‘Awe’ offers understanding of disciples

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To the Editor:
I wish Micah Kiel were a little more truthful in his theological perspective of the April 26 edition. As a professor of theology, he knows perfectly well that the longer ending of Mark’s 16th chapter does have resurrection appearances of Jesus in the Gospel. The longer ending may have been written by another author at a later date (in the second century) but this ending has been approved by the Council of Trent as an acceptable part of the Mark’s Gospel. That is the truth.
Later in the article, Mr. Kiel questioned the use of the words “great awe” as a response of the disciples to Jesus calming the storm on the sea. Mr. Kiel claims that “They feared a great fear” as a current wording taken from the Greek.
Quickly I went to my six versions of the Bible to find that all versions use the word “awe” or “great awe.” So my question is, if all the writers of my six versions also used the Greek as Mr. Kiel does for reference, why did they still use “awe” instead of “fear?” Why are there no new versions using “fear” instead of “awe?” While Mr. Kiel’s explanation seems to have plausible footing for his interpretation of Scripture, it does not seem in accordance with other scholars.
I must say that reading of Mark’s fourth chapter did not leave me “uneasy nor frustrated” as Mr. Kiel would hope in his interpretation. Rather, I find “awe” or “great awe” in this chapter a source of great understanding of the disciples at this point of their lives in following Jesus. With the Holy Spirit, I am comfortable with “great awe” and with joy and peace.
Father Tom Reilman
Burlington


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