Welcome
The purposes of this website are: to sell the book, The Two Gospels of Mark: Performance and Text; to communicate with readers and potential readers; and to provide interesting background or related material. I will be posting about once a week.
Read MoreCorinthian bronze was a mixture
Satyricon Chapter the Fiftieth [Trimalchio’s dinner: The cook has just theatrically gutted a stuffed hog.] The whole household burst into unanimous applause at this; “Hurrah for Gaius,” they shouted. As for the cook, he was given a drink and a silver crown and a cup …
Read MoreThe history of the Basilica of Saint Clement in Rome is consistent with my scenario
The Wikipedia article San Clemente al Laterano about the church in Rome that is dedicated to Pope Clement I is consistent with the scenario I present in my book for the family of Mark’s patron. Here is are two extracts from the article: The Basilica …
Read MoreWhat was the title of Mark’s play?
Comedies were usually named by the profession or particular quality of the main character, e.g., “The Grouch” or “The Girl from Samos.” Sometimes the name referred to a plot development, “The False Accuser.” (In such cases, the audience knew what to expect; the enjoyment was …
Read MoreSergius Paulus (Acts of the Apostles) = Titus Flavius Clemens (Mark’s world)?
Summary: Acts 13:7 mentions “the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God” (NRSV here and hereafter). In other words, an elite Gentile, the highest civilian official of Cyprus, is interested in (proto-)Christianity. The …
Read MoreBreaking bread in the Roman world: The panis quadratus
What does “breaking bread” mean in ancient texts (Mark 14:22, Acts 2:42, 2:46, etc.)? Look at one of the contemporary types of bread, the panis quadratus. The top is scored into equal sections. Usually there are eight sections, but an image from Pompeii shows a …
Read MoreFlavia and Clemens: Victims of the “living like Jews” prosecutions?
I make reference here to the Wikipedia article on the Fiscus Judaicus, or similar background. The question here is: is it likely that Domitian’s niece, Flavia Domitilla; her husband, Titus Flavius Clemens; and their sons were executed/wiped out in 95 CE because Flavia and Clemens …
Read MoreIn the Gospel of Mark, why does Jesus appear in Galilee, and not in some other place?
The most obvious reason is: the Sea of Galilee is in Galilee. That allows Mark to have characters who are fishermen, and to stage scenes that involve boats. Second, Galilee is near enough to Jerusalem that Jesus and his entourage can plausibly, in the world …
Read MoreWhy is “Thomas” used in the name of a sayings collection (the Gospel of Thomas)?
“Thomas” means “twin.” The name was used to designate the author of a sayings collection used by Judean/proto-Christian congregations. The meaning that first comes to mind is “identical twin.” But that meaning does not add any value: why attribute sayings to an identical twin? I suggest …
Read MoreSeleucid time-keeping and apocalypses
Beginning in 311 BCE, the Seleucids began counting history going forward as “n+1,” forever and ever. In contrast, formerly and elsewhere, time was marked by local events or consulships or years since the start of a monarchy. In an article entitled “A Revolution in Time,” …
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