It will be seen in the texts printed below (the three synoptics follow) that Matthew omits mention of baptism, not only here in Christ's promise to Mark the sons of Zebedee but also in his question to them (Mark) "Are ye able to drink the cup that I drink or be batpized ...?" where Matthew stops short at "drink" ... Why should Matthew omit the mention of baptism? One reason may be that he found the Marcan tradition already used - as it was before the days of Irenaeus - by heretics who introduced the new rite of 'redemption.' These might affirm not only that the Lord said "I have another baptism to be baptized with" but also that He "appointed as an addition this redemption to the sons of Zebedee ... saying 'Can ye be baptized with the baptism which I will be baptized with?"
If only this writer had known that Morton Smith would discover a baptism rite (so Smith's analysis) in the very lines which immediately preceded this statement. He might have come up with a slight modification of this theory.
Isn't it odd that in this one isolate example something was added to Mark which was never originally a part of the common narrative. What was it that this author said? Something to do with a heretical baptism associated with the gospel of Mark that Matthew wanted to protect us from? Or was it ... that someone added to Mark the idea that Jesus hadn't yet baptized the son (sons) of Zebedee, that he had still a future baptism which would also be refashioned in Mark chapter fourteen lines fifty one and fifty two where the son (sons) of Zebedee would be demonstrated to be no better than Peter, that 'all the disciples' ran away like cowards, that none rose to the greatness of Jesus.
It's a good thing that the Copts remember things differently even without their autograph copy of Mark ...
If you are interested in reading how this observation fits within my greater understanding of the workings of Secret Mark WITHIN the contemporary Alexandrian Church please go here
If you want to read more about how Alexandrian Christianity was rooted in the Jewish traditions of Alexandria, Philo of Alexandria and more feel free to purchase my new book here
