Catalyzing Reader-Response to the Oral Gospel

This innovative and enduring book tackles an important topic which has been almost unnoticed in Markan scholarship, and it is highly endorsed to the reader due to its scholarly insights and eloquence. It is commended as one of the best books on the relationship between oral gospel and written gospel.

Rev. Kabiro wa Gatumu, PhD
Associate Professor, Senior Lecturer,
St. Paul’s University, Nairobi, Kenya

Africa has millions of consummate storytellers with an ingrained sensitivity to storytelling conventions. Dr. Karura is one of them. He employs several hermeneutical approaches to examine how the Markan text aims at convincing, convicting, and transforming the readers. I warmly welcome the publication of Karura’s study.

John F. Evans, DTh
Former Head of Biblical Studies Department,
Africa International University, Nairobi, Kenya

It is a good thing when Majority World scholars can bring their perspective on biblical studies to a discussion long dominated by Western voices. Particularly relevant to this work is the rich tradition of storytelling that flourishes in many Kenyan cultures, which Dr. Karura first encountered as a child hearing stories from his parents. This has enabled him to approach aspects of the Markan text which have been less apparent to scholars whose orientation toward the Scriptures is rooted in more text-centered, cultural traditions.

Joshua Harper, PhD
Department of Applied Linguistics,
Dallas International University, Dallas, Texas, USA

1. Acknowledgements
2. Abstract
3. Abbreviations
4. Chapter 1 Introduction
5. 1. Background
   2. Problem Statement
   3. Thesis of the Study
   4. Why Undertake the Study?
   5. 1. Contribution of the Research to Markan Studies
   6. Hypothesis
   7. Outline of the Study
   8. Limitations of the Study
   9. Delimitations
   10. Methodology
   11. 1. Necessity of a Text: Foundation of Rhetoric
       2. Hebrew Rhetoric in Genesis
       3. Comparison of Genesis and the Markan Text
       4. Hebrew Rhetoric in the New Testament
       5. Rhetorical Criticism
       6. Rhetoric and Rhetorical Situation
       7. Rhetoric and Meaning
       8. Use of Rhetorical Criticism in the Markan Study
   12. Summary
6. Chapter 2 “Gospelness” of the Markan Text
7. 1. Introduction
   2. The Salvific Episode and the Salvific Gospel
   3. Changes in the Referent of the Term Εὐαγγέλιον
   4. 1. Etymology of the Word “Εὐαγγέλιον”
      2. Referents of the Word “Gospel” in Jesus’s Time
      3. From “Gospel of God” to the “Gospel of Jesus Christ”
      4. Gospel during the Apostolic Period
   5. Effect of the Destruction of Jerusalem on the Term “Gospel”
   6. Gospel in the Time of the Church Fathers
   7. 1. Gospel in the Time of Clement of Rome
      2. Gospel in the Time of Papias Bishop of Hierapolis
      3. Marcion’s Understanding of Gospel
      4. Gospel in the Time of Justin Martyr
      5. Gospel in the Times of Tertullian
   8. Term “Gospel” in Mark’s Text
   9. 1. Reference of the Term “Gospel” in Mark 1:1
   10. Content of the Oral Gospel
   11. 1. Pointers to the Oral Gospel in the Markan Text
   12. Summary: “Gospelness” of the Markan Text
8. Chapter 3 Contextual, Structural, and Form Analysis
9. 1. Introduction
   2. Socio-Religious Context of the Markan Text
   3. 1. The Christ Event as a Setting and Context of the Markan Stories
   4. Structure of the Markan Text
   5. 1. Outline of the Markan Text
   6. Contextual Structure of the Markan Text
   7. 1. Observations from the Contextual Strata of the Markan Text
   8. Jesus’s Retold Parables as Portraits of the Text’s Occasion
   9. 1. The Parable of the Sower as a Portrait of the Markan Audience
   10. Purpose of the Markan Text
   11. Literary Genre of the Markan Text
   12. Summary
10. Chapter 4 Matrix of Interlocutors in the Markan Text
11. 1. Introduction
    2. Subject of Discussion in the Markan Text
    3. Interlocutors within the Matrix of the Markan Discourse
    4. 1. The Markan Text
       2. The Audience
       3. The Oral Gospel
    5. Interlocutor Relationships in the Markan Discourse
    6. 1. Dialogue between the Audience and the Oral Gospel
       2. Dialogue between the Markan Text and the Audience
       3. Relationship between Rhetorical Situation of the Audience of Jesus and the Rhetorical Situation of the Audience of Mark
       4. Relationship between the Markan Text and the Oral Gospel
       5. Dialogue between the Markan Text, Audience, and Oral Gospel
    7. Summary
12. Chapter 5 Markan Old Testament Quotations as a Rhetorical Device
13. 1. Introduction
    2. Recent Trends in the Study of Old Testament Quotations in the Markan Text
    3. 1. Review of R. E. Watts
       2. Review of Thomas R. Hatina
    4. Ideological and Religious Point of View
    5. Analysis of Old Testament Quotations in Mark 1:2–3
    6. 1. Exegetical Analysis of Mark 1:1–3
       2. Rhetorical Reading of Mark 1:1-3
    7. Analysis of Old Testament Quotation in Mark 4:12
    8. 1. Observations from Source Documents
       2. Comparative Outlines of Isaiah 1:1–6:10 and Mark 1:1–4:12
       3. Exegetical Analysis of Isaiah 6:9–10
       4. Exegetical Analysis of Mark 4:12
       5. Comparative Analysis of Isaiah 6:9–10 and Mark 4:12
    9. Summary
14. Chapter 6 Markan Miracle Stories as a Rhetorical Device
15. 1. Introduction
    2. Definition of a Miracle
    3. Miracles in the Old Testament
    4. Miracles Stories in the New Testament
    5. Extra-Biblical Miracle Stories
    6. Miracles as a Function of the Eschatological Kingdom
    7. Miracle Stories in the Markan Text
    8. 1. Current Trends in Research on Markan Miracle Stories
       2. Mark’s Commentaries in the Narration of Miracle Stories
       3. Genre of Miracle Stories
       4. Rhetorical Structuring of the Miracle Stories
       5. Function of Miracle Stories in the Markan Text
    9. Summary
16. Chapter 7 Markan Passion Narratives as a Rhetorical Device
17. 1. Introduction
    2. Form of the Passion Story
    3. Passion Was God Willed
    4. 1. Passion Was Anticipated in Scripture
       2. Jesus’s Predictions of the Passion
    5. Passion in the Parable of the Tenants
    6. Passion Was Sacrificial, Propitiatory, and Vicarious
    7. 1. Interpreting the Passion in Light of Scripture
       2. Passion Foreboded in the Lord’s Supper Narratives
    8. Rhetorical Function of the Passion Narratives in Identifying Jesus
    9. 1. Disclosure of the Person of Jesus in the Trial Narrative
       2. Disclosure of the Person of Jesus in the Crucifixion Narrative
    10. Rhetorical Function of the Narrative about Jesus’s Prayers in Gethsemane
    11. Rhetorical Function of the Narrative about Jesus’s Arrest
    12. Rhetorical Function of the Narrative about Jesus’s Trial
    13. 1. Jesus’s Trial before the Sanhedrin
        2. Jesus’s Trial before Pilate
    14. Summary
18. Chapter 8 Conclusion
19. 1. Introduction
    2. Excursus
    3. 1. Importance of the Longer Ending (Mark 16:14–20)
    4. Summary
20. Glossary
21. Bibliography