Kata Markon

["George Young" <gwyoung AT morgan.ucs.mun.ca>]

Dear List Members:

Currently I am investigating the several attempts by scholars to address the
rhetorical thrust of Mk 16:8.  Most of the best work (Petersen, Danove,
Hester) seems to suggest that Mark ends his gospel in mischief, leading to a
'failed story,' an 'ironic end' that leaves the reader in profound suspense
(i.e., could all this gospel a malicious trick upon the Christian
believer?).  Most scholarship to date has addressed this potential charade
by transferring the hermeneutical scepter of Mark's swift and sharp ending
to that of the reader's genius.  In other words, the reader must come to the
rescue of Mark's gospel by 'writing' his or her own ending (this, of course,
is simply stating the obvious - the church has done this for millennia).
Are there any list members who have investigated that other more ominous
path?  That is, are there any list members who know of anyone who has
investigated the more sardonic and ironic reading of Mark in light of 16:8
(the former work by Petersen, Danove, and Hester beg the question)?

George W. Young, PhD
Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies
Queen's College Faculty of Theology
210 Prince Philip Drive
St. John's  NF
CANADA   A1B 3R6
Tel. (709) 753-0116
Fax. (709) 753-1214
email: gwyoung AT morgan.ucs.mun.ca