Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1997. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 199-205). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1997. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 199-205). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1968. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Although there is a vast body of secondary literature on Mark 4:11-12, the interpretation of this passage has been dominated by source, form, and redaction critical methods which have tended to limit, or even discount, the importance of these verses in the Gospel. This study, in contrast, uses reader response criticism. Graeco-Roman rhetoric, and sociological approaches as aids to understanding the literary and social functions of Mark 4:11-12. Since the methods used in this study are still fairly novel in New Testament research, the first two chapters provide a detailed introduction to interpreting Mark from the perspectives of reader response, ancient literary theory (Chapter 1), and social setting (Chapter 2). The main questions posed in these chapters are: 'how would Mark have been evaluated literarily by a Graeco-Roman reader?'; and 'what was the Gospel used for in its original setting?' After a survey of the literature on Mark 4:11-12 (Chapter 3), material in Mark which seems to echo these verses verbally or thematically is reviewed in detail (Chapter 4), and the passage is studied in its immediate context, the parable chapter (Mark 4:1-34) (Chapter 5). Two final chapters summarize the findings of the study from literary and sociological perspectives. Mark 4:11-12, it is concluded, is not, as several important interpreters (E. Schweizer, T.H. Weeden, H. Raisanen) have asserted, a 'foreign element' to be ascribed to pre-Marcan tradition, but integral to the Gospel as a literary whole, and to the function of the book in its original setting. Mark 4:11-12, part of Mark's secrecy motif, focuses the reader's attention on certain aspects of the Gospel's eschatological teaching (parables, miracle stories, confession scenes, apocalyptic discourse), and served the needs of early Christian missionaries anxiously awaiting the parousia of the son of man and the establishment of the kingdom of God.

No description available.

While scholars generally acknowledge the influence of the book of Daniel in various loci in the Gospel of Mark, there has yet to be a systematic study that combines these references to determine their cumulative effect. Previous examinations of Mark’s use of Daniel have been piece-meal, exploring a particular Danielic theme or looking at a particular Markan text. Other studies focus on determining whether a certain Markan text contains a reference to Daniel. These studies serve to illuminate Mark’s use of Daniel considerably, but leave many important questions unanswered. What is Mark’s modus operandi in referencing the book of Daniel in particular? What is the shape—the contours and distribution—of Danielic usage in Mark? What can the references together, in toto, reveal about Mark’s usage of Daniel? This dissertation will explore these questions and clarify Mark’s use of Daniel through careful analysis and exegetical study of ten verses with suggested Danielic references (Mark 1:15; 4:11, 32; 9:3; 13:7,13-14, 19, 26; 14:62) so as to observe Mark’s overall pattern of usage. This dissertation will survey the issues surrounding Mark’s usage of Daniel and review the secondary literature related the use of the Old Testament in Mark—more specifically the use of Daniel in Mark (Ch. 1). A survey of the use of Daniel in early Jewish literature demonstrates the popularity and the widespread use of Daniel across different Jewish groups—and therefore its availability to Mark (Ch. 2). This survey also provides the cultural and theological background in which to understand Mark’s use of Daniel. Each reference to the book of Daniel in the Gospel of Mark, which is noted by the editors of the United Bible Societies Greek New Testament (4th ed.) and the Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece (27th ed.), will be examined in order to trace the contours of Mark’s usage of Daniel, explore the nature of the literary relationship, and determine the literary function of each reference (Ch. 3). The characteristics and patterns that can be observed when the Danielic references in Mark are seen side by side will be closely examined (Ch. 4). The book of Daniel is found to be even more significant for Mark than it has been acknowledged because Mark’s concept of the kingdom of God is profoundly influenced by the visions of God’s kingdom in Dan 7 and Dan 2. The influence of the Danielic notion of the kingdom of God permeates Mark’s gospel, from Jesus’ introductory proclamation in Mark 1:15 to his parables about the kingdom of God in Mark 4, his apocalyptic discourse in Mark 13, and finally his passion in Mark 14. In addition to the kingdom of God, several themes and images in Mark’s view of eschatology are also influenced by the Danielic text. Consequently, by looking at the Danielic references in Mark in toto, it can be seen that Mark draws upon Daniel primarily for inspiration pertaining to the kingdom of God and its eschatological significance. It is clear that many parts of the book of Daniel were familiar to Mark, and that they played an integral part in shaping his portrayal of the good news of Jesus.

The purpose of this study is to discuss Twain's role as a critic of the educational system of his day and to explore his views concerning the purposes, methodology, and value of formal education below the college level.

No description available.

Thesis advisor: Angela Kim Harkins / Thesis advisor: Margaret E. Guider / Thesis (STL) — Boston College, 2018. / Submitted to: Boston College. School of Theology and Ministry. / Discipline: Sacred Theology.

Thesis advisor: Daniel J. Harrington / After studying the Gospel of Mark mostly from a historical approach, focusing on the world behind the text, scholars have turned more recently to the text as it is available for us today, taking into consideration the development of the Gospel narrative, how the story is told, and making use of literary theories to unlock the message of the Gospel. This approach, however, usually ends up with a strikingly negative view of the disciples who fail to understand Jesus and abandon him during his arrest, trial, and death. Is the author’s view of the disciples hopelessly negative? How is the reader/listener expected to respond to the challenges posed by Mark’s Gospel regarding discipleship? This thesis argues that, by presenting two contrasting responses to Jesus’ call to discipleship, namely the rich man’s and the disciples’, Mark gives the reader/listener a rather positive image of discipleship in 10:17-31, juxtaposing it to an overall negative view of the disciples developed in much of the narrative, and stresses renunciation of possessions as an essential requirement for true discipleship. / Thesis (STL) — Boston College, 2011. / Submitted to: Boston College. School of Theology and Ministry. / Discipline: Sacred Theology.