THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION IN BIBLICAL ESCHATOLOGY
A Thesis Presented the University of Manchester to
In Partial
Fulfilment the Degree
of the Requirements for
Doctor of Philosophy
by Desmond Ford July 1972
BEST COPY AVAILABLEVariable print quality
Dedicated To the memory of Oven Ford, encouraged this project -who though aware she would not live to see it; and to Gill Ford, whose whole-hearted help made the hope a reality.
is deeply indebted ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The writer to Avondale College, Cooranbong, N. S. Y. which granted him two years leave-of-absence for F. F. Bruce whose learning, kindness, study purposes, and to Professor help made "the rough places plain" unstinted and "the crooked things and straight".
OF EXPERIENCE After completing his STATEMENT EI*X ATION AND RESEARCH Potomac University, Washington D. C. for B. A. in 1957, the writer attended From for a Ph. D. in Rhetoric. the M.A., and the Michigan State University 1961-70 were spent on the Faculty of Avondale College in the Department of Since the beginning of 1971 he has been engaged in research on Theology. the present topic at Manchester University.
OF THESIS A few of the STATEMENT PERTAININGTO THE CONTENTS THE PRESENT , M.A. related to the writer's statements in chapter three are indirectly thesis. Otherwise, nothing in the present study has been submitted in support for another degree or qualification of an application of this or any other university, or other institution of learning.
TABLE OP CONTENTS Pa2e Abstract List of Abbreviations iv vii PART I.Chapter
PROLEGOMENA
I.
Issues Concerning, Mark Thirteen: The Presuppositions Definitions The Origin of Exegetes and Apocalyptic Discourse" of Q Materials by Nark 13
i
of Eschatology of the "Olivet Contradiction
19 25 50 55 60Gospel,
The Apparent
The Problem posed by the Congruence (or Incongruence) of vv. 28-30 with v. 32, and other "Inconsistencies" The Composition Wes of the Synoptic Gospels
The Specific Purpose, or Purposes, and of Chapter 13 in particular The Contextual Chronological Setting of Mark 13 -
of Mark's Literary
64 68
and
PART II.
MK. 13: 14 -
ITS CONTEXT,BACKGROUND, BIS AND
II. III. IV.
Exegetical Relationship Exegesis
Survey of Mark Thirteen of Daniel to the Olivet Discourse
71 126 158
of Nk. 13: 14
PART III.
MK. 13: 14 LOPMMTS
SUBSEQUENT IL
V.Vi.
Relationship between II Thess. 2 and the f'Nwac 'r`lcThe Apocalypse and the Pau*a -rrs
5&AAu1NaPc, wa iC
217277
Conclusion Select Bibliography
343 353
iv.
ABSTRACT
The present of the mysteriousin discovering
its relationship to similar The study canonical references. involves the nature and place of apocalyptic necessarily and its links with the Olivet discourse eschatology, in the Synoptics, and therefore as recorded Daniel, Revelation, and 2 Thessalonians are primary sources. Chapter
investigation aims at determining the origin and significance Sgvyjo. t in Ilk. 13: 14, and allusion nH,;, atzc
one shows the importance by many of the study as acknowledged the issues comprehended by any exhaustive exegetes, and highlights study of Mark 13, a chapter which has provoked more scholarly than perhaps controversy Gospels. The contradictory in this any other in the Synoptic opinions extant have often deflected the true area suggest that presuppositions and prejudices intent of exegesis. two offers an exegetical taken on the chapter. positions 1. 2. 3. Chapter survey of Mark 13, analyzing These positions are: the four
chief
4.
Application to the fall of Jerusalem only, Application to the end of the Age only, Application to both events (though understood in the Gospel as distant in fulfilment Christ from each other) or the on the basis that either Evangelist blended the themes, Application to both events, iegarding to such as promised by Christ the generation This view makes the fall contemporary of with Him. Jerusalem a part of the predicted end of the Age. is
two schools depend heavily out that the first pointed upon reading literally that an important section of the chapter, metaphorically and taking Each therefore so to construe. shows its which the opposing school refuses for error is more often manifested in what is denied weakness and its strength, The third than what is affirmed. position seems to have been adopted for be said to spring from thorough exegesis. purposes and can hardly apologetic An excursus discusses Only the fourth can survive close examination. position in common with other Hebrew prophets, may here have delivered whether Christ, A further the excursus discusses a contingent. prophecy in whole or in part. in Mark 13, and whether it is limited to scope of the tribulation mentioned the confines of Jerusalem and Judea. illustrates the fact that Mark 13 is a midrash of Daniel, the basic theme of that book; the place of the seeks to discover between the the relationship and the rip W `1p the It is stressed the and and . that the kingdom of God and the vindication is t,he primary of its heirs motif. t,, 111] 1f3 to Daniel the religious Prior little but this use of world made book gives a more precise delineation kingdom than hitherto of the divine is presented The sanctuary in the Old Testament. as a microcosm of offered has skilfully interwoven to the the kingdom of God, and the writer references to the promises of the establishment of Yahweh's sanctuary as background These references kingdom of glory. occur in both the narrative and prophetic Dan. 8: 14, with its promise of In many respects, of the book. sections for the sanctuary is the key verse of the and its worshippers, vindication the literary This passage marks a distinct division, for it terminates book. three Chapter and therefore tjal2i 138 ) '171?
It
V.
usage of visionary symbols requiring tion. Thus Dan. 8: 14 is the climax
interpretation. of the symbolic
Hereafter, "forecasts"
The vindication promised there is expanded in Dan. 9: 24 and also in 12: 1-3, 7: 22,27 and 2: 44. Even the narratives and parallels of Daniel stress vindication. In each story we see the righteous The rewarded or the wicked punished. despite servants their of the true God triumph over all opposition apparent helplessness before the might of their heathen oppressors. The historical link with the prophetic. The introduction by Daniel passages inevitably invader to ravage its temple and pictures a northern marching upon Jerusalem The theme of the treading worshippers. underfoot of the sanctuary and the host in the Old Testament Antichrist. begins here and reaches its high point Even in chapter nine, the narrative helps interpret the vision, to with references iniquity, Jerusalem, desolation, sin, transgression, sanctuary, righteousness, All the key characteristics being found in both. pride, etc., of Antichrist blasphemy, idolatry, in the stories and oppression are represented as well "deliver" The use of the key word in both sections as the visions. of the book illustrates For the purposes of the present the artistry of the author. study the most important in the message of Daniel fact is that all the primary factors discourse, in each case the presentation is are found also in the Olivet and true to the original is Old Testament picture in form, though the substance Particularly by the Son of is this true of the theme of vindication augmented. Man. The coming of the Son of Man in Nk. 13: 26 is the counterpart of the rise ') Even in a of the as is also the case in Daniel 7. C H,, ,a 'ithe eschatological discourse number of minute particulars echoes the very wording of Daniel, as well as by its stress on the same major themes of the advent of the kingdom and the exaltation of its heirs. Chapter four offers textual of I-1k. 13: 14 itself. criticism and exegesis is paid to the various Particular for defining interpretations attention offered bXuyr. Roman Those viewpoints the which see in the invading -rsc eprgfL&s . the fulfilment Antichrist ensigns, and in the final army with its idolatrous the closest The reason why most receive scrutiny. prophecy, of Christ's in history is and no fulfilment see only the Antichrist modern commentators Again the commentator's indicated. position on the origin of Alk. 13: 14 is to be often determinative of his exegesis. shownPaul's in between the close prediction relationship shows The main elements requiring interpreta13: 14. in M. 2 Thess. 2 and Christ's V6OC ?\ ctTo TBC vot. iioc, tion, 0 vaoQ, rcoc-fEXov -fo o7i'C, The usual in relationship to their context and other passages. are analyzed c' In taken Koc-rexwv positions and rejected w incomplete. examined are on their the strengths is offered place of each and avoiding comprehending a Gestalt PdE / XuyNV their inadequacies. between the Some linguistic connections -rsc 4gwa 2 are indicated as Ew c as well of 2 Thess. and key-terms It is pointed what we have here in Paul is, conceptual parallels. out that Chapter five
all is explanaof the book.
an echo of a genuine
tradition
of Christ's
words.
Chapter six pursues the Antichrist throughout the last half motif of the Apt)Ntoaaas 4v/Na book of Revelation. The has its seed in the book -rjr_ "blade" discourse, "ear" in 2 Thess. 2, but its in the Olivet its of Daniel, is to be found in what is pre-eminently the "full the Apocalypse. grain" Antichrists Comparisons are made between the various book and those of this Suggestions M. 13, and 2 Thess. 2. the hermeneutic of Daniel, are made regarding to the passages studied. This consideration to be applied of a special is made necessary by the existenoo'of hermeneutic such contrary assessments
vi.
