The Teachings of Mark (Mimar Marqe Book 1 Chapter 1) The Most Important Book In the Samaritan Religion After the Pentateuch

I am utterly convinced that if scholarship was more familiar with the writings of the Samaritan prophet Marcus the Alexandrian form of the gospel of Mark referenced in the Letter to Theodore wouldn't seem as shocking to anyone. The idea of a six day preparation for a ritual water immersion on the seventh day is utterly in keeping with the Mosaic system common to Jews and Samaritans. Where the rabbinic tradition often avoids speculation about the person of Moses, the Samaritan tradition - developed by a shadowy 'prophet' named Mark - develops its entire theology out of mystical significance of the person of Moses and his association with the number seven.

I apologize in advance for appearing bold, but nothing short of the re-education of Biblical scholarship ON WHAT IS POSSIBLE within the so-called 'Judeo-Christian tradition.' Most of us have a very limited frame of reference. Secret Mark doesn't fit within our inherited presuppositions owing to the fact that Samaritanism is generally excluded from participating in those discussions.

There isn't to my knowledge one notable expert on things Samaritan in the entire American university system to my knowledge. To this end, I am forced to use John MacDonald's inferior translation of the Mimar Marqe. In due course I hope to initiate a translation of Ben Hayyim's Hebrew text. Yet for the moment this is all we have.

In the Name of God

The Book of Wonders
by Marqe (the Lord's Favour be upon him)

1. Introduction to the Revelation

Great is the mighty Power who endures for ever!
Let us put on the fear of Him before we begin the teaching.

No secret is hidden from Him, for everything is under His dominion.
He knows what has been, what is now, and what is yet to be.
Self-subsisting is He who has no need of anything.
He knows all secrets without having recourse to knowledge.
He is unseen and He does what he wills.
There is no sovereign or ruler who can withstand Him.
The Lord is God and there is none besides Him.
He is great and all grandeur belongs to him.

He taught Moses secrets in the bush (Ex iii.2), which manifest His majesty and His glory. An angel came up to him and stood before him; he discoursed with him about what had been and what was yet to be. The prophet stood submitting himself before what he saw, his limbs trembling when he saw him who was sent by his Lord.

There was never a prophet like him ready to listen and to teach the people!

Good is revealed to a man only if he is like Moses, that is good according to his good points and bad according as he is bad.

Now the angel who appeared to the Righteous came for only about an hour, and that was enough. Three such angels appeared to Abraham and announced tidings to him (Gen xviii.2); they walked during the day. Two such angels appeared to Lot round about th evening time (Gen. xix.1); they did what they had to and were gone in the night. One appeared to Joseph, who was in the fields at the time (cf. Gen ) and showed him the way appearing to him no more. Likewise there was an angel who appeared in the bush, sent by God with a message for the prophet.

Great was the miracle seen there, containing three quite distinct containing three quite distinct features: shooting flames; the bush standing up prominently in it; the angel proclaiming while Moses listened fearfully.

He said, Moses, Moses, and he replied Here am I (Ex iii.4, et seq.).
Wonderful mysteries and all revelations were sent down.
He said, Moses, Moses, telling him that he would bring his will and his recompense.
He said, Moses, Moses, revealing to him that he would be vested with prophethood and the divine Name.
He said, Moses, Moses, making it known to him that he would be the deliverer of the Hebrews and the slayer of the Egyptians.

When He said, Abraham, Abraham (Gen xxii.II), He announced to him that he would be remembered during the time of Favour and Disfavour.
When He said, Jacob, Jacob (Gen xlvi.2), He informed him that he would overcome the earthly and the heavenly powers.
Whe He said, Moses, Moses, in the bush, he referred in one case to what had been, and in the other to what was yet to be.
When He said, Moses, Moses, it was though He were saying to him, "You are a prophet the like of whom has not arisen in the world before."
When He said, Moses, Moses, it was as though He were saying to him, "You are the harbinger in the world of glorious life." "It is your greatness, Moses, above all men, that you are entrusted with secret things ancient and new," preserved by the Proclaimer of Good, and laid out before him on the top of Mount Sinai.

End of Book 1 Chapter 1 - Tomorrow Book 1 Chapter 2

Note - 'the time of Favour and Disfavour' = according to Samaritan theology God's favor was lifted from the time of the defection of Eli's sanctuary