The Synoptic Gospels & Acts

 


Andy's Note Cards: Gospel of mark

Introduction
The Gospel According to Mark #41
New Jerome Biblical Commentary

NOTE CARDS

Andy Syring

 

Introduction to The Gospel According to Mark #41 – New Jerome Biblical Commentary


I. Authorship; Date and Place of Composition

  • Text of the Gospel does not identify author
    • “According to Mark” – a label added later
    • Reflects identification made in patristic times between
      • Author of this Gospel and John Mark
        • Mark is portrayed as Paul’s companion
        • 1 Peter 5:13 describes him as Peter’s coworker (my son Mark)
        • Earliest statement of Mark as author
      • Came form Papias of Hierapolis
      • Mark known as “interpreter of Peter”
  • Patristic tradition unanimous in asserting Mark as author of Gospel of Mark
  • Some problems with Mark as author of Gospel of Peter
    • “What does “interpreter” mean?
      • Peter may not have been Mark’s sole conduit to ministry of Jesus
  • Mark writing in Rome is suggested by Papias & Latin loanwords in Greek text
  • Mark 13 does not presuppose destruction of Jerusalem Temple 70AD
    • This means that Gospel most likely written in 60’s AD in Rome setting
      • Rome best setting - Christians under persecution in Palestine - potential trouble of the Jewish Christians at Rome

II. Literary Structure and Content

  • Gospel  - tight geographical-theological structure
    • Geographical aspect - Movement from Galilee to Jerusalem
      • First half -Jesus’ activity in Galilee/Second half focuses on Jerusalem
        • Symbolic actions and teachings / Passion and death
          • Some narrative opposition btw Galilee and Jerusalem
            • Theological aspect - Highlights authority (exousia) of Jesus
        • See authority revealed in work and word
        • His rejection by own people /misunderstanding by disciples
        • Way to Jerusalem Jesus clarifies nature of authority
        • At Jerusalem encounters resistance to his teaching
    • Implication of geographical-theological created literary genre of Mark
      • Mark created model that the others followed and developed
    • Various kinds of traditions
      • Sayings, parables, controversies, healing stories, other miracles, passion narrative
      • Some traditions grouped - Controversies (2:1-3:6), Seed parables (4:1-34), Miracles (4:35-5:43)
      • Mark gave order and plot to these sayings and teachings
    • Mark wrote gospel to deepen faith of his community
      • By showing them how the traditions of Jesus related to belief
        • Saving significance of the cross, resurrection

III. Marcan Theology

  • Jesus’ theology is focus of Mark - the kingdom of God
  • Christology - who is Jesus
  • Discipleship - response to Jesus
  • Prologue
    • Climaxes in Jesus’ preaching, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has drawn near. Repent and believe in the good news.” (1:1-15)
    • Kingdom of God referred to God’s lordship at end of history
  • Mark’s message: whoever wants to understand kingdom must look to Jesus the healer, the teacher, the crucified-and-risen one
    • Large amount devoted to healings and exorcisms
    • Mark new Jesus as wonderworker
    • Mark’s outline of story suggests passion and death as highlight
  • Peculiar feature of Marcan theology –“the messianic secret” comes
    • From when Jesus commands people to be silent about his action or identity
    • Thrust of Mark shows of Jesus’ messiahship at death and resurrection
  • Response to Jesus’ person – discipleship
    • Disciples based on parallelism btw them and members of community
    • Marcan discipleship is “being with” Jesus
  • First half of Gospel – disciples are portrayed as examples to be imitated
  • Second half  - disciples are examples to be avoided
  • Effect on shift – highlight person of Jesus as only on who deserves imitation

IV. Outline. The Gospel According to Mark is outlined as follows:

  1. Prologue (1:1-15)
  2. Jesus’ Authority Is Revealed in Galilee (1:16-3:6)
      1. Call of the First Disciples (1:16-20)
      2. The Eventful Day in Capernaum
  3. Teaching and Healing in Capernaum (1:21-28)
  4. Healing of Peter’s Mother-in-Law (1:29-31)
  5. Evening Healings (1:32-34)
  6. Jesus’ Temporary Withdrawal (1:35-39)
  7. Healing of the Leper (1:40-45)

