Mark (New Cambridge Bible Commentary)

439 Pages·2015·2.971 MB·English

by  Darrell Bock

mark
Thisvolumeprovidesacomprehensive,accessibleintroductiontotheGospel
ofMark,nowwidelyconsideredthefirstrecordedtreatmentofJesus.Darrell
Bockexplainshowthistext,oncetheleast-usedGospel,cametoberegardedas
the starting point for understanding Jesus. Drawing together previous argu-
mentsanddiscussioninaconstructivesummary,hetracesthesignificanceof
Markandaddresseskeyfeaturessuchasitsculturalandhistoricalbackground,
itsnarrativeflow,andtheroleofGreekinsupplyingmeaning.Thiscommen-
tary highlights the issues Mark’s Gospel raises and develops Mark’s message
surrounding Jesus’ claims of kingdom authority and salvation, the call to
disciplestofollowhim,andthepreparationofthosedisciplestofacesuffering
inlightoftheirchoice.Markwillbeavaluableresourceforstudents,teachers,
andpastorsalike.
DarrellBockisExecutiveDirectorofCulturalEngagementandSeniorResearch
ProfessorofNewTestamentStudiesatDallasTheologicalSeminary.Heisthe
authororeditorofmorethanthirtybooks,andhisrecentpublicationsinclude
Truth in a Culture of Doubt: Engaging Skeptical Challenges to the Bible (with
Andreas J. Köstenberger and Josh D. Chatraw) and Parables of Enoch: A
ParadigmShift(withJamesH.Charlesworth).

new cambridge bible commentary
general editor: Ben Witherington III
hebrew bible/old testament editor: Bill T. Arnold
editorial board
BillT.Arnold,AsburyTheologicalSeminary
JamesD.G.Dunn,UniversityofDurham
MichaelV.Fox,UniversityofWisconsin-Madison
RobertP.Gordon,UniversityofCambridge
JudithM.Gundry,YaleUniversity
BenWitheringtonIII,AsburyTheologicalSeminary
The New Cambridge Bible Commentary (NCBC) aims to elucidate the Hebrew
and Christian Scriptures for a wide range of intellectually curious individuals.
WhilebuildingontheworkandreputationoftheCambridgeBibleCommentary
popularinthe1960sand1970s,theNCBCtakesadvantageofmanyoftherewards
providedbyscholarlyresearchoverthelastfourdecades.Volumesutilizerecent
gains in rhetorical criticism, social scientific study of the Scriptures, narrative
criticism, and other developing disciplines to exploit the growing advances in
biblical studies. Accessible jargon-free commentary, an annotated “Suggested
Readings”list,andtheentireNewRevisedStandardVersion(NRSV)textunder
discussionarethehallmarksofallvolumesintheseries.
published volumes in the series
Psalms,WalterBrueggemannandWilliamH.Bellinger,Jr.
Matthew,CraigA.Evans
Genesis,BillT.Arnold
Exodus,CarolMeyers
JudgesandRuth,VictorH.Matthews
1–2Corinthians,CraigS.Keener
TheGospelofJohn,JeromeH.Neyrey
JamesandJude,WilliamF.BrosendII
Revelation,BenWitheringtonIII
forthcoming volumes
Deuteronomy,BrentStrawn
Joshua,DouglasA.Knight
1–2Chronicles,WilliamM.Schniedewind
Isaiah1–39,JacobStromberg
Jeremiah,BaruchHalpern
Hosea,Joel,andAmos,J.J.M.Roberts
TheGospelofLuke,Amy-JillLevineandBenWitheringtonIII
TheLettersofJohn,DuaneF.Watson

