Five passages in the Gospel of Mark are examined in which two separable narratives are intertwined': 5:21-43, 6:7-32, 11:12-25, 14:1-11, and 14:54-72. Literary analysis demonstrates that Mark is responsible for these intercalations. As to his motives, further investigation shows that they cannot be satisfactorily attributed to topical, literary or stylistic factors. The thesis defended here is that theologica1 motive behind these intercalations; that is; that the evangelist repeatedly employs this device primari1y to make a theological point. The theological implications which Mark thus draws are then described. In brief, they are that in fulfilling God's will, Jesus must suffer and die; nevertheless, his vindication and exaltation are assured. / Cinq passages de l'évangile selon Marc sont examinés dans lesquels deux récits séparables se sont entrelacés:5:21-43, 6:7-32, 11:12-25, 14:1-11, et 14:54-72. L'analyse littéraire démontre que Marc est responsable pour cesintercalations. Quant à ses motifs, une investigation plus profonde nous montre qu’on ne peut pas les attribuerde façon satisfaisante à des éléments topiques, littéraires, stylistiques. La thèse ici soutenue c'est qu’un motif théologique se trouve sous ces intercalcations; c'est-à-dire, que l’Evangéliste emploie régulièrement ce moyen essentiellement pour faire ressortir un argument théologique. Les implications théologique qu’en tire Marc sont ensuite décrites, Bref, elles consistent en ce qu’en accomplissant la volonté de Dieu, Jésus doit souffrir et mourir; néamoins, sa justification et son exaltation sont assurées. fr

No description available.

This study focuses on the social and political dimensions of the "kingdom of God" as it is depicted in Mark's narrative. Simultaneously the author assesses the implications for The Mennonite Brethren Church ofCongo( BCC) which may be attained from such research. The first chapter, consists of 1) an introduction to the motivation for the study, 2) the research methodology used, 3) chapter outlines, the limits ofthe research, and definitions offundamental concepts. In the first chapter, I try to read Mark's narrative with the presuppositions of the struggle over power and authority between classes in Roman-occupied Palestine. The story world of Mark depicts a society divided into two classes: the propertied class and the non propertied class which formed the majority ofthe population. I make use ofthe narrative approach in my exegesis of the text of Mark, while taking the sociol- political context of the text or the "world ofthe text" more seriously. The second chapter investigates the social and political context of Roman-occupied Palestine. The picture attained from this section reveals that Palestine in general, and Galilee in particular, had endured severe political and economic pressure from the Roman authorities and the Jewish local aristocracy. The relationship between the governing class and the majority ofthe population formed by peasants was ofdispossession, oppression and exploitation at the social, economic and political levels. The third chapter focuses on Mark's presentation ofJesus and thus initiates the coretheme ofthe thesis. We deduce there that Mark is using many titles to present Jesus: Son of God, Son ofman, Christ, king and servant. Mark does not seem to base Jesus' title on Davidic lineage. In Mark, Jesus seems to get his legitimacy from the God himself and from the people. He is a popular king who is not a member ofthe Davidic dynasty. The fourth chapter, forms the basis of my argument. Here, I attempt to reveal the social and political dimensions of the "kingdom of God" as depicted in Mark's narrative. The social and political nature ofthe "kingdom ofGod" is confirmed by Jesus' proclamation which reordered power and authority in Jewish Palestine. This is expressed by Jesus' conflict with the established authorities, Jesus' challenge to two basic institutions: the Temple and the Tribute to Caesar. Mark's gospel always shows how the kingdom of God meant liberation ofthe people and their welfare. The "kingdom of God" was a manifestation of power which found expressions in incidents of healing, exorcisms, casting out of demons , feeding of the hungry and revelations of Jesus' power over the forces of nature such as storm and water. The kingdom of God as a social and political reality is preached in a language accessible to the oppressed and reorders social relations among the people by making them egalitarian, non exploitative and nonauthoritarian. The last chapter applies the results ofmy investigations in chapter four to the Mennonite Brethren Church of Congo. After a section on the social, economic and political context of both The Congo and the BCC, and an overview of the Anabaptist theology and ecclesiology, I have deduced the following challenges for the BCC in the light of Mark's narrative: a reconceptualization of power and authority which is the cause ofconflicts in the church; the need for a relationship of partnership and not of patriarchal power between the leadership and the people constituting the grassroots in the BCC; a good management and use ofthe material and fmancial resources ofthe church out to contribute to the welfare ofthe people; a balanced vision on the church-state relations and development which rejects a dualistic church-society division. Equilibrium between social and spiritual ministries is advocated so as to contribute ultimately to the well-being ofthe people. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2000.

