Freethought & Rationalism Archive

rlogan · 11-27-2004, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vorkosigan

No. The writer fully intended that the story he told "get out of hand." Tolbert believes GMark is a definite creative enterprise and not the result of some oral tradition coalesced/coalescing into a real story. She does a very good job of showing how even the parts in the PN reflect the typologies set out in the Parable of the Sower, setting to rest any idea of a pre-existing PN. The whole thing is literary creation. I've never believed in the "all things to all men" oral tradition, which covers any multitude of sins. Tolbert alone is a great antidote. Tolbert + Robbins is a positive cure-all for any delusions of historicity in Mark.

Vorkosigan

Thank you. That addressed my question. Sounds like a very interesting read...

Vinnie · 11-27-2004, 07:38 PM

Many consider Tolbert to be one of the top "Markan scholars"so it should be a good read. I read a ood critique before though.....don't remember where though...

Vinnie

andrewcriddle · 11-28-2004, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vorkosigan

Tolbert's thesis is that the Gospel of Mark is essentially a piece of Greek popular literature aimed at a variety of audiences. The gospel follows the conventions of such works. For example, such literature typically consists of episodic narrative at the beginning and middle and ends with a series of recognition scenes in which the question of identity is crucial, and in which chronology is carefully controlled. So it is with Mark.

I can see that there are recognition scenes in a very loose sense in the later part of Mark, (Judas kissing Jesus to identify him, questions about who Jesus really is), but IMHO they don't really resemble the sort of thing we find in the Greek popular novels (long separated relatives recognising each other and being reunited). Some of the resurrection appearance stories in Matthew Luke and John might be real parallels but (assuming Mark 16:9-20 is not original) we don't have anything like that in Mark.

Something that really does follow the conventions of the Greek popular novel is the Pseudo-Clementine literature (Homilies and Recognitions). Mark IMHO doesn't seem very similar.

Andrew Criddle

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11-27-2004, 07:38 PM	#12
Vinnie Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Waterbury, Ct, Usa Posts: 6,523	Many consider Tolbert to be one of the top "Markan scholars"so it should be a good read. I read a ood critique before though.....don't remember where though... Vinnie

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