Synoptic Gospels

Mark’s use of the title ‘Son of God’: a three-way hermeneutical analysis of how it was intended, understood and received by the Evangelist, Jesus of Nazareth and the original majority Gospel readership.

by Matthew Charlesworth SJ

Unpublished. Written for BTh 1st Year T10A – Introduction to the New Testament and the Synoptics, Hekima College, 22 March 2012. (4962 words)

This essay seeks to understand the use of the title ‘Son of God’ in relation to Jesus of Nazareth, as described in St... more This essay seeks to understand the use of the title ‘Son of God’ in relation to Jesus of Nazareth, as described in St Mark’s gospel. The essay therefore naturally consists of three major parts: after considering some preliminary questions I shall firstly investigate what the author of Mark meant by the use of such a title; secondly, what Jesus understood by that title; and thirdly, what the readers of the Marcan tradition understood by it. In considering the first part, we shall examine the instances of where the Evangelist uses ‘Son of God’ to describe Jesus, as well as those passages in where this is inferred, and assess what author is trying to mean. The second part shall examine Jesus’ use and understanding of titles generally, and this one in particular. Finally we shall consider how such a term would be understood by those to whom it was first addressed. This follows a classic hermeneutical pattern where the author, the reader and the text is analysed. The essay shall conclude with a brief summary and after all the foregoing analysis, attempt to answer the question ‘what does the title Son of God mean? And how was it understood?’

Intertextuality and the Pericanonicity of the Didache: The Dependence and Commentary of Didache 1:2-6 on the Canonical Gospels of Matthew and Luke

by David D. M. King

In this paper, I will look specifically at one section of Didache that contains gospel parallels, Did. 1:2-6. I will... more In this paper, I will look specifically at one section of Didache that contains gospel parallels, Did. 1:2-6. I will argue that Didache, at least this section of it, shows dependency on both Matthew and Luke. This dependency begins to explain two things: why Didache fails to make the cut of official canon and why it still remains close to the canon, in a group of pericanonical texts which are not canon but are still good to read. The later date of Didache, and its derivative nature, exclude it from the canon on the grounds of apostolicity. At the same time, this same dependence on, harmony with, and commentary on Matthew and Luke ensures that Didache will remain “good to read.”

“Trying Jesus: Rhetoric and Testimony in the Markan Passion Narrative.” To be Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature in Chicago, IL (November, 2012).

by Michael Whitenton

"See My Hands and My Feet: Fresh Light on a Johannine Midrash"

by Jeffrey Garcia

John, Jesus, and History, Volume 2: Aspects of Historicity in the Fourth Gospel (Early Christianity and Its Literature; Atlanta: SBL, 2009)

Undressing Jesus in the Gospel of Mark: A Narrative-Critical Analysis of the Clothing of the Character of Jesus

by Calogero A. Miceli

WHO ARE (THE) BLESSED? REFLECTIONS ON THE RELECTURE OF THE BEATITUDES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT AND THE APOCRYPHA

by Korinna Zamfir

Trying to Fix the Family Trees of Jesus

by Geoff Miller

published in Scripture Bulletin 39 (2009): 17-30.

Anatomy of a Cargo Cult: Virginity, Relic Envy, and Hallowed Boxes

by Ryan Byrne

Resurrecting the Brother of Jesus, eds. Ryan Byrne and Bernadette McNary-Zak (University of North Carolina Press, 2009) pp. 137-186

Enochic Evil Spirits in Mark 5

by Archie Wright

Sozialgerechtes Handeln als Ausdruck einer eschatologischen Vision

by Daniel Ayuch

Social Action as Expression of an Eschatological Vision. The Relationship between Revealed Knowledge and Social Ethics in three Discourses of Luke-Acts (MthA 54), Altenberge, 1998, 230 pages (GERMAN).

The Problem of Jesus and the Syrophoenician Woman: A Reader-Response Analysis of Mark 7:24-31

by David D. M. King

2011

This paper seeks to explore the ways that certain contemporary exegetical readers respond to the problem of Jesus’... more This paper seeks to explore the ways that certain contemporary exegetical readers respond to the problem of Jesus’ apparent heartlessness in his dealings with the Syrophoenician woman in Mark 7:24-31. I have identified six basic responses to the problem: 1) Jesus is on vacation, 2) Jesus is playing, 3) Jesus has a more important mission, 4) Jesus is bested in debate, 5) Jesus is racist, and 6) Jesus is sexist. These are by no mean exhaustive of all possibilities, nor are these responses mutually exclusive. Most interpreters will employ more than one of them to help explain Jesus’ words and actions. In the end, I conclude that none of these six attempts to understand Jesus in Mark 7:24-31 is particularly satisfying.

