Kata Markon

[JFAlward AT aol.com]

JOHN OLIFF
Has anyone considered the function of the parable of the "strong man" in the 
"story world" of Mark.  Further, if the parable [s] do have an in-text 
function, how then do they "apply" to the outside world? 

SEAMUS O'CONNELL
There should be an interesting line of enquiry if you note that there are 
only two instances of _skeuos_ in Mark: one in the house of the strong man 
(3:27) and the other in the temple (11:16) which is also a house of a strong 
one…

JOE ALWARD
I think it's a dead-end line of inquiry. It's hard to imagine that the 
authors of these Markan passages wanted their readers to see any connection 
between the _skeuos_ in the house (Mark 3:27) and the _skeuos diaphero dia 
hieron_ (Mark 11:16).  The first is a person, a strong man, while the second 
is an object (a vessel) that needs to be carried through the temple.  

What "in-text" function does the strong man parable have?  Let's first look 
at what the NIV says Mark said:

22 And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is 
possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons." 
23 So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables: "How can Satan drive 
out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot 
stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 
And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has 
come. 27 In fact, no one can enter a strong man's house and carry off his 
possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his 
house. 28 I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be 
forgiven them."

The origin and meaning of Mark 3:22-28 seems simple enough: The author of 
this passage seems merely to be having Jesus remind his listeners in the 
house that the teachers of the law outside are shouting insults ("He's the 
devil!") in order to turn the men inside the house against him.  

Why complicate Mark's work by imagining that there must have been an 
antecedent "strong man" story in their "story world" in order that Mark's 
readers/hearers understand this simple message?