Reading Mark in Context

Ben C. Blackwell (PhD, University of Durham) is associate professor of early Christianity at Houston Baptist University. He has authored a number of essays and articles related to Historical Theology and the New Testament, including Christosis: Engaging Pauline Soteriology with His Patristic Interpreters. He is currently working on new monograph: Participating in the Righteousness of God: Justification in Pauline Theology. He also served as a co-editor for several volumes: Paul and the Apocalyptic Imagination; Reading Romans in Context: Paul and Second Temple Judaism; and Reading Mark in Context: Jesus and Second Temple Judaism.Jason Maston (PhD, University of Durham) is Lecturer in New Testament at Highland Theological College UHI (UK). He is the author of Divine and Human Agency in Second Temple Judaism and Paul: A Comparative Approach and contributor to and co-editor (with Michael F. Bird) of Earliest Christian History: History, Literature and Theology. Essays from the Tyndale Fellowship in Honor of Martin Hengel.

• ForewordIntroduction; History of the Second Temple Period1Preparing the Way in the Wilderness in Mark 1:1-152The Messiah’s Authority in Mark 1:16-453Controversies with the Scribes and Pharisees in Mark 2:1-3:64*Apocalyptic and the Kingdom in Mark 3:7-355Teaching in Parables in Mark 4:1-346Exorcism in Mark 4:35-5:207Healing/Miracles in Mark 5:21-6:6a8Herod Antipas in Mark 6:6b-299New Exodus in Mark 6:30-5610*Redrawing Cultural/Religious and Ethnic Boundaries in Mark 7:1-3711(Apocalyptic) Epistemology in Mark 8:1-2612The New Elijah in Mark 8:27-9:1313Faith in Mark 9:14-2914Cruciform Discipleship in Mark 9:30-5015The Law and Divorce in Mark 10:1-3116Spiritual Leadership in Mark 10:32-5217The Triumphal Entry in Mark 11:1-1118The Temple in Mark 11:12-2619The Chief Priests and Elders in the Temple/Parable of the Tenants in Mark 11:27-12:1220*The Sadducees (and Other Jewish Authorities) in Mark 12:13-4421The Tribulation in Mark 13:1-2322The Return of the Son of Man in Mark 13:24-3723The Passover in Mark 14:1-2524Lament in Mark 14:26-5225Blasphemy in Mark 14:53-7226Pontius Pilate in Mark 15:1-2027Crucifixion and Burial in Mark 15:21-4728Resurrection in Mark 16:1-8xxGlossary

'How does one best learn relevant historical background material to the Gospels? Traditionally, one reads a brief introduction to overall trends and then looks for where they might illuminate individual passages. More interesting, if done well, is to begin with the biblical text and then read portions of the Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha, Dead Sea Scrolls, Josephus, or even the oldest of the rabbinic literature that allows close comparisons and contrasts with the biblical subject matter. This anthology takes the latter approach, makes excellent and relevant selections from the noncanonical material, and uses a broad range of good scholars who briefly make the relevant comparisons with selections from most all the major passages in the Gospel of Mark. The task is done well so that this volume has excellent textbook potential as well as satisfying the curiosity of many other readers.'