Text -- Mark 4:11 (NET)

4:11 He said to them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those outside, everything is in parables,

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Mar 4:11

¹ tn Grk “the mystery.”

sn The key term secret (μυστήριον, musthrion) can mean either (1) a new revelation or (2) a revealing interpretation of existing revelation as in Dan 2:17-23, 27-30. Jesus seems to be explaining how current events develop old promises, since the NT consistently links the events of Jesus’ ministry and message with old promises (Rom 1:1-4; Heb 1:1-2). The traditional translation of this word, “mystery,” is misleading to the modern English reader because it suggests a secret which people have tried to uncover but which they have failed to understand (L&N 28.77).

² tn This is an example of a “divine passive,” with God understood to be the source of the revelation (see ExSyn 437-38).