The Theological Intentions of Mark’s Literary Devices

Markan Intercalations, Frames, Allusionary Repetitions, Narrative Surprises, and Three Types of Mirroring

Dean B. Deppe

• Publisher: Wipf and Stock
• Year: 2015
• Print ISBN:
  9781498209885
  9781498209908
• eBook ISBN:
  9781498209892
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Criticism & Interpretation

What sets The Theological Intentions of Mark's Literary Devices apart from other books? What niche does it fill that makes its publication important? This volume will interest all those who value a literary approach to the Gospel of Mark. Dean Deppe introduces some new literary devices in the research of the Gospel of Mark as well as demonstrates the theological intentions of Mark when he employs these literary devices. Deppe argues that Mark employs the literary devices of intercalation, framework, allusionary repetitions, narrative surprises, and three types of mirroring to indicate where he speaks symbolically and metaphorically at two levels. Mark employs these literary devices not just for dramatic tension and irony, but also for theological reasons to apply the Jesus tradition to specific problems in his own day.

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Preface
• Abbreviations
• Chapter 1: The Two Levels of Interpretation in Mark’s Gospel
• Chapter 2: Intercalations in the Gospel of Mark
• Chapter 3: The Literary Device of a Markan Framework
• Chapter 4: Markan Allusionary Repetitions
• Chapter 5: Markan Narrative Surprises
• Chapter 6: Markan Temporal Mirroring
• Chapter 7: Geographical Mirroring: Jewish and Gentile Territory
• Chapter 8: Jewish Ceremonial Ritual Mirroring
• Chapter 9: Mark’s Symbolic Use of Miracle Stories
• Appendix 1: A Summary of Markan Literary Devices
• Appendix 2: Examples of Irony in Mark’s Gospel
• Appendix 3: A List of Possible Markan Intercalations by Various Authors
• Appendix 4: Outlines of the Structure of Mark
• Bibliography