SMYTH & HELWYS BIBLE COMMENTARY R. Alan Culpepper

640 Pages·2007·28.61 MB·English

Mark_int_tp_corr.qxp 9/21/07 8:59 AM Page i
SMYTH & HELWYS BIBLE COMMENTARY
mark
R. Alan Culpepper
Mark_int_tp_corr.qxp 9/21/07 8:59 AM Page ii
Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary: Mark
Publication Staff
President & CEO
Cecil P. Staton
Publisher & Executive Vice President
Lex Horton
Vice President, Production
Keith Gammons
Senior Editor
Mark K. McElroy
Book Editor
Leslie Andres
Graphic Designer
Dave Jones
Assistant Editors
Betsy Butler
Kelley F. Land
Smyth & Helwys Publishing, Inc.
6316 Peake Road
Macon, Georgia 31210-3960
1-800-747-3016
© 2007 by Smyth & Helwys Publishing
All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America.
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum
requirements of American National Standard for Information
Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials.
ANSI Z39.48–1984 (alk. paper)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Culpepper, R. Alan.
Mark / R. Alan Culpepper.
p. cm. — (The Smyth & Helwys Bible commentary ; v. 20)
Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
ISBN 978-1-57312-077-7 (hardcover : alk. paper)
1. Bible. N.T. Mark—Commentaries. I. Title.
BS2585.53.C85 2007
226.3'07—dc22
2007006198
Mark_int_tp_corr.qxp 9/21/07 8:59 AM Page iii
Dedication
To teachers who loved the New Testament,
called forth the best in their students,
and lived what they taught.
William E. Hull
Harold S. Songer
Frank Stagg
W. D. Davies
D. Moody Smith, Jr.
(cid:1)
Mark_int_tp_corr.qxp 9/21/07 8:59 AM Page iv
PROJECTEDITOR
R. SCOTTNASH
Mercer University
Macon, Georgia
OLDTESTAMENT NEWTESTAMENT
GENERALEDITOR GENERALEDITOR
SAMUELE. BALENTINE R. ALANCULPEPPER
Union Theological Seminary and McAfee School of Theology
Presbyterian School of Christian Mercer University
Atlanta, Georgia
Education
Richmond, Virginia
AREA
AREA
NEWTESTAMENTEDITORS
OLDTESTAMENTEDITORS
R. SCOTTNASH
MARKE. BIDDLE
Mercer University
Baptist Theological Seminary
Macon, Georgia
at Richmond, Virginia
RICHARDB. VINSON
KANDYQUEEN-SUTHERLAND
Baptist Theological Seminary
Stetson University
at Richmond, Virginia
Deland, Florida
PAULREDDITT
Georgetown College
Georgetown, Kentucky
Mark_int_tp_corr.qxp 9/21/07 8:59 AM Page v
advance praise
This is a large book in many respects. It is large in conception — it
includes a large fund of relevant material drawn from ancient primary
sources as well as more modern secondary sources. It is large in scope
— it covers the message of Mark from its meaning in its own time to
the way modern interpreters can go about making that message their
own. It is large in execution — it begins with an introduction that is an
excellent survey of Markan scholarship, and contains a multitude of
side-bars that provide helpful cultural, geographic, and theological
information. It is, in sum, an excellent commentary on the first Gospel
that will richly reward the careful reader: preacher, scholar, and student
alike.
— Paul J. Achtemeier
Union Theological Seminary and
Presbyterian School of Christian Education
Alan Culpepper brings to the task of reading Mark his considerable
skills, honed in his pioneering work on John, a Gospel of dramatic
qualities second only to Mark. The skills and insights he developed in
his literary-critical work are fully utilised in this sophisticated and sensi-
tive reading of the narrative of Mark. Culpepper focuses on the text of
Mark, its meaning, literary patterns and themes, and probes the text to
reveal what Mark is saying and why it is expressed as it is. In this way
he illuminates the meaning of Mark as a whole while providing a
detailed and convincing treatment of all the details. In doing this he
draws on a deep appreciation of the tradition underlying Mark and the
tradition of interpretation down to our time. The commentary builds
on Culpepper’s incisive analysis of the text and the insights arising from
imaginative illumination critically assessed. All of this is harnessed to
nurture the life of discipleship in our world today.
