Reading Mark in Context

Jesus and Second Temple Judaism

Zondervan, Ben C. Blackwell, John K. Goodrich, Jason Maston

• Publisher: Zondervan Academic
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN: 9780310534457
• eBook ISBN: 9780310534464
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Studies

Over the last several decades, the Jewishness of Jesus has been at the forefront of scholarship and students of the New Testament are more than ever aware of the importance of understanding Jesus and the Gospels in their Jewish context. Reading Mark in Context helps students see the contour and texture of Jesus' engagement with his Jewish environment. It brings together a series of accessible essays that compare and contrast viewpoints, theologies, and hermeneutical practices of Mark and his various Jewish contemporaries.

Going beyond an introduction that merely surveys historical events and theological themes, this textbook examines individual passages in Second Temple Jewish literature in order to illuminate the context of Mark's theology and the nuances of his thinking. Following the narrative progression of Mark's Gospel, each chapter in this textbook (1) pairs a major unit of the Gospel with one or more sections of a thematically-related Jewish text, (2) introduces and explores the historical and theological nuances of the comparative text, and (3) shows how the ideas in the comparative text illuminate those expressed in Mark.

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Foreword
• Abbreviations
• Introduction
• 1. Rule of the Community and Mark 1:1–13: Preparing the Way In the Wilderness
• 2. The Parables of Enoch and Mark 1:14–2:12: The Authoritative Son of Man
• 3. Josephus and Mark 2:13–3:6: Controversies With the Scribes and Pharisees
• 4. The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs and Mark 3:7–35: Apocalyptic and the Kingdom
• 5. 4 Ezra and Mark 4:1–34: Parables On Seeds, Sowing, and Fruit
• 6. The Testament of Solomon and Mark 5:1–20: Exorcism and Power Over Evil Spirits
• 7. Mishnah Zabim and Mark 5:21–6:6a: The Rules On Purity
• 8. Josephus and Mark 6:6b–29: Herod Antipas’s Execution of John the Baptist
• 9. 4QConsolations and Mark 6:30–56: Images of a New Exodus
• 10. The Letter of Aristeas and Mark 7:1–23: Developing Ideas of Defilement
• 11. Jubilees and Mark 7:24–37: Crossing Ethnic Boundaries
• 12. The Damascus Document and Mark 8:1–26: Blindness and Sight On “the Way”
• 13. Sirach and Mark 8:27–9:13: Elijah and the Eschaton
• 14. Tobit and Mark 9:14–29: Imperfect Faith
• 15. Rule of the Community and Mark 9:30–50: Discipleship Reordered
• 16. Mishnah Giṭṭin and Mark 10:1–12: Marriage and Divorce
• 17. Eschatological Admonition and Mark 10:13–31: Riches, Poverty, and the Faithful
• 18. Rule of the Congregation and Mark 10:32–52: Glory and Greatness In Eschatological Israel
• 19. 1 Maccabees and Mark 11:1–11: A Subversive Entry Into Jerusalem
• 20. Psalms of Solomon and Mark 11:12–25: The Great Priestly Showdown At the Temple
• 21. The Animal Apocalypse and Mark 11:27–12:12: The Rejection of the Prophets and the Destruction of the Temple
• 22. Josephus and Mark 12:13–27: The Sadducees, Resurrection, and the Law
• 23. Psalms of Solomon and Mark 12:28–44: The Messiah’s Surprising Identity and Role
• 24. The Parables of Enoch and Mark 13:1–37: Apocalyptic Eschatology and the Coming Son of Man
• 25. Mishnah Pesaḥim and Mark 14:1–25: The Passover Tradition
• 26. The Babylonian Talmud and Mark 14:26–52: Abba, Father!
• 27. The Parables of Enoch and Mark 14:53–73: Blasphemy and Exaltation
• 28. Philo of Alexandria and Mark 15:1–15a: Pontius Pilate, a Spineless Governor?
• 29. 11QTempleᵃ and Mark 15:15b–47: Burying the Crucified
• 30. 2 Maccabees and Mark 16:1–8: Resurrection As Hope for the Present
• Glossary
• Contributors
• Passage Index
• Subject Index
• Author Index