The Homeric Epics and the Gospel of Mark (Hardcover)

~ Professor Dennis R. MacDonald (Author), Dennis R. MacDonald (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"MacDonald shows parallels between Homer and Mark so extensive that a relationship of dependence, conscious or unconscious, must be assumed. This is a radical thesis with great implications for the understanding of the gospels." William Hansen, Indiana University "MacDonald's conclusion that the author of the gospel of Mark in many significant places is imitating Homer poses a profound challenge to current scholarship on the history of early Christianity and the historical Jesus." Mary A. Tolbert, Pacific School of Religion

Product Description

In this book, MacDonald argues that the author of Mark consciously emulated Homeric epic. He begins by describing the common Greco-Roman custom of teaching prose composition through mimesis (Greek) or imitatio (Latin) and by pointing out several examples of their practice in pagan, Jewish and later Christian texts. He then proceeds to make the controversial case that large portions of Mark draw either directly on the texts or indirectly on the topoi of Homer. The argument is compelling and meticulously constructed. Both of our readers agree that this is important, groundbreaking work that will revolutionize the study of the gospels.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press (May 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300080123
• ISBN-13: 978-0300080124
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #710,101 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mark is not history, April 15, 2001

By	Perry Willis (Tucson, AZ USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Greco-Roman students were taught to compose texts through a process called mimesis. This involved copying and transforming Greek classics such as the Illiad and the Odyssey into new stories. There are many examples of this, from plays to epic poems to novels and shorter works. The Gospel of Mark was written in Greek. It is therefore, natural to ask, was Mark composed through mimesis?

It turns out that it was. Nearly every event in Mark is a sequential reflection of either the Illiad or the Odyssey, but with a twist. The author of Mark has retold Greek stories in order to demonstrate the superiority of Jesus to the Greek heroes. Thus, wherever a Greek hero failed Jesus succeeds. MacDonald also demonstrates that a similar process can be found in the Book of Acts and the non-biblical Acts of Andrew.

Mark was not writing history, he was writing propaganda. Moreover, he apparently did this with no intention to deceive. He left clues in his work designed to point readers to the source of his themes. Have you ever wondered why Jesus cursed a fig tree for failing to bear fruit, even though it was out of season? Have you ever pondered who the young man was who ran away naked when Jesus was arrested? The answer to both mysteries is that they were flags indicating to the reader that the author was drawing his plot devices from the epic.

22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dense and Sequential, November 13, 2005

By	Richard Spencer "SkepDick" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If we were to count all of the examples MacDonald gives to demonstrate that the author of Mark used Homeric epics as literary models, they'd number around 100. Explaining all of these instances away is, as the author demonstrates, hardly possible.

What I found particularly fascinating about this book is the way Homeric literary models explain characteristics of Mark that were otherwise enigmatic. For example, why did Jesus intend to pass his disciples by when he was walking on the water? For that matter, how did Jesus see his discples on the boat at night when he was on top of a mountain? Why did the Roman centurion call Jesus the son of God? MacDonald answers these questions and more.

I originally wondered why this book costs so much. After reading it, it appears to me that there are at least two reasons. First, MacDonald's contributions are revolutionary. His research is no doubt extensive. In other words, this book is valuable. Second, perhaps charging $40+ limits the amount of people reading the book exclusively for the purpose of debunking it. I'm sure MacDonald is aware people will criticize his conclusions, but the price helps makes sure those people who are legitimately interested in New Testament scholarship--not just apologetics--will read it.

So if you're one of those people interested in New Testament scholarship, I don't think your view of Mark will be the same after reading this book. Don't miss it.

33 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Premise is Valid, January 23, 2002

By	Home Gamer "Cash Playa" (Burbank, Ca.) - See all my reviews

This is a great book.
Mr.MacDonald has compared the Gospel of Mark with Homer's The Odyssey,and it really looks like he's made a connection. One reviewer calls the parallels "vague," but I didn't see it that way. There are many similarities. In fact, there are so many similarities, not just in what the characters do and say, but in the exact order they take place. Sometimes the narratives switch from 3rd to 1st person in the exact same spot! If all these are simply coincidences, there sure are alot of them. The author, Dennis MacDonald, has previously written about other books that use the ancient practice of "textual mimesis" (copying from one text to another), and the Book of Mark seems to have done the same. This idea may be difficult for people who want to believe that the Scriptures are recorded history, but this book casts serious doubts about that. I had never heard of textual mimesis before, but it seems to make alot of sense, and was apparently commonplace in the ancient world.
Either MacDonald is completely mistaken, or he has really done his homework. You should read this book and make up your own mind.