The exegete's of the value of Revelation and of its significance. own Weltanschauung interpenetrate his application can too easily of the laws of gra maticoThus the array of interpretations historical is practically exegesis. as bewildering book itself. Supplementary hermeneutic as the puzzling principles from the fact that its basic symbolism springs for the Apocalypse spring from the Old Testament and the life teachings primarily and eschatological of While this Christ. it is heavily, symbolism and the language expressing the Christian Hebraic, the Seer evidently considers church to be the heir of literal Minor principles Israel. include which help to guide exegesis such forms as contrast, The first-named and recapitulation. stylistic prolepsis, interpretation is the most important for correct and is vital of many of the Chapter 11 is considered figures. in symbols associated with the Antichrist the type of hermeneutical thus illustrating some detail, approach advocated. features of the visions embody not only the familiar ID6W from Daniel. The "war" also many less obvious borrowings in the climactic terminology particularly of the latter reappears, and "flood" Armageddon and Euphrates. Dan. 11: 45 is seen as part of plagues concerning The in Rev. 16. described for the last battle the Old Testament background The whore Babylon of the Apocalypse is, of course, of Daniel. also reminiscent the sun, and while Rome in obvious contrast to the woman clothed stands with the centre of the Seer's vision, it does not exhaust, the significance stands at the necessity Rev. 17 is an excellent illustration his symbol. of beginning of of The flight before historical further. the local out meaning and enquiring with The Antichrist PIPI but
of Babylon,Rev.
according
to many interpreters,
echoes Mark 13: 14f.
as surely
as
Rev. 17-20 contain 13 rings the changes afresh several on that same passage. 'and the related theme is to the concept of desolation, abomination allusions The final in the closing of 1,2c. 13: 14 is chapters. application also present in the twentieth surrounding of Antichrist's chapter where the last manifestation takes At that point, in Dan. 7,8,9,11-12, the sanctuary vindication occurs. as of in glory. the kingdom of God materializes place, and from the investigathat have arisen The conclusion summarizes convictions Mk. 13: 14 as part of Christ's the necessity tion, of recognizing and emphasizes is made that Mark 13 and The suggestion Daniel. interpretation of creative teaching they cast on the Scriptural Daniel, because of the light of the kingdom begun in the present the lines God, merit work. of study along continued
vii.
ABBREVIATIONS
AB AG
Analeeta
Biblica
W. F., and Gingrich, Arndt, F. W., edd., A Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian (E. T., Cambridge-Chicago, Literature 1957). Das Alte nglican Testament Theological Deutsch Review
ATD ATR
BDB CBg CB CGTC ed. EB f2 E. T. ET GerThT HAT UNT ICC JBL JThCh JTS KAT LXX IN
Brown, Catholic
Driver, Biblical
Briggs,
Hebrew Lexicon
Quarterly
The Cambridge The Cambridge editor The Expositor's The Evangelical English
Bible Gk. Testament Commentary
Bible Quarterly
Translation Times Theologisch Tijdschrift
The Expository Gereformeerd Handbuch Handbuch
zum alten
Testament
Reuen Testament zum Critical Literature and Church Studies Testament Commentary
The International Journal Journal Journal of Biblical for
Theology
of Theological zum Alten
Kommentar
The Septuagint Moulton London, Moffatt's and Milligan's 1930 New Testament Vocabulary of the Greek Testament,
RUC
Commentary
viii.
n. d. NLCNT (and NICHT)
no date The New London Commentary on the New Testament (the English version of the American series, The New InternationalCommentary on the New Testament)
NovT n. s. NT NTD NTS RB RGG RSR RSV SJTh StCath TBC TBNT
Novum Testamentum new series New Testament Das Neue Testament New Testament Revue Biblique in Geschichte Die Religion und Ge enwart, 1956-65 T{ibingen, Recherches de Science Religieuse The Revised Standard Version of the Bible Scottish Studia Torch Journal Catholica Bible Commentary Begriffslexikon zum Neuen Testament of Theology Galling, K., ed., Deutsch
Studies
Theologisches
TINT
the New Testament, Dictionary Theological ed. G. Kittel of (Grand Rapids, 1964-) E. T. by G. W. Bromiley G. Friedrich, and Theodotion Theologische Theologia Theologische Tyndale Theolor Blatter Viatorum Literaturzeitung, Commentary
Th. ThB1 ThViat TLZ TNTC TT TWNT
New Testament Today
Wrterbuch Theologisches zum Neuen Testament, (Stuttgart, 1933-) G. Friedrich and Theologia Theologische Viatorum Zeitschrift
ed. by G. Kittel
TV TZ
ix.
WC ZAW ZNW
Westminster Zeitschrift Zeitschrift
Commentaries fr fr die die Alttestaientliche Neutestamentliche Wissenschaft Wissenschaft
ONE CHAPTER
MARKTHIRTEEN ISSUES CONCERNING
The
&E'Auypoc -f
-fiji
oewC l Ep9p
phrase
is
the
enigmatic
heart
of the most puzzlingAs such, for in its of setting
chapter
in the primaryit
book of the New Testament.continuing attention
of Mark 13,
challenges '
purposes The
criticism of the
and exegesis. P6. AuyJa
context
phrase
is particularly
rich
thematically.Christ, the
It
reflectsof
not only two of the master teachingsSon of Man, but associated
ofthemes
Kingdom
God and the
such as the Remnant, Antichrist, Thebut
the Tribulation,
and the Parousia. allusion,In
-
13&Auyparepeatedly
-rsc
. HL'%3ocuws is not an isolatedin eschatological
a refrain
occurring
passages.
concept it absent.Gospels,
is sometimes present In the New Testament it
even when the precise
terminology
is
is found not only in the Synopticand the book of Revelation. Apart
but
in
2 Thessalonians
1. C. H. Dodd, "The Fall of Jerusalem of Desolation", and the Abomination (Manchester, "Recent More New Testament Studies 1968), 70, comments: trends in criticism for a more radical reconsideration of the seem to call " Despite the passage than it has (to my knowledge) question yet received. of twenty-five was first made, this plea for years since the statement has relevance, discourse continued still as the following study of the Olivet "This passage presents the exegete with difficulties indicate. references as great as any in the Gospel. " D. E. Nineham, The Gospel of Saint Mark (London, 1963), 351. (Hereinafter to as Saint Mark). "No one referred is. " William Barclay, quite knows what the desolatin abomination Matthew (Daily "Une crux Study Bible)(Edinburgh, 1958), II, 338. interpretationis " f36XvyH celebre. " B. Rigaux, p%. awaeu C -r64 Mk. 13: 14; Mt. 24: 15", Bib, IL (1959), "Dens les Evangiles, 675. il nest de Jesus sans doute pas de passage plus obscur que le discours " Andre sur la ruine du temple rapporte par les trois synoptiques. "Le discours Feuillet, de Jesus sur la ruine du temple d'apres Marc XIII Luc %XI, 5-36", RB, LV (1948), 481. "Mark 13 is the biggest et The Gospel According to St Mark problem in the Gospel. " A. M. Hunter, (London, 1948), 122. ". one of the unsolved problems of New Testament .. " Vincent "The Apocalyptic Taylor, Discourse exegesis. of Mark XIII",
ET, LX (1948),
94.
3.
from
the
Olivet namely
discourse, Daniel, the
its
most familiar
setting
is
that
cited
by the as so
Matthew, theological Daniel it is
book which in the earlier
above all first
others
influenced And as surely Old Testament, phrase
climate
of Judaism reflects
century. books of the
itself in this
sometimes instance. are found
The constituent first in the
elements
of the
under
consideration
Pentateuch,
and subsequently
throughout
the Old Testament writinV, Ezekiel,
being particularly
clustered
in
the books of Jeremiah, of Daniel freelyare
and Isaiah,
books from which the writer
1 draws.good grounds abstraction for believing merely, that but this cryptic reflects phrase concrete old and does
There not
embody a tenuous events crises
rather
historical new. sources Major
considered are thereby
pivotal referred 2
in the to,
experience crises
of Israel
which
became the
of apocalyptic The Auypoc symbol Bible of all grace "I will to
formulations. Tyr-
&pqH W cYF-wC ancient make the history. theocracy variegated Initially
is
ever
linked
with
the
temple,
the
of the writers salvation dwell
and of the
New Testament of the temple God's
community. a microcosm coming promises, in
experiences it
represented the Covenant walk
with
men, and illustrated ...
make my abode among you.
I will
among you,
1.
"Dafr
lsst
2 Chr 30,7; 1 Esr 1,55; Ps 72,19; Jer 4,7; 7,34; 8,22; 22,5; 32,18; 51,6.22; DanLXX 8,13; 9,18.27; 11,31; 12,11; DnTh 8,13; 9,2.27; 12,11; 1 Makk 12,11) ist. Die Vokabel kommt im NT nur ?k 13,14 Parr vor. " R. Pesch, geprgt Naherwartungen: Tradition in Ilk 13 (Dsseldorf, 1968), 143. und Redaktion (Hereinafter to as Naherwartungen). referred
,-(?gNwQ-S
der Vokabel sich nun auch die Bedeutungsgeschichte geltend machen, die ganz durch die LXX (vgl. Lev. 26,34f.;
2. G. Schrenk, "iepe, -rc%3 v. . ." TDNT, III9 239. "Purification of the Temple", JBL, XC (1971), 82-90.
R. H. Hiers,
4.
and will is
be your
God, and you shall climactic pictuze 21: 3. of
be my peoples"1 consummation
The same terminology entrusted and its to the
used in the
and glory temple,
new Israel.
See Rev.
The profanation
of the
devastationthe
under the Babylonianof the Maccabean crisis finally
woe, providedera, that
the imagery for picturingand also the The
catastrophe
of 70 A. D.,
eschatological
to be precipitated
by the Antichrist.
reconstruction
of the temple after
the exile,
and the cleansing
by Judas "anointing when
Naccabeus, became to Daniel's of the most holy", "everlasting for all
readers
shadows of the ultimate of the Messianic in, temple,
the establishment
righteousness"
would be brought
and atonement made
iniquity.
The theme of attackplus the
upon the kingdom of God by itsvindication of those loyal
idolatrous
desolators,
compensating
to
-Yahweh.,
constitutes
the essence of the holy war, and enshrines 2 ages.
the
basic
dangers and hopes of the remnant in all Our study seems contributory
to the ongoing debate over eschatof the kingdom spoken of by
ology
and kindred
issues.
