Logic in the Bible. The Gospel of Mark 16:16 Текст научной статьи по специальности «Философия, этика, религиоведение»

УДК 111.83

Volodchenkov M.I.

Independent Researcher, Voronezh Kavinsky V. V.

Independent Researcher, Voronezh Володченков М.И. независимый исследователь, Воронеж Кавинский В.В. независимый исследователь, Воронеж E-mail: [email protected]

Logic in the Bible. The Gospel of Mark 16:16 Логика в Библии. Евангелие от Марка 16:16

Abstract: The article proves that the salvation of a person is possible only through his faith and baptism. The study was based on one verse of the ancient Greek original manuscript of the New Testament (ed. Nestle-Aland) — the Gospel of Mark 16:16. Methods of mathematical logic are applied in the work. The first part of the work is proved by the biblical method — "proof by the Scriptures." The second part of the work is proved by the method of mathematical logic — "proof by contradiction." The main result is that the necessary and sufficient conditions for the salvation of each person are proved.

Аннотация: В статье доказывается, что спасение человека возможно только через его веру и крещение. За основание исследования взят один стих древнегреческого манускрипта Нового Завета — Novum Testamentum Graece (под ред. Нестле-Аланд) — Евангелие от Марка 16:16. В работе применяются методы математической логики. Первая часть работы доказана библейским методом — «доказательство Писаниями». Вторая часть работы доказана методом математической логики — «доказательство от противного». Главный результат работы — доказаны необходимые и достаточные условия для спасения каждого человека.

Keywords: Ancient Greek manuscript of the New Testament (edited by Nestle-Aland); necessary and sufficient conditions; propositional logic; proof by contradiction.

Ключевые слова: Древнегреческий манускрипт Нового Завета (под ред. Нестле-Аланд); необходимые и достаточные условия; логика высказываний; доказательство от противного.

Introduction

This work proves the statement of the Evangelist Mark that the salvation of a person is possible only through his faith and baptism (according to this faith). The basis is taken from one verse of the original ancient Greek manuscript of the New Testament (ed. Nestle-Aland)—the Gospel of Mark (Капа MapKov 16:16). The work uses methods of mathematical logic.

In the first part of the work, this proof is based on convincing Bible verses, —proof by the Scriptures" («¿nideiKvvg dia n&v ypay&v» (Пра&гд Anoonolrnv 18:28) [5, 446]).

In the second part of the work, the method of propositional logic is applied— —proof by contradiction." The necessary and sufficient conditions for the salvation of each person are also given and proved.

The main result of the work: For the salvation of a person, it is necessary and sufficient that he believe in Jesus Christ and be baptized according to this faith.

From work [7], some references are taken, as well as a method for creating detailed and visual tables of the studied verses of Holy Scripture. This article differs from [7] in that it examines in detail another Greek manuscript, the 28th edition of the Greek New Testament, ed. Nestle-Aland (Stuttgart, 2012). Also, the article and bibliography have been edited for the English-speaking audience only.

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SAINT MARK

(TOKATA MAPKONAriONЕУАГГЕАЮЫ)

One statement of the Evangelist Mark (Kara MapKov 16:16) is studied, briefly—(Mk. 16:16) [5, 176].

1 SALVATION THROUGH FAITH (proof by Scripture)

Evangelist Mark writes that a person receives salvation only through faith in Jesus Christ and water baptism as proof of this faith.

Let us examine this verse from the original manuscript of the Greek New Testament, Novum Testamentum Graece (Nestle-Aland ed.).

Eberhard Nestle (1851-1913) and Erwin Nestle (1883-1972); Barbara Aland (w. b. 1937) and Kurt Aland (1915-1994) were German theologians and New Testament textual scholars.

1) Consider the verse (Mk. 16:16) in the work of Nestle-Aland [5, 176]:

— Greek original text of the entire verse (Mk, 16:16):

«o nianevaaq Kai ^annaOeig arndtfaenai, o 8b anizrtfzag KaxaKpidtfaexai» (Mk. 16:16) [5. 176].

2) For ease of study, let's consider this verse (Mk. 16:16) in parts—(Mk. 16:16a)1 and (Mk. 16:16b)2

Then the studied verses (Mk. 16:16a) and (Mk. 16:16b) in the work of NestleAland [5] will have the following form [5, 176]:

a) «o nianevaaq Kai ^anriaOeig arndtfaexai» (Mk. 16:16a).

b) «o 8b animtfoaq KaxaKpidtfaexai» (Mk. 16:16b).

Let's write down the resulting data of the first part of the verse (Mk. 16:16a):

— Greek original text:

«o nianevaaq Kai ^anriaOeig arndtfaexai» [5, 176].

