The kingdom in Mark;: A new place and a new time 0800602684, 9780800602680

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THE KINGDOM IN MARK A New Place and a New Time

WERNER H. KELBER

FORTRESS PRESS

Philadelphia

COPYRIGHT ©

1974

BY F O R T R E S S P R E S S

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner.

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 73-88353 ISBN 0-8006-0268-4

4020H73

Printed in U.S.A.

1-268

To Norman Perrin

Table of Contents

Abbreviations

ix

Preface

x

I

II

*

ARRIVAL AND C O N F L I C T O F THE K I N G D O M

3 15 18 23

T H E MYSTERY O F T H E KINGDOM

25

Tradition and Redaction Hiddenness and Revelation Conclusion III

E X P A N S I O N AND U N I T Y O F THE K I N G D O M

T h e Jewish Designation T h e Gentile Designation Conclusion IV

27 37 41 45

48 57 62

T H E F U T U R E O F THE KINGDOM

O n the W a y Showing the W a y E n d of the W a y Losing the W a y Conclusion V

1

T h e Gospel Program Collision of Kingdoms Kingdom in Defiance Conclusion

67

69 70 71 82 84

COLLAPSE AND REORIENTATION O F T H E K I N G D O M

T h e I m p e n d i n g Rift T h e Break T h e N e w Place Conclusion

87

92 97 102 105 vu

VI

THE KINGDOM'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE FALL OF JERUSALEM

End of the Temple, End of all Things The Prophets of Parousia The Epiphany of the Evil One The Parousia of the Son of Man The Nearness of the Parousia Conclusion VII

CONCLUSION: THE GENESIS OF THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM

False Dawn in Jerusalem A New Place and a New Time The Hermeneutics of Crisis

109

111 113 116 122 124 126 129

132 138 144

Bibliography

151

Index of Authors

165

Index of Scripture References

169

viii

Abbreviations

Bib

Biblica

BibLeb

Bibel und Leben

Bijdr

Bijdragen

BiR

Biblical Research

BJRL

Bulletin of the John Rylands Library

BZ

Biblische Zeitschrift

CBQ

Catholic Biblical Quarterly

EvTh

Evangelische Theologie

ExpT

Expository Times

HibJ

Hibbert Journal

HTR

Harvard Theological Review

Interpr

Interpretation

JBL

Journal of Biblical Literature

JRel

Journal of Religion

JTS

Journal of Theological Studies

NovTest

Novum Testamentum

NTS

New Testament Studies

RB

Revue Biblique

RHPhR

Revue d'Histoire et de Philosophie Religieuses

RSR

Recherches de Science Religieuse

ScJTh

Scottish Journal of Theology

SE

Studia Evangelica

ST

Studia Theologica ix

TDNT

Theological Dictionary of the New Testament

ThBl

Theologische Blatter

ThStKr

Theologische Studien und Kritiken

ThViat

Theologia Viatorum

TLZ

Theologische Literaturzeitung

TTZ

Trierer Theologische Zeitschrift

rz

Theologische Zeitschrift

USQR

Union Seminary Quarterly Review

VD

Verbum Domini

ZNW

Zeitschrift fiir die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft

ZThK

Zeitschrift fiir Theologie und Kirche

X

Preface

This book is based upon my doctoral dissertation submitted to the faculty of the Divinity School of the University of Chicago in June 1970. Much work has gone into it since then. A rapid development in Markan studies made it necessary to reconsider individual sections, to integrate new material, and, in the end, to rewrite the whole. My basic thesis concerning the genesis and purpose of our oldest Christian gospel has, however, remained unaltered. Among the scholars, past and present, who guided my thinking in fundamental ways, the following deserve special mention: Ernst Lohmeyer who discovered the significance of Galilee in Mark; Robert H. Lightfoot who insisted on the relevance of space and place in the gospels; Willi Marxsen who pioneered the redaction-critical exegesis of the oldest gospel; Theodore J. Weeden who brought the discipleship phenomenon in Mark into focus; Rudolf Pesch who contributed a magisterial work on chapter 13; Norman Perrin who during the last decade has prepared the ground for a theology of Mark. The manuscript of this book was written while I was teaching at the University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio. It is my pleasant obligation to sincerely thank Dr. Rocco M. Donatelli, Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences, Father Matthew Kohmescher, chairman of the Department of Theological Studies, and Dr. Richard A. Boulet, director of Graduate Studies in the Department. These gentlemen, each in his own way, encouraged my research and provided me with the most precious commodity of all: time. Many thanks also to my student assistant, Mark Taffera, who served as my life line to libraries during the months of writing, and who compiled the index of authors and of Scripture references. As a member of the Markan Task Force I have profited from three years of seminar meetings and discussions. Of my colleagues who by their friendly criticism helped me toward finding my own concept of the Markan gospel I wish to mention: John D. Crossan, John R. Donahue, XI

Anitra Kolenkow, Robin Scroggs, Vernon K. Robins, and Theodore J. Weeden. I have good memories of a night in Houston, Texas, spent in discussion with Dr. Friedrich Lang, my predecessor at Rice University. His unconventional view on the theios aner theology further encouraged me to discount a direct Markan polemic against such a Christianity. I owe a special word of gratitude to Kim Dewey, my former research assistant at the University of Dayton, now PhD candidate at the University of Chicago. Many of his helpful suggestions found their way into this book. Words, the medium biblical scholars credit with life and power, cannot adequately express my indebtedness to my wife, Mary Ann. Without her this book could not have been written. I dedicate this book to Norman Perrin, Doktorvater, mentor, and friend. To him I owe the greatest debt of gratitude.

xu

THE KINGDOM IN MARK

What we call the beginning is often the end And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from. T. S. Eliot, Little

Gidding

Chapter I ARRIVAL AND CONFLICT OF THE KINGDOM 1:1-3:6

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