The nature
Christ,
the place
of apocalyptic, exegeticalits
the significance issues associated
of the temple imagery with the destinysymptoms and studies
in the New Testament,both delay, Israels, the the historical
of
Parousia
supposed
premonitory
and exegetical
approach
to Nev Testament
versus the philosophical involved in the attempted
existential unravelling
mode -
all
these and others of the
are
of the significance
iAuypa
Tos
Epr)WaEwc.New Testament source in this study
Because Mark 13 as the primary has long been considered
as the passage in the Gospels most "replete
1.2.
Lev. 26: 12 (R. S, V, throughout
thesis).
Y. Conger, The Mystery of the Temple (London, 1962), 139; B. GIrtner, The Temple and the Community in Qumran and the New Testament (Cambridge, M5)9 lulpi2q; it. J. is e vey, e ivew Temple on on, , passim; R. A. Cole, The New Temple (London, 1961)p passim.
T
with
critical
and exegetical
difficulties",
1
and because
its
unique
natureredaction
has speciallycritics, 2
challengedanother
source,
form,is
(more recently) andnot without justification. 3
investigation
The approach here made is thatto understand the New Testament
of Biblical
Realism,the
"the
effort
writings
from within
mind of their
authors,the biblical
to stand where the biblicalmessage into
writers
stood,
rather
than to force
modern thought
forms''4
We are not now concerned with the relevancebiblical world-view system or views. wherein Thus the
or irrelevanceof the
of theuniverse
modern concept or other
as a closed manifestations
neither
miracle
supernatural or the
such as revelation
or prediction
are possible,
opposing view of primitive pertinent to the exegetical
theological problem,
orthodoxy, except for
are not considered their prejudicial impact.
1.
G. E. Ladd, Jesus to as Jesus). referred 2. W. Marxsen, J.
the KinjZdom (London, and
1966),
305.
(Hereinafter
Lambrecht,
F. Flflckiger,
in particular.
and speaks of the "chaotic of historical state is concerned. Premises are scholarship where apocalyptic rarely shared; no themes, perhaps, and open the seams in the historical " JThCh VI (1969), theological fabric 13. so readily and so completely. "Mark 13 dominates the B. H. Streeter wrote over fifty years ago: eschatology of the Second Gospel, and through him that of the two Gospels. later It is the citadel of the extreme eschatological ... Hence the question how far it fairly school of interpretation. " Studies the mind of our Lord is crucial, in the Synoptic represents (Hereinafter Problem (Oxford, 1911), 428. to as Synoptic referred Problem). 3. Robert theological
W. Fink
4. Ladd, Jesus, xiii. Testament Interpretation",
See also Otto Piper, "Principles TT, III (1946-47), 197.
of New
6.
ISSUES PERTINENT TO THE EXEGESIS OF MARK 13 Relationship of Mark 13: 14 to the in this section Rest is of the to Chapter the relationship between
Our purpose
indicate
Mark 13: 14 and the restfor an early glance
of the chapter,relating
in order to show the necessityto the referred chapter to as a whole. 14 is not
at problems -res
The_ (SrXuyHa
6'prflwa&uiG
in v.
something isolated Scholars,the
in significance
from the remainder
of Mark 13. asout
in commenting upon the verse,"Hohepunktn2,
have used such expressions"Crescendoi4, pointing
"Wendungn',
"Angelpunkt"3,
its
crucial
position
in the chapter.
Marxsen has a particular true
case to
support
by his
estimate,
but the same is hardly
of the others. this
J. Schmid suggests,
"For the understanding
of the whole discourse, it
passage is of the greatest merkwtirdig"6, ... ist fur while
importance. n5 Haenchen values
as "atisserst
Suhl summarizes,
"Das Wort vom Greuel der Verwstung Apocalypse von
das VerstndnisBedeutung. "7
der synoptischen
entscheidender
1. J. Weiss, "Die Testaments, ed. J. 2. 3. Ibid., 380.
drei glteren Evangelien", Weiss (4 vols.; Gttingen,
Die Schriften des Neuen 21906), I, 195.
W. Marxsen, Der Evangelist to as Markus. ) referred
Markus
(Gottingen,
1956),
125.
(Hereinafter
4. J. Lambrecht, (Hereinafter 148.5.
Die Redaktion der Markus-Apokalypse to as Redaktion. ) referred
(AB XXVIII)(Rome,
1967),
The Gospel according to Mark, (The Regensburg New Testament, II), (Hereinafter Kevin Condon (New York, 1968), 238. trans. and referred 6. Ernst Haenchen, Der Weg Jesu (Berlin, 1968), 443.
ed. to as Mark. )
A. Suhl, Die Funktion der Alttestamentlichen 7. Zitate (Gerd Mohn, 1965), 3. (Hereinafter in Markus-evangeliwu ) Zitate. Alttestamentlichen
und Anspielungen to as referred
7.
The beginning, involvethe
middle,
and we believe The chapter
the end,
1
of Mark 13 a referencecloses with
allusionsbuilding
to the temple.and its for the
opens withand it
to
sacred
threatened coming
destruction, of the
warnings
to be ready
Son of Plan.
The scene
depicting
the latter
intimates2
the eschatological
fulfilment
of the
temple-dominating
Shekinah.
In Dan. 7, by the symbolism of the "Son of Man" being given the kingdom, the suffering This sufficedits vision
remnant of Israel
was promised vindication. as Ezekielof soul
in the days of Antiochusheavenly glory,
Epiphanes,anguish
19 withcaptives
of the
met the
of the
who had been torn restoration of that
from their
holy
city.
M.
13: 26 implies
the ultimate when
new temple promised since the days of Ezekiel
G. R. Beasley-Murray, 1. (Hereinafter to referred
A Commentary on Mark Thirteen ) Mark Thirteen. as
(London,
1957),
93.
d'homme' de Daniel, le 'fils 2. "0. Procksch qui regoit rapproche ... daps '. domination, divine de is gloire se manifestant at regne', gloire (Ez. I, 4) 'comme une figure d'homme' (Ez. I, 26) au une nuee P. Volz (Die Chobar. les bords du fleuve Ezechiel sur prophete (Theologie des Alten 189) et W. Eichrodt Eschatologie. p. .., t. 11, Leipzig, 1935, p. 11) sont pareillement Testaments, en d'autant litteraire, de cette relation faveur qua plus vraisembable VII, " 9-10, avec le judiciaires des assises is description en In. trne de feu at les roues de feu, s'inspire eile aussi de la vision divine du fils de Buzi. Pour Isa! e, la gloire inaugurale que n'etait dans is nature de Yahweh se manifestant la saintete et dans 1'histoire (cf. (Is. 12,23; VIII, 4; I%, 3; X, 4 III, VI, 3); avec Ez. 1,26sq.
), is gloire divine commence en quelque sorte se materialiser at . .. en somme avec la theophanie ells s'identifie prendre 'figure d'homme'; lui rappelle Is le voyant a contempl'ee et quip en terre d'exil, qua Avec Daniel de Dieu dans le sanctuaire de Jerusalem. presencele Messie chez lui, au dernier assistons stade du developpements nous de cette d'homme' se presente 'fils comme une Sorte d'incarnation 'la gloire divine', forme d'apparition surnaturelle gui s'appelle de is manifestation de is Moire comme une repligue en particulier et "Le discours Yahweh dans is nuee du Saint des Saints. " A. Feuillet,
de
de Jesus sur la, raine du temple d'aDres Mc XIII RB, LVI (1949), 70-71.
at Lc XXI: 5-36",
8.
"the dwelling
of God" shall
be "with
men".
1pe-r< T? v 6Aibiv advent the of the
The Son of Nan is after the Auyioc from the days of the .
pictured
as coming created
tribulation is
by the
previous
There threat refers
no legitimate temple. temple ever 2
way of separating That is the expression
Parousia 196
to the
EPr)H woevC the
to the is
made certain with
by the the
fact
that 3
in Daniel
135 Auypa
associated
sanctuary.
The obvious
relation
of v. 14 to the first crescendo presentcKOOol)T ...
half
of the chapter section.. pi
is
also shown by the literaryv. 7 Tav O
in this
7TOi1Elou
epo
11; &rv v. v. 14 ? oav
y ci&
ojv rf-
OPRC i
Trapp
&v-re-c
rk TtpOP-, pII+v-rr
Thus these to cause mental
verses distress,
picture
the preliminary with the
agitations situation
which
are not
as contrasted In this setting
when the its
duyNa full 'adversative
appears. force. for
the_
must be given
The necessity tribulation oppression the pictured of believers
flight
spoken
of
in v.
14 is
linked Vv.
with
the
in prior
and succeeding the
verses.
9-13
picture a Christs
and following but in
allusion
to the%uy Even the false
same picture
reoccurs
deeper
colours.
etroits 21: 3. I bid., 71. " ... on voit quels liens et profonds 11annonce par Jesus de la raine du temple et 1'annonce de la unissent la seconde fait de 1'homme sur les nuees: venue du Fils comme contrepoids etait la premiere; le grand signe visible de le temple de Jerusalem du peuple de Dieu (cf. lsq. la loi de l'unite dens le Deuteronome XII, du sanctuaire); le Christ 1'unite qui disparait, vient se au sanctuaire de rassemblement dune nouvelle invisible comme centre communaute, substituer la communaute de tous ceux qui croirent en lui. " See also Beasley-Murray, 90. Mark Thirteen, 1. Rev.
2. B. Rigaux, L'Antechrist et 1'0pposition au Royaume Messiani uce da (Hereinafter le Nouveau Testament (Paris, 1932), 243-44. 1'Ancien et ) to as L'Antechrist. referred 3. See Dan. 8: 13,14; 9: 26,27; 11: 31; 12: 11.
