Mark and His Gentile Audience: a Traditio-Historical and Socio-Cultural Investigation of Mk 4.35-9.29 and Its Interface with Gentile Polytheism in the Roman Near East
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Durham E-Theses Mark and his Gentile Audience: A Traditio-Historical and Socio-Cultural Investigation of Mk 4.35-9.29 and its Interface with Gentile Polytheism in the Roman Near East WILKINSON, JENNIFER How to cite: WILKINSON, JENNIFER (2012) Mark and his Gentile Audience: A Traditio-Historical and Socio-Cultural Investigation of Mk 4.35-9.29 and its Interface with Gentile Polytheism in the Roman Near East , Durham theses, Durham University. 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Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 Mark and his Gentile Audience: A Traditio-Historical and Socio-Cultural Investigation of Mk 4.35-9.29 and its Interface with Gentile Polytheism in the Roman Near East By JENNIFER WILKINSON SUBMITTED FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY AT DURHAM UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF THEOLOGY AND RELIGION 2012 ABSTRACT This thesis takes a novel, inter-disciplinary approach to an examination of the Markan evangelist’s portrayal of Jesus’ interface with Gentiles in a central section of his Gospel (Mk 4.35-9.29). As a framework to this section, Mark created a connected account of Jesus’ itinerary that included trips to perform miracles in the Gentile territories of Gerasa, Tyre, Bethsaida, the wider Decapolis and Caesarea Philippi. This thesis examines the role of these pericopae in the narrative as a whole and challenges the view that Mark’s geographical references were largely symbolic, rural and for the most part aimed at Jewish followers. The study scrutinizes Mark’s choice of geographical locations, systematically examines recent research on the religious milieu in these specific locations and brings this research into connection with the Gentile mission portrayed by Mark. The polytheistic and social environment in which Mark’s first century audience functioned has received little attention in recent scholarship and represents a lacuna in New Testament historical-critical research which this study addresses. A detailed exegesis of this section of the narrative concludes that Mark (a) deliberately redacts his text to place miracles in geographical regions where Gentiles predominate; (b) emphasizes obduracy and faithlessness on the part of Jewish officialdom and the Jewish disciples, in contrast to an implied understanding on the part of the Gentiles; (c) orchestrates a prolonged and sustained Jesus mission to the Gentiles as a precursor to his own community’s mission, to respond to their need for support and reassurance and (d) formulates his narrative to engage with his intended first century audience's Graeco-Roman religious and social worldview, inviting them to make comparison between the activities of Jesus and other contemporary miracle-performing men and polytheistic gods. i STATEMENT OF COPYRIGHT The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. No quotation from it should be published in any format, including electronic, without the author’s prior written consent. All information derived from this thesis must be acknowledged appropriately. ii DECLARATION This work has been submitted to Durham University in accordance with the regulations for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. It is my own work, and none of it has been previously submitted to Durham University or to any other university for a degree. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... i Statement of Copyright ............................................................................................................... ii Declaration ................................................................................................................................... iii Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................ iv List of Appendices ..................................................................................................................... vii Acknowledgments .................................................................................................................... viii Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................... x Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 Background, Aims, Objectives and Scope ..................................................... 1 1.2 History of Scholarship: Gospel of Mark .......................................................... 3 1.3 Methodological Approach: Gospel of Mark .................................................. 11 1.4 First Century Polytheism in the Roman Near East ....................................... 15 Chapter 2 Gospel of Mark – Author, Setting and Mission 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 24 2.2 Authorship .................................................................................................... 25 2.3 Date of the Gospel ....................................................................................... 31 2.4 Provenance .................................................................................................. 33 2.4.1 Rome ............................................................................................ 33 2.4.2 Southern Syria, Transjordan and Northern Galilee ................................................................. 41 2.5 Audience ....................................................................................................... 45 2.6 Gentile Mission ............................................................................................. 51 2.7 Conclusion .................................................................................................... 54 Chapter 3 Historical, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Context of the Gospel of Mark 3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 55 3.2 The Region under Roman Political Rule ...................................................... 57 3.3 Life in the Countryside ................................................................................. 65 3.4 Life in the City .............................................................................................. 69 3.5 Intellectual Currents in Judaism ................................................................... 71 3.5.1 Temple and the Sadducees .......................................................... 74 3.5.2 Pharisees ...................................................................................... 76 3.5.3 Laws of Purity ............................................................................... 78 3.5.4 Converts and Proselytes .............................................................. 79 3.6 Intellectual Life and Popular Ideology in the Roman Near East ................... 80 3.6.1 Popular Philosophy ....................................................................... 82 3.6.2 Greek and Roman Gods ............................................................... 85 3.6.3 Imperial Cult.................................................................................. 88 3.6.4 Mystery Religions ......................................................................... 89 3.6.5 Astronomy and Magic ................................................................... 93 3.6.6 Converts ....................................................................................... 94 3.7 Conclusion .................................................................................................... 96 iv Chapter 4 Crossing the Sea to the Country of the Gerasenes (Mk 4.35-5.20) 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 98 4.2 Where was the Country of the Gerasenes? ................................................. 99 4.3 Graeco-Roman Background: Gerasa ......................................................... 103 4.4 Gerasa City Life .......................................................................................... 108 4.5 Evidence of Polytheism in the Region ........................................................ 109 4.5.1 Zeus Olympios ............................................................................ 110 4.5.2 Artemis ........................................................................................ 112 4.5.3 Arabian God – Pakeidas ............................................................. 113 4.5.4 Imperial Cult................................................................................ 113 4.6 Tombs at Gerasa ........................................................................................ 114 4.7 Mk 5.1-20: Gerasene Demoniac .............................................................