Fortress Press

"This book is an important introduction to Gospel studies in the twentieth century, especially the Gospel of Mark, with a spotlight on international Markan scholarship. In the last century scholars moved from a concentrated interest in the historical Jesus to form criticism with its search for chronological textual layers; to redaction criticism which features the theological predilections of the authors; to rhetorical and narrative criticism in which the rhetorical power of discourses in the Gospel is at stake. The main contribution of this work is the analysis of four of these segments viewed from the perspective of ancient rhetoric. An excellent short history of ancient rhetoric may be found in an appendix.  I highly recommend this book to those who wish an especially helpful introduction to contemporary Markan studies along with a modus operandi for criticism based upon the dictates of ancient rhetoric."

"Of the rhetorical analysis of Mark's Gospel, I know of no finer work than that of David Young's on that earliest of Christian biographies of Jesus. This analysis is both clear and compelling, and shows that a rhetorical analysis of Mark's chreiae and other aspects of his Gospel are not merely useful but necessary to fully understand Mark's portrait of Jesus. Highly recommended."

"Young and Strickland have provided a wonderful gift for both experts and novices in ancient rhetoric. Experts will appreciate the fresh and compelling reading of the four largest discourses in Mark in light of Greco-Roman rhetorical conventions. Non-experts will discover an accessible introduction to rhetorical criticism of the New Testament as well as explanations for aspects of Mark's discourses that seem foreign to modern readers. Both will be reminded that the writer of Mark was not a simple collector or editor of traditions about Jesus but rather a skilled writer who was obviously persuasive to the first-century audience."

"Having made a case for the pervasiveness of rhetorical skills and awareness throughout the 1st century Mediterranean population, Young and Strickland then ably apply the insights of rhetorical criticism to Mark’s Gospel. As they do so they demonstrate that the Second Evangelist was hardly an inept gatherer of traditional materials as historical critics have usually claimed. Rather, their rhetorical analysis shows that this gospel writer created a careful, thoughtful, and rhetorically persuasive presentation of the one she or he called Jesus the Christ the Son of God."