This file contains chapter 9 of my book, The Theological Intentions of Mark’s Literary Devices, where I show how parables in Mark’s gospel become allegorical riddles and miracles become acted parables to symbolically address issues relevant to Mark’s community. The table of contents is as follows.

CHAPTER 9: MARK’S SYMBOLIC USE OF MIRACLE STORIES

A. The Literary Devices Employed in the Markan Miracle Stories

B. Markan Parables as Allegorical Riddles (Puzzles Needing Interpretation)

 C. Miracle Stories Become Acted Parables (Allegorical Riddles)  

Miracle Stories Illustrating Jesus as a Crucified Messiah with a corresponding Discipleship of the Cross

Miracle Stories Illustrating the Inclusion of Gentiles into the Community

Miracle Stories Illustrating the Fulfillment of Jewish Ceremonial Rituals

D. Growth in the Symbolic Meaning of Miracles Stories in Mark’s Narrative

E. Mark Envisions Additional Theological Meaning in Jesus’ Actions

F. Examples Favoring a Two-Level Approach to Mark

This file contains chapter 7 of my book, The Theological Intentions of Mark’s Literary Devices, where I show how  parallel events occur on Jewish and Gentile territory (geographical mirroring) to indicate that it was Jesus’ intention to welcome Gentiles into the community. Here is the flow of material understood in an historical perspective.

CHAPTER 7: GEOGRAPHICAL MIRRORING:  JEWISH AND GENTILE TERRITORY

 A. Jesus and the Gentile Mission

 B. The Gentile Mission in Matthew, Luke, and John

 C. Mark’s Heilsgeschichtlich and Eschatological Employment of the Gentiles

 D. The Problem of Markan Geography

 E. Mark’s Employment of Typology to Designate the Gentile Mission

 F. The Typology of the Pre-Markan Miracle Catenae: An Emphasis upon the Exodus and

            the Retaking of the Land

 G. Mark’s Employment of Geographical Mirroring to Designate the Gentile Mission: The

         Two Miraculous Feedings (Mk. 6:35-44; 8:1-9)

1. The Historical Interpretation
2. The Christological Interpretation
3. The Eschatological Interpretation
4. The Sacramental Eucharistic Interpretation
5. The Metaphorical Interpretation: Jew / Gentile Geographical Mirroring
6. The Polemical Interpretation

 Click the download button to read this file.

This file contains chapter 5 of my book, The Theological Intentions of Mark’s Literary Devices, where I show how narrative surprises in Mark’s gospel are employed by him to theologically address issues relevant to the time when Mark writes his gospel. Here is an outline of this chapter.

CHAPTER 5: MARKAN NARRATIVE SURPRISES

 A. The Definition of a Markan Narrative Surprise

 B. Evidenced by an Omission of Normal Elements in a Miracle Story 

1. The Omission of the Positive Response of Amazement in several Miracle Stories
2. Astonishment Comes at the Beginning rather than the End 9:15
3. Fear becomes a Negative Concept instead of Awe
4. Discipleship Fear in Mark 9:6
5. The Addition of Fear to Passion Passages in 9:32 and 10:32
6. The Surprising Ending of Mark in 16:8
7. The Additional Theme of Misunderstanding Inserted in Trips across the Sea 4:40; 6:52

C. Evidenced by Surprising Twists in the Narrative  

1. 1. Surprise that a demon would be in the synagogue 1:23
2. Surprise that Jesus’ miracles must be kept secret, 1:43-44; 7:36a; 5:43; 8:26 but the healed disobey Jesus and spread the news  1:45; 7:36b

3. Gentiles are changed from “dogs” to people of great faith 7:27-29
4. The “psychological impossibility” of the disciples’ question after the feeding of the 5000  8:4

5. “Forgotten to take any bread” is changed to “one loaf” 8:14
6. Jesus curses the fig tree even though it is not the season for figs 11:13 and the fig tree withers from its roots rather than leaves first   11:21

7. A teacher of the law is not far from the kingdom of God 12:32-34

D. Evidenced by the Synoptic Alterations of Later Gospel Writers

This file contains chapter 3 of my book, The Theological Intentions of Mark’s Literary Devices, where I show how Mark employs frames around each section of the gospel which are structured by five point chiasms or triads in order to give a theological symbolic theme to the narrative. Here is an outline of the material.

CHAPTER 3: THE LITERARY DEVICE OF A MARKAN FRAMEWORK

 A. Structural Techniques in the Gospel of Mark

 B. The Structure of Mark 1:1-15: “The Beginning of the Gospel”

 C. The Paradigmatic Ministry of Jesus in Mark 1:16(14)-39

 D. The Frame around the Controversy Dialogues in Mark 1:40-3:12

 E. The Frame around the Accusations from Family and Religious Leaders: Mk. 3:13-35

 F. The Structure of the Parable Discourse in Mark 4:1-34

 G. The Frame around the Miracle Catenae of Mark 4:35-8:21

 H. The Frame around the Discipleship Catechism of Mark 8:22-10:52

 I. The Frame around Jesus’ Jerusalem Ministry in Mark 11:1-12:40

 J. The Frame around the Eschatological Discourse in Mark 12:41-13:37

 K. The Frame around the Passion Narrative of Mark 14:1-15:39

 L. The Frame around the Burial and Resurrection Narrative of 15:40-16:8

Click the download button to read this file.

This file contains the following material from chapter 1 of my book, The Theological Intentions of Mark’s Literary Devices. In this chapter I argue that Mark’s gospel must be read at two levels to apprehend its complete meaning.

CHAPTER 1: THE TWO LEVELS OF INTERPRETATION IN MARK’S GOSPEL

 A. Mark and the Jesus Tradition: Surprises in Reading the Gospel of Mark

 B. Explanations for Markan Irregularities

 C. The Difficulty in Discerning Symbolism

 D. Evidence for Two Levels of Interpretation in Mark’s Gospel

 E. Literary Devices Employed by Mark to Indicate Symbolism

 F. The Issues Addressed Through the Literary Devices

The four issues addressed include a crucified Messiah, a discipleship of the cross, the acceptance of Gentiles into the community, and the fulfillment of Old Testament Jewish ceremonial regulations.

Click the download button to read this file.