Introduction
In this article, we will explore a variant of the Beza Codex that offers a different interpretation of a biblical passage related to Jesus and his relatives. This textual variant, supported by ancient Latin versions, allows us to see this passage from a different and more neutral perspective.
The variant of the Beza Codex
According to this variant of the Beza Codex, when the scribes and other Jewish leaders heard about Jesus and his actions, they went out to arrest him. Their justification was that they considered Jesus to have lost his mind. This interpretation differs from the more well-known version, which tells of Jesus’ relatives trying to arrest him.
This textual variant, which is based on ancient Latin versions prior to Jerome’s Vulgate, gives us a more impartial and less negative view of the reaction of the Jewish scribes and leaders. In this interpretation, the scribes and other Jewish leaders see Jesus as a threat to the religious establishment in Jerusalem and decide to arrest him for this reason.
The reaction of Jesus’ relatives
In this same passage, reference is also made to the reaction of Jesus’ relatives to the choice of the Twelve. This variant of the Beza Codex shows us that Jesus’ relatives did not agree with this decision and stood outside the house where Jesus was teaching the crowd. This reaction of Jesus’ relatives highlights the internal divisions and different opinions that existed in relation to Jesus’ actions.
It is important to note that this interpretation does not seek to discredit Jesus’ relatives, but simply to show the differences of opinion that existed at the time. Jesus, in his reply, puts on the same level the internal divisions that occur in a kingdom or in a community, and concludes that if Satan casts out Satan, his kingdom cannot stand.
conclusion
In short, this variant of the Beza Codex offers us a different interpretation of a biblical passage related to Jesus and his relatives. This interpretation, based on ancient Latin versions, allows us to see this passage from a more impartial and less negative perspective. It is important to remember that this interpretation does not seek to discredit any of the parties involved, but simply to show the differences of opinion that existed at the time.