Abstract

MACGREGOR, Kirk Robert. The ending of the pre-Markan passion narrative. Scriptura [online]. 2018, vol.117, pp.1-11. ISSN 2305-445X.  https://doi.org/10.7833/117-1-1352.

This article argues that the pre-Markan passion narrative ended with a starkly unadorned account of the empty tomb, an account which raises as many questions about Jesus's fate as it does answers. Employing tradition and redaction criticism, I reveal that the pre-Markan empty tomb account contained no mention of an angel, Jesus's resurrection, or Galilean appearances. Rather, it straightforwardly described the women's coming to the tomb, finding the tomb empty, and fleeing from the tomb in terror and silence. The logic of the pre-Markan ending discloses that the women fled because they naturally assumed grave robbery and feared being implicated in this capital crime. Throughout this article, I interact with the views of Sakkie Spangenberg, Hansie Wolmarans, Andries van Aarde and Julian Müller, four prominent South African scholars who have commented on the empty tomb narrative.

Keywords : Pre-Markan Passion Narrative; Empty Tomb; Tradition Criticism; Redaction Criticism.

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