9.
seen preceding withChrist Xib IV itute
the
OXi is itself.as coming 9-27,
occur again,
but in more scarlet
hue as
the persecutionis described .
They now work miraculousJKEivocic acv from yet another TocI angle,
signs and wonders.qpEPai(:: are P61IX 'rOV
Thus verses
seen to
coast-
a whole. The fact that the fundamental Old Testament at the allusions beginning, in this middle,
chapter
come from
Daniel
and are to be found
and close,Indeed,
also indicate
that
we have here a unifiedas a Mahnrede references
presentation.temple-prophecies EAuyva 't
Mark 13 has been recognized None dispute that the
on the
of Daniell
to the
euc i& ancient apocalypse,
and to the but it
AX4pic
etc.,
are taken from the csuvT E'CSBai
seems almost sure that
4 is from the same source. 2 of v. Mark 13: 14 not only matches the earlier chapteralso is
and later
portions
of the
by itsstrongly is
referenceparenetic
to the temple and itsin nature, a-
use of Daniel,other
but it
as are these i &)-re....
sections. is called
Watchfulness
O-rav demanded.
Insight
for.
_
oaiTc. and careful
And lastly, attention
action
appropriate
to the attitudes 0.00 in
of watchfulness
is urged. grounds for unity,
OeuyeTwvav regarding the chapter
These seem to be sufficient its present of form as an ideological " -tb P&Auypoc rc
and therefore wr-
we approach the by attempting
exegesis first
Eprjpo'l
to reach some conclusions
on issues
relating
to the nature,
origin
and significance
of Mark 13 as a whole.
Dodd, More New Testament Studies, 1. (Lund, 1966), 210,235. Interpreted
69. See also Lars Hartman, Prophecy (Hereinafter to as Prophecy. ) referred
2.
Ibid.,
221.
10.
Issues
Concerning
Mark Thirteen
1.
Definitions
of apocalyptic
and eschatology.
Is Mark 13 an
apocalypse? 2. The origin a. b.c.
of the Olivet
discourse. in the teachings of Christ.
Place of apocalyptic The "LittleThe framework
Apocalypse".of the discourse, Mark 13: 1-4.
d.e.
Parenthesis
of Mark 13: 14b.
between Mark 13 and 1 and 2 Thessalonians. The relationship The primary of the logic now collection and circulation found in Mark 13: 5-37.
P.
between Mark 13 and other Synoptic parallels The relationship Luke 21; Matthew 10: Lukio 17: 24-37; as Luke 12: 35-46; such 17-22; Matthew 24. Relationship to the apocalypses of Judaism. by Mark 13. of vv. 30
g. 3. 4.
The apparent
contradiction
of Q materials
The problem posed by the congruence (or incongruence) and 32 of Nk. 13. Other "inconsistencies".The composition dates of the Synoptic Gospels. Gospel,
5. 6.
The specific purpose, 13 in particular.
or purposes,
of Mark's
and of chapter
To8.
The setting
of the Olivetof
discourse
within
Mark's
Gospel as a whole.
The presuppositions
exegetes.
11.
It
is recognized
that
each of these issues significant
could demand a thesis regardingmatters. evidence
in entirety.cannot we will
Nevertheless,
conclusionsthese
Mark 13: 14Of necessity in each case.
be made without but offer
some enquiry
regarding
a summary of what seems to be the of Exegetes
The Presuppositions
Certain and therefore Itbut
it
is,
that
the last with
item on the list
is the most important, the last shall be first. discussed,
in dealing lastrarely,
the issues suggested,
has been placedthis one only
because the other mattersthough it usually this the
are frequentlythe
determines case that
exegete's
conclusions
throughout.
So much is
one can almost
predict exegete's
an exegete's
positions
on most of this
problem's
facets,
if
the or
school is known.
Whether he be of Bultmannian
persuasion, of his
a fundamentalist, , investigation
may have much more to do with the results factor. at length' and if are
than any other has writtenof
F. W. Farrarexegesis different is a history
to prove thatblack in and white favour
the historyreally
of
error,
mean Dean
things,
then
the
statistics
of the
one-time
of Canterbury.. Gospel it
H. Riesenfeldis inevitable are
asserts:the innumerable contributions degree stamped to a greater or lesser that devoted by
to
research
the attitude in question toward the person and of the writer The fatal thing is that there is no such character of Jesus. thing as research without presupposition. The more emancipated thinks he is, the less he is in actual fact. 2 a scholar
Its Meaning and Supremacy (London, N. Y., Bombay, The Bible, 1. (London, 1886), passim See also his History Interpretation of .
1897),
145.
(Oxford, The Gospel Tradition 2. 1970), 51. See also Robert H. Stein, "The Proper Methodology for Ascertaining a Markan Redaktiongeschichte" (unpublished Ph. Do; dissertation, Princeton, 1968), 22-98, and article (3,1971), the same title in NovT XIII 181-198. Note169f. of this under thesis for extracts from Stein. present
12.
One of the best illustrations theologythat all the his
of these words is found in the history to the contrary,triad that: worked
of the
of Baur.influence research. it is
Despite his protestationsof Hegel's Stephen dialectical suggests
it
does seemamidst
as a leaven
Neill
in the field of its presuppositions, which in themselves ... have nothing to do with critical or historical method, that the Again, of the work of Baur comes to grief. whole great structure their are exercising and again, when the presuppositions unfortunate influence, is for the time being abandoned. 1 critical method
No one who has read Mark Pattison'sBaur-like "brilliant scholar example can readily of a false forget method". the 2
delineationbeacon light
of Warburton as aoffered by the
And who, reading also of Veiffenbach's significant Bultmann, questions Dibelius,
the following main thesis regarding
from Albert
Schweitzer, can fail
being aware to ask himself such as
on eschatology, the brilliant
work of scholars
Martin
Werner, Hans Conzelmann, T. F. Glasson, and
J. A. T. Robinson?day, down to the present The whole history of Christianity, is based on the that is to say, the real inner history of it, delay of the Parousia, the non-occurrence of the Parousia. ..
.3
A. L. Moore blames presuppositions stance of many scholars of his work on a topic regarding similar
for what he believes the topic of his one.
to be the wrong at the opening
choice,
to the present
He says:
Behind these views istic materialism and Even more apparent is the re-interpretation
one can discern the pressure of evolutionof the whole secular climate of thought. the pressure of a secular philosophy behind 4 of eschatology in terms of existentialism.
The Interpretation of the New Testament ) to as Interpretation. referred after 1.
don,
1966),
27.
(Herein-
2. 3.
Ibid.,
22. Jesus (London, 1910), 358.XIII
The Quest of the Historical
The Parousia 4. (Leiden, 1966),
in the New Testament, Supplements to N. T. vol. (Hereinafter 2. to as Parousia. ) referred
13.
Just a few years previous study the historyand came to the On the
to Moore's statement, thought' for
James Martin
set out to
of Protestantsame conclusions. hand, there
with
reference
to eschatology
other
are
grounds
believing
that
both
Moore
and Maxon began their to those they criticise. the freer
research with presuppositions Riesenfeld does rightly
basically in reminding
contrary us that
of assumptions
we each hold ourselves Philosophy
to be, the more in slavery and not Theology has becomeBibelerklrungen. to think is to done in ourselves
to such we are.the Queen of the
It would seem thatsciences,
Weltanschauungen assures and that us that to
determining
Inasmuch without a circle, of our distortion Riesenfeld's
as Epistemology presuppositions it
no man can even begin all thinking
some extent outset to
becomes important prejudices as far
at the
of any study seek to
remind
own personal of these caveat,
and then
counterbalance writer,
the
as possible. that his
The present own prejudicial
remembering
confesses
entanglements
"In the age of crisis and at the end of the seventeenth century forces were set in motion which beginning of the eighteenth century, This in the triumph in theology. to result destined of subjectivism were in the name of reason, was an age which laid claim to the whole of reality did not include the Last Judgment. The methods but historical reality led to the rejection Since the modern world is of eschatology. employed the problem of whether the Last this patterned much after outlook, still in the Judgment is essential for New Testament theology as proclaimed is whether The basic question Protestant in acute form. churches is raised be allowed to control shall and secularistic rationalistic principles the Church so that the New Testament eschatology biblical exegesis within The entire is rejected upon on the basis of these principles. outlook 1. the
to both, which forms such an man and the world, and God's relation part of the idea of the bast Judgment and indeed of the essential Christian substance itself, were in the late seventeenth century and throughout the eighteenth century formulated with such boldness and completeness that without a frontal attack upon the Last Judgment, it rendered inoperative and quite superflous. " was, nevertheless,James P. Martin, The Last Judgment (Grand rapids, 1963), 87.
14.
are legion. This issueopposed positions
is best illustratedthat some scholars "the almost the Olivet
by displayinghave held
the diametricallythe value of The following facts.
regarding or sections in
what has been called extreme, estimates one could suggest
discourse",
thereof. some of the
say emotional, of a factor
statements or factors
presence
other
than
the
If
several
people survey the same scene or object characteristics, the fault probably
and report
it
as posswith
essing opposite that
does not lie
which is beheld.D. Strauss: Such a thing as He has here prophesied of Himself If He prophesied the like of Himself cannot happen to a man. and if He uttered it of expected its then to us He is a fanatic; then He was a braggart Himself any real conviction, and without l a deceiver. C. H. Weisse (re: Mark 13: 24-27): of the most narrow and superstitious book (Daniel) fantastic of a which to a renowned old prophet, and out 2 insane imagination. Timothy Colani: It contains the Jesus could not have shared their out an utterance constructed in the symbolic belief sayings. ignorance or deceit attributed halfof the most extravagant,
eschatology ' opinions. that
of Jewish
Christians.
