenda di S. Mercurio. Testi e documenti per lo studio dell’Antichità 22. Milan: Instituto editoriale cisalpino, 1968 (text from portions of each extant MS with Latin trans., pp. 7–52).
3.3 General Works
Sheridan, Mark. “The Encomium in the Coptic Literature of the Late Sixth Century.” Pages 443–64 in Christianity in Egypt: Literary Production and Intellectual Trends. Studies in Honor of Tito Orlandi. Edited by Paolo Buzi and Alberto Camplani. SEAug 125. Rome: Institutum Patristicum Augustinianum, 2011 (see pp. 451–54).
Furlong, Dean. The John also Called Mark. Reception and Transformation in Christian Tradition. WUNT II 518. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2020 (pp. 41–42).