Mark

<I>This is a <a href=http://www.eerdmans.com/Pag%20es/About/Books-on-%20Demand.aspx>print on demand</a> book and is therefore non- returnable.</I><BR /><BR /> The fullest commentary ever to come out on the Gospel of Mark this monumental work by Robert H. Gundry reflecting years of painstaking scholarship presents a well-argued alternative reading of the Greek text of Mark. Gundry turns from form and redaction criticism both of which he considers largely inapplicable to Mark to a very close reading of Mark's text as it stands — a reading that pays special attention to such literary devices as word order chiasm inclusion asyndeton and the historical present tense.<BR /><BR /> Driving the commentary is Gundry's provocative thesis that the Gospel of Mark constitutes a straightforward apology for the apparently shameful manner of Jesus' death; as such Mark is essentially an evangelistic tract rather than an obliquely written handbook of Christian discipleship and church life. Besides positing this bold seldom-defended thesis Gundry's commentary contains these features: <ul><li>Thoroughness of treatment including extensive interaction with other interpretations and detailed discussions of authorship date etc.;</li><li>A defense of the Papian tradition including Mark as getting his materials from Peter;<BR /> A rejection of the view that Mark 13 reflects the Jewish war of 66-70 C. E.</li><li>A lengthy excursus on the Secret Gospel of Mark;</li><li>A rejection of currently popular ironic polemic and other symbolic interpretations;</li><li>New literary critical arguments supporting the view that Mark did not originally end at 16:8; and</li><li>A massive bibliography.</li></ul>