Wellhausefis It can safely be asserted to His disciples speak beforehand of His 4 He certainly did not of His parousia.
if
Jesus
suffering
not once and resurrection,
did
Jew
D. Strauss, Das Leben ffr das deutsche Volk bearbeitet "A Century of Eschatological cited by G. R. Beasley-Murray, ET, LXIV (1953), 313. 1. 2. Die evangelische Geschichte kritisch und
(1864),
236, Discussion",
(1838), 594-5; cited Discussion", 312.
by G. R. Beasley-Murray,
"A Century of Eschatological
Jesus-Christ 3. et les biy G. B. Beasley-Murray, LXIV (1953), 346.
de son Temps (1864), crovances messianigues cited "The Rise and Fall Apocalypse", ET, of the Little
4. Einleitung, 96, cited Discussion", 315.
by G. R. Beasley-Murray,
"A Century of Eschatological
15.
C. G. Montefiore: It has very slight 1 little value. or no religious
interest
for us today,
and
Francis A. Henry: So then: Jesus, whose Good Tidings told of the heavenly Father and forgiveness of sin, who called men to the higher in union with the of love and a new life righteousness Divine, whose religion was so inward and spiritual, so pure from alloy all earthly crowns all with an eschatology so gross and so Jesus can only repeat when he touches on grotesque! ... destiny mankind's rabbi had long been preaching what the vulgarest in the synagogue. ' Jesus, on the world was ever whose outlook ... dreams of his to these fantastic sane, calm, clear-eyed yields and solemnly predicts as close at hand a misguided people, series of preternatural events which have never come to startling 2 One who can believe that will believe anything. pass! T. Francis bringing the ... message that Glasson: fanatic of a mistaken picture 3 never die. millions now living will this
himself F. C. Grant: For any human being to identify with the Son and without of Enoch, taken literally of Man of the visions could suggest little else than an unsound mind -reinterpretation, not the supreme and unquestioned of the Man of sanity certainly 4 Galilee.
H8lscher: discourse.J.
Any specifically The whole derives
Christian element is lacking 5 from Daniel.a secondary ... 6 Church.
in the
A. T. Robinson (re: Mark 13: 24-27): the expectation of the early reflecting C. C. Torrey:
compilation
The great eschatological discourse of Jesus, which by the three Synoptics, is a marvellously perfect see reported we in its detail and its conciseness, solidly and composition by a writer The constructed who was worthy of His task. skilfully Second Gospel, with all its planned brevity, could not more condense
1. 2.
The Synoptic
Gospels
(London,
1927), 78,
I,
296. cited by B. W. Bacon, The Gospel
Jesus and the Christian Mark (New Haven, 1925), of His Appearing 3. (London, History The Gospel 4. Gospel.
Religion, 63n.
and His Kingdom, 1953), 3. Kingdom
The Christian
Hope in the
Light
of
its
of the
(Nev York,
1940),
63.
(Hereinafter
referred
to as
5. "Der Ursprung der Apokalypse Markus 13", ThBl, XII, 193-202, cited by (HereinJesus and the Future (London, 1954), 74. G. R. Beasley-Murray, to as Jesus. ) after referred6. Jesus and His Coming (London, 1957), 118-119.
16.
here than in the subsequent chapters. There was nothing in the 1 discourse that could be omitted, and it was adopted entire.D. Schenkel: Jesus made J. wie Schniewind: sie The most impressive and powerful utterance that
jedes einzelne Wort hat eine solche Prgung, ... "Jesus" her mdglich ist. nur von der Wirklichkeit .. .3 That Jesus
B. Vawter: his consistent
in view of actually made such a prophecy, teaching eschatological on the soonness of a divine of the decisiveon Jerusalem and Judea, his conviction visitation history, of salvation and his ness of his own role in the workings there is absolutely no reason of the temper of the times, reading His words are in the tradition to question. of Israel's prophecy (cf. Jer. 7: 1-15; Ezek. 24: 15-23) and have not been simply made up 4 in the light by Christian of later events. writers D. E. Nineham: Gospel he [Mark] out the infinite the ministry. climax to that whole part of the ... As such it brings for composing. was responsible the Evangelist saw in the events of significance the
Das 13 Kapitel hat im Mk-Evangelium Lambrecht: einen ganz Lebens Jesu and vor besonderen Platz; am Ende des b'ffentlichen Dieses Kapitel dem Beginn der Passion. mag eine geschlossene doch kann man nur schwer a priori bilden; Einheit unterstellen, Rede rein zufllig dass diese apokalyptische und ohne besondere Grnde und Absichten auf diesem an diese Stelle wurde. .. gesetzt 6 Hhepunkt des Evangeliums? It has long been recognized that the discourse Beasley-Murray: holds a significant place in the Gospel of Mark in that it forms to the teaching both a conclusion of Jesus and an ministry immediately to the passion narrative introduction afterwards. but the is not minimized, The horror of the betrayal and execution is changed. The cross for Jesus is the of the tragedy proportion he knows whither to glory; he goes, and the shadow--of pathway King. impending judgment falls their upon the people that reject This has been admitted by writers as different as Loisy and Dodd, Guignebert and Lightfoot.?
Documents of the 1. (Hereinafter referred 2. Das Charakterbild 13.
Primitive Church (New York to as Documents. ) Jesu (Wiesbaden, 1864),
and London,
1941),
13.
183P.,
cited
by Beasley-Murray,
Jesus, 3.
Das Evangelium nach Markus to as Markus. ) referred The Four Redaktion, Gospels 15.7. (Dublin,
(DNTD)(Gttingen,
1947),
168.
(Hereinafter
4. 6.
1967),
322.5.
Saint Jesus,
Mark, 216.
341.
17.
E. F. K. Millers Dann aber stehen wir wieder dieses christliche System, das eschatologische Einzelparallelen zur judischen Apokalyptik als Grundlage ausweist schliesslich originaler auf
vor der Frage, ob r ch+ sich trotz zahlreicher ein Neubau mit Jesus selbst...?
John Peter Lange: The eschatological speech of the Lord, the the New Testament exposition germ of John's Apocalypse; and form of the Old Testament ideas and symbols; the opposite and 2 Apocalypsism. corrective of all apocryphal We should have good right to wonder at the in Paul's eschatological conceptions which are found, for instance, Epistles to the Corinthians if they had not the and Thessalonians, Christian least historical foundation in just such sayings of our 3 Lord as we meet with in this discourse. These quotations contention the tions exegesis of the underlying are this significant discussion for their illustration of the namely, prior that J. J. Van Oosterzee:
of presuppositions, more by the passage study to
of Mark 13 has been determined exegetes this than perhaps any other the close lead in
assump4 in question suspicion
of Scripture. chapter and the
To pursue by a review that further
without
awareness
of the
of commentators effort
can only
frustration
must be fruitless diametrically-opposed is is abundant absent that
an area where conclusions.
so many great
minds have come to The evidence upon authorities poses as exegesis
the
Rabbinical
method
of
reliance
not
from modern research,
and much that used to be
must only at the
be eis-egesis. of his
McCown's statement volume, needs ever
by Beasley-Murray
beginning
Real-Encyclopdie 1. XXI, 264.
Fiir
Protestantische
Theologie
und Kirche,
3rd
ed.,
2. "The Gospel According to Mark", in Commentary on the Holy Scriptures 3. "The Gospel According to Luke", Charles C. Starbuck, ibid., 321.
trans. and ed. by Philip Schaff, (Grand Rapids, 41960), VIII, 138. trans. and ed. by Philip Schaff and
"Have scholars who deny all authenticity 4. Nineham, Saint Mark, 356n.: to the passage (13: 24-27) been influenced at all by the desire to dissociate Jesus from ideas and language strange to modern minds? "
18.
kept in mind. how penetratingthe writing
"No matter and critical
how original
a scholar's societyauthor
imagination,
no matter
his judgment,lives than the
does far more ofhimself. "1
of any book that
C. C. McCown, The Search for the Real Jesus, 18, cited by Beasley1. "Is Exegesis without Jesus, 1. See Bultmann's Presuppositions Murray, illustration XXI (1960), 194-200. And for a further Possible? ", Encounter Ssemann's exegesis the theme consider of Hebrews with the emphasis of influence so characteristic of Usemann's own great teacher. on gnostic
19.
1.
Definitions
of Eschatology
and Apocalyptic
Various thatworks
writersl
claim so much for apocalyptic but readingof the present in half Gerhard no satisfactory
and eschatology in modernterms.
definitions
are essential,because
on these topicsdiverse
can be confusing is
use of the
"'Eschatological' without "it yet is definition. necessary
used by scholars . . "2 Similarly,
a dozen senses,
often
von Rad says of apocalyptic: definition of it has
to 0
remember that
been achieved. In this study
"eschatology" things", "last
holds and the
its
traditional given is
meaning, that than
the
doctrine the term
of the applies
! last
emphasis
by which those purposes and germinant
to the
things"
of the world
rather
pertaining for this
to the earth are
individual. contemplated.
The consummation That this
of the
divine
had a "sprijing
accomplishment"but not here to
in the work of ChristExistential of the is gospel,
at His firsteschatologr, is not under
is recogn.isedp adventdecision-in-depth discussion. the sudden catastrophic all wrongs and to in
stressed. the call
response
"Apocalyptic" intervention of
commonly used to affairs of
signify to
God in the
earth
right
to the apocalyptic setting of the gospel is indispensable Jesus - God and Man, W. Pannenberg, of its essential understanding content. (E. T., London, 1968), 13,32,217. "I call the mother of apocalyptic " E. SLsemann, "On the Topic of Primitive Christian Christian theology. JThCh, VI, 133. "The pervasive influence Apocalyptic", of apocalyptic is a matter during this period variety on Judaism in all the multifaceted recent acknowledgment. " D. F. Freedman, "The Flowering of comparatively ibid., J. W. Bowman, The Religion 166-67. of Apocalyptic", of Maturity (Nashville, "To determine 1948), 235. towards the our Lord's attitude is one of the really of apocalyptic subject urgent tasks at the present " Bible scholars. time confronting 1. That the 2. 3. Neill, Interpretation, 195-96. Prophets (London, 1968), 271.
