Jesus in the Eye of the Beholder

Aimed at biblical scholars and clergy, as well as
anyone interested in the Gospel of Mark, this work
asks two questions. Given first-century culture and
behavior, is Jesus portrayed acting in a plausible
manner when he overturned the chairs and tables of
the moneychangers and pigeon sellers in Mark
11:15-19? And are the priests portrayed in a
similarly plausible manner when, in reaction, they
plotted to kill Jesus? By utilizing Greco-Roman texts
(in addition to the more commonly-used Jewish texts)
to gain fresh insight into the attitudes of Mark''s
readers, the conclusion is reached that Jesus''
actions in the Temple caused a sudden paradigm shift
among the populace. Before that, Jesus was seen as
non-threatening. But much as the political climate
for a modern-day politician can undergo a sudden and
seismic shift in response to seemingly little
provocation, so Jesus had been laying a foundation
that was ripe for change, and his actions in the
Temple were the "straw" that shifted everyone''s
perception. Relying on a technique grounded in Iser''s
repertoire, this study utilizes Greco-Roman as well
as Jewish texts to take a fresh look at the Temple
Pericope.

Autorentext

Dr. Stillman holds degrees which straddle two worlds. While inher twenties she earned bachelor's and master's degrees inmathematics and physics, and a post-master's in computer science.Some years later, she earned an M.A. and Ph.D. in BiblicalStudies. She is currently an Associate Professor at AmericanMilitary University.

Klappentext

Aimed at biblical scholars and clergy, as well asanyone interested in the Gospel of Mark, this workasks two questions. Given first-century culture andbehavior, is Jesus portrayed acting in a plausiblemanner when he overturned the chairs and tables ofthe moneychangers and pigeon sellers in Mark11:15-19? And are the priests portrayed in asimilarly plausible manner when, in reaction, theyplotted to kill Jesus? By utilizing Greco-Roman texts(in addition to the more commonly-used Jewish texts)to gain fresh insight into the attitudes of Mark'sreaders, the conclusion is reached that Jesus'actions in the Temple caused a sudden paradigm shiftamong the populace. Before that, Jesus was seen asnon-threatening. But much as the political climatefor a modern-day politician can undergo a sudden andseismic shift in response to seemingly littleprovocation, so Jesus had been laying a foundationthat was ripe for change, and his actions in theTemple were the "straw" that shifted everyone'sperception. Relying on a technique grounded in Iser'srepertoire, this study utilizes Greco-Roman as wellas Jewish texts to take a fresh look at the TemplePericope.