From the Earliest Gospel (Q+) to the Gospel of Mark

Solving the Synoptic Problem with Mimesis Criticism

Dennis R. MacDonald - Contributions by James R. Van Dore

From the Earliest Gospel (Q+) to the Gospel of Mark focuses on the remarkable overlaps between Jesus’s teachings in the lost Gospel Q and Mark.

Dennis R. MacDonald argues Synoptic intertextuality is best explained not as the redaction of sources but more flexibly as the imitation of literary models. Part One applies the criteria of mimesis criticism in a running commentary on Q+ to demonstrate that it polemically imitated Deuteronomy. Part Two argues that Mark in turn tendentiously imitated Logoi. The Conclusion proposes that Matthew and Luke in turn brilliantly and freely imitated both Logoi and Mark and by doing so created scores of duplicate sayings and episodes (doublets).

Lexington Books / Fortress Academic

Pages: 312 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-1-9787-0339-1 • Hardback • October 2019 • $153.00 • (£119.00)

978-1-9787-0340-7 • eBook • October 2019 • $145.00 • (£112.00)

Subjects: Religion / Biblical Studies / New Testament / Jesus, the Gospels & Acts, Literary Criticism / Ancient & Classical

From the Earliest Gospel (Q+) to the Gospel of Mark

Solving the Synoptic Problem with Mimesis Criticism

Hardback

eBook

Summary

From the Earliest Gospel (Q+) to the Gospel of Mark focuses on the remarkable overlaps between Jesus’s teachings in the lost Gospel Q and Mark.

Dennis R. MacDonald argues Synoptic intertextuality is best explained not as the redaction of sources but more flexibly as the imitation of literary models. Part One applies the criteria of mimesis criticism in a running commentary on Q+ to demonstrate that it polemically imitated Deuteronomy. Part Two argues that Mark in turn tendentiously imitated Logoi. The Conclusion proposes that Matthew and Luke in turn brilliantly and freely imitated both Logoi and Mark and by doing so created scores of duplicate sayings and episodes (doublets).

Details

Lexington Books / Fortress Academic

Pages: 312 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-1-9787-0339-1 • Hardback • October 2019 • $153.00 • (£119.00)

978-1-9787-0340-7 • eBook • October 2019 • $145.00 • (£112.00)

Subjects: Religion / Biblical Studies / New Testament / Jesus, the Gospels & Acts, Literary Criticism / Ancient & Classical

Author

Dennis R. MacDonald has taught at Goshen College, Iliff School of Theology, and the Claremont School of Theology, from which he is now semiretired.

Table of Contents

Part One: The Logoi of Jesus (Q+) and Deuteronomy

Introduction to Part One

A Mimetic Commentary on the Logoi of Jesus

Conclusion to Part One

Part Two: The Gospel of Mark and the Logoi of Jesus (Q+)

Introduction to Part Two

A Mimetic Commentary on the Gospel of Mark

Conclusion to Part Two

Conclusion: Solving the Synoptic Wars with Mimesis Criticism

Appendix 1: Criteria for Recovering the Lost Gospel

Appendix 2: The Logoi of Jesus and its Synoptic Transformations

Appendix 3: The Logoi of Jesus in Greek

Appendix 4: The Logoi of Jesus in English

Appendix 5: Scholars Who Argued that Mark Used Q (with James R. Van Dore)