The Purpose of Mark's Gospel: An Early Christian Response to Roman Imperial PropagandaIn this book, Adam Winn addresses the long debated question of the purpose of Mark's gospel. After placing the composition of Mark in Rome at a time shortly after the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, he seeks to reconstruct the historical situation facing both the Markan evangelist and his community. This reconstruction focuses on the rise of the new Roman Emperor Vespasian and the aftermath of the Jewish Revolt in Rome. A significant feature of this reconstruction is the propaganda used to gain and secure Vespasian's power-propaganda that included oracles and portents, divine healings, and grand triumphs. Of particular interest is the propagandistic claim that Vespasian was the true fulfillment of Jewish messianic prophecies. Winn argues that such a claim would have created a christological crisis for the fledgling church in Rome-a crisis that called for a compelling Christian response. Winn seeks to demonstrate that Mark's gospel could be read as just such a response. He demonstrates how the major features of Mark's gospel-his incipit, Christology, teaching on discipleship, and eschatology-can be read as a counter resume to the impressive resume of Vespasian. In the end, this project concludes that Mark was composed for the purpose of countering Roman imperial propaganda that had created a crisis for its author and community. |
Contents
Surveying the Purpose of Marks Gospel | 5 |
Marks Date and Provenance | 43 |
Analysis of Marks Major Features | 92 |
Reconstructing Marks Historical Situation | 153 |
Reading Marks Major Features in Light of Marks | 178 |
Summary of Conclusions | 202 |
223 | |
231 | |
Common terms and phrases
argues that Mark Caesarea Philippi certainly Christ Christian Christology of power claims commands conclusion critique crucifixion disciples discussion divine Donahue and Harrington eschatological evangelist Evans evidence factum prophecy faith false Galilean Galilee God's Gospel of Mark Greco-Roman Gundry healing highlights Jesus historical situation Horsley idem identity Iersel imperial cult interpreters Irenaeus Jerusalem Jewish messianic Jewish Revolt Jews Josephus Kelber kingdom Levick Marcus Mark 13 Mark wrote Mark's Christology Mark's community Mark's date Mark's gospel Mark's incipit Mark's presentation Mark's purpose Mark's readers Markan Markus Markusevangelium Marxsen Messianic Secret miracles noted Papias Parousia passion prediction pericope persecution Peter Peter's confession presentation of Jesus prologue prophets provenance for Mark purpose of Mark's realities reference regarding Mark's Roman provenance Roman triumph Roskam secrecy motif seems significant Sitz im Leben Suetonius Tacitus teaching temple temple's destruction Testament Theissen theory tion tradition understanding verse Vespasian world ruler Wrede