Mark as Story Second Edition [Paperback]

David Rhoads (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1999

Mark as Story has proved to be a useful resource for laypersons, students, and clergy for fifteen years. It introduces the Gospel of Mark as a unified composition, laying bare the narrative thread as well as the basic motifs. It is marked throughout by clarity, freshness, and a lively style.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Any doubts about the maturation of a 'literary' approach to the New Testament Gospels, or its usefulness, ought to be dispelled by this brief but fruitful study. . . . The authors manage to derive insights from analysis of the text's rhetoric, its temporal and spatial frames, its plot and characters while writing a study that can be sued in any contemporary classroom." -- ---William G. Doty Interpretation

From the Back Cover

"The first edition of Mark as Story was a groundbreaking text showing teachers and students how to read Mark as a narrative. The second edition, which adds Joanna Dewey to the authorial team, makes a good book even better. Substantial revisions improve and update the text. Insights from recent scholarship are incorporated while maintaining the focus on Mark as story. An Afterword on the ethics of reading has been added. Of special note for classroom use is their English translation of Mark. It allows those who do not read Greek to gain a sense of the style of the original. Two new appendices with exercises for students are also valuable." ---Janice Capel Anderson University of Idaho

"In paying meticulous attention to Mark's compositional devices and rhetorical effects, [the authors] have taken a major step toward comprehending the Gospel as an artistic creation. This highly readable book significantly enhances our enjoyment of the Gospel as story." ---Werner H. Kelber Rice University

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: FORTRESS PRESS; 2 edition (March 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800631609
• ISBN-13: 978-0800631604
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,275 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Understanding Mark on its own terms, January 28, 2002

By 

The BPR Reference Guide (East Coast, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mark as Story Second Edition (Paperback)

I have a confession to make. Mark was probably my least favorite of the Gospels. It seemed so disjointed at times. The author seemed to race from one event to the other, with seemingly little connection between events or tales. His descriptions and details seemed scant, with the other Gospels filling in the blanks. And there lies part of my problem in trying to figure the book of Mark out - my reliance on the other Gospels to help me interpret it, instead of reading Mark as though I was hearing everything about the life, death, and resurrection of the Messiah for the first time.

The authors of "Mark as Story" try to impress upon the reader the importance of understanding Mark on its own terms as a narrative. They offer four guidelines in this approach: (1) read Mark as a story rather than history, (2) read Mark independently from the other Gospels, (3) avoid reading modern cultural assumptions into the story, and (4) avoid reading modern theologies about Jesus back into Mark's story. With these guidelines in mind, the authors discuss the various elements of Mark, known in biblical studies as "narrative criticism" where tone, style, setting, plot, characters, etc. are analyzed. Sound like a college course in Literature? Perhaps. And thus this particular book may not be to everyone's liking. As for me, I can truly say that I have a much greater appreciation for the Gospel of Mark having read it as a work of literature in its own right. - Ronni

19 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars They never taught you this in Sunday School, February 18, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mark As Story: An Introduction to the Narrative of a Gospel (Paperback)

Most churches teach "the gospels" as if they were one story told by someone named Matthew Mark Luke John. So it's very hard to read any one gospel as if for the first time. They all wind up sounding like random collections of sayings and miracles by Jesus leading up to Good Friday and Easter. What Rhoads and Michie do is to treat the Gospel of Mark as a work of literature in its own right, apart from anything else we know or think we know about Jesus. They examine Mark's rhetoric, settings, plot, and characters to see how he tells the story. In the process, they enable us to experience Mark's gospel in a completely fresh way. Now I'm waiting for them to do the same thing for Matthew, Luke, and John--especially John.

5.0 out of 5 stars Mark the Story for class, March 5, 2009

By 

Carol S. Zehr (Otwell, In. 47564 USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mark as Story Second Edition (Paperback)

I found this book as a great help for researching my sermons for Mark. It is very resourseful. It really explains the Gospel in terms that are very understandable. The book has given me a new understanding and new meanings. I found the patterns of movement on Jesus' journey, which begins at the Jordan River. It is a book that is easy to follow.The book also shows how the plot was arranged and where it was going.I really like how the author gives the analysis of the characters in Mark's story. In conclusion he asks the reader how it affects them. I think that one would have a good resourse in their library if they purchased this book. I am a Lay Supply Pastor. this is a book that was recommeded for our study during this Easter Season.