The Pivotal Role of the Fig-Tree Story in the Gospel of Mark 11 (Studies in Biblical Literature)

Cover
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Introduction
	I. Statement of Purpose
	II. Thesis
	III. Methodology of Study
		A. Credibility of Methodology
			1. Critiques and defense
	Notes
	Works Cited
Chapter 1: History of Interpretations and Problems
	I. Triumphal Entry?
		A. Biblical Reading
			1. Allusions: The Mount of Olives and an ass
			2. Citations: “Hosanna and Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!”
		B. Historical Reading
			1. Not a Triumphal Entry
				1.1. Counterargument 1: Shortsighted application of the Hebrew Bible
				1.2. Counterargument 2: Shortsighted application of Greco-Roman Entry
		C. Problem Unsolved
	II. Jesus’ “Vindictive Fury” on the Fig Tree?
		A. Symbolic Reading
		B. Problem Unsolved
	III. The Temple Story: Its Purification
		A. The Intercalated Temple Story
		B. Biblical Reading
			1. Isa 56:7c and Jer 7:11
		C. Symbolic Reading
		D. Problem Unsolved
	IV. Summary
	Notes
	Works Cited
Chapter 2: The First Markan Readers
	I. Implied Author and Reader
		A. Significance of the Markan Gospel as Literature
			1. The written Gospel in the oral world
				1.1. Suggested sources for the Gospel of Mark
		B. Conclusion
	II. The Markan Community: Readers and Audience
		A. The Time of Existence
			1. Pre 70 C.E.
				1.1. Adela Y. Collins
				1.2. John S. Kloppenborg
			2. Post 70 C.E.
				2.1. S. G. F. Brandon
				2.2. Werner Kelber
				2.3. Gerd Theissen
				2.4. Brian Incigneri
		B. Conclusion
	III. The Provenance
		A. Rome
			1. Evidence 1: Latinism
				1.1. Insufficiency of evidence 1
			2. Evidence 2: Topographical errors
				2.1. Insufficiency of Evidence 2
			3. Evidence 3: Jewish customs and Aramaic words
				3.1. Insufficiency of evidence 3
			4. Evidence 4: Persecution of Mark 13:9–13
				4.1. Insufficiency of evidence 4
			5. Conclusion
		B. Syria
			1. Evidence 1: Palestinian-Syrian village lifestyle
				1.1. Agriculture
				1.2. Housing
				1.3. Land-Ownership
			2. Evidence 2: Mark 7:31
			3. Evidence 3: Semitic expression Graecized
			4. Critique of evidence of Syria
		C. Galilee
			1. Evidence 1: Interests in Galilee
				1.1. Critique of evidence 1
			2. Evidence 2: Exact geographical description of Galilean vicinities
				2.1. Critique of evidence 2
		D. Syria or Galilee?
		E. Conclusion
	IV. The Readership of the Gospel
		A. For all Christians?
		B. Critique of Richard Bauckham’s Hypothesis
			1. Joel Marcus
			2. David Sim
			3. Philip F. Esler
			4. Margaret Mitchell
			5. Ernest Van Eck
		C. Conclusion
	Notes
	Works Cited
Chapter 3: Homeric Influence on the Greco-Roman World
	I. Greco-Roman Education
		A. Enkyklios Paideia
		B. Use of Homeric Texts
	II. Conclusion
	Notes
	Works Cited
Chapter 4: Two-Fold Roles of The Fig-Tree Story
	I. The First Role
		A. Analysis of Mark 11:1–14
			1. The English translation
			2. Structure of the passage
		B. Mimetic Reading of Jesus’ Entry
		C. Justifying Jesus’ Act
		D. The Fig-Tree Story and Jesus’ Untriumphal Entry
		E. The Untriumphal Messiah
		F. Summary
	II. The Second Role
		A. Analysis of Mark 11:12–20
			1. The English translation
			2. The structure
		B. Understanding Jesus’ Act
			1. Interpretation 1: The fig-tree story (11:12–14, 20)
				1.1. Symbolic Fig Free: The Temple
				1.2. Jesus, the Messiah with God’s authority
			2. Interpretation 2: The Temple story (11:15–19)
				2.1. Defensible violence of Jesus
				2.2. Actual target of Jesus’ violence
		C. Significance of Mimetic Reading
	III. Summary
	Notes
	Works Cited
Conclusion
Index