            C.   Five Conflict Stories (2:1-3:6)
          a. Healing of a Paralytic and Forgiveness of Sin (2:1-12)
                     b.            Call of Levi (2:13-17)
                     c. Question about Fasting (2:18-22)
                     d.            Work on the Sabbath (2:23-28)
                     e. Healing on the Sabbath (3:1-6)
III. Jesus is Rejected in Galilee (3:7-6:6a)
      A.   Positive Responses (3:7-19a)
               a.            People Come to Jesus (3:7-12)
               b.            Appointment of the Twelve (3:13-19a)
      B.   Negative Responses (3:19b-35)
      C.   Parables and Explanations (4:1-34)
               a.            Setting (4:1-2)
               b. Parable of the Seeds (4:3-9)
               c. Parables’ Purpose (4:10-12)
               d.            Explanation (4:13-20)
               e. Parabolic Sayings (4:21-25)
               f. Parable of the Growing Seed (4:26-29)
               g.            Parable of the Mustard Seed (4:30-32)
               h.            Summary (4:33-34)
      D.   Three Miraculous Actions (4:35-5:43)
               a.            Stilling the Storm (4:35-41)
               b.            Exorcising a Demon (5:1-20)
               c. Healing the Sick (5:21-43)
      E.   Rejection of Jesus by His Own People (6:1-6a)

           

IV. Jesus Misunderstood by Disciples in Galilee and Beyond (6:6b-8:21)

  1. The Disciples’ Mission and John’s Death (6:6b-34)

   a.            The Disciples’ Mission (6:6b-13)
   b.            John’s Death (6:14-29)
   c. The Disciples’ Return (6:30-34)
            B.   Acts of Power and a Controversy (6:35-7:23)
                     a.            Feeding the Five Thousand (6:35-44)
                     b.            Walking on the Waters (6:45-52)
                     c. Healing the Sick (6:53-56)
                     d.            Controversy about Ritual Purity (7:1-23)
            C.   More Acts of Power and a Controversy (7:24-8:21)
                     a.            Healing a Gentile Woman’s Daughter (7:24-30)
                     b.            Healing a Man Incapable of Hearing and Speaking Properly (7:31-37)
                     c. Feeding the Four Thousand (8:1-10)
                     d.            Controversy about Signs (8:11-21)

V.   Jesus Instructs His Disciples on the Way to Jerusalem (8:22-10:52)
            A.   Healing the Blind Man (8:22-26)
            B.   Jesus the Christ (8:27-30)
            C.   First Instruction on Christology and Discipleship (8:31-9:29)
                     a. First Passion Prediction and Its Consequences for Discipleship (8:31-38)
                     b.            Jesus’ Transfiguration and the Elijah Question (9:1-13)
                     c. Healing a Possessed Boy (9:14-29)
            D.   Second Instruction on Christology and Discipleship (9:30-10:31)
                     a.            Second Passion Prediction and Its Consequences for Discipleship (9:30-10:31)
                     b.            Jesus’ Teaching on Marriage Divorce (10:1-12)
                     c. Jesus’ Blessings of the Children (10:13-16)
                     d.            Jesus’ Teachings about Riches (10:17-31)
            E.   Third Instruction on Christology and Discipleship (10:32-45)
                     a. Third Passion Prediction (10:32-34)
                     b.            Its Consequences for Discipleship (10:35-45)
            F.   Healing Blind Bartimaeus (10:46-52)

VI.       The First Pat of Passion Week in Jerusalem (11:1-13:37)

    • Entrance on the First Day (11:1-11)
    • Prophetic Teachings on the Second Day (11:12-19)
    • More Teachings on the Third Day (11:20-13:37
      Explanations (11:20-26)
      • Controversies (11:27-12:37)
      1. Jesus’ authority (11:27-33)
      2. Parable of the vineyard (12:1-12)
      3. Taxes to Caesar (12:13-17)
      4. Resurrection (12:18-27)
      5. The great commandment (12:28-34)
      6. David’s Son (12:35-37)
      • Scribes and a Widow (12:38-44)
      • Jesus’ Final Discourse (13:1-37)
        Introduction (13:1-4)
        • Beginning of the sufferings (13:5-13)
        • The great tribulation (13:14-23)
        • Triumph of the Son of Man (13:24-27)
        • Exhortation to confidence and vigilance (13:28-37)
        VI. Jesus’ Death in Jerusalem (14:1-16:20)
    1. The Anointing and the Last Supper (14:1-31)
      1. Plotting and Anointing (14:1-11)
      2. Arrangements for the Passover Meal (14:12-16)
      3. The Last Supper (14:17-31)
    • Prediction of Judas’s treachery (14:17-21)
    • The supper (14:22-25)
    • Prediction of Peter’s denial (14:26-31)
      • Jesus’ Prayer and Arrest (14:32-52)
      1. Gethsemane (14:32-42)
      2. Arrest (14:43-52)
      • The Trials (14:523-15:15)
      1. Trial before the High Priest; Peter’s Denial (14:53-72)
      2. The Trial before Pilate (15:1-15)
      • The Crucifixion and Death
      1. The Mockery (15:16-20)
      2. The Crucifixion (15:21-32)
      3. The Death of Jesus (15:33-39)
      4. The Burial (15:40-47)
      • The Empty Tomb (16:1-8)
      • Later Endings (16:9-20)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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