No description available.

In this study I present the results of interviews conducted with thirty-four students in the School of Theology, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg. In the following eight chapters I have provided a description of the discourses and discourse communities in the School of Theology which have emerged from my analysis of the data collected from these interviews. These discourses fall into three categories: The primary discourse, which is the result of the students' socialisation within their family and the primary community structures of their childhood, the secondary discourse ensuing from their educational and denominational backgrounds and their relationships with their teachers and the hierarchy of their denominations and the tertiary discourse of critical biblical exegesis which they encounter in their studies in the School of Theology. The product of this encounter is a clash of discourses which challenges the students both academically, leading to poor academic performance on the part of many students, and spiritually, leading to such dire consequences as nervous breakdowns or the loss of faith and vocation. In describing this clash of discourses I include a plea for the management and staff of the School of Theology to provide both academic and spiritual support for the students' in their attempt to face and overcome the considerable challenges of studying in the School of Theology. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg,2001.

Abstract not available. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of Durban-Westville, 1987.

The prevailing analyses of the structure of the Gospel of Mark represent modifications of the form-critical approach and reflect its tendency to regard the Gospel not as a unified narrative but as an anthology of sayings and acts of Jesus which were selected and more or less adapted to reflect the early Church's theological understanding of Christ. However, a narrative-critical reading of the Gospel reveals that the opening proclamation, the Transfiguration, and the concluding proclamation provide a definite framework for a close pattern of recurring words, repeated questions, interpolated narrative, and inter locking parallels which unfold the basic theme of the Gospel: the person and work of Christ.

Thesis (MPhil (Old and New Testament. Bible Interpretation))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / This study deals with discipleship as a challenge to the church in the twenty first century, with the Gospel of Mark as a starting-point. Discipleship is after all the heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It embraces the whole of the church’s existence; identity and integrity. Evans (2001:30) exclaims: “To be a true disciple, one must accept the fate of the Master; and the Master’s fate is inextricably bound up with his identity, purpose, and mission. True Discipleship cannot emerge in isolation from true Christology.”

The scope of the thesis is a reflection on the present marriage process within the church, focusing particularly on the U.P.C.S.A. This reflection is done through exegesis of Mark 10:2-12, using Professor J. Draper's tri-polar exegetical model. The aim is to broaden the church's understanding of the marriage process, thus making this key transition in peoples' lives more profound. This Thesis endeavours to bring together doctrine and praxis, through both textual and contextual analysis. Using Narrative and Ritual Theory at both the textual and contextual level, this thesis seeks to examine both the text and context in a new and innovative way. The use of anthropological ritual models allows one not only to step back from the text, but also initiates doctrinal discussion at a practical level. Further both the text and context are examined through historical reflection, placing both the book of Mark and present the marriage doctrines in their broad social, political and economic circumstance. Is the church's doctrine with regard to marriage adequately represented in praxis through the present wedding ceremony or have other forces lead to a misappropriation of Mark 10:2-12? The nature of the tri-polar exegetical model is that it is both dependent on the context for input and acknowledges that any exegesis must have an impact upon the lived-experience of the community of believers. Both present doctrine and praxis of marriage, I believe, are challenged in this thesis through a careful analysis of Mark 10:2-12, in the context of Mark through the use of both, ritual analysis and narrative criticism. In 2003, the church not only is faced with a crisis in respect of marriage and its decline, but it is also faced with an opportunity - the present increase in the interest in ritual. This thesis gives some insights into how the church can take up the challenge and use ritual as a tool of liberation. This thesis is thus by nature complex as it seeks to bring together doctrine and praxis, through ritual theory and analysis. / Thesis (M.A)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

This research has the objective to explore the concept of faith in the Gospel of Mark. An exegetical investigation of the faith terminology (pist-word group) in the Gospel is required for that. An analysis of the model passages with occurrences of the motword group shows the variety of possible connotations of the term. The most paradigmatic of them are in the sense of trust in God [which means to be open towards the highest reality]. Comparison of the results of the analysis with the concept of faith in the Old Testament, Classical Greek, and Hellenistic Greek is helpful to understand the etymology of the Markan use of the pist-word group and to make clear the conceptual meaning of faith in the Gospel which is closer to the Old Testament idea of an active commitment to God expressed in a continuous existence in the presence of Him. / New Testament / M. Th. (New Testament)