Michael Pakaluk > Quotes

“just them by themselves Mark apparently thought that simply writing “Jesus took Peter and James and John” would leave open the possibility that others joined them, so he clarifies that the four were “just them by themselves.” Generally we must take care not to attribute more exactness to a Gospel text than is strictly required. For example, if the evangelist gives a list, we are not justified in inferring that the list is exhaustive.”
― Michael Pakaluk, The Memoirs of St. Peter: A New Translation of the Gospel According to Mark