— John Painter
St. Mark’s National Theological Centre
Charles Sturt University
Mark_int_tp_corr.qxp 9/21/07 8:59 AM Page vi
When it comes to literary or narratological analysis of the Gospels,
Alan Culpepper has few peers and no masters. Here in his Gospel of
Mark commentary we find the ripe fruit of that sort of literary reading
of a Gospel. Eloquently written, fully in touch with the latest scholar-
ship on Mark, and unfailingly fair to various points of view, Professor
Culpepper is a sure guide through the complexities of our earliest
Gospel.
The usual helpful sidebars and supplementary resources on the
CD-ROM also help make this a very helpful tool for pastors and
teachers who want accessible and useable material for their teaching
and sermonic preparation. Highly recommended.
— Ben Witherington, III
Asbury Theological Seminary
Alan Culpepper’s commentary on Mark is creative, innovative, and
user-friendly. In short, it is outstanding. It belongs in the library of
every pastor, student, and scholar. I recommend it highly.
— Craig A. Evans
Acadia Divinity College
Alan Culpepper reads Mark with an eye for the literary sophistication
and for the theological meaning of the text. This volume, with its
helpful “connections” comments will be welcome in the library of every
preacher and teacher of the Bible.
— Sharyn Dowd
Baylor Univeristy
Alan Culpepper’s offering on Mark is a major contribution to the
estimable Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary. Here we benefit from
the author’s recognized gifts as biblical exegete: literary creativity and
theological insight, appreciation of Scripture’s historical grounding
and history of interpretation, admirable clarity and level-headedness.
The book’s abundant maps, photographs, charts, and illustrations
add elegance while fulfilling this series’ promise of an intelligent user-
friendliness. Upon publication Culpepper’s Markshould rise to the
highest rank of serious biblical commentaries for the widest audience
imaginable. I applaud its achievement.
— C. Clifton Black
Princeton Theological Seminary
Mark_int_tp_corr.qxp 9/21/07 8:59 AM Page vii
Contents
ABBREVIATIONS viii
SERIESPREFACE xiii
HOWTOUSETHISCOMMENTARY xv
INTRODUCTION 1
ANOUTLINEOFTHEGOSPELACCORDINGTOMARK 35
1 Jesus and the Coming Kingdom Mark1:1-45 39
2 Conflict with the Religious Leaders Mark2:1-28 73
3 The Coming Kingdom Brings Divisions Mark3:1-35 97
4 Parables of the Kingdom Mark4:1-41 131
5 Jesus’ Power to Give Life Mark5:1-43 163
6 The Misunderstood Messiah and the Mark6:1-56 187
Martyrdom of John the Baptist
7 Jesus’ Challenge to False Views of Holiness Mark7:1-37 229
8 Opening Eyes to Recognize the Messiah Mark8:1-38 253
9 Following a Glorified yet Suffering Messiah Mark9:1-50 291
10 Conditions for Entering the Kingdom Mark10:1-52 327
11 Jesus’ Entry into Jerusalem Mark11:1-33 365
12 Debating with the Authorities in the Temple Mark 12:1-44 397
13 The Destruction of Jerusalem and the Mark13:1-37 443
Coming of the Son of Man
14 Preparations for Jesus’ Death Mark14:1-72 479
15 The Crucifixion of Jesus Mark15:1-47 537
16 The Resurrection of Jesus Mark16:1-8 583
BIBLIOGRAPHY 579
INDEXOFAUTHORS 602
INDEXOFSCRIPTURES 603
INDEXOFSIDEBARS 612
INDEXOFTOPICS 615
Mark_int_tp_corr.qxp 9/21/07 8:59 AM Page viii
ABBREVIATIONS USED IN
THIS COMMENTARY
Books of the Old Testament, Apocrypha, and New Testament are generally abbreviated in the
Sidebars, parenthetical references, and notes according to the following system.
