The pericope of the Syrophoenician woman (Mk 7:24-31) marks the breakthrough point of the Gentile mission in Mark’s Gospel. Whenever I read or heard this story, I was struck by the harshness of Jesus' reaction towards this woman. I could not understand how he who had said: "Give to him who begs from you, and do not refuse him who would borrow from you" could so harshly reject the woman's re-quest. This is the reason why I wanted to write my research paper about this pericope. I wanted to find out more about it than I had heard so far, for what I had heard had never fully satisfied me.
In this paper, I will show that with the story of the Syrophoenician woman, Mark actually built a trap for the hearers of his Gospel, because Jesus' reaction reflects their attitude towards Gentiles. They did not want to share the eucharistic table with Gentiles. As the hearers sympathize with the protagonist Je-sus, they get trapped, because the woman's humility disarms their prejudices against Gentiles, and they have to change their attitude in the same way Jesus does.
After textual, form, and redaction criticism I will focus on Jesus' and the woman's behavior from different perspectives. In discussing the issues raised by the text, I will concentrate on the striking part of Jesus' harsh reaction to the woman's request and how the woman responds to it. Many scholars have dealt with this issue, and so I will include aspects of feminist, socio-political, and narrative criticism.
Table of Contents
- 1 THE SYROPHOENICIAN WOMAN (MK 7:24-31)
- 2 INTRODUCTION
- 3 TEXTUAL PROBLEMS
- 3.1 Verse 24
- 3.2 Verse 28
- 3.3 Verse 31
- 4 FORM CRITICISM
- 5 REDACTION CRITICISM
- 6 ISSUES RAISED BY THE TEXT
- 6.1 THE HARSHNESS OF JESUS' REACTION
- 6.1.1 The woman's disadvantage as a Gentile
- 6.1.2 Her Disadvantage as a Woman
- 6.1.3 The Place in the Gospel: Initiation of the Gentile Mission
- 6.2 THE WOMAN'S BEHAVIOR
- 6.2.1 She overcomes Barriers
- 6.2.2 "Little People" with Faith
- 6.2.3 Her Attitude of Being Servant
- 6.2.4 The Woman's Ministry
- 6.1 THE HARSHNESS OF JESUS' REACTION
- 7 NARRATIVE CRITICISM
- 7.1 TYPE-SCENE OF HEALING: "SUPPLIANTS WITH FAITH"
- 7.2 THE RHETORICAL DEVICE OF SUSPENSE
Objectives and Key Themes
The objective of this paper is to analyze Mark 7:24-31, the pericope of the Syrophoenician woman, exploring the apparent harshness of Jesus' initial response and the woman's subsequent perseverance. The paper utilizes textual, form, and redaction criticism to provide a comprehensive understanding of the passage.
- Jesus' interaction with the Syrophoenician woman and the apparent harshness of his initial response.
- The socio-cultural context of the woman's situation as a Gentile and a woman in first-century Palestine.
- The woman's faith and persistence in the face of adversity.
- The implications of this pericope for understanding Jesus' mission and the inclusion of Gentiles.
- The narrative structure and rhetorical devices employed by Mark in this passage.
Chapter Summaries
2 INTRODUCTION: This chapter introduces the author's initial reaction to the pericope, questioning Jesus' seemingly harsh treatment of the Syrophoenician woman and outlining the paper's aim to provide a deeper understanding of the passage through textual, form, and redaction criticism, ultimately focusing on the behaviors of both Jesus and the woman.
3 TEXTUAL PROBLEMS: This chapter delves into textual variations found in different manuscripts of Mark 7:24-31. Specific verses (24, 28, and 31) are analyzed for variations in wording, discussing the implications of these differences on the interpretation of the narrative. The chapter highlights how these variations impact the overall narrative and the characters' actions, particularly focusing on the nuances of the woman's response and Jesus' route. The analysis relies on the work of Metzger, comparing variant readings to parallel passages in Matthew and their potential for assimilation.
4 FORM CRITICISM: This section explores the pre-Markan oral traditions and their development into written form. It discusses how independent units, circulating among the people, were compiled to create the Gospel of Mark. The analysis would likely trace the oral history of the Syrophoenician woman's story, explaining how it evolved before being integrated into Mark's narrative. The chapter would connect the individual components of the story (e.g. the healing narrative itself, details of the woman's background) and discuss how they functioned in oral tradition before finding their place in Mark's Gospel.
