The motif of wonder in the Gospel of Mark
The purpose of this thesis is to examine the motif of wonder in the gospel of Mark. The first chapter defines wonder, and compares its use in Mark to that of Matthew and Luke. Reasons for the study are then given, followed by a survey of previous suggestions on the topic, and the plan of the study. The second chapter surveys over 100 Greco-Roman sources to see how wonder functioned in that literature. Wonder functions here most commonly as a response to divine interventions. The third chapter follows with a survey of the use of wonder in early Jewish literature from the second temple period. Wonder here is seen to be an eschatological expectation, and is also connected with messianic and propagandistic texts. The fourth chapter then examines wonder in early Christian literature from canonical, gnostic, and apocryphal sources. It is shown in these texts to be depicted as both positive and negative. Presuppositions for exegesis in Mark are presented in chapter five, involving Peter as a source for Mark, a setting in Rome prior to A.D. 70, and a discussion of methodology involving redaction-criticism and literary-criticism in Mark. The concept of a motif is defined and clarified. The sixth and seventh chapters
Dwyer, Timothy R.
Philosophy
The motif of wonder in the Gospel of Mark. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the motif of wonder in the gospel of Mark. The first chapter defines wonder, and compares its use in Mark to that of Matthew and Luke. Reasons for the study are then given, followed by a survey of previous suggestions on the topic, and the plan of the study. The second chapter surveys over 100 Greco-Roman sources to see how wonder functioned in that literature. Wonder functions here most commonly as a response to divine interventions. The third chapter follows with a survey of the use of wonder in early Jewish literature from the second temple period. Wonder here is seen to be an eschatological expectation, and is also connected with messianic and propagandistic texts. The fourth chapter then examines wonder in early Christian literature from canonical, gnostic, and apocryphal sources. It is shown in these texts to be depicted as both positive and negative. Presuppositions for exegesis in Mark are presented in chapter five, involving Peter as a source for Mark, a setting in Rome prior to A.D. 70, and a discussion of methodology involving redaction-criticism and literary-criticism in Mark. The concept of a motif is defined and clarified. The sixth and seventh chapters
motif wonder gospel mark purpose_examine motif wonder gospel mark first defines wonder compare use mark matthew luke reasons study give follow survey_previous suggestion topic plan study second survey greco_roman source see wonder function literature wonder function commonly response divine intervention third follow survey use wonder early jewish_literature second_temple period wonder see eschatological expectation also connect messianic text fourth_examines wonder early_christian literature canonical gnostic apocryphal source show text depict positive_negative exegesis mark present involve peter source mark set rome prior discussion involve redaction_criticism literary_criticism mark concept motif define clarify