Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Ratel · 06-15-2006, 08:33 AM

I have not read the book in question, but just recently I was informed by a professor of literature that ancient Greek writing was taught to students by having them copy the Iliad and Odyssey. If that's true, it could be that Mark unconsciously allowed a Homeric plot structure to inform his writing while at the same time overtly and conciously trying to emphasize the OT precedents.
Just a guess.

S.C.Carlson · 06-15-2006, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Sumner

MacDonald's approach has failed to impress classicists in general. His work on The Acts of Andrew was fairly crucified. His book on Acts was somewhat better received.

Thanks for the additional links. It is telling that, out of all the authors MacDonald looks at, his approach finds the least number of difficulties with the one who wrote Acts--the very person who most likely to know Homer based on his literary ability.

Stephen

S.C.Carlson · 06-15-2006, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ratel

I have not read the book in question, but just recently I was informed by a professor of literature that ancient Greek writing was taught to students by having them copy the Iliad and Odyssey. If that's true, it could be that Mark unconsciously allowed a Homeric plot structure to inform his writing while at the same time overtly and conciously trying to emphasize the OT precedents.
Just a guess.

If MacDonald limited his claim to minor, unconscious Homeric influence, I think few critics would disagree.

Stephen

S.C.Carlson · 06-15-2006, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robto

DRM clearly lays out his methodology (something many scholars fail to do), but IMO one point is pretty suspect: "transvaluation". This concept allows him to see parallels when the texts agree and also when they disagree. In the latter case, the author is "transvaluing" the source, changing it in order to make his character stronger or more noble than the source character. While DRM is certainly correct that this happens (think of how Matthew uses Mark, e.g), his examples using the epics seem pretty shaky.

Except for his "transvaluation," the criteria that MacDonald laid out are pretty decent, even tracking to some extent the criteria used in copyright law, and he expounded them more clearly than other critics. The problem is that "transvaluation" is his "get of jail free" card and he overuses it.

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06-15-2006, 08:33 AM	#21
Ratel Regular Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: SD, USA Posts: 268	I have not read the book in question, but just recently I was informed by a professor of literature that ancient Greek writing was taught to students by having them copy the Iliad and Odyssey. If that's true, it could be that Mark unconsciously allowed a Homeric plot structure to inform his writing while at the same time overtly and conciously trying to emphasize the OT precedents. Just a guess.

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