“Have You Not Read this Scripture?”

Memory Variation and Context-Based Modification in the Old Testament Quotations in the Gospel of Mark

By (author) H. Lammers

Book cover: “Have You Not Read this Scripture?”

Extent: 450 pages

Publisher: Peeters Publishers

Subjects: Biblical Studies

Series: Contributions to Biblical Exegesis & Theology

Series volume number: 116

Language: English

Paperback (Published)

(May 2024)

ISBN: 9789042951556

Price: $117.00

In stock

PDF (Published)

(May 2024)

ISBN: 9789042951563

Price: $117.00

This book argues that the Markan author quoted the OT from memory, a process in the course of which a considerable portion of the observed variation was generated. This explanation requires us to modify current views of evangelists sifting through biblical books from which they copy certain passages. In addition, Lammers suggests that another part of the observed variation may be the result of conscious adaptation of OT quotations making them better serve the purpose of supporting the Gospel’s message.


In the study presented in this book, Hans Lammers sets out to answer the question which Old Testament (OT) version was used by the Markan Evangelist as the source of his scriptural quotations. Next, he observes that in most cases, the text of the quotations in Mark deviates from that in the OT source used. Whereas scholars usually ascribe the observed variation to the use of variant versions or forms of the OT text that are no longer extant, Lammers offers a different explanation. He argues that the Markan author quoted the OT from memory, a process in the course of which a considerable portion of the observed variation was generated. This explanation requires us to modify current views of evangelists sifting through biblical books from which they copy certain passages. In addition, Lammers suggests that another part of the observed variation may be the result of conscious adaptation of OT quotations making them better serve the purpose of supporting the Gospel’s message. By means of four case studies, he tries to demonstrate how views of Jesus developed in the Markan Gospel may have prompted the Evangelist to alter OT quotations, a practice for which he proposes the designation context-based modification.

  • By (author) H. Lammers