John R. Donahue - Sacra Pagina: The Gospel of Mark

A Michael Glazier Book published by Liturgical Press.

Cover design by Ann Blattner. Illustration reproduced with the permission of the Universittsbibliothek Graz, Austria, Cod. 143, fol. 501b (13th c. Breviarium Benedictinum), from a microfilm in the Hill Monastic Manuscript Library, Collegeville, Minnesota.

2002 by The Order of St. Benedict, Inc., Collegeville, Minnesota. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocrt1ying, recording, taping, or any retrieval system, without the written permission of The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN 56321. Printed in the United States of America.

The Library of Congress has cataloged the printed edition as follows:

Library of Congress Control Number: 2005931040

ISBN 978-0-8146-5965-9 (book)

ISBN 978-0-8146-8286-9 (ebook)

In Memory of

Norman Perrin (19201976) and George W. MacRae (19281985)

Mentors and Friends

Sacra Pagina is a multi-volume commentary on the books of the New Testament. The expression Sacra Pagina (Sacred Page) originally referred to the text of Scripture. In the Middle Ages it also described the study of Scripture to which the interpreter brought the tools of grammar, rhetoric, dialectic, and philosophy. Thus Sacra Pagina encompasses both the text to be studied and the activity of interpretation.

This series presents fresh translations and modern expositions of all the books of the New Testament. Written by an international team of Catholic biblical scholars, it is intended for biblical professionals, graduate students, theologians, clergy, and religious educators. The volumes present basic introductory information and close exposition. They self-consciously adopt specific methodological perspectives, but maintain a focus on the issues raised by the New Testament compositions themselves. The goal of Sacra Pagina is to provide sound critical analysis without any loss of sensitivity to religious meaning. This series is therefore catholic in