The Old Testament
Genesis Gen
Exodus Exod
Leviticus Lev
Numbers Num
Deuteronomy Deut
Joshua Josh
Judges Judg
Ruth Ruth
1–2 Samuel 1–2 Sam
1–2 Kings 1–2 Kgs
1–2 Chronicles 1–2 Chr
Ezra Ezra
Nehemiah Neh
Esther Esth
Job Job
Psalm (Psalms) Ps (Pss)
Proverbs Prov
Ecclesiastes Eccl
or Qoheleth Qoh
Song of Solomon Song
or Song of Songs Song
or Canticles Cant
Isaiah Isa
Jeremiah Jer
Lamentations Lam
Ezekiel Ezek
Daniel Dan
Hosea Hos
Joel Joel
Amos Amos
Obadiah Obad
Jonah Jonah
Micah Mic
Nahum Nah
Habakkuk Hab
Zephaniah Zeph
Haggai Hag
Mark_int_tp_corr.qxp 9/21/07 8:59 AM Page ix
Zechariah Zech
Malachi Mal
The Apocrypha
1–2 Esdras 1–2 Esdr
Tobit Tob
Judith Jdt
Additions to Esther Add Esth
Wisdom of Solomon Wis
Ecclesiasticus or the Wisdom Sir
of Jesus Son of Sirach
Baruch Bar
Epistle (or Letter) of Jeremiah Ep Jer
Prayer of Azariah and the Song Pr Azar
of the Three
Daniel and Susanna Sus
Daniel, Bel, and the Dragon Bel
Prayer of Manasseh Pr Man
1–4 Maccabees 1–4 Macc
The New Testament
Matthew Matt
Mark Mark
Luke Luke
John John
Acts Acts
Romans Rom
1–2 Corinthians 1–2 Cor
Galatians Gal
Ephesians Eph
Philippians Phil
Colossians Col
1–2 Thessalonians 1–2 Thess
1–2 Timothy 1–2 Tim
Titus Titus
Philemon Phlm
Hebrews Heb
James Jas
1–2 Peter 1–2 Pet
1–2–3 John 1–2–3 John
Jude Jude
Revelation Rev
Mark_int_tp_corr.qxp 9/21/07 8:59 AM Page x
x Abbreviations
Other commonly used abbreviations include:
BCE Before the Common Era
CE Common Era
C. century
c. circa (around “that time”)
cf. confer(compare)
ch. chapter
chs. chapters
ed. edition or edited by or editor
eds. editors
e.g. exempli gratia(for example)
et al. et alia(and others)
f./ff. and the following one(s)
gen. ed. general editor
ibid. ibidem(in the same place)
i.e. id est(that is)
lit. literally
n.d. no date
sg. singular
trans. translated by or translator(s)
vol(s). volume(s)
v. verse
vv. verses
Selected additional written works cited by abbreviations include the following. A
complete listing of abbreviations can be referenced in The SBL Handbook of Style
(Peabody MA:Hendrickson, 1999):
AB Anchor Bible
ABD Anchor Bible Dictionary
ANET Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to
the Old Testament
BibInt Biblical Interpretation
BR Bible Review
BZAW Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die
alttestamentliche Wissenschaft
CBQ Catholic Biblical Quatrerly
CBQMS Catholic Biblical Quarterly,
Monograph Series
ChrLit Christianity and Literature
DCH Dictionary of Classical Hebrew
ER The Encyclopedia of Religion
FRLANT Forschungen zur Religion und
Literatur des Alten und Neuen
Testaments
HBT Horizons in Biblical Theology
HTR Harvard Theological Review