Class 2 THE GOSPEL OF MARK Outline The Lives of Mark Three Parts of Communication Acts Literary Criticism, & its Subset, Narrative Criticism ú Literary criticism in general ú Narrative criticism applied to Mark THE LIVES OF MARK 1
Codex Sinaiticus Mark 1:1-4 The Lives of Mark Peter s scribe Spirit s pen Matthew s summarizer c.30 CE 65 75 Jesus dies Gospel composed 75-90 Matt & Lk copy Mk c.130 Papias 200 Origen 400 Augustine reporter theologian scissors & paste man redactor & author narrator Mark 1555 John Calvin 1863 Heinrich Holtzmann 1901 William Wrede 1919-1945 M. Dibelius R. Bultmann 1956 Willi Marxsen 1970s-80s Rhoads & Michie Tolbert Donahue TODAY THREE PARTS OF COMMUNICATION ACTS 2
Three Parts of Communication Acts Your reading posture = critical distance What question do you want to ask? (Workbook pp. 37-39) before Source Criticism Sayings Passion Miracle Clusters Narrative Cycle Form Criticism Birth What question do you want to ask? Miracle Parable Controversy Chreia Genealogy before Source Criticism Sayings Passion Miracle Clusters Narrative Cycle Form Criticism Birth What question do you want to ask? Miracle Parable Controversy Chreia Genealogy OF Criticism (if you know Greek) 3
before Source Criticism Sayings Passion Miracle Clusters Narrative Cycle Form Criticism Birth What question do you want to ask? Miracle Parable Controversy Chreia Genealogy OF Redaction Criticism (if you have the sources he edited) before Source Criticism Sayings Passion Miracle Clusters Narrative Cycle Form Criticism Birth What question do you want to ask? Miracle Parable Controversy Chreia Genealogy OF Rhetorical Criticism Social-scientific Criticism before Source Criticism Sayings Passion Miracle Clusters Narrative Cycle Form Criticism Birth What question do you want to ask? Miracle Parable Controversy Chreia Genealogy after Contextual Criticisms Cultural Studies Feminist Criticism Postcolonial Criticism 4
LITERARY CRITICISM, & ITS SUBSET, NARRATIVE CRITICISM Literary Criticism in General encompasses many approaches initially meant any close reading including form and source criticism but since 1960s, it has shifted to methods practiced by English literature scholars focus on final text, not sources author worked with sources, but his new creation has its own literary integrity increasing attention has been paid to readers response Narrative Criticism A branch of literary criticism that examines narratives or stories. The term has been largely coined by biblical scholars who have sought to apply the insights of literary critics to the gospel narratives. 5
Narrative Criticism: s & IN the Narrative Real Implied Narrator Narratee Implied Real or Narrative Narrative Criticism: The -Discourse Distinction the content of the narrative; WHAT it tells includes characters, setting and plot Discourse the RHETORIC of the narrative; HOW it is told includes several techniques for shaping the story elements to persuade a reader of the author s point of view Seymour Chatman, and Discourse: Narrative Structure in Fiction and Film (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1978). The Gospel of Mark as Narrative Elements Characters Rhetoric: Settings How the author shapes these elements to persuade the audience of his/her point of view Plot 6
The Gospel of Mark as Rhetoric: How an Shapes Narrative Elements Characters revealed by showing or telling exhibit dominant traits; rarely change flat or round their point of view is evaluated by author Settings places have symbolic associations temporal markers set narrative pace Plot order, duration and frequency causation (kernels & satellites) conflict Rhetorical Techniques point-of-view symbolism irony The Gospel of Mark as Rhetoric: How an Shapes Narrative Elements Narration Symbolism Who narrates? What is his/her level of knowledge, reliability, point of view Technique for suggesting interpretation Irony Technique for rejecting certain interpretations; juxtaposition of expected meaning and surprise meaning The Gospel of Mark as Rhetoric: Point-of-View The (implied) author shapes the response of the reader by insisting that the reader adopt a point of view consistent with that of the narrative. To discern the evaluative point of view, read closely the narrator s statements and be sensitive to the structure of the narrative. Determine the norms, values, and worldview with which the narrator judges the evidence. 7
The Gospel of Mark as Plotting Exercise in Mark 1:1 8:38 1. Where are the episode breaks? 2. Do any episodes seem more significant than others (possibly kernels )? How do you know? 3. Is there a building of characterization or conflict? Are there causal connections between episodes? The Gospel of Mark as An Overview of the Gospel Plot I. Prologue (1:1-3) II. Galilean Ministry (1:4-8:21) III. Peter s Confession, Prediction of Passion and Journey to Jerusalem (8:22-10:52) IV. Controversies in the Temple (11:1-13:37) V. Passion Narrative (14:1-15:39) VI. Resurrection Narrative (15:40-16:8) Causal Connections Markan sandwiches Mk 5 (Ger demoniac) Jairus daughter [bleeding woman] Jairus daughter Mk 11:15ff Temple [fig tree] temple The end-time Compare Mk 13:28-36 (apocalyptic discourse) To Mk 14 (passion narrative) 8
Using Biblical Research Tools: The Elijah Project (Workbook pp. 78-80) Everyone has a page from a Concordance Each person also takes one of the following tools: Biblical Apparatus Commentary Bible Dictionary Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (TDNT) Bias in Our Scholarly Sources TheologischesWörterbuch zum NeuenTestament (TWNT/TDNT) Bias in Our Scholarly Sources TheologischesWörterbuch zum NeuenTestament (TWNT/TDNT) Gerhard Kittel Karl Georg Kuhn 9
Using Biblical Research Tools: The Elijah Project (Workbook pp. 78-80) Everyone has a page from a Concordance Each person also takes one of the following tools: Biblical Apparatus Commentary Bible Dictionary Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (TDNT) What questions arose in your group that you could pursue further? 10