Specificity of the Gospel of Mark as Interpreted by Theophylact of Ohrid

While Theophylact’s Enarratio in Evangelium Marci [Explanation of the Gospel of Mark] is known as the first commentary on the whole Gospel in Greek, the question remains: how much of Mark’s Gospel is in this Explanation? The main aim of the article is to examine whether Theophylact notices the specificity of Mark’s Gospel, or whether he is harmonizing Mark with Matthew, on which he commented earlier, or other Gospels. The analysis of the Explanation of the Gospel of Mark shows that Theophylact relates to content typical of the Gospel of Mark. He distinguishes Mark’s theology from other Gospels, recognizing at the same time the theological unity of the four Gospels. His attentiveness to the details of the narrative is evidenced by the accurate presentation of divergences and, regarding some pericopes, the lack of harmonization.

“Let the Children Come to Me…For unto Them, the Kingdom of God Belongs” Mk 10:13-16: The Pastoral Challenges of this Invitation in African Church Today

Africa is blessed with an overwhelming population of young people, who in the words of the African Synod Fathers, constitute its “numerical strength” but unfortunately, these have been kept in the cold, marginalized, exploited for selfish aims, manipulated and misled by political demagogues (Mbuy, 2001). Against this kind of backdrop the Gospel of Mark 10: 13-16 offer us a concrete, practical and pastoral way of welcoming the young people as Jesus did and giving them a sense of belonging. When I look back at some experiences I am touched by the attitude of Jesus when he said, ‘let the children come to me’… and then I ask, how can the Church be available and say the same, ‘let the young people come to me’? Many young people want to encounter the Lord through different forms of apostolate but maybe there are no serious youth apostolates or they are lazy to things of God or they had dreadful experiences of not being allowed to get near Jesus. Why? Perhaps, it is the attitudes of Jesus’ disciples. In most of our Churches is this not the common attitude of some of our pastors? But Jesus irrespective of what and who they are said “Bring the children to me.”

Introduction: Towards a Cognitive Theory of New Testament Characters: Methodology, Problems, and Desiderata

This Introduction provides an overview of a cognitive-narratological approach to characters and characterization in New Testament narratives. We begin by comparing conventional and cognitive approaches to New Testament characters and characterization, and delineating a practical methodology designed to sensitize readers to a variety of interpretative possibilities that arise from the cognitive turn within narratology. Afterwards, we apply that methodology in three ways. First, we acquaint readers with the prospect of tracing characters within one New Testament narrative. Then, we hint at the analysis of character migration, that is, a character’s development across more than one narrative. Finally, we provide insight into the analysis of character emotions and the readers’ empathy with characters. To illustrate these aspects, we focus on examples from the Gospel of Mark.

“Baptism of Repentance for the Remission of Sins”: Mark 1:4 in Its Context

The titular term commonly refers to the baptism administered by John. In the other earliest sources, forgiveness of sins is not closely linked to washing with water performed by him, as the description of the Baptist’s appearance in the Gospel of Mark seems to suggest. The analysis of the verse marked in the title leads to the conclusion that Mark characterizes John’s appearance by two conjoined activities: baptizing and preaching which are expressed by the participles βαπτίζων and κηρύσσων. The first one allows for diagnosing the state of relations between humans and God. This diagnosis is expressed through the confession of their sins. The second one announces to them a therapy appropriate to the position they have identified. This therapy is supposed to be the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins preached by John, equating with the future baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Mark’s Story

This chapter begins the study of the canonical Gospels with the earliest Gospel written rather than the first in the Christian canon: the Gospel of Mark. After offering basic background on authorship, provenance, and date of composition, this chapter outlines the historical and political contexts of Roman Palestine in the first century CE. This introduction leads into a discussion of Mark’s apocalyptic perspective and presentation of Jesus’s mission as a cosmic battle. Following this background information, the chapter offers a literary overview of the Gospel and explores major themes and passages, including Jesus’s characterization, the Parable of the Sower and minor characters, Jesus’s time in Jerusalem, and the various endings of the Gospel of Mark. The chapter ends with a conclusion describing Mark’s challenge for its readers to choose between fear and faith.