Honor Among Christians: The Cultural Key to the Messianic Secret. By David F. Watson. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2010. Pp. x + 229. Paper, $29.00.

In 1892 Adolf Harnack, writing on the relation of the Prologue to the Fourth Gospel, posed the question in these words: ‘What is the aim of the Gospel, what is the aim of the Prologue? Are these aims identical or is the Prologue really an introduction to the Gospel?… Is it the key to understanding the Gospel?’ My aim in this paper is to consider once again this question of the function of these opening verses. What did the author – or redactor – of the gospel aim to achieve by beginning his book in this way?

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Book Review: The Messianic Secret, Christopher Tuckett, editor. Issues in Relicion and Theology, Vol 1. Fortress Press, Philadelphia, 1983. 148 pp. $6.95 (paper); Visionaries and Their Apocalypses, Paul D. Hanson, editor. Issues in Religion and Theology, Vol 2. Fortress Press, Philadelphia, 1983. 162 pp. $6.95 (paper); The Interpretation of Matthew, Graham Stanton, editor. Issues in Religion and Theology, Vol 3. Fortress Press, Philadelphia, 1983. 164 pp. $6.95 (paper); Theodicy in the Old Testament, James L. Crenshaw, editor. Issues In Religion And Theology, Vol 4. Fortress Press, Philadelphia, 1983. 163 pp. $6.95 (paper)

Interpretation A Journal of Bible and Theology ◽

10.1177/002096438503900316 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 39 (3) ◽

pp. 314-316

Author(s):

Frank J. Matera

Keyword(s):

Old Testament ◽

Religion And Theology ◽

Messianic Secret

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The ‘Messianic Secret’ in Mark. By Heikki Râisänen. Edinburgh, T. & T. Clark, 1990. Pp. xvii + 289. £17.95.

Scottish Journal of Theology ◽

10.1017/s0036930600038345 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 46 (1) ◽

pp. 103-106

Author(s):

J. K. Elliott

Keyword(s):

Messianic Secret

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‘Negative’ Criticism of the Gospels?

Religious Studies ◽

10.1017/s0034412500000081 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 77-87

Author(s):

Robert Morgan

Keyword(s):

Kingdom Of God ◽

Historical Jesus ◽

Critical Study ◽

The Future ◽

History Of ◽

Messianic Secret

‘There is nothing more negative than the result of the critical study of the Life of Jesus’, wrote Schweitzer at the end of The Quest of the Historical Jesus. The subsequent history of Gospel research in Germany was to reinforce this judgement beyond its author's expectations. The signpost to the future turned out to be Wrede's book on The Messianic Secret in the Gospels which had appeared five years earlier on the same day in 1901 as Schweitzer's own Mystery of the Kingdom of God, and which is still the classical example of redactional criticism of the gospels. Schweitzer's final alternative: either consistent eschatology or thoroughgoing scepticism proved to be unnecessary. Both won and took prizes. But whereas Schweitzer has slain his thousands, Wrede has slain his ten-thousands.

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The Purpose of the Messianic Secret: A Brief Survey

The Expository Times ◽

10.1177/001452466908001005 ◽

1969 ◽

Vol 80 (10) ◽

pp. 308-310

Author(s):

Brian G. Powley

Keyword(s):

Messianic Secret

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Evangelist and Leper: A Socio-Cultural Study of Mark 1.40–45

New Testament Studies ◽

10.1017/s0028688500023067 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 38 (1) ◽

pp. 37-50 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Carl R. Kazmierski

Keyword(s):

Cultural Study ◽

Messianic Secret ◽

Miracle Story

The majority of scholars interpret the narrative of the Cleansing of the Leper (Mark 1.40–45 par) as a miracle story in which Jesus cures a man sick with leprosy, and, in accord with the precepts of Leviticus 13–14, immediately sends him to the priest to have his cure verified. The leper, however, despite Jesus' warning, spreads the word of his healing far and wide, so much so that Jesus is no longer able to enter into towns because of his great popularity. Such an interpretation seems to fit in well with what is often said to be Mark's concern, in the first part of his gospel, to present Jesus as a powerful miracle worker, under the thematic umbrella of the Messianic Secret.

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