The Gospel of the Son of God: Psalm 2 and Mark’s Narrative Christology

James M. Neumann argues that Mark presents Jesus as the actualization of Psalm 2: a coronation hymn describing the Davidic king as Gods "son," which was interpreted messianically in early Judaism and christologically in early Christianity. He demonstrates how Jesus begins to realize the implications of his anointment through his disestablishment of Satan's kingdom and traces the use of the psalm throughout the Markan passion narrative, contending that the hope envisaged by the psalm has been realized through Jesus' crucifixion.

Format: Unspecified
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 16 November 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

James M. Neumann suggests that there is a deeper significance to Mark's portrayal of Jesus as the Son of God, and what it implies for Mark to depict him in this way, than what previous scholarship has acknowledged. He argues that Mark presents Jesus' life from beginning to end as the fulfillment of Psalm 2: a coronation hymn that describes the Davidic king as God's "son," which was interpreted messianically in early Judaism and christologically in early Christianity. The designation of Jesus as God's "Son" in Mark goes beyond a mere title and encompasses a rich narrative of its own.

To explore why this most significant identity of Jesus in the Gospel has been under-studied, Neumann traces the interpretive traditions surrounding Psalm 2 in early Judaism and Christianity. He highlights Mark's initial introduction of Jesus as God's Son through an allusion to Psalm 2:7 and portrays his baptism as a royal anointing. By demonstrating how Jesus begins to understand the implications of his anointment through his dismantling of Satan's kingdom, Neumann illustrates how Jesus realizes the fulfillment of the hope envisioned by the psalm.

Neumann further emphasizes the repetition of the allusion to Psalm 2:7 at Jesus' transfiguration and explores how the Parable of the Vineyard uniquely encapsulates the Gospel as a whole. He traces the use of the psalm throughout the Markan passion narrative, contending that in Mark's vision, the hope envisaged by the psalm has been realized: the Son begins to inherit (the worship of) the nations.

In conclusion, Neumann's study offers a fresh perspective on Mark's portrayal of Jesus as the Son of God. He demonstrates how Mark presents Jesus' life as the actualization of Psalm 2, portraying him as the coronation hymn that describes the Davidic king as God's "son." Neumann's analysis highlights the significance of the designation of Jesus as God's "Son" and its rich narrative implications. By tracing the interpretive traditions surrounding Psalm 2 and exploring how it is used throughout the Markan passion narrative, Neumann demonstrates how Mark paradoxically portrays the accomplishment of the Messiah's victory through Jesus' crucifixion. This study contributes to our understanding of Mark's Gospel and its place within the broader context of early Christian literature.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780567711489