creature

Anyone wish to suggest any evidence that Mark 9:2, the transfiguration story, is a resurrection account the author of mark had, and which he, for some reason, placed in Mark 9 rather than Mark 16, where it belongs chronologically?

bacht

There's a similar passage in 2 Peter. Earl Doherty argues that this scene, which has no context of an earthly ministry, could in fact be one of the founding events of the Christian sect, which came about through scripture interpretation and visions.

If Peter was one of the first to "see" Christ this way it would explain his status in the early church. Maybe originally an apostle was one who had seen a vision like this.

bacht

I've been wondering if the Galilean origin of Jesus was a Markan innovation. If so it could be explained as reflecting the post-70 situation in Palestine:

Usha was a city in the Western part of Galilee. It is noteworthy because in the 2nd Century (c. 135), the Sanhedrin, or rabbinic court, was moved from Yavne in Judea to Usha, and then from Usha back to Yavne, and a second time from Yavne to Usha.

The final settlement in Usha indicates the ultimate spiritual supremacy of Galilee over Judea, the latter having become depopulated by the war of Hadrian. Usha was also important because some of the pupils of Rabbi Akiba resided there, including Judah ben Ilai, whose original home was in Usha.

wikipedia

andrewcriddle

If this argument is correct, it would require a very late date (after the Bar Kochba war) for Mark. I don't think it works with a late 1st century early 2nd century date for Mark.


Andrew Criddle

bacht

Thanks, you're right of course. otoh I don't recall Galilee being mentioned in the canonical epistles, suggesting it might not be part of the earliest tradition.