Sunday, February 13, 2005

Is Mark 15:40-7 a Doublet of Mark 16:1-8? or a Chiasm?

There's some kind of literary relationship between Mark 15:40-7 and Mark 16:1-8. I'm toying with it as a doublet for now, but it may prove to be a chiasm.

The passages run (RSV):
42: And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, 43: Joseph of Arimathe'a, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. 44: And Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. 45: And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph.46: And he bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47: Mary Mag'dalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid. 1: And when the sabbath was past, Mary Mag'dalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salo'me, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2: And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3: And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" 4: And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; -- it was very large. 5: And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed.6: And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. 7: But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you." 8: And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid.
I've constructed a doublet but it doesn't work very well in the interior.

Mark 15:40-47
Mark 16:1-8

40: There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Mag'dalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salo'me,
1a: And when the sabbath was past, Mary Mag'dalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salo'me...

41: who, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered to him; and also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem. 1b:....bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.

42: And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
2: And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen.

43: Joseph of Arimathe'a, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.
3: And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" 4: And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; -- it was very large.

44: And Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead.
5: And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed.

45: And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph.
6: And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him.

46: And he bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.
7: But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you."

47: Mary Mag'dalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.
8: And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid.

A chiasm is suggested by two possible brackets that deal with fear and speaking:

43: Joseph of Arimathe'a, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.
8: And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid.

In this bracket, Joseph's courage is opposed to the women's fear, and Joseph's asking is opposed to their silence. There may be a chiastic structure lurking in there.

Any help?

2 comments:

Richard H. Anderson said...

check John Breck, The Shape of Biblical Language, who says it is a chiasmus and in fact sets forth a chiastic outline for the entire Gospel of Mark.
Richard H. Anderson
http://kratistostheophilos.blogspot.com/

Michael Turton said...

Thanks man, I'll definitely check that out.