The Message of the
20.
terminate unfortunately of his less
history.
When Albert the term
Schweitzer "eschatology"
wrote for
his the
Quest he description and led to
selected 1
main thesis.
"Apocalyptic" for and not
may have been better, eschatological with events reference
confusion
thereafter,
whereas always to
has been to the cata-
diversely strophic,
interpreted, apocalyptic
when applied
ever has the
sense of
dramatic
intrusion
by suprahistorical
forces.discussions is used with
"Apocalyptic"
in most modern technical
referencespecial
to two differentkind of eschatology
phenomena:therein
a type of literature,2 As a literary
and thegenre
embodied.
"The Apocalyptic element in the teaching of Jesus is a very large the eschatological, At least element, of all that very small. one half is recorded is professedly along the lines of Apocalyptic, as the two on of Man', and 'the Kingdom of God' abundantly phrases, show; and the strictly teaching, ethical of which is at once a correction debased ideals and the formulating of the moral law of the Kingdom, is permeated with the thoughts and phrases with which current Apocalyptic had made the minds of the people so familiar", F. W. Worsley, The Apocalypse of Jesus (London, 1912), 24-25. 1. Thus Dodd can refer to "the Apocalyptic Discourse"-of Mark 13, and yet literary forin is not that of an apocalypse. point out that "its ." .. More New Testament Studies, 70,69. "The apocalyptic Cf. Ladd: type found expression in literary forms which were not apocof eschatology " Jesus in character. 79. See also H. H. Rowley, The Relevance alyptic (London, 31963), (Hereinafter Apocalyptic 23. to as of referred Relevance. ) See also W. Bousset, The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopaedia, I, 209-210; E. Lohmeyer, EGG (2d ed. ), I, col. 402-404; Ladd, "ApocBaker's Dictionary Theology (London, 1960), 52. In his alyptic", of Jesus and the Kingdom, Ladd says: "Most discussions of 'apocalyptic' to point fail two different out that the word is used to describe historical kind phenomena: a genre of literature, and the particular " 73. literature. Hans Dieter Betz of eschatology embodied in this "a religio-historical urges that clarification of the concept and nature has recently been demanded on several G. Ebeling of apocalypticism sides. it in his discussion has requested G. von Rad of KUsemann's thesis. 'This, however, seems to be clear: concludes, our concept of ... apocalypticism urgently needs a critical revision since its sweeping of a literary use as a definition as well as a theological phenomenon has become a problem. '" "On the Problem of the Religio-Historical UnderJThCh, VI (1969), 135. of Apocalypticism", See also ibid., standing 52. 2.
21.
apocalyptic nevertheless, Joel 2-3,
separates
from prophetic
literature
in several Isa.
respects, 24-27, but not
but
no sharp break exists
between the two-' aspects
Zech. 9-14 embody certain
of apocalyptic,
others. Apocalyptic is revelatory literature has the sense. following characteristics. dreams, visions, of the 2 or future, (1) It
in a special the
By means of is given
heavenly
journeys,
apocalyptist
knowledge
and other matters(2) Usually, the form, a typical
not normallyvisions that
accessible
to human knowledge.in apocalyptic not but real. not are (3) a Pseudo-
or dreams described is, they are fictitious,
mere literary nymity is
characteristic
of apocalyptic,
necessarily
of biblical
apocalyptic. out, Daniel is not akin to most apocalypses at
As Ladd points
this
point.
Apart from the stories
of the book itself,
he is not known as
in the Old Testament,applying of the hardly prophecy but to last the Jewish
unless Eze. 14: 14,20;hero of the exile. still
28: 3 are interpretedSimilarly, the
authorship and can Pseudopast,
New Testament support stamps facts poses
book is
a matter
of dispute, (4) the
be used to usually
or deny this apocalyptic.
characteristic. Not only
names from guise
historical
are borrowed in the to the
to be used in the distant past, present,
of prophecy. is time it re-
The writer written
as living period
and history at which
from
that
actual
becomes vague, except for (5)
its
portrayal
of the imminent kingdom of God. characteristicand animals,
The use of symbolism is a furtherreference to visions.
implied
by theby
previous
The metals
employed
1.
Ladd,
Jesus,
75.
D. S. Russell, The Method and Message of Jewish See Ladd, Jesus 75f; 2. (London, 1964), 104-140. (Hereinafter Apocalyptic to as Apocalyptic. referred
)
22.
the
writer
of Daniel
to
represent
empires,
is
the
classic
example.
When we turn literaturefollowing the to present come.
our attention
from the characteristics eschatology
of apocalyptic 1 the
to those of the apocalypticmust be included. age of suffering The future glory is (1)
found therein,which the for
That kind
of dualism with
contrasts age
and incompleteness promised
perfect all
as vindication
who now
are unjustly future
ravaged.
(2)
A nonprophetic
concept of history.
The
is relatedsleep
to the presentwill "awake"
only by way of contrast.with dramatic the suddenness
The God whoto turn is the
now seems to tide of
earthly point.
existence. It stands
Once more, nearer to
book of Daniel with
atypical
at this
the prophets,
considerable
affinitybetween
to Wisdom literature,apocalyptic and prophetic
and thus indicatesliterature is
thatnot
a sharp divisionpossible.
always
(3)
Pessimism and determinism. course to a predetermined(4) restricted
This age Frith its end. Ethical
cast of evil oftenusually
must growscosmic 2
run itsfrom in
passivityis
such a viewpoint. rather than
Apocalyptic to Israel
eschatology
scope,
or neighbouring
powers.
should be stressed literary where the special 1. 2.
It
that apocalyptic form is absent.
eschatology
may exist
even
"The apocalyptic Ladd summarizes: eschatology can be understood as development is a historical of the prophetic eschatology as the latter the background interpreted against of the historical evils of the postBoth prophetic Maccabean times. eschatology can conceive and apocalyptic of the Kingdom only by an inbreaking of God; both of the establishment
In both, the Kingdom will be a new and transcatastrophic. are essentially The apocalyptic formed order, redeemed from all corruption and evil. dualism results from a sharpening of concepts found in the prophets.has lost the dynamic concept of God apocalyptic eschatology in history. The apocalyptists, to active who is redemptively contrary despaired feeling that it was completely the prophets, dominof history, Hope was reposed only in the future. The harsh experiences ated by evil. B. C. left the apocalyptists of the last two centuries pessimistic of any in history. God would visit his people to deliver divine them visitation " Jesus, 97. from evil only at the end of history. "However,
23.
G. E. Ladd,
D. S. Russell,
and H. H. Rowley are
agreed
on the main
characteristicsthrough type his
of apocalyptic,own recognition and a kind
except thatdistinction
Rowley does not always carrybetween apocalyptic as a
of the of
of literature
eschatology.
Is Mark 13 an Apocalypse? Unfortunately C. C. Torrey did, few commentators and with some acidity query the term "apocalypse".
wrote
as follows:
N. P. Williams, in Oxford Studies in the Synoptic Problem, "I cannot feel that the theory which sees in p. 416, concludes: Mk. xiii Apocalypse. a Jewish or Jewish Christian rests upon .. " He adds, however: "It cannot of course any sure foundations. be denied that Mark xiii is thoroughly in tone and apocalyptic the conventional colour, reproducing signs of the end which were " literature. commonplaces of the current eschatological last quotation of termingives the key to current error in its assumption that "eschatological" ology, and "apocalyptic" The distinct. synonymous terms, whereas in fact they are quite confusion of the two in the present misleading case is especially and mischievous. The term "apocalypse" has long been employed to designate a The definite type of literature, late Jewish or early Christian. class possess certain of this writings which are characteristics distinct to justify the classification. The Greek sufficiently " disclosure, word meaning "revelation, unveiling, , _crroic&Aubic in itself is and the like, vague and capable of a great variety of the literary term, on the contrary, has its own restricted use; from the outstanding in features sense, derived uniformly present the typical literature. The "apocalypse" examples of this peculiar is a direct truth hitherto revelation of divine unknown, or of future events or conditions not capable of merely human prediction, disclosed by God to some one of his favored This servants. is given in the form of a vision unveiling of secrets or a dream; it could not be given in any other way. The recipient, in his condition, ecstatic may hear the voice of the Most High himself, the disclosure but far oftener is made as in 2 Esdras, chap. 14; through the instrumentality By the scene itself, of angels. or by some strange there is created accessories, an atmosphere of No apocalypse, Jewish or Christian, mystery and of the unseen world. 1 is without these features. This
are
Torrey further
affirms
that
when a-writer
proceeds to foretell
the
1.
Torrey,
Documents,
14-15.
24.
future,
particularly
naming the
signs
which
are to mark the specially
end of this not, if the
age he does not "signs" for the given study are
become an apocalyptiat "an old story". 24-2? ' , This
thereby; remark
has particular of all the
relevance chapter,
of verses
of Mark 13 which,
seems closest
to apocalyptic.
