I've been re-reading Dale Allison's book, The End of the Ages Has Come: An Early Interpretation of the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus (Philadelphia: Fortress: 1985). This book is full of insights.
One thing Allison points out is the similarity between Mark 13:5-13 and John 15:18-16:11. Mark 13 is describing eschatological suffering; John 15-16 is discussing the future of the Church. Allison argues that John uses eschatological language to describe the Church's future. This is how he lays out the parallels:
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Mark 13:13: "You will be hated by all for my name's sake"
John 15:19: "I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you"
Mark 13:9: "They will deliver you up to councils; and you will be beaten in synagogues; and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake"
John 15:20-21: "They will persecute you... on my account"
Mark 13:11: "Do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say; but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak but the Holy Spirit"
John 15:26-27; 16:7: Jesus will send the Spirit of truth and he will witness concerning Jesus
Mark 13:9-10: The persecution of Christians is a testimony (martyrion) and the gospel must first be preached to all the peoples
John 15:27: "You also are [my] witnesses (maptyreite)"
Mark 13:5, 23: "Take heed that no one leads you astray... I have told you all things beforehand"
John 16:1: "I have said all this to you to keep you from falling away"
Mark 13:9: "You will be beaten in synagogues"
John 16:2: "They will put you out of the synagogues"
Mark 13:12: "Brother will hand brother to death, and father son, and children will rise against parents and kill them" (trans. by Allison)
John 16:2: "Whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God"
2 comments:
This book has been one of the defining ones for my own thoughts on early Christianity. Good to see you reading it, Michael.
Hi Michael,
I am a big fan of Dale Allison's books. "Jesus, Millenarian Prophet" is another great title by Allison.
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