5 REDACTION CRITICISM: This chapter analyzes Mark's editorial choices in presenting the story of the Syrophoenician woman. The focus is on understanding why Mark included this particular narrative and how he shaped it to fit his overall theological perspective. The discussion would likely consider the placement of the story within the broader Gospel narrative and examine the theological messages conveyed by Mark's presentation. The analysis would cover how Mark's redaction of this particular story connects to his overall theological project.
6 ISSUES RAISED BY THE TEXT: This chapter explores the key issues raised by the narrative, focusing primarily on the apparent harshness of Jesus' initial response and the woman's remarkable behavior. It examines the woman's disadvantages as a Gentile and a woman within the socio-cultural context of the time. It also discusses the initiation of the Gentile mission within the narrative's placement in the Gospel, analyzing her perseverance, faith, attitude of servitude, and eventual ministry.
7 NARRATIVE CRITICISM: This chapter examines the narrative structure of the pericope and its use of rhetorical devices such as suspense. It analyzes the story as a type-scene of healing, comparing it to other similar narratives in the Gospels, identifying its literary devices and stylistic choices. The discussion connects the story's structure to its overall meaning and considers how Mark uses literary techniques to shape the reader's understanding of the events and characters involved.
Keywords
Syrophoenician woman, Mark 7:24-31, Jesus, Gentiles, women in the Bible, faith, perseverance, healing, textual criticism, form criticism, redaction criticism, narrative criticism, intertextuality, socio-cultural context, first-century Palestine, Gentile mission.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Mark 7:24-31, the Syrophoenician Woman
What is the main focus of this analysis of Mark 7:24-31?
This paper analyzes Mark 7:24-31, the pericope of the Syrophoenician woman, focusing on the apparent harshness of Jesus' initial response and the woman's persistent faith. It uses various critical methods to provide a comprehensive understanding of the passage's theological and narrative aspects.
What critical methods are employed in this analysis?
The analysis utilizes textual criticism (examining variations in different manuscripts), form criticism (exploring the oral traditions behind the text), redaction criticism (analyzing Mark's editorial choices), and narrative criticism (examining the story's structure and literary devices).
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
Key themes include Jesus' interaction with the Syrophoenician woman, the socio-cultural context of her situation as a Gentile woman in first-century Palestine, her unwavering faith and perseverance, the implications of this pericope for understanding Jesus' mission and the inclusion of Gentiles, and the narrative structure and rhetorical devices used by Mark.
What are the textual problems discussed in the analysis?
The analysis examines textual variations in verses 24, 28, and 31 of Mark 7:24-31, exploring how these differences impact the interpretation of the narrative, particularly concerning the nuances of the woman's response and Jesus' actions. The analysis compares variant readings to parallel passages in Matthew.
How does form criticism contribute to the understanding of the passage?
Form criticism explores the pre-Markan oral traditions and their development into written form. It traces the oral history of the Syrophoenician woman's story, explaining how it evolved before being integrated into Mark's narrative and how its individual components functioned in oral tradition.
What is the significance of redaction criticism in this analysis?
Redaction criticism analyzes Mark's editorial choices in presenting the story, focusing on why he included this narrative and how he shaped it to fit his theological perspective. It considers the story's placement within the Gospel narrative and examines the theological messages conveyed by Mark's presentation.
What are the key issues raised regarding Jesus' behavior and the woman's actions?
The analysis explores the apparent harshness of Jesus' initial response and the woman's remarkable behavior. It examines her disadvantages as a Gentile and a woman, discusses the initiation of the Gentile mission within the narrative, and analyzes her perseverance, faith, attitude of servitude, and eventual ministry.
How does narrative criticism contribute to the interpretation?
Narrative criticism examines the narrative structure and the use of rhetorical devices such as suspense. It analyzes the story as a type-scene of healing, comparing it to other similar narratives in the Gospels and considering how Mark uses literary techniques to shape the reader's understanding.
What are the chapter summaries provided in the analysis?
The analysis provides summaries for each chapter, outlining the content and focus of each section, including an introduction, textual problems, form criticism, redaction criticism, issues raised by the text, and narrative criticism.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
Keywords include Syrophoenician woman, Mark 7:24-31, Jesus, Gentiles, women in the Bible, faith, perseverance, healing, textual criticism, form criticism, redaction criticism, narrative criticism, intertextuality, socio-cultural context, first-century Palestine, and Gentile mission.
- Citar trabajo
- Dipl.-Theol. (Univ.) Markus Schäfler (Autor), 1996, The Syrophoenician Woman (Mk 7:24-31), Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/75157
