Lesson 8 - Mark (Issues and Texts)

Question 1

What is the Messianic Secret?

Answer 1

a. ) The Messianic Secret = how can Jesus be the Messiah though he never publicly proclaimed to be? You can’t trust Mark because Mark shows that Jesus said it but just in secret, which is convenient.
b. ) The Secrecy Motif - Jesus tells demons and others not to tell about his true identity as the Messiah

Question 2

Why did Jesus veil his identity as Messiah and tell others not to tell others about him?

Answer 2

1. ) Jews had wrong views/expectations of Messiah as conquering warrior, not suffering servant.
2. ) Jesus waited until after the resurrection to show his true identity
3. ) To fulfill Scriptures in regards to election (Mark 9:9)
4. ) jesus was more open in Gentile areas

Question 3

What is the phrase “abomination of desolation” in the Olivet Discourse in Mark 13?

Answer 3

– Abomination of Desolation = refers to the destruction of the temple

– OT References: occurs in Daniel 4 times, and in Daniel 11:31 talks about the destruction of the temple

– Luke 21:20 - doesn’t use abomination of desolation but rather says, “see Jerusalem surrounded by armies” anticipating the destruction of the temple

Question 4

What are the 5 various views of the Olivet Discourse and evaluate each view?

Answer 4

1. ) T. Colani - “Little Apocalyspe”
   - - This section of the gospels was hijacked and put on Jesus’ lips
   - - Jesus wasn’t concerned with the 2nd coming at all
2. ) Lagrange and Zach - Futurist Views
   - - only refers to the 2nd coming (none of it refers to persecutions, destruction of the temple, etc.)
   - - Criticism: ignores the disciples question about the temple; ignores Luke’s clarification of the abomination of desolation; ignores early Christian interpretation of the passage
3. ) Alexander and RT France - Partial Preterist Views
   - - only about the destruction of the temple, not the 2nd coming of Jesus
4. ) Classical Dispensationalist View
   - - 3 stages to this coming: 7 years of tribulation (13:5-23); 2nd coming (13:24-31); rapture (13:32-27)
   - - Criticism:
   a. ) Why would Jesus talk to his present disciples about problems that won’t occur until after the rapture
   b. ) Jesus never answers the original question of the disciples about the temple stones
   c. ) Doesn’t explain “this generation” (they say race)
   d. ) All evidence of the destruction of the temple is in view have to be ignored
5. ) Lane and Broadus - Reformed View
   - - 2 major categories (2 prongs fit the 2-fold question of the disciples)
   a. ) What is going to happen in the inner-advent days (last days), including the destruction of the temple
   b. ) 2nd coming where Jesus comes back to judge the world.

Question 5

What are the problems surrounding the end of Mark’s Gospel?

Answer 5

• • Mark 16:9-20 is the longest textual criticism in the NT

- - State of Scholarship: Mark 16:9-20 was not in the original text

Question 6

What are the arguments against authenticity?

Answer 6

External (evidence from manuscripts)

1. ) 2 of the most important and early manuscripts of Mark don’t include v. 9-20
2. ) Patristic sources don’t include it (Jerome and Eusebius)

Internal (consistency within Mark’s Gospel)

1. ) The vocab in this section aren’t consistent with Mark
2. ) Transition from v. 8 to v. 9 is awkward as subject switches from woman to Jesus
3. ) Drinking of poison and handling of snakes is unparalleled and odd
4. ) Most scholars believe a scribe added this between early and mid 2nd c. because he was unsatisfied with the ending