Hellenistic Influence and Twins in the Gospel of Mark

Jeffrey B. Pettis

doi:10.5771/9781793655400

Summary

Hellenistic Influence and Twins in the Gospel of Mark: Fiery Angels examines Jesus’ twin disciples James and John. Jesus gives them the name Boanerges, “Sons of Zeus” referring to the Dioscuri, mythological figures known for their saving action in times of human danger and distress. This book addresses various questions prompted by Jesus’ naming of James and John. Is the author embracing Hellenistic myth and mythology as part of his story? Does he portray Jesus as one who himself is influenced by Hellenistic culture, and if so, to what extent? To gain insight into these questions, Jeffrey B. Pettis examines various sources—dioscuric figures in Second Maccabees 3, three visitors in Genesis 18-19, traces of dioscurism in the Markan boat stories. Major themes include fire and sacrifice, theophany, personal saviors, and old and new religion. Of particular interest is the extent to which myth and mythology grasp the hearer’s attention and occur as something which makes an impression. Does the author of Mark make use of myth for just this reason—to capture attention and to make and awaken his community to a larger world?

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Bibliographic data

Copyright year: 2023
ISBN-Print: 978-1-7936-5539-4
ISBN-Online: 978-1-7936-5540-0
Publisher: Lexington, Lanham
Language: English
Pages: 116
Product type: Book Titles

1. Dedication No access
1. Themes and Motifs No access
2. Notes No access
1. Mark 3:13–19: Naming No access
2. Luke 9:51–56: Fire from Heaven No access
3. Elijah (2 Kings 1:10, 12); Transfiguration (Mark 9:2–8) No access
4. 1. Conflict No access
  2. Rising No access
5. For Further Consideration No access
6. Notes No access
1. 2 Maccabees 3: Description and Observations No access
2. Major Theme: Fire and Sacrifice No access
3. James, John, and 2 Maccabees 3 No access
4. Summary: Twins, Mark, and 2 Maccabees 3 No access
5. Notes No access
1. Genesis 18:1–8 Divine Figures No access
2. Major Theme: Theophany and Abraham Amid the Trees No access
3. Abraham No access
4. Theophany and the Numinous: Hierarchy of Gods and Angels (Genesis 18–19) No access
5. Dioscuri and the Harmony of Opposites No access
6. Some Other Observations: Theophany and the Numinous No access
7. The Gospel of Mark and Dioscurism: Entering into the Clouds—Jesus’s Transfiguration No access
8. Notes No access
1. Text Description: Mark 4:35–41 No access
2. Between Sun and Moon No access
3. Boanerges and Healing No access
4. One Alongside the Other No access
5. Sleeping and the Inner World No access
6. Wind, Sea, and Silence No access
7. 1. Separation and Opsias No access
8. Ghosts No access
9. Jesus and Sea Mastery No access
10. Major Theme: Personal Saviors No access
11. Blindness No access
12. Mark and Dioscuri: Ships and Seas No access
13. Notes No access
1. Text Background No access
2. Text: Four Books No access
3. Battle No access
4. Arrogance No access
5. Humility No access
6. Major Theme: Old and New Religions No access
7. Monotheism, Dioscuri, the Bonanerges No access
8. The Sacred No access
9. The Dioscuri No access
10. Conclusion: Apollonius and the Gospel of Mark No access
11. Notes No access
1. Motif 1: Fire No access
2. Motif 2: Conflict and Suffering in the Gospel of Mark No access
3. Motif 3: The Boanerges No access
4. Motif 4: Adumbration and Jesus No access
5. Motif 5: Yearning and the Language of Epiphany No access
6. Final Statement No access
7. Notes No access
1. The Rich Man and Lazarus No access
Bibliography No access Pages 109 - 112
Index No access Pages 113 - 114
About the Author No access Pages 115 - 116