Mark As Story: An Introduction to the Narrative of a Gospel

David performed this translation in Geneva and did seminars for us. Wonderful! ( )

A useful book and introduction to the Gospel of Mark from a narrative-critical perspective. This approach treats the text as a story as a means of approaching the original intents and audience of the document. I found this to be particularly useful in their discussions of discipleship and implied audience, but their discussion of the method was a little lacking. I was also slightly concerned with their extra-low Christology that may minimize Christ beyond the human figure we see in the text. Above all a good read and accessible for many levels. ( )

Contradictory in assertions, inconsistent in method, repetitious in details, smug in attitude—no, I didn't like it at all. ( )

Contradictory in assertions, inconsistent in method, repetitious in details, smug in attitude—no, I didn't like it at all. ( )

A good introduction to the Gospel of Mark as a narrative story. The authors apply the practice of literary analysis, and look at the storytelling narratives in the book of Mark. While the authors assume Mark is historically accurate, this book can be read without cringing by people who do not see accuracy in the narrative, as it deals solely with literary analysis. In fact, for those who have devoured works of the Biblical scholars, this work actually helps to sort out some of the tangled webs of history and tradition; so many techniques used in the book are so obviously literary that it begins to look, on its face, as if the author was telling a story rather than reporting history, which uses different techniques to engage the reader. Overall, a good complement to any library on comparative religions, biblical criticism, or freethought. ( )