The Gospel to the Romans: The Setting and Rhetoric of Mark's Gospel (Biblical Interpretation Series)

442 Pages·2003·4.19 MB·English

by  Brian J. Incigneri

THE GOSPEL TO THE ROMANS
BIBLICAL
INTERPRETATION
SERIES
Editors
R. ALAN CULPEPPER
ROLF RENDTORFF
Associate Editor
DAVID E. ORTON
Editorial Advisory Board
Janice Capel Anderson • Mieke Bal
Phyllis A. Bird Erhard Blum Werner H. Kelber
(cid:127) (cid:127)
Ekkehard Stegemann Vincent L. Wimbus
(cid:127)
Jean Zumstein
VOLUME 65
THE GOSPEL
TO THE ROMANS
The Setting and Rhetoric
of Mark’s Gospel
BY
BRIAN J. INCIGNERI
BRILL
LEIDEN •BOSTON
2003
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Incigneri, Brian, J.
The Gospel to the Romans : the setting and rhetoric of Mark's Gospel / by Brian J. Incigneri.
p. cm. -- (Biblical interpretation series, ISSN 0928-0731 ; v. 65)
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 90-04-13108-6 (alk. paper)
1. Bible. N.T. Mark--Criticism, interpretation, etc. 2. Rhetoric in the Bible. I. Title. II.
Series.
BS2585.52.I53 2003
226.3'066--dc21
2003045166
ISSN 0928-0731
ISBN 90 04 13108 6
© Copyright 2003 by Koninklijke Brill nv, Leiden, The Netherlands
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, translated, stored in
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printed in the netherlands
For the many faithful people
who went before us,
and who were prepared to give their lives
for the sake of Jesus
and for the sake of the gospel
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CONTENTS
Acknowledgements ...................................................................... xi
List of Abbreviations .................................................................. xiii
1. READERS OF FLESH AND BLOOD
     
’
Conceiving the Gospel ...................................................... 1
Marking Out Mark ............................................................ 3
Editor or Author? .............................................................. 11
Learning to Read .............................................................. 15
Distancing the Reader ...................................................... 20
The Forgotten Readers ...................................................... 22
A Markan Community? .................................................... 30
What the Reader Knew .................................................... 34
The Rhetoric of Gospel .................................................... 36
Reader or Hearer? ............................................................ 43
Is there a Reader in the House? ...................................... 47
A Pathetic Gospel .............................................................. 51
Reading Differently ............................................................ 56
2. SITUATING THE RHETORIC
       
Locating the Community .................................................. 59
Origins in Galilee .............................................................. 60
Local Colour ...................................................................... 65
A Rural Setting? ................................................................ 70
Houses and Fields .............................................................. 78
Attacks on Christians? ........................................................ 82
Attacks by Gentiles? ...................................................... 84
Attacks by Jews? ............................................................ 88
Crucifixion ...................................................................... 90
An Unusual Debate .......................................................... 92
Arguments for Rome ........................................................ 96
The Use of Aramaic ...................................................... 96
Geographical errors ........................................................ 97
The Syrophoenician Woman ........................................ 98
viii 
The Coins .......................................................................... 98
Other Factors .................................................................... 98
The Extent of the Latinisms ............................................ 100
Early Church Traditions .................................................. 103
Persecutions ........................................................................ 105
No Paradise ............................................................................ 108
3. NO STONE UPON ANOTHER
       
Stumbling Blocks ................................................................ 116
The Lack of Direct Reference to the Fall of Jerusalem 117
The Accuracy of 13:2 .................................................... 120
The Plausibility of 13:14–18 as a Recent Event ........ 122
The Devastator .................................................................. 126
Woe to Those in the City of God .................................. 133
The Temple That Could Not Be Cleaned .................... 139
The New House of Forgiveness ........................................ 144
Closing Down the Temple ................................................ 150
The Emphasis on the Temple .......................................... 154
4. THE CLIMATE
  ,   ,  
  
Have the Gods Abandoned Us? ...................................... 156
The Triumph of the Gods ................................................ 163
The Saviour of Rome ........................................................ 168
A Flavian Peace? ................................................................ 173
The Ambitious Sons .......................................................... 177
The Divided House .......................................................... 185
The Bandits’ Den .............................................................. 188
The Demonic Legions ...................................................... 190
A Taxing Question ............................................................ 194
The Veil that Everyone Saw ............................................ 202
5. THE TRAUMATISED CHRISTIANS
   
The Beginning of the Suffering ........................................ 208
Hated by All ...................................................................... 219
The Need for Secrecy ...................................................... 225
Hiding the Light ................................................................ 228
 ix
The Day The Lord Comes .............................................. 232
Exemplary Punishment ...................................................... 241
My God, My God, Why Have You Abandoned Me? .... 247
6. PREPARING THE WAY
    
’
Part I: The Way of the Reader ...................................... 253
Jesus, Martyr .................................................................. 263
Part II: A Painful Choice .................................................. 265
Seeing, but Not Seeing .................................................. 272
What Will It Be: Fear or Trust? .................................. 276
Does Jesus Care? ............................................................ 278
Jesus is Amazed .............................................................. 283
Every Tear Will Be Wiped Away ................................ 285
Strength for Weak Flesh ................................................ 289
Part III: Do Not Be Lead Astray .................................... 292
Shaking and Gathering .................................................. 299
Just Stay Awake (and Pray) .......................................... 307
Can Jesus Save? ............................................................ 311
7. SURELY, NOT I?
    
’
The Confusing Disciples .................................................... 314
An Emotional Issue ............................................................ 320
Dismayed Disciples ............................................................ 323
Fishers of Men .................................................................. 329
Which is Worse: Betrayal or Denial? .............................. 338
Child, Your Sins Are Forgiven ........................................ 343
Peter the Rock .................................................................. 346
Judas the Betrayer .............................................................. 355
Mark’s Good News ............................................................ 357
AFTERWORD .......................................................................... 362
Bibliography ................................................................................ 367
Index of Passages ...................................................................... 393
Index of Authors ........................................................................ 414
Subject Index .............................................................................. 420