Mark Chapter 1:29-31 Question

[taylormcbee]

it says that Jesus entered the house of simon and andrew that would be Saint Peter and Saint Andrew how could they have a mother in law or was Saint Peter or Saint Andrew Married. Scripture is not clear in this regard.
Thanks
Taylor

 

[Gorgias]

Peter is understood to have had a mother-in-law. Whether he was currently married at the time, or if he was a widower, is not clear. However, that he had been married is clearly indicated by the text.

 

[po18guy]

Here is what Saint Paul wrote abouteter (Cephas):

1 Corinthians 9:5Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)

Have we not power to carry about a woman, a sister, as well as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

 

[thistle]

Peter is understood to have had a mother-in-law. Whether he was currently married at the time, or if he was a widower, is not clear. However, that he had been married is clearly indicated by the text.

I agree.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him of her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her; and she served them.

This makes me think that Peter’s wife must not have been there. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have left the serving to her recently sick mother.

 

[Gorgias]

This makes me think that Peter’s wife must not have been there. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have left the serving to her recently sick mother.

I don’t know 1st century Jewish custom sufficiently well to answer this, but… what responsibilities for serving guests does the “matriarch” have when guests are present in her house? Would she have deferred her responsibilities to another, but when made well, would have resumed them? If this is the cultural context, then the passage might only have been expressing that she recovered sufficiently from a serious illness to resume her responsibilities as hostess. That is, if she was ill enough to defer important responsibilities to someone else, then the statement that “she served them” might indicate only how amazing Jesus’ healing was…