13. These three evangelists, therefore, have in this manner narrated the same incident,
just as, on the other hand, one man might give three several accounts of a single occurrence,
with a certain measure of diversity in his statements, and yet without any real contradiction.
Luke, for example, has specified the distance to which He went forward from the dis-
ciples—that is to say, when He withdrew from them in order to pray—more definitely than
the others. For he tells us that it was “about a stone’s cast.” Mark, again, states first of all in
his own words how the Lord prayed that, “If it were possible, the hour might pass from
Him,” referring to the hour of His Passion, which he also expresses presently by the term
“cup.” He then reproduces the Lord’s own words, in the following manner: “Abba, Father,
all things are possible to Thee: take away this cup from me.” And if we connect with these
terms the clause which is given by the other two evangelists, and for which Mark himself
has also already introduced a clear parallel, presented as a statement made in his own person
instead of the Lord’s, the whole sentence will be exhibited in this form: “Father, if it be
possible, (for) all things are possible unto Thee, take away this cup from me.” And it will be
so put just to prevent any one from supposing that He made the Father’s power less than it
is when He said, “If it be possible.” For thus His words were not, “If Thou canst do it;” but
“If it be possible.” And anything is possible which He wills. Therefore, the expression, “If it
be possible,” has here just the same force as, “If Thou wilt.” For Mark has made the sense
in which the phrase, “If it be possible,” is to be taken quite plain, when he says, “All things
are possible unto Thee.” And further, the fact that these writers have recorded how He said,
“Nevertheless, not what I will, but what Thou wilt” (an expression which means precisely
the same as this other form, “Nevertheless, not my will but Thine be done”), shows us clearly
enough that it was with reference not to any absolute impossibility on the Father’s side, but
only to His will, that these words, “If it be possible,” were spoken. This is made the more
apparent by the plainer statement which Luke has presented to the same effect. For his
version is not, “If it be possible,” but, “If Thou be willing.” And to this clearer declaration
of what was really meant we may add, with the effect of still greater clearness, the clause
which Mark has inserted, so that the whole will proceed thus: “If Thou be willing, (for) all
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things are possible unto Thee, take away this cup from me.”
14. Again, as to Mark’s mentioning that the Lord said not only “Father,” but “Abba,
Father,” the explanation simply is, that “Abba” is in Hebrew exactly what “Pater” is in Latin.
And perhaps the Lord may have used both words with some kind of symbolical significance,
intending to indicate thereby, that in sustaining this sorrow He bore the part of His body,
which is the Church, of which He has been made the corner-stone, and which comes to
Him [in the person of disciples gathered] partly out of the Hebrews, to whom He refers
when He says “Abba,” and partly out of the Gentiles, to whom He refers when He says
“Pater” [Father].1273 The Apostle Paul also makes use of the same significant expression.
1273 See Eph. ii. 11–22.
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Of What Took Place in the Piece of Ground or Garden to Which They Came on…