Mark's Gospel

Marks biography of Jesus is the earliest of the four gospels and influencedthem all. The distinctive feature of this biography is the quality of goodnews which ... » 

Marks biography of Jesus is the earliest of the four gospels and influencedthem all. The distinctive feature of this biography is the quality of goodnews which presupposes a world dominated by the forces of evil.John Painter shows how the rhetorical and dramatic shaping of the bookemphasises the conflict of good and evil at many levels between Jesus and theJewish authorities Jesus and the Roman authorities and the conflict of valueswithin the disciples themselves. These matters of content are integral to thisoriginal approach to Marks theodicy while the stylistic issue raises thequestion of Marks intended readership.John Painters succinct yet thorough treatment of Marks gospel opens up notonly these rhetorical issues but the social context of the gospel whichPainter argues to be that of the Pauline mission to the nations. «