Markan Typology

Responding to the belief that typology was a later development of the early church, and not applicable to the earliest canonical Gospel, Jonathan Robinson stresses that typology has deep Jewish roots, and that typological modes of thought were a significant part of the Gospels historical and cultural background. He brings this insight to bear on four of the most dramatic miracles in Marks Gospel, discovering a surprisingly consistent typological approach. Essential to Robinsons argument is the discovery of distinctive words and phrases taken from the Septuagint, that serve as unique indictors of Marks intent to refer back to miracles from the Jewish scriptures, pointing to influence from Jonah, David, Elisha and Moses. These references in turn provide insight into Marks Christology, revealing that Mark presents Jesus as both the fulfilment of scriptural human types and as assuming the narrative form of Israels God. Robinson argues that rather than imposing categories extracted from earlier Jewish literature like divine identity and exalted human figures, Mark should be allowed to speak on its own terms and with its own unique voice.