Jesus' Defeat of Death: Persuading Mark's Early Readers

by Peter G. Bolt

Overview

Peter Bolt explores the impact of Mark's Gospel on early readers in the first-century Graeco-Roman world. Focusing upon the thirteen characters in Mark who come to Jesus for healing or exorcism, Bolt analyzes their crucial role in the communication of the Gospel. Enlisting a variety of ancient literary and non-literary sources, this book recreates the first-century world of illness, magic and Roman imperialism. This new approach to Mark combines reader-response criticism with social history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521068994
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	10/30/2008
Series:	Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series , #125
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Peter G. Bolt is Head of New Testament Studies at Moore Theological College, Sydney. He has edited (with M.D. Thompson) and contributed to The Gospel to the Nations: Perspectives on Paul's Mission (2000).

Table of Contents

1. Introduction; 2. The beginning of the gospel (Mark 1.1–13); 3. The Kingdom is near (Mark 1.14–4.34); 4. Jesus and the perishing (Mark 4.35–8.26); 5. Entering the coming Kingdom (Mark 8.27–10.52); 6. The clash of Kingdoms (Mark 11.1–13.37); 7. The coming of the Kingdom (Mark 14–16); 8. Conclusions; Bibliography; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"A review of this length cannot give sufficient coverage to such a rich volume of essays which covers so much territory, allows for so many different voices, attitudes and approaches, and raises so many issues. The authors display immense learning in dealing with their topics. I would consider the essay by Robinson to be a "classic" and it should gain its place on the required reading list of anyone interested in the study of early Islamic history. Berg is to be thanked for his work at bringing these essays together, his translation of the Muranyi text and his charitable attitude towards Motzki's criticisms. All those points are the mark of a real scholar." - Studies in Religion, Andrew Rippin, University of Victoria

From the Publisher