Mark
R
Darrell Bock
DallasTheologicalSeminary
32AvenueoftheAmericas,NewYork,ny10013–2473,usa
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Informationonthistitle:www.cambridge.org/9781107677678
©DarrellBock2015
Thispublicationisincopyright.Subjecttostatutoryexception
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noreproductionofanypartmaytakeplacewithoutthewritten
permissionofCambridgeUniversityPress.
Firstpublished2015
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
AcatalogrecordforthispublicationisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary.
LibraryofCongressCataloginginPublicationData
Bock,Darrell.
Mark/DarrellBock.
pages cm.–(NewCambridgeBiblecommentary)
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
isbn978-1-107-03421-1(alk.paper)
1. Bible.Mark–Commentaries. 2. JesusChrist–Personandoffices.
3. JesusChrist–Historicity. I. Title.
bs2585.53.b63 2015
226.3ʹ07–dc23 2015020957
isbn978-1-107-03421-1Hardback
isbn978-1-107-67767-8Paperback
CambridgeUniversityPresshasnoresponsibilityforthepersistenceoraccuracyof
urlsforexternalorthird-partyInternetWebsitesreferredtointhispublication
anddoesnotguaranteethatanycontentonsuchWebsitesis,orwillremain,
accurateorappropriate.
Contents
R
Preface pagexi
Abbreviations xiii
i. introduction to mark 1
Introduction 1
CommentaryDiscussionofAuthor,Date,andSetting 1
HistoricalSettingofMarkandEmergenceoftheGospel’sCentral
RoleinHistoricalJesusDiscussion 11
MovetothePriorityofMark 13
AncientTestimonyonMark’sSourcesandtheRootsofHis
TreatmentofJesus’Life 16
NeedfortheGospelsbyabout65–80CE 23
ReliabilityofMarkwithRegardtoJewishMatters 24
ConclusionontheRootsofMark’sGospel 35
StructureofMark’sGospel 36
ii. suggested readings on the gospel of mark 40
Commentaries 40
ArticlesbyPassageUnit 41
iii. commentary on mark 107
1:1–15IntroductiontotheGospel:JohntheBaptistandJesus 107
1:1Introduction 107
1:2–8JohntheBaptistFulfillsScriptureinPreparingthe
PeopleandTellsoftheOnetoCome 109
1:9–15JesusIsBaptized,Tempted,andPreaches
theKingdom 114
1:16–3:6JesusinGalilee:MinistryandControversy 121
1:16–20CallingoftheFour 121
1:21–39Jesus’TimeinCapernaum 124
vii
viii Contents
1:40–45IntoGalilee:TheHealingofaLeper 134
2:1–3:6FiveControversies:WhatGotJesusintoTrouble 138
3:7–6:6JesusinGalilee:JesusTeachesandShowsHisPower 160
3:7–35AsJesusGathersDisciplesandMinisters,Discussion
EmergesaboutWhoHeIs 160
4:1–34JesusTeachesabouttheKingdomthroughParables 171
4:35–5:41JesusPerformsaSeriesofMiracles 183
6:1–6JesusSpeaksintheSynagogueandEncounters
Skepticism 200
6:7–8:26JesusinGalilee:Jesus’ActsYieldaConfession 203
6:7–13JesusSendstheTwelveOutintoMission 203
6:14–29AsHerodContemplatesWhoJesusIs,theExecution
ofJohntheBaptistIsTold 205
6:30–44Jesus’CompassionIsDisplayedandtheMiracle
oftheFeedingoftheFiveThousand 210
6:45–52JesusWalksonWater 214
6:53–56AnotherSummary:JesusHealsThoseBrought
toHim 218
7:1–23JesusDiscussesthatTrueCleanlinessComesfrom
theHeart 219
7:24–30JesusHonorstheHumbleFaithofaSyro-Phoenician
Woman 226
7:31–37JesusHealsaDeafMute,butHisEffortNottoPublicize
theHealingFails 229
8:1–9JesusFeedstheCrowdaSecondTime 232
8:10–13JesusRebukestheRequestforaSign 234
8:14–21JesusReviewstheTwoFeedings,Makinga
CalltoFaith 236
8:22–26JesusHealsaBlindMan 238
8:27–10:52AfteraKeyConfession,JesusHeadstoJerusalemand
PreparesHisDisciplesfortheSufferingThatIstoCome 240
8:27–30PeterConfessesJesusastheChrist 240
8:31–33JesusPredictsHisComingSufferingastheSon
ofMan 243
8:34–9:1JesusCallsforTotalCommitmentfromDisciples 244
9:2–8AVoicefromHeavenCommendsJesusasthe
BelovedSonasHeIsTransfiguredbeforeaFewDisciples 248
9:9–13JesusCommandsSilenceuntiltheResurrectionabout
theTransfigurationandDiscussesElijahasHavingCome 251
9:14–29JesusHealsaDemon-PossessedBoyWhoIs
EpilepticaftertheDisciplesFailtoHealHim 254
9:30–32JesusPredictsHisSufferingOneMoreTime 258
Contents ix
9:33–50JesusTeachesonHumility,Service,andSin 260
10:1–12JesusDiscussesDivorceandEmphasizestheDesignof
MarriageasMaleandFemaleMadeOneforLife 265
10:13–16JesusRebukestheDisciplesasHePermitsthe
ChildrentoCometoHimandUrgesThemtoHave
FaithasaChild 270
10:17–31JesusInstructsabouttheDangerofDevotion
toRichesandUrgesDisciplestoLeaveAll 271
10:32–34JesusPredictsHisDeathandResurrectionfor
aThirdTime 277
10:35–45ADisputeaboutGreatnessLeadsJesustoTeach
aboutServanthood 279
10:46–52JesusHealstheBlindBartimaeus 283
11:1–16:8InJerusalem,JesusMeetsControversyandRejection,
LeadingtoHisDeathandResurrection,asHeAlsoTeaches
ofSuffering,Judgment,andVindication 286
11:1–12:24Jesus’ComingtoJerusalemasaMessianic
ClaimantLeadstoControversy 286
13:1–37JesusDescribesEventsSurroundingtheDestruction
oftheTempleandtheReturnoftheSonofManThat
MeanRedemptionandVindicationforHisDisciples 318
14:1–72JesusPreparesHisDisciplesforHisDeathasJudas
BetraysHimandtheJewishLeadershipExaminesHim,
FindingHisClaimofDivineSupportandRule
Blasphemous 333
15:1–47JesusIsSenttotheCrossbyPilateforSedition
andDiesamidaSeriesofCosmicSigns 359
16:1–8TheAngelicAnnouncementofaRaisedJesusLeaves
ThreeWomenSpeechlessandFearingasTheyAreTold
toTelltheDisciplestoMeetJesusinGalilee 377
ScriptureIndex 389
SubjectIndex 415