John and the Synoptics: A Case Study of Gospel Parallels in John 12 & 13

by David D. M. King

2005

This study will take as a working assumption that John knew at least part of the synoptic tradition, if not all of it,... more This study will take as a working assumption that John knew at least part of the synoptic tradition, if not all of it, but intentionally chose to make a change. If that is the case, for what purpose did John offer an alternative to the synoptic story? What significance do John's changes have?
Chapters 12 and 13 of John offer an opportunity for us to explore this question in miniature. This section contains several passages that parallel Matthew, Luke, and especially Mark, while at the same time having a plentitude of uniquely Johannine material. We will use it as a case study.

A Donkey and the Colt of a Donkey: the Problem of Doubling in the Gospel of Matthew -or- Why Matthew Has Two Asses

by David D. M. King

2005

The Poor In Luke

by David D. M. King

A paper from 2004 examining all references in the Gospel of Luke pertaining to poverty and wealth.

Book review: Jouko Lindstedt, Ljudmil Spasov, and Juhani Nuorluoto, eds., The Konikovo Gospel/Konikovsko evangelie. Bibl. Patr. Alex. 268. Commentationes Humanarum Litterarum 125 (2008), Helsinki: Societas Scientiarum Fennica, in Slavic and East European Journal 54 (2): 401-410 (2010).

by Cynthia M. Vakareliyska

Book review.

Western Bulgarian or Macedonian? The Dobrejšo Gospel (XIII c.)

by Cynthia M. Vakareliyska

On Ohrid/‘Preslav’ seams in the Book of John

by Cynthia M. Vakareliyska

In: Moskowich, Wolf, Svetlana Nikolova and Moshe Taube, eds., The Holy Land and the Manuscript Legacy of the Slavs: Jews and Slavs (Jerusalem: Hebrew University / Sofia: Cyrillo-Methodian Research Center) 20: 271-80 (2008).

Il Papiro Egerton 2. Discussione delle ipotesi critiche di H. Koester, J.D. Crossan ed E. Norelli

by Luigi Walt

Paper presented at CISEC Exegesis Advanced Seminar, University of Bologna (Feb. 11, 2005).

Four small fragments of papyrus coming from nowhere, about 94  lines in Greek, 2000 letters and 400 words: this... more Four small fragments of papyrus coming from nowhere, about 94  lines in Greek, 2000 letters and 400 words: this is the so-called Papyrus Egerton 2, which contains passages of an unknown Gospel. In this paper, presented at CISEC Exegesis Advanced Seminar  (Bologna, 2005), I tried to discuss and summarize (to the limit of plagiarism) some of the most important contributions on the subject.

Report on Dr Wendy Sproston-North's, “The Anointing in John 12.1-8: A Tale of Two Hypotheses”

by Justin A. Mihoc

Posted on RBECS.

In this very appealing presentation, Dr Sproston-North challenged C.H. Dodd’s idea that John 12:1-8 was composed... more In this very appealing presentation, Dr Sproston-North challenged C.H. Dodd’s idea that John 12:1-8 was composed solely based on oral sources and proposed a new hypothesis. The two-part structured paper covered both Dodd’s hypothesis and the author’s critique, and also provided a verse-by-verse analysis of John 12:1-8.

According to Dodd, John composed his pericope independently from any literary source and only based on oral tradition. In contrast, Sproston-North argues that John composed his anointment account in full knowledge of Mark and Luke, and in direct contact with them. This new hypothesis places us closer to the Evangelist’s thought and his creative writing.

Report on Prof Francis Watson's book preview, 'Gospel Writing: A Canonical Perspective'

by Justin A. Mihoc

Posted on RBECS.

The second book preview in the series inaugurated by Prof John Barclay at the beginning of November (2011) here, at... more The second book preview in the series inaugurated by Prof John Barclay at the beginning of November (2011) here, at Durham University, was the forthcoming monograph by Prof Francis Watson. His approach towards Gospel studies focuses on the reception and interpretation of the canonical texts, without neglecting the non-canonical gospels.

The three-part structure of the book will cover a wide range of discussions, including the early Church’s reception of the Gospels and their canonical status in relation to the apocryphal gospels.