Description
Trade Review"Carter's thoughtful and nuanced interpretation of the Gospel of Mark is a welcome addition to the distinctive Wisdom Commentary series. Reading the Gospel alongside recent insights from both masculinity studies and feminist scholarship, Carter ensures a fresh consideration at this ancient text. The reader will profit from the author's deep expertise on life under Roman imperial rule combined with his sensitive intersectional analysis of the Gospel."
Colleen M. Conway, Professor of Religious Studies, Seton Hall University"Warren Carter's Wisdom commentary on Mark is a worthy complement to other important interpretations. It is deep, technical, and yet not inaccessible for the non–specialist. It opens our eyes to questions that are often left unexamined. It is also a reminder that white men (including me) can be allies to women scholars, but we can even be feminist in our perspectives when it comes to Scripture."
Ponderings on a Faith Journey"Carter focuses especially on what he terms `hegemonic masculinity,' which involves a systematic assertion of masculine domination. True to his stated purpose, Carter works his way through the entire gospel, demonstrating how attention to the biblical text's assumptions about gender and power relations can reveal latent meaning within the text and its significance for our circumstances. This commentary, therefore, is at heart the demonstration of an important and emerging method."
The Bible Today“Not intended simply as a ‘reading book, it is for the serious student of Scripture. As a reference it must surely stand among the classics of biblical scholarship. Everyone approaches the biblical text with personal history, opinions, and prejudices, and every reader will have quibbles with aspects of this interpretation. But there are valuable and much-needed riches to be found in these pages and in the abundant references therein.”
Catholic Library World"This Mark commentary fits well in the purpose of the series. It shows the author's familiarity with feminist biblical scholarship, offers a good balance between surveying previous scholarship and trying to contribute to the discussion, and tries to find a middle way in sorting out the various options there are for interpreting a particular passage."
Louvain Studies"For those especially interested in postcolonial studies, this re-reading of Mark will prove to be a valuable resource."
Journal for the Study of the New Testament"An insightful commentary that will contribute to Markan studies."
Interpretation"Those interested in a detailed feminist interpretation of the whole of Mark's Gospel that attends to the text in both its original setting and its possible application today will find Carter's commentary a welcome addition to their libraries."
Review of Biblical LiteratureTable of ContentsContents List of Abbreviations ix
List of Contributors xv
Foreword:
“Come Eat of My Bread . . . and Walk in the Ways of Wisdom” xvii
Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza
Editor’s Introduction to Wisdom Commentary:
“She Is a Breath of the Power of God” (Wis 7:25) xxi
Barbara E. Reid, OP
Author’s Introduction: A Feminist/Gender Reading of Mark’s Gospel xli
Mark 1:1-45 Introducing the Most Powerful Man 1
Mark 2:1-28 Men Competing with Men 39
Mark 3:1-35 Hegemonic Masculinity Displayed and Contested 61
Mark 4:1-41 Telling Stories: Asserting Hegemonic Masculinity 83
Mark 5:1-43 Patriarchal Dividends: An Exorcised Man and a Healed Woman and Daughter 109
Mark 6:1-56 Manly Power Asserted and Resisted 143
Mark 7:1-37 Winners and Losers 177
Mark 8:1–9:1 Declining Hegemonic Masculinity? 207
Mark 9:2-50 Mixed Reception 237
Mark 10:1-52 Redeploying Power at Home 263
Mark 11:1-33 Increasing Clashes among Powerful Men 301
Mark 12:1-44 More Confrontations among Powerful Men 325
Mark 13:1-37 The End of Their World and Birthing Another 353
Mark 14:1-72 Ambivalent Masculinity 375
Mark 15:1-47 Hegemonic Masculinity: Is Jesus’ Death a Defeat? 411
Mark 16:1-8 God Outpowers the Ruling Powers: Hegemonic Masculinity Restored 441
Afterword 455
Works Cited 457
Index of Scripture References and Other Ancient Writings 481
Index of Subjects 497
