The Purpose of Mark’s Gospel
An Early Christian Response to Roman Imperial Propaganda
by Adam Winn
In this book, Adam Winn addresses the long debated question of the purpose of Mark’s gospel. After placing the composition of Mark in Rome at a time shortly after the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, he seeks to reconstruct the historical situation facing both the Markan evangelist and his community. This reconstruction focuses on the rise of the new Roman Emperor Vespasian and the aftermath of the Jewish Revolt in Rome. A significant feature of this reconstruction is the propaganda used to gain and secure Vespasian’s power-propaganda that included oracles and portents, divine healings, and grand triumphs. Of particular interest is the propagandistic claim that Vespasian was the true fulfillment of Jewish messianic prophecies. Winn argues that such a claim would have created a christological crisis for the fledgling church in Rome-a crisis that called for a compelling Christian response. Winn seeks to demonstrate that Mark’s gospel could be read as just such a response. He demonstrates how the major features of Mark’s gospel-his incipit, Christology, teaching on discipleship, and eschatology-can be read as a counter resume to the impressive resume of Vespasian. In the end, this project concludes that Mark was composed for the purpose of countering Roman imperial propaganda that had created a crisis for its author and community.
- By (author) Adam Winn
Other Titles in this Series
Studies in New Testament Lexicography
Advancing toward a Full Diachronic Approach with the Greek Language
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Galatians and the Imperial Cult
A Critical Analysis of the First-Century Social Context of Paul's Letter
Volume 237
Paul’s Territoriality and Mission Strategy
Searching for the Geographical Awareness Paradigm Behind Romans
Volume 266
Knowledge and Religious Authority in the Pseudo-Clementines
Situating the 'Recognitions' in Fourth Century Syria
Volume 213
Eschatos in Jewish, Hellenistic, and Early Christian Texts
A Diachronic Analysis (3rd cent. BCE – 1st cent. CE)
Jeremie, un paradigme pour Paul?
Etude de l'emploi de textes jeremiens dans la rhetorique de quelques pericopes des deux lettres aux Corinthiens
Volume 619
Paulus und der Nous
Eine Untersuchung zur paulinischen Anthropologie vor dem Hintergrund hellenistisch-jüdischer und griechisch-römischer Konzeptionen
A Socio-Rhetorical Interpretation of the Letter to Philemon in Light of the New Institutional Economics
An Exhortation to Transform a Master-Slave Economic Relationship into a Brotherly Loving Relationship
Volume 444
Repetition in Hebrews
Plurality and Singularity in the Letter to the Hebrews, Its Ancient Context, and the Early Church
Volume 388
Die Areopagrede des Paulus und Reden bei Josephus
Eine vergleichende Studie zu Apg 17 und dem historiographischen Werk des Josephus
Volume 419
Crucifixion in Antiquity
An Inquiry into the Background and Significance of the New Testament Terminology of Crucifixion
Volume 310
Kult und Macht
Religion und Herrschaft im syro-palastinensischen Raum. Studien zu ihrer Wechselbeziehung in hellenistisch-romischer Zeit
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Christusglaube
Studien zum Syntagma pistis Christou und zum paulinischen Verstandnis von Glaube und Rechtfertigung
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Die Niedrigkeit Jesu und seiner Jungerschaft
Eine Studie zur Korrelation von Ethik und Christologie in Mt 16,21-20,34
Volume 549
Exploring Johannine Ethics
A Rhetorical Approach to Moral Efficacy in the Fourth Gospel Narrative
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