Let's write down the resulting data of the second part of the verse (Mk. 16:16b):

— Greek original text:

«o 8b aniortfoaq KaxaKpidtfaexai» [5, 176].

3) Let's summarize the obtained data about the verses (Mk. 16:16a) and (Mk. 16:16b) in the form of the following Tables 1 and 2 (similar to [7]):

Table 1 — (Mk. 16:16a)

1 a is the first part of the verse.

2 b is the second part of the verse.

Greek 0 nioTSÛoaç Kai PanxiaQsiç aroQ^GSxai

Symbols T-NSM V-AAP-NSM CONJ V-AAP-NSM V-FPI-3S

Strong's Numbers G3588 G4100 G2532 G907 G4982

Table 2 — (Mk. 16:16b)

Greek 0 Sè àniGT^aaç KaxaKpiQ^asTai

Symbols T-NSM CONJ V-AAP-NSM V-FPI-3S

Strong's Numbers G3588 G1161 G569 G2632

Consider the first part a) of verse (Mk. 16:16a) in Scriptures [5]:

— «o nionswaç Kaî fianniadsïç» (Mk. 16:16a1). [5, 176].

The second part b) of the verse (Mk. 16:16b) is not yet considered. For unbelievers, God is the Judge (Maybe they will believe and be saved).

We will carry out the proof by the biblical method — —proof by the Scriptures" — the manuscripts of the ancient Greek New Testament, ed. Nestle-Aland [5].

4) All the words included in the statement of the Evangelist Mark (Mk. 16:16), as well as all the manuscripts of Holy Scripture, are true. Let's prove it.

First, the Evangelist Mark wrote his Gospel under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is the truth:

— «on to nvev^d ¿amv ^ àl^dsia» (lœavvov ènioroAq a ' 5:6) [5, 725].

Secondly, the Lord God is the truth:

Manuscript, ed. Nestlé Âland only has the New Testament, so we will take this verse from the Greek Online Bible (eBible.gr/tgv/jer.10):

— «Alla o Kvpioç sivai &sôç aX^divôç» (BifiXfo non Iepe^ta 10:10) [1].

Thirdly, Jesus Christ spoke not from Himself, but from the Father (God):

•V r f> y \ 0 ' t ~ J 1 J \ y y \ r

— «Ta py^ana a ¿yœ Aeyrn v^iv àn ¿kavnov ov ÂaÀœ, o de nantfp ¿v ¿¡oï ¡¡evmv noisi na spya avnov» (Kana lœavvqv 14:10) [5, 351].

Thus the word of God is truth:

— «o Aôyoç o aàç àX^Osia ¿amv» (Kana lœavvqv 17:17) [5, 361].

4

So, all the words of Holy Scripture are indeed true!

5) Jesus Christ fully trusted His Father (God):

— «Trust, trust, rely (eng. Trust; lat. Fiducia). Trust in something or someone, often used as the main description of faith (lat. Fides; Ps. 31:14; 115:9)» [4, 289].

— « Believing - "rcioT£tioa<;." (Root form: "rcioTsti«"). V-AAP-NSM: Verb, aorist, active, participle / gerund, nominative, singular number, male genus.

Strong Number: 4100: Believe, believe; entrust, trust» [6].

It is also known that Jesus received water baptism (from John the Baptist — that is, fulfilled all righteousness). (Mk 1:9):

— «tfXQev iyzovq and va^apen ntfq yaliXaiaq Kai efiannizO^ dq ndv iop8avyvy iwavov» (Kara MapKov 1: 9) [5, 103].

So, all the conditions of the first part of this statement (Mk. 16:16a1) are completely true — "proven by the Scriptures''.

6) The conclusion, i.e. the second part of the verse (Mk. 16:16a) reads:

— «zwOtfzenai» (Kara MapKov 16:16a2) [5, 176].

Let us prove that this assertion is also true.

Indeed, Jesus Christ offered Himself to God as a sin offering:

— «00 8ia nvevpanoq aiwviov ¿avndv npoz^veyKev apwpov n& de&» (npdq 'EfipaiovQ 9:14) [5, 671].

Christ took upon Himself the sins of many people out of love for man:

— «ovnwq Kai o Xpizndq ana£ npozevepdeiq eiq nd noXX&v aveveyKeiv apapniaq sk 8evnspov prnpiq apapniaq oydyzenai noiq avndv aneK8epopsvoig eiq zwnqpiav» (npdo 'Efipaiovg 9:28) [5, 672].

Therefore, God resurrected Him and exalted Him above all:

— «8id Kai o 3edq avndv vnepvyrnzev Kai epapizano avnw nd

ovopa nd vnsp nav ovopa iva ev n& ovopani 'Iyzov nav yovv Kapyy enovpaviwv Kai ¿niyeiwv Kai Kanapdovmv Kai naza yX&zza e^opoXoyqzqnai oni Kvpioq Iqzovq Xpizndq eiq 8o^av 3eov nanpoq» (npoq novq @iXinnqziovg 2:9-11) [5, 606].

