The Gospel of Mark by Mary Healy (Review)

Last updated on: July 19, 2013 at 9:04 am by Nijay Gupta

The Gospel of Mark by Mary Healy (Review) 2013-07-19T09:04:26-08:00 Nijay Gupta

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Greetings from Rochester, NY! I am blogging for the first time from my office desk at Northeastern Seminary (of Roberts Wesleyan College). So, now that I am getting more settled in, I hope to post regularly.

Part of my summer reading has been Mary Healy’s commentary on Mark in the new series “Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture.” While one might have a hard time justifying “yet another” commentary series, this one fits an important niche and the editors (as well as Baker) are to be commended for an attractive and user-friendly design to the volumes.
What makes this commentary series unique? The editors and authors are all dedicated Catholics. As the editorial preface notes, “Since Vatican Council II, there has been an increasing hunger among Catholics to study Scripture in depth and in a way that reveals its relationship to liturgy, evangelization, catechesis, theology, and personal and communal life” (11). The preferred translation is the NAB.
In the commentary itself, after the translation is given, below is listed relevant OT and NT passages to the text, as well as references to the Catholic Catechism and the Lectionary. The latter material, in particular, is quite handy for Catholics, I would imagine. Photographs relevant to the text are scattered throughout the book. There are two kinds of sidebars: historical explanations (“Biblical Background”) and information related to Catholic theology (“Living Tradition”).
One might think these commentaries are written exclusively for Catholics. That is not the case. I found the “Living Tradition” sidebars very insightful for those who are not well acquainted with Catholic tradition.
It should be noted that this series appears to be more “devotional” than “academic.” Certainly a lot of academic work has been put into the commentary, but the comments and discussions in the commentary seem to be pitched towards priests and laypeople. I think this is wonderful – I can imagine study groups of Catholics with their Bibles and commentaries. Very inspiring.
Now, what about Healy’s work on Mark? Her approach is essentially a literary-theological one. She rarely comments on “Synoptic” issues and historical matters (aside from the sidebars). She knows the text of Mark very well, and explains what needs to be explained. Here are some of my highlights:
On the Kingdom of God: “Jesus’ announcement that the kingdom is at hand suggests both a present and a future quality, like a sunrise below the horizon. The kingdom is already present, embodied in Jesus’ own person. Indeed, throughout his ministry it will become evident that the ‘foreign occupation’ of sin, Satan, disease, and death is being overthrown. Yet the kingdom is incipient and partly veiled; like seeds sown in the ground, it will keep growing until it reaches its consummation (4:26-29)” (p. 41)
Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit: “In the context of this passage [3:28-29] it is to harden one’s heart so completely that one defiantly refuses to recognize the action of God and even attributes to evil the good works done by Jesus in the power of the Spirit” (78)
Feeding of the Five Thousand: “In contrast to the opulent Herodian banquet just recounted (6:14-30), which ended in a death, here Jesus feeds ordinary people with very simple fare, leading to life” (126)
Jesus’ Criticism of Human Tradition: “it is crucial to note that Jesus is not rejecting tradition per se, which becomes an important term in the early Church for the handing on of authoritative apostolic teaching (1 Cor 11:2, 23; 2 Thess 3:6). Rather, he is rejecting merely human traditions that are not based on God’s word, that in fact negate the intent of God’s word” (137); “Indeed, the formation of the canon of Scripture was itself an exercise of apostolic tradition” (138)
Lord” “She [the Syrophoenician woman] is the only person in Mark who addresses Jesus as Lord” (144)
Confession of Peter: “Peter’s confession of faith is the turning point in the Gospel. It is a breakthrough, a burst of light, symbolized by the healing of the blind man just recounted” (159).
Lines from Holy Cross Sunday Antiphon: “Today the ranks of angels dance with gladness at the veneration of Thy Cross, Christ, Thou hast shattered the hosts of devils and saved mankind. The Church has been revealed as a second Paradise, having within it, like the first Paradise of old, a tree of life, Thy Cross, O Lord. By touching it we share in immortality”
Sky turning dark at crucifixion: “Ultimately the imagery of heavenly chaos-a kind of undoing of God’s work of creation (see Gen 1:14-18)- points to the end of the world.” (268)
While I did not find every little interpretive move or argument convincing, overall the commentary is elegantly lucid and edifying. Should lovers of Mark buy this? Personally, it was nice to have a devotional commentary for my own growth. There are some nice quotable bits (like ones I mentioned above). For academic commentaries, get ahold of France and Marcus. But, certainly libraries should subscribe to this series.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

July 10, 2013

RBL Review of Novenson's Christ Among the Messiahs

Next Post

July 19, 2013 Witherington's Invitation to the New Testament (Review)

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category (Mis)Understanding Philippians 10 Things I Can't Live Without 2023 New Books 30 OT HB Scholars to Read and Follow 5 Books Series 50-2-Follow Academia Christian Theologians to Read and Follow Cruciform Scripture: Contributor Reflections Crux Sola TV Editors Behind Great Books in NT Studies Education Gendering the Holy Spirit Gupta FB Live Lectures In Faith and Doubt In Their Own Words Living the King Jesus Gospel My Top 6 OT Commentaries New Testament Resource Guide New Word Biblical Themes Nijay's A Very Library Christmas Shopping Guide Notes from an Editor Notes on New Books NTRG OT in the NT Paul Seminary Now The Bible in God's World The Word Felt Among Us SPENCER Translating Philippians Uncategorized Why I Use Accordance Women in Ministry

Select a Month March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 May 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz