Mark 13:22
in Mark 13For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
for there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, the elect.
KJV
For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
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This verse in Mark 13
Commentary
14 notes on this verseWhile Antichrist is generically one, there may be many species of him. It is as if one would say that falsehood is generically one, but according to the differences of false doctrines there are found many specific falsehoods.… "If possible" is a hyperbole. For he did not suggest or indicate that even the elect are to be thrown into error, but wishes to show that often the words of the heretics are exceedingly plausible and have power to move even those who hear them wisely.
This site's exposition
Look, here is the Christ
on Mark 13:21-23
The opening warning returns: if anyone says to you that here is the Christ, do not believe it. Jesus warns that false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect. He closes, I have told you everything in advance.
This site's exposition
if that were possible
Gregory the Dialogist reads if that were possible as the fear in the minds of the elect, who will persevere. Origen takes the words as a figure of speech. False teaching can move even careful hearers.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
(de Civ. Dei, xx. 19) For then shall Satan be unchained, and work through Antichrist in all his power, wonderfully indeed, but falsely. But a doubt is often raised whether the Apostle said Signs and lying wonders, because he is to deceive mortal senses, by phantoms, so as to appear to do what he does not, or because those wonders themselves, even though true, are to turn men aside to lies, because they will not believe that any power but a Divine power could do them, being ignorant of the power of Satan, especially when he shall have received such power as he never had before. But for whichever reason it is said, they shall be deceived by those signs and wonders who deserve to be deceived.
A commentator
Victorinus of PettauCommentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John · Written before 304.
proposed
"And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God" He speaks of Elias the prophet, who is the precursor of the times of Antichrist, for the restoration and establishment of the churches from the great and intolerable persecution. We read that these things are predicted in the opening of the Old and New Testament; for He says by Malachi: "Lo, I will send to you Elias the Tishbite, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, according to the time of calling, to recall the Jews to the faith of the people that succeed them." And to that end He shows, as we have said, that the number of those that shall believe, of the Jews and of the nations, is a great multitude which no man was able to number. Moreover, we read in the Gospel that the prayers of the Church are sent from heaven by an angel, and that they are received against wrath, and that the kingdom of Antichrist is cast out and extinguished by holy angels; for He says: "Pray that ye enter not into temptation: for there shall be a great affliction, such as has not been from the beginning of the world; and except the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved." Therefore He shall send these seven great archangels to smite the kingdom of Antichrist; for He Himself also thus said: "Then the Son of man shall send His messengers; and they shall gather together His elect from the four corners of the wind, from the one end of heaven even to the other end thereof." For, moreover, He previously says by the prophet: "Then shall there be peace for our land, when there shall arise in it seven shepherds and eight attacks of men; and they shall encircle Assur," that is, Antichrist, "in the trench of Nimrod," that is, in the nation of the devil, by the spirit of the Church. Similarly when the keepers of the house shall be moved. […]
The more the Adversary rages, the more error deceives. Senselessness makes its pretenses, envy inflames, covetousness makes blind, impiety depraves, pride puffs up, discord exasperates, anger hurries headlong.… Let the brethren beware of these things, for "I have told you all things beforehand." Avoid such people. Drive them away from your side and your ears, as if their mischievous conversation were the contagion of death.… It is an enemy of the altar, a rebel against Christ's sacrifice, who offers the faithful faithlessness, who is a disobedient servant, an impious son, a hostile brother, who despises bishops, who forsakes the elders, who dares to set up another altar to make another prayer with prohibited words, to profane the truth of the Lord's offering.
The Medieval Church2 voices
For false Christs and false prophets shall arise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. For many shall take upon them the name of Christ, so as to seduce even the faithful.
(v. Greg Hom. in Ezech. lib. i. 9) Why however is it said with a doubt if it were possible, when the Lord knows beforehand what is to be? One of two things is implied; that if they are elect, it is not possible; and if it is possible, they are not elect. (non potest, ap. Cat.) This doubt therefore in our Lord's discourse expresses the trembling in the mind of the elect. And He calls them elect, because He sees that they will persevere in faith and good works; for those who are chosen to remain firm are to be tempted to fall by the signs of the preachers of Antichrist.
6 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
Do not be deceived, He says, for many will call themselves by the name of Christ, in order to lead astray even the elect.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
For false Christs and false prophets shall rise,....