The applicationvv. 5-27) by a large
of the term "apocalypse"number of commentators
to Mark 13 (particularlyeither that
may suggest
exegesisfuzziness thought, latitude,
of thisand the or that
chaptertendency the term
has long been characterizedto parrot "apocalypse" preceding is being writers
by a considerablewithout independent
used with
considerable eschatology. and apocprophecy of apocalyptic
and in the Closely
sense of literature with the matter relationship
containing of defining existing
apocalyptic eschatology between
connected question
alyptic
is
the
of the
and apocalyptic.
What has been said
of the
characteristics
is here pertinent.the is two types
We ought not to set forth-prophetic
a complete contrast
between
of eschatology frequently presentation a minus the quality
and apocalyptic. of elements
Apocalyptic already present differprophecy
a development,
an exaggeration, of the rather future. than
in the prophetic ence is teaches rather often that than
The characteristic a plus. Old Testament in by divine 2 and it
Kingdom the
of God will natural
be ushered
intervention is this
through
processes
of history,
Torrey sees verse 14a as apocalyptic, 1. Ladd affirms: "The Olivet On this topic
but also Discourse
insertion. as a later is not apocalyptic
it lays no claim to heavenly makes no use of pseudonymity; in the guise of prophor visions; revelations nor does it rewrite history It pictures Jesus taking his stand among his contemporaries and ecy. It is distinctly speaking to them about the future as the prophets did. in form. " Jesus, 312. rather than apocalyptic prophetic 2. Isa. 24-27; Amos 5: 18-20; 8: 7-9; 7: 4.
in form.
It
25.
viewpoint
which
is
indispensable
to apocalyptic
eschatology.
Jesus
shared thisapocalyptic
outlook,elements
unless we assume with Vincenthave been inserted church. ' Nevertheless, history, into Christ's Christ
Taylor
et al.
thatby an of apocto the
teachings not partake closer
apocalyptic-minded alyptic prophets. 2. The Origin pessimism
did
regarding
and herein
He stood
of the
"Olivet
Discourse".
a.
Place of Apocalypticof a century To start of
in the teachingsexegesis with, the
of Christpendulum and
A review tendency
on Mark 13 shows the prim Victorian
operating.
era in Eagland,
the Continentview apocalyptic
with
its
optimisticwith
sisteranything
Weltanschauung,other than
could noteyebrows.
eschatology affirmed:
raised
An age which
boldly
God's in His heaven, And all's right with the worldcould see little meaning in apocalyptic Jesus nightmares. his Then came Albert understanding The result of the was Christ
Schweitzer Sitz
interpreting of Palestine
in harmony with first century.
imLeben
in the
as an apocalypticworld. later it
deluded figure,did not
obsessed with
the imminent end of thepoint. Thirty years
The pendulum was being
cease to move at this contended that the idea
strongly
of a parousia
preceded by signs had been wrongly an apocalyptically-minded church,
distilled contrary
from Christ's to Christ's
teachings
by
personal
beliefs.
1.the
Vincent
Taylor
suggests that
the "apocalyptic
(644) speaks of the "glittering Jesus Mark 516). The same writer mind of C, J, Christ. robe" needing to be detached from the shoulders apocalyptic of Cadoux, F. C. Grant, A. T. Olmstead, Leroy Waterman, J. W. Bowman and others contend that the apocalyptic elements of the gospels are either See section of apostolic misunderstanding. mere imagery or the result 2a. following.
outlook"
is foreign
to
26.
The Eschaton had already Thus the viewpointand moderns the theological to the
come in Christ,
and that
' was that. likethe
changed as personalitieseach to
Harnack, Schweitzer,other and dominated Thus the
such as C. H. Dodd gave place scene, at least "did in certain hold
geographical apocalyptic
areas. views? " "No",
in answer answer "Yes",
question: (Harneck); 2 ...
Jesus "Yes",
comes "No", (Bultmann);
(Schweitzer); according
(Dodd); answers
and so on,
to which
scholar
the question. be clothed,chameleon. not the least
The Spirit
of the Age is at fault, particularfor
and if
spirits
could asand
the dress of thisMore ways than persuasive for the is
one would best be describedeviscerating that Christ's and it apocalyptic, mythological is His 3
one exist the
suggestion
expectations existential
future
are merely
incidental,
timeless
demand that
should
be recognized
and proclaimed.
We need remindingThe cake refused to
still
thatpresent
we cannot have the same thingwith us, though eaten.
both ways.
remain
Thus while
H. B. Sharman, Son of Man and 1. For example, F. C. Grant, Gospel; Kingdom of God (London, 1943); A. T. Olmstead, Jesus in the Light of (New York, 1942); History T. W. Manson, The and to a lesser extent, 1945), 260-263. Teaching of Jesus (Cambridge, "We need only remember that eschatological Bultmann says: 2. expectation is not necessarily in itself to repentance associated with the call and of the will with the preaching of God. It can be combined just as well fantasies of future with economic ideals with wishful glory, and hopes, Jewish apocalyptic of revenge and pictures of hell. with thoughts as of eschatology elsewhere offers well as the history abundant proof of It still this. needs to be explained why such ideas are not found with Jesus and why, on the contrary, with him the demand for obedience goes hand in hand wiyh the proclaiming of the future age. " Jesus and the Word, (E. T., London, 1958), 93-94. But this comment is not to be understood that Jesus was an apocalyptic opinion as denying Bultmann's prophet. Elsewhere he acknowledges Christ's terminology, but insists use of apocalyptic that for us its meaning is existential. See his Theology of the New (2 vole;, E. T., London, 1951), I, 23. Testament as Streeter reminds us, "Jewish Apocalyptic, Synoptic thing", Problem, modern eyes, was no ignoble 3. Yet, albeit 434. bizarre to
27.
some would insist us that authenticemporaries. Gospels if
that
Christ
cherished
apocalyptic
concepts by reminding assure us that His contthe
He must have been a child logia are recognizable
of His time, only if
others
dissimilarwith the that
to those of hisfacts will presented be accurate We are of the reminded in
We shall we wish to
have to be content arrive
at a conclusion
still of soon be
When cosmologies Dean Inge's saying
and Weltanschauungen that "he who marries
change again. the Spirit
Age will
a widower. 111 Attitudes but this
to eschatology us either.the words
have had some revision
since 19452
should not influenceus that
Plummer reminds as good a claim to
ascribed elsewhere
to Jesus in the
in Mark 13 have Gospels which
authenticity
as those
are accepted by most.Secondly, Testament concepts foreign it
3be recognised acceptance There is that Christ's attitude to the Old
should His
presupposes reflected to
of the prophetic nothing
and apocalyptic would seem
there.
in Mark 13 that well. scattered of the
one who knew the the Gospels ideas
Old Testament
Thirdly, the Synoptic
present
in Mask 13 are also other than the records
throughout Olivet discourse.
in places
Any criticism
which seeks to eradicate
all
these is questionable.
4
See
1. 2.
See also J.
C. S. Lewis,
;
Transposition End
and Other
Addresses 19-21.
(London,
1949),
51.
A. T. Robinson,
In the
God (London,
21968),
3.4.
A. Plummer, St Matthew (London, 1909),A. B. Bruce in his discussion
328.
"At this point the of Mark 13 says: to the evangelist, was one of the subjects which, according Qia 1Tocpou becomes the theme of discourse. information, desired the disciples on which to wish is so perplexing What is said thereon as to tempt a modern expositor to critical to elimit had not been there, or to have recourse expedients But nothing it from the text. inate would be gained by that unless we got to the same time, of other sayings of kindred character ascribed at rid, And there seems to be no reason to doubt that some Jesus in the Gospels.
28.
Luke 11: 49-51; Mt. 7: 22;
13: 23,27,35;
17: 23-37;
18: 8;
19: 15,43;
20: 16;
10: 23; 19: 28; 21: 44;
22: 7; 25: 31; 26: 64; 1k. 14: 25,62;
9: 1; 8: 38; 12: 24f.Possibly Sanday, five the main scandal years after the of apocalyptic is that referred book. to by
appearance
of Schweitzer's
The great point about Apocalyptic, and the great value of its to us at the present day, is that it postulates recognition throughout a real manifestation of God upon earth, and not merely a teacher more eminent than the rest .1 Sanday also apocalyptic Gospels commented: is, that that it "another is is true, really great point about. the it insistence finds read into upon in the them
by which there,
I mean that merely
something
and not
from the outside. "2 Sanday, of course, form-criticism essence his made such comments without now offer. Taking intoleft are the or the with result influence
the insights Nevertheless,
that in
and redaction-criticism remarks remain relevant.we are Gospel still
account form-criticismthe choice between influence teachings of of
and redaction-criticism, believing the church that the
accounts teachings
of the
upon Christ's
of the
discourse, such utterance would form a part of the eschatological even if the disciples did not ask instruction The revelation on the subject. led up to it, as to the last days of Israel naturally and the best clue to the meaning of the Parusia-lotion to may be to regard it as a-pendant " "The Synoptic that revelation. Gospels", in The Expositor's Greek Test(4 vols., London, 1897), I, 294. We ment, ed. W. Robertson Nicoll should also keep in mind that the essential content of Nk. 13 is present ". the material in Jn. 14-17. even in the fourth gospel. provides . . .. ", Lloyd Gaston, No Stone on to every verse in Mark 13. parallels . . Another - Studies in the Significance in the of the Fall of Jerusalem (Leiden, Gospels, Supplement to Novum Testamentum XXIII Synoptic 19'0), (Hereinafter 60. to as No Stone on Another. ) referred
1. "The Apocalyptic (1911-1912), 84.2. Ibid.
Element in the Gospels",
The Hibbert
Journal,
X
29"
Christ former.
upon the early
church.
