Literary Style

Structure

Introduction

The Gospel of "Mark" shows a sophisticated structure on a number of levels.

Beginning Versus Ending

Jesus' Ministry

JW:

Mark 1:10 "And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens rent asunder, and the Spirit as a dove descending upon him:(ASV)"

Compare to

Mark 15:38 "And the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom. (ASV)"

The English word "rent" above has the same root word for each verse in the Greek. 1:10 comes after the Prologue and is the Start of the Mission, the Heavens open. 15:38 comes right before the Epilogue and is the End of the Mission, the entrance to Heaven on earth is opened. In the related Greek of "Matthew" and "Luke" they use the same word as "Mark" for the "Passion" but use a different Greek word for "rent" in the Beginning. Good evidence for a Gnostic "Mark".

--JoeWallack 20:23, 8 June 2008 (EDT)