tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2828101829504518203.post7067736563361854105..comments2024-03-22T06:31:42.929-05:00Comments on Wry Thoughts About Religion: Pondering the "Messianic Secret" in the Gospel of MarkUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2828101829504518203.post-22275543921823321422021-05-05T10:30:07.607-05:002021-05-05T10:30:07.607-05:00Thanks Gene,
I have not read his book but will see...Thanks Gene,<br />I have not read his book but will seek out a copy.<br />CharlieCharles Hedrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11285420936166236724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2828101829504518203.post-15518597070339288482021-05-05T10:13:34.394-05:002021-05-05T10:13:34.394-05:00Hi Charlie,
Thanks for all those resources!
I no...Hi Charlie,<br /><br />Thanks for all those resources!<br /><br />I notice that you did not include an alternative theory to the Messianic Secret put forward by David Watson, Professor of New Testament at United Theological Seminary in Trotwood, Ohio. In the summer of 2006, in that school's Journal of Theology, he published an article: "The 'Messianic Secret'": Demythologizing a Non-Existent Markan Theme."<br /><br />He writes, "...the main issue in these passages was not a secret regarding Jesus' messiahship, but a refashioning of the way in which honor was reckoned... these passages played into a larger theme that redefined the criteria for honorable actions and attitudes."(33)<br /><br />Examples of reversing the accepted definition of honor: "those who lose their life ( in crucifixion) will save it," "Whoever wishes to be first must be last of all," "Whoever wishes to become great must be your servant," "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God," "let the children come to me, theirs is the kingdom." (37-40)<br /><br />Why is "secrecy an insufficient model for Jesus' behavior"? "Jesus is not always concealing, and when he is concealing he is not always concerned to keep information within his in-group." (41)<br /><br />"Mark's Jesus is not keeping a secret regarding his Messiahship, but demonstrating the standards for establishing honor within the new family of faith." (44)<br /><br />Watson subsequently wrote a book about the subject which I have not read: Honor Among Christians: The Cultural Key to the Messianic Secret. Fortress Press, 2010.<br /><br />Gene Stecher<br />Chambersburg, Pa.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com