Kata Markon

[Steve Black <sblack AT axionet.com>]

> Ted wrote
> Over a year ago I argued on Kata Markan that Mark created Judas and Judas'
> betrayal as a part of a programmatic vendetta against the Twelve.   More
> recently I have argued the same in posts on XTalk and am now working on an
> essay that will provide more detail evidence for this.   Briefly here, early
> on in his Gospel, Mark identifies Judas as the betrayer (3:19).   One of the
> strong points in Mark's vendetta against the Twelve is to emphasize that
> Jesus was betrayed from within the cohort of the Twelve.  That is why it was
> important for Mark to indicate that, wherever Judas, Jesus' betrayer, is
> referred to in the context of the passion narrative, he be identified as
> "one of the Twelve."  On the three different occasions where Judas is
> mentioned or alluded to in the passion narrative he thus is clearly and
> specifically identified as "one of the Twelve."    It is the case when Mark
> has Judas go to the religious authorities to join the conspiracy against
> Jesus (14:10).  It is the case when Jesus speaks of his betrayer at the Last
> Supper (14:20).   It is the case when Mark dramatizes Judas' arrival with
> the arresting party in Gethsemane (14:43), where Judas' betrayal is
> consummated.   Thus, the reference to  hEIS  TWN DWDEKA in Mk. 14:20, in my
> judgment, is part of Mark's vendetta against the Twelve.   The Nestle
> reading of 14:20 is the authentic and original Markan text.

Steve replies
I agree!
It is exactly this that causes me to doubt that Mark intended  Judas 
to represent Judea.
I see him being linked entirely to the twelve. If Mark DID intend for 
his readers to "see"  Judea in Judas, that would weaken his polemic 
against the twelve. His polemic against the religious leadership in 
the south doesn't need Judas!  I believe if Judas is seen as 
representing Judea, it would weaken the distinction that I believe 
Mark construes between the various "enemies" of Jesus.
--
Steve Black
Vancouver, BC

Always the beautiful answer who asks a more beautiful question

E.E. CUMMINGS