Fear Anomaly And Uncertainty In The Gospel Of Mark

Preface
1. Mark And Violent Death: Crucifixion As Horror And Riddle
2. The Anomalous Frightful: What It Is And What It Means
3. Not Having The Answer Is The Answer: How To Read Mark, To See Why
4. Mark 4:35-41: Jesus Stills A Dangerous Sea
5. Mark 5:1-20: A Demoniac Legion
6. Mark 5:21-43: Uterine Affliction And The Death Of A Maiden
7. Mark 6:1-13-30-31: Without Honor In The Ilarpic; Traveling Among The Oikiai Of Others
8. Mark 6:14-29: Antipas, John, And Fear Of Retaliation Because Of Violent Death
9. Mark 6:32-44: Temporary Largesse In The Desert
10. Mark 6:45-53: Jesus, Walking On The Ocean, Appears As A Ghost
11. Waking Up To Uncertainty, Growing Aware Of The Uncanny,…and Following Jesus

Appendix A: Redeeming, Violent Death In Hellenistic Literature
Appendix B: Ancient Reading Of Narrative And Plot
Appendix C: “Waters Of Death”
Appendix D: Chains And Haunted Houses
Appendix E: Divinities Affecting Women
Appendix F: Gynecological Health
Appendix G: Families Of Holy Men
Appendix H: Nouoc Euvuxoc
Appendix I: Tree And Water
Appendix J: Sea Stories
Appendix K: Mythographic Geography
Bibliography
Subject Index
Ancient Author And Title Index
Modern Author Index
Greek, Latin, And Other Terms Index

Additional Info
Douglas Geyer’s illuminating analysis of Mark 4:35-6:56 explains why the Gospel ends as it does in the earliest manuscripts-abruptly, at 16:8, with the words, “for they were afraid.” This ending, with women fleeing the empty tomb in “trembling and astonishment,” has long been considered “problematic,” and, in the several attempts to rewrite it, Mark 16 has become a source of unending mischief. Geyer’s work draws on a vast literature of fear, anomaly, terror, and dread in the ancient world to demonstrate that this ending is a consistent, overriding theme of Mark’s Gospel.

In Mark we see and hear the story of Jesus through the eyes and ears of the Roman world. Geyer brings to bear the literature of that world in a way that helps his readers to understand what Mark is doing and how the story that Mark tells continues to touch his readers and hearers ancient and modern (and “postmodern”). Geyer guides the reader through a vast and uncharted primary literature, demonstrating its relevance for New Testament study. In so doing he clearly proposes a fresh and original understanding of Mark that cuts across many of the critical controversies and renews its purpose and usefulness as “good news”-Gospel-for the terrors and uncertainties of our own time.