The latter
seems at least
as likely
as the
Otto Piper has suggested itcommunity. is inevitably is rarely
is high time thatconcepts and rarely
we did away withusually arise
the myth of a creative in ". the this .. way. creative Genius
Epochal lonely
do not
corporate. "l Nevertheless, themes which is not
thinking
done by committees.
New Testament
presentation like.
of the Parousia There are
and kindred
as clear-cut
as some would
difficulties
need to
be acknowledged.and T. F. used the Glasson
Some scholarshave suggested
such as C. K. Barrett,that the it is unlikely
J. A. T. Robinson,that Jesus ever as
word Parousia,
or uttered
equivalent
of such expressions
"coming again".(2) and speaks were, His
Furthermore,as the
though Jesus foretoldis
(1) His resurrectionin which the He
advent
Son of Man, there
no saying
of both for Him,
together. the one.
Thus some have asked whether Streeter pointed out that
two events and Matthew
Q, Mark,
provide
an ascendingsayings. 2
scale
in their
tendency to intensifyinject his own second
Christ'sadvent belief
apocalyptic i+bere it
Did Matthew present?
was not While
originally
a good case can be made for wide to spectrum of evidence view.
the from
foregoing, the Gospels
the
evidence
earlier
given
of the
cannot to His confidently
be denied resurrect-
or accommodated ion or return
some other
Christ's
references his
represent
alternate
ways of denoting
expected vindication.
Very few scholars
indeed would question
such clear
1. 2.
C. H. Dodd, According Synoptic Problem,
to the Scriptures
(London, 1952),
109.
425-436.
30.
statements
as Luke 17: 26-30; Matthew 25: 31-45, it is the clearthe
or Mark 13: 32. thatis
Secondly,Christians that fact
evidence of historyof Christ. it, than to It
the earlyto fact explain away. 1
anticipated on the basis that
Parousia for
easier the
claimed if It
explain coming if
We must acknowledge aid not leave it for His Parousia.
Christ would
spoke
of His
death,
He probably death
there. the
be incredible said
Christ about and His
knew His His
was necessary Parousia. and implies of the His
kingdom, implied
and yet His
nothing
resurrection
death
resurrection, of thought all
resurrection one
This
sequence
makes comprehensible four Gospels stand in
key claims
by Christ made
on which
complete agreement:b. The "Little
that
2 He was the Son of Man, the Judge and Saviour.
Apocalypse" consideration of the diverse attitudes taken by
The preceding
exegetes to the eschatologicalGospels may suggest criticism" the chief
and apocalypticreason that for that
concepts found in the"sententia its recepta heart a of
of synoptic
(Aioffatt)3
Mark 13 has at
The Christian See J. E. Fison, Hope (London, 1954), 145-195. Even 1. "The Streeter, the "extreme eschatological arguing against says: school" however, must not be pushed to the length eliminating of entirely argument, it the apocalyptic teaching element from the authentic of our Lord. ... is too great a paradox- , to maintain in the belief that what was so central in germ, in what the Master of the primitive church was not present, at least Problem, taught. " Synoptic 433.
Bruce Vawter rightly in the sense that yptist 2.
"Jesus could not be called an apocalreminds us: just as apocalyptic dominated all his thinking,
he could not be called But a legalist merely because he upheld the Law. had a part in his teaching apocalyptic even as did historical and realized It is part of the religion Remove it, eschatology. of Christianity. New Testament concepts of prophetic and the vital witness and sacrifice Apocalyptic that this world is under are removed along with it. affirms judgment. Remove it, and the city of man becomes the city of God by its wishing is reduced to a so, while the transforming word of Christ asocial The Four Gospels (Dublin, 1967), 325. While other forms gospel's". literature that the world is under judgment, it is the affirm of biblical divine intervention of catastrophic which gives pungency to prospect
31.
borrowed Jewish apocalypse is a matter of historical
rather fact that
than authentic the hypothesis rather
logia
of Christ.
It
originated than exegesis.Work, he did
and gained 'Christ
ready acceptance as a resultWhen Timothy et les croyances Colani
of prejudicehis
wrote
most influential
Jesus so with
messianigues
de son Temps (1864),
obvious apologeticarticles published
intent.over
Previouslya two year
he had writtencriticizing
a seriesthe work
ofof Colani from with Jewish
period,
Renan who had pictured laboured the to eradicate of Christ.
Christ all
as a puritanical
apocalypticist. and eschatology indoctrinated
evidences
of messianism already
teachings
The disciples,
eschatology, itreal
were the real
culprits,
Colani pointed
out.
As for Mark 13,
was obvious thatanswer to the
verses5-31question
were an interpolationdisciples regarding
inasmuch as thethe temple was
of the
found in v. 32.
Of course,
"If
any and every passage which can be excised an obviousthere is
from a document withoutbe pronounced But, the
leaving
gap is therefore
liable
to. .! is i1 less
an interpolation,
an end of sane criticism. Apocalypse the last stage hypothesis
as Beasley-Murray product
has shown, criticism
"The Little than
of an impartial
of a developing
emotionaltheless,
reactionbecause
to a theologicalColani's theory
problem posed by agnostics.offered a welcome option it for
i2those
Never-
embarrassed
by the
apocalyptic
eschatology
of Mark 13,
found
a ready,
even non-critical,
acceptance.
F. W. Beare spoke for-many
when he said
warnings3. optic
which otherwise
could be easilytheory
shrugged away."one of the curiosa of syn-
But Torrey criticisms
to call the prefers Documents, 13.
1. 2.
Ibid.,
16. of the Little Apocalypse Theory, " 346.
"The Rise and Fall
32.
that
the controversial
chapter literature
"consists
of conventional
commonplaces of to
of Jewish apocalypticthe mind of Jesus* I" Although A. Plummer, J. Schmid,
which can certainly
not be ascribed
such scholars
as F. J. A. Sort,
J.
Weiss,
G. Milligan, E. Lohmeyer, have Stephen in German
S. R. Driver, L. Hartman, the "fly-leaf" enough to
C. H. Dodd, E. Haenchen, Vincent Taylor,
G. W. S{Linel,
and G. R. Beasley-Murray untenable, it curious lingers features on.
pronounced Neill is
hypothesis say that
bold
"one of the
theologybegan its north
is thathaunting
no ghost is ever laid. "2in France, adopted the
While this
particular
"ghost"to the thereby to
more theologically-minded with the
country conferring the latest
soon became its
home, coincident Rudolph of
of an ideological rally this particular
immortality. wraith
Pesch3 is
perhaps
Gospel-criticism.
Lars Hartman, in his study of Mark 13p views the "fly-leaf"as an anachronism, years have either 4 and a large number of major it. treatment theory. 5 commentaries in
theoryrecent
questioned which
or rejected contains the "Little
The only subject, Murray
volume
an exhaustive Apocalypse" of note which
of the Beasley-
pronounces set himself
against to read
everything a century.
had been written every subsequent
on Mark 13 for
approximately
Practically
treatment studies
of Mark 13 alludes such treatments,
to the work of Beasley-hirray, is forced
but as one the
the conclusion
upon one that
1.
The Earliest
Records
of Jesus
(Oxford,
1962),
216.
2.3. 4.
Interpretation,Naherwartungen, Prophecy, 207n.
58.225. 5. Beasley Murray, Jesus.
33.
authors Suhlt
who cite refers
Beasley-Murray
have not always read him closely. but his comments on the "kleine (though a cautiousclosely, writing
to Beasley Afurray
jdischeindicate still after
Apocalypse"that
and his use of H8lscherhas not Dr.
one)he
he either disagrees.
read Beasley-Murray Nikolaus H8lscher suggests Walter, repeatedly one thirty
or that
basically
thirteen to
years the than in retain
Beasley-Murray, about does. ten It Future is
mentions times,
and refers years
"fly-leaf" H81scher Jesus
2 but
later read
difficult the analysis
to understand of H81scher's
how one could article,
and the
and yet
any confidence
in H8lscher'sthe
position.situation found is similar recent to that on the Continent,
Here in England, if the conflicting 3
statements
in the
Peake can be considered
typical.
1.2.
Suhl,
Alttestamentlichen
Zitate,
3n., 19.Apokalypse", ZNW, LVII (1966), 43-45.
"Tempelzerst8rung
und synoptische
Matthew Black, the Olivet discourse The editor, 3. authentic, considers "Since 1864 it has been generally but note: agreed that the discourse, to Jesus in this Gospel, is composite, the longest and the attributed has been widely that it is based on a 'little theory apocalypse' (see Beasley-Murray, (1954); Jesus and the Future also accepted 853ff. ); IB, vii, but Turner justly 498f., Grant, Taylor, remarks 'It is quite impossible that the anticipation to believe of the triumphant Christian could have had such firm hold on, the first of Christ return if it had not had deep roots in our Lord's own teaching'. generation,
More recently Taylor (636f. ) has urged on the basis of a detailed that 'the Evangelist has combined several groups of sayings, analysis elements, and has not simply edited a of which contained apocalyptic (but cf. Beasley-Murray, 106ff. ). " Jewish-Christian apocalypse'
some
(London, 1962), "Mark", Peake's Commentary on the Bible R. McL. Wilson, (section "That Jesus at this point delivered 709a). an apocalyptic is entirely but it should perhaps be noted, discourse credible. . .. that composition of the discourse as a whole by with Beasley-Murray, the authenticity Mark does not preclude of the sayings of which it is "It is impossible, " Ibid., 814, (section 709g). however to composed. take this for our Lord's and its parallels as the criterion chapter To begin with, topic. teaching probably on this most scholars would 'Little it a sententia Apocalypse' is a product accepts that this rate
813,
34.
Regarding Beasley-Nurray's
work one may say, in considering by scholarship, that his
its
reviews and the subsequent use made of it