Kata Markon

[Steve Black <sblack AT axionet.com>]

Verses 4:33-34 seem to me to be a puzzle.

(33)With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were 
able to hear it; (34)he did not speak to them without a parable, but 
privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

On one hand V. 33 implies the parables were told to illuminate, V34 
refers back to V.11-12 where the purpose of parables is to conceal.

Guelich suggests in his commentary that this flaw in Mark's narrative 
world is due to  a conflict in Mark's received tradition and. Mark's 
redaction.

That seems a plausible enough possibility, yet I'm not content with it.
Was Mark that much of a slave to tradition as to permit this kind of 
contradiction?

Perhaps the disciples play two roles in this passage.
1. Stand ins for the readers who presumably "get it"
2. The "historical" disciples, who ultimately prove not to "get it"

On the other hand, I wonder if Mark's narrative is not ultimately 
able to bear the heavy weight that our careful scrutiny places on it. 
Perhaps Mark merely wasn't being consistent in his thinking - a human 
enough possibility.

Any thoughts?

--
Steve Black

Dig deep for dreams, or you will be toppled by slogans...
                                        ee cummings