Executive Summary In the Pilate scene in the Gospel of Mark, Mark invoked a name, “Pilate,” that had meaning to the audience of his play. We can assume that Mark expected the audience (in Rome 90-95 CE) to bring their knowledge of Pilate, that he was hard or even cruel. But the Passover Privilege presents…
Think-Blog
Mark 13:14 is not by Mark
In my book, The Two Gospels of Mark: Performance and Text, I excluded Mark 13:14 from my proposed original Olivet Discourse. In the book, I did not have room to explain why. Here I give the reasons I think Mark 13:14 is not by Mark. But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken…
Is “Andrew” in the Gospel of Mark the name of the author?
Introduction When I wrote the book, The Two Gospels of Mark: Performance and Text, I concluded that the character “Andrew” (Greek: “Andreas”) was never on stage in the performance of the Gospel of Mark. “Andrew” is not necessary to the action, he does nothing individual, he does not receive a nickname like his ‘brother’, and…
Clement of Alexandria and Titus Flavius Clemens
The fact that Clement of Alexandria adopted the name “Titus Flavius Clemens” implies approval of the original Titus Flavius Clemens. So it’s no surprise that Clement allows good Christians to be wealthy. Clement cites the Gospel of Mark as primary among the synoptics. These two details are consistent with the picture I paint in The…
What is the meaning of “Herodians” in the Gospel of Mark?
Summary “Herodians” appear in the text of Mk 3:6 and 12:13. I believe that they were added by an editor. Herodians do not speak or contribute anything distinctive to the action. The name is a distinction without a difference. During the performance of the Gospel of Mark, there were no Herodians onstage. Because Mark’s purpose…
Matthew created Mt 8:5-13, which characterizes the centurion as a man of faith, in order to retain him at the crucifixion
In the Gospel of Mark, the author gave the Roman centurion the last word at the crucifixion: “Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!” (Mk 15:39 NRSV) I suggest that Matthew wanted to avoid the ambiguity of…
I doubt the existence of a church at Corinth
I Corinthians and 1 Clement are epistles addressed to a church at Corinth. 1 Corinthians is ascribed to Paul and 1 Clement is ascribed to the leader of the Roman congregation. Both letters concern factions within a congregation (1 Cor 1.10-11 and 1 Clem 1.1). It is odd that both Paul of Asia Minor, and…
The history of the Basilica of Saint Clement in Rome is consistent with my scenario
The archaeology and early history of the Basilica of Saint Clement in Rome are consistent with my book, The Two Gospels of Mark: Performance and Text. The archaeology links Pope Clement I to a church that began as a first-century private house. Tthe papal name “Clement I” was retroactively applied to the period in which…
What was the title of Mark’s play?
Here I investigate the title of the play behind the Gospel of Mark. In antiquity, comedies and mime plays seem to have been named for the profession or a 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.” The…
Sergius 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 character “John whose other name was Mark” of Jerusalem has…