Pisteuomen - πιστευομεν - T. Michael W. Halcomb

While studying the opening verses of Mark again recently, I happened upon an interesting translation issue. In the majority of our ancient manuscripts, Mk. 1.6 retains the term " ακριδας ", a term meaning "locusts". Mk. 1.6, of course, is the verse which notes that in addition to John's clothing habits, he also tended to eat "locusts ( ακριδας ) and honey". However, in a second-century manuscript known as The Gospel of the Ebionites , ακριδας is slightly manipulated and changed to εγκριδος (I found an online version of the text here ). Though the new rendering seems minimal, the meaning of the end-product is quite different: pancakes or tortillas. Of course, both foods were common in the ancient Mediterranean (much as they are all over the world today). Yet, it is fascinating to read this verse as, John ate "tortillas (or pancakes) and honey". (See: Exo. 16.31 where the Hebrew " צףיחת " in the LXX becomes " εγκρις ". ...