It is also known that Jesus Christ was resurrected for our justification:

— «og napedoOq dia za napanzwpaza qpwv Kai ^yepO^ dia zqv diKaiwaiv qp&v» (npog 'Pwpafovg 4:25) [5, 489].

7) It is also known from the Bible that Jesus Christ constantly intercedes for our salvation before God the Father:

— «Xpiazog [I^aovg] o anodavwv ¡aXXov de Kai eyepdefg og Kai eaziv sv de^ia zov 3eov og Kai svzvypavei vnsp qp&v» (npog 'Pwp. 8:34) [5, 498].

Therefore, just like Jesus Christ, we must believe and be baptized:

— «o Xeywv sv avzw ¡¡sveiv o^efXei Kadrng ¿Keivog nepienaz^aev Kai avzdg [ovzwg] nepmazeiv» (Iwavvov EniazoXq a' 2:6) [5, 717].

By accepting Jesus Christ by faith, we have become His children:

— «0001 de sXafiov avzov sdwKev avzoig e^ovaiav zsKva deov ysvsodai, zoig mozevovmv eig zd ovopa avzov» (Kaza Iwavvqv 1:12) [5, 292].

Baptism allowed us to make a "water covenant" with the Lord (1 Pet. 3:21) and to put on Jesus Christ by faith:

— «0001 yap eig Xpiazov sfianziodqze, Xpiazov svedvaaade» (npog raXazag 3:27) [5, 584].

The Lord fulfills His promise to save believers:

— «Kai avv^yeipev Kai avveKadiaev sv zoig enovpavfoig sv Xpiazw I^aov» (npog Epsaiovg 2:6) [5, 592].

Hence, the second part of the statement (Mk. 16:16a2) is proved.

So our assertion (Mk. 16:16a) in the texts [5, 176]:

— «o niazevaag Kai fianziadeig awdtfaezai» (Kaza MapKov 16:16a), completely "proven by the Scriptures." #

2 NECESSARY AND SUFFICIENT CONDITIONS

FOR SALVATION

From formal logic, the concepts of a necessary and sufficient condition for something are known:

«The notions of necessary condition and sufficient condition are themselves interdefnable:

(D1) A is a sufficient condition of B =df the absence of A is a necessary condition of the absence of B.

(D2) B is a necessary condition of A =df the absence of B is a sufficient condition of the absence of A» [2].

It follows from these definitions that if A is a necessary condition for B, then B is a sufficient condition for A, and vice versa.

Any expression of the form A => B will be called a conditional expression. We call A the antecedent of the conditional and B the consequent.

Then our definition of necessary and sufficient conditions for conditional sentences of the form A => B will have the following form:

If A is a sufficient condition of B (or formally A => B), it will typically be the case that B is a necessary condition for A, and the falsity of B a sufficient condition for the falsity of A (-B => -A), because (A => B <=> -B => -A).

The concepts of direct and inverse theorems are connected with the concepts of necessary and sufficient conditions (in mathematics and logic).

Formulating a theorem of the form —If A, then B" (or formally A => B), they establish the sufficiency of condition A for B. Establishing the fact that the converse theorem "If B, then A" also takes place means indicating that A is also a necessary condition for B (since "If B, then A" (B => A) is equivalent to —If not-A, then not-B"). Or (B => A <=> -A => -B.) [3, 16].

Let's apply these concepts to our verse (Mk. 16:16) and prove them.

1) We will assume that capital letters of the Latin alphabet A, B, C, ... denote some statements [3, 4].

Formulas that are always true, regardless of the truth or falsity of their prime components, we will be called valid or identically true, or tautologies, and denote them with the sign l. [3, 12; 3, 14].

Let us introduce the following notation for statements for (Mk. 16:16):

— Let A denote the statement: «o nizrsvaaç xai fianTioOeîç», B — the statement: «aœO^asxai» (thesis for Mk 16:16a). Then the expression:

If «o niznevzaq Kai fiannizOeiq», then «zwOtfzenai» — written in the form: —If A, then B" or in —formal form":

A => B (1)

where A and B are any two arbitrary statements, A is the premise of the implication (antecedent), B is the consequence of the implication (consequent).

— Similarly, A (-A) - denotes the negation (inversion) of A, or in our notation: «o 8s anizntfzaq»; respectively, B (or -B): «KanaKpiOyzenai»; (i.e. not saved — negation of the thesis for Mk. 16:16b). Then the expression:

If «o 8s anizntfzag», then «KanaKpiOyzenai» — written in the form:

—If A, then B" or in -formal form":

A => B (or -A => -B) (2)

2) Let us prove the sufficiency condition l (A => B), where l=A, l=B.

Statements A and B about salvation are tautologies (l) because they are talking

about eternal salvation, i.e. eternal life in Jesus Christ. This was proven earlier (section 1.4) by the Holy Scriptures. Therefore, the formula (1) A => B is a tautology. But according to (D1) this is a sufficient condition for the salvation of man. Thus, the condition for the sufficiency of the verse (Mk. 16:16a): «o niznsvzaq Kai fPannizOeiq zrnOtfzenai» is proved. #

3) Let us prove the necessity condition: l (B => A), where l A, IB.

To do this, we apply the method of propositional logic — proof —from the contrary" (i.e., the opposite).

— Assume —the opposite" that —not-A" (-A, or A) is true.

There is a tautology (l) in propositional logic, the law of contraposition:

I ((B => A) <=> (A => B)). (3)

So, assuming the truth of -A, we came to the conclusion -B, because according to the law of contraposition (3): I (-A => -B). But this contradicts the initial condition (3) and (1). From the established falsity of -B according to the law of the excluded middle (BV-B) [3, 16], the truth of B necessarily follows, i.e. the truth of the

very proposition that must be proved (the law of double negation [3, 16] is applied here: - - B <=> B).

The necessity condition is proved. #

Formula (1) A => B: «о nizrevzag Kai pamizdeig zmdrfzerai» (Капа MapKov 16:16a) — satisfies the sufficiency condition.

Formula (2) (B => A) <=> (-A => -B: «о дв amzrtfzaq KaraKpiOrfzerai» (Капа MapKov 16:16b) satisfies the condition of necessity.

Thus, the necessary and sufficient conditions for salvation are proved. The main result of the work:

For the salvation of a person, it is necessary and sufficient that he believe in Jesus Christ and be baptized according to this faith. 3 CONCLUSION

Summarizing the results of this study, we draw the following conclusions.

1. The statement of the Evangelist Mark (Kara MapKov 16:16a) was proved by the Holy Scriptures (the so-called "proof of the Scriptures") [5].

2. The necessary and sufficient conditions for the salvation of each person are given and proved [2]. For example (Kara MapKov 16:16) [5].

Inference

It may seem that the Holy Scripture (Bible) is reduced to formal logic and cause-and-effect relationships. But it's not.

We accept and cognize Holy Scripture only by faith!

But some of his statements can be proved by logic (that is, by the ability to reason correctly, to draw correct conclusions). (Prov. 8:12; 1 Cor. 10:15) [5].

The proven statement (Mk. 16:16) can be viewed not as knowledge (subject), but as a predicate — a guide to action (repentance). For this, God gave His Son Jesus Christ to death ('Iv. 3:16):

— «ovrwg yap yyanyzev о Oeog rov Kozpov wzre rov vidv rov avrov povoyevtf

V c- f г У У \ \ У г о M 1 ) ^ У* ^ У Г / ТУ >

eowKev, iva nag о nizrevrnv eig avzov рц ажощтаг алл еру Qwtfv aiwviov» (Ката Irnavvyv 3:16) [5, 299].

Therefore, the scientific community, like all people, really needs to obey God and repent, accept Jesus Christ into their hearts by faith and, having been baptized, have eternal life in His Name.

This study convincingly proves that a person who believes and is baptized (by faith) in Jesus Christ is indeed saved!

References

1. Bible online. < eBible.gr/> [Free access 19.02.2023].

2. Brennan, Andrew. 2017. "Necessary and Sufficient Conditions." In : The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (SEP). Ed. Edward N. Zalta. [Electronic resource] — URL: https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2017/entries/necessary-sufficient// — Date of access 19.02.2023.

3. Kleene, Stephen Cole. Mathematical Logic. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, Inc., 2002, (xiii) 398 p.

4. McKim, Donald K. Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms. 1st ed. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, — 1996, (vii) 309 p.

5. Nestle-Aland. Novum Testamentum Graece. Based on the work of Eberhard and Erwin Nestle; edited by Barbara and Kurt Aland [et al]. 28th Revised Edition. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, — 2012. (94*) 890 [4] p.

6. Strong, James. A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament; With Their Renderings in the Authorized English Version. Nashville, New York: Abingdon Press, — 1890, 77 p.

7. Volodchenkov M.I. Logika v Biblii. Mark 16:16 [Logic in the Bible. Mark 16:16]. Problemy nauki [Problems of Science]. Mar. 2020, no. 3 (51), pp. 18-23 [in Russian]. (DOI: 10.24411/24132101-2020-10301).