When the gospel kingdom was in the setting up, Satan mustered all his force, to oppose it, and made use of all his wiles; and God permitted it, for the trial of sincerity of some, and the discovery of the hypocrisy of others, and the confusion of those who rejected Christ, when he was offered to them.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1857)
We are taught in these verses the lawfulness of using means to provide for our own personal safety . The language of our Lord Jesus Christ on the subject is clear and unmistakable — "Let those who be in Judea FLEE to the mountains — let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house — let him that is in the field not turn back again — pray you that your flight be not in the winter."
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders. No one can read JOSEPHUS' account of what took place before the destruction of Jerusalem without seeing how strikingly this was fulfilled. to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect--implying that this, though all but done, will prove impossible.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1857)
proposed
We are taught in these verses the lawfulness of using means to provide for our own personal safety . The language of our Lord Jesus Christ on the subject is clear and unmistakable — "Let those who be in Judea FLEE to the mountains — let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house — let him that is in the field not turn back again — pray you that your flight be not in the winter." Not a word is said to make us suppose that flight from danger, in certain circumstances, is unworthy of a Christian. As to the time prophesied of in the passage before us, men may differ widely. But as to the lawfulness of taking measures to avoid peril, the teaching of the passage is plain. The lesson is one of wide application, and of much usefulness. A Christian is not to neglect the use of means, because he is a Christian, in the things of this life, any more than in the things of the life to come. A believer is not to suppose that God will take care of him, and provide for his needs, if he does not make use of means and the common sense which God has given him, as well as other people. Beyond doubt he may expect the special help of his Father in heaven, in every time of need. But he must expect it in the diligent use of lawful means. To profess to trust God, while we idly sit still and do nothing, is nothing better than fanaticism, and brings religion into contempt. The word of God contains several instructive examples on this subject, to which we shall do well to take heed. The conduct of Jacob, when he went to meet his brother Esau, is a striking case in point. He first prays a most touching prayer, and then sends his brother a carefully arranged present. (Gen. 32:9-13.) The conduct of Hezekiah, when Sennacherib came against Jerusalem, is another case. "With us," he tells the people, "is the Lord our God, to fight our battles."
The words behind it
17 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἐγερθήσονται | egerthesontai | There will arise | G1453 → | 142 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ψευδόχριστοι | pseudochristoi | false Christs | G5580 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ψευδοπροφῆται | pseudoprophetai | false prophets | G5578 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| δώσουσιν | dosousin | will give | G1325 → | 412 times |
| σημεῖα | semeia | signs | G4592 → | 75 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τέρατα | terata | wonders | G5059 → | |
| πρὸς | pros | so as | G4314 → | 700 times |
| τὸ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀποπλανᾶν | apoplanan | to deceive | G635 → | |
| εἰ | ei | if | G1487 → | 508 times |
| δυνατὸν | dunaton | possible | G1415 → | 32 times |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐκλεκτούς. | eklektous | elect. | G1588 → | 22 times |
ἐγερθήσονταιThere will arise
egerthesontaiG1453 →142 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ψευδόχριστοιfalse Christs
pseudochristoiG5580 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ψευδοπροφῆταιfalse prophets
pseudoprophetaiG5578 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
δώσουσινwill give
dosousinG1325 →412 times
σημεῖαsigns
semeiaG4592 →75 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τέραταwonders
terataG5059 →
πρὸςso as
prosG4314 →700 times
τὸ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
ἀποπλανᾶνto deceive
apoplananG635 →
εἰif
eiG1487 →508 times
δυνατὸνpossible
dunatonG1415 →32 times
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
ἐκλεκτούς.elect.
eklektousG1588 →22 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 7:15Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
it leads to
- 2 Peter 2:1–3
Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on…
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Matthew 24:11
and many false prophets will arise and mislead many.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- Acts 20:29–31
I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.
- Mark 13:22–23
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.
- 2 Peter 2:1–3
Through
Matthew 24:24For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.
it leads to
- 2 Thessalonians 2:9–11
The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder,
- Revelation 13:13–14
And the second beast performed great signs to cause even fire from heaven to come down to earth in the presence of the people.
- Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:9–11
Where this verse is studied
About Mark
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Augustine of Hippo, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Cyprian, Treatise I. On the Unity of the Church 16-17; Gregory the Dialogist, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 46; Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Mark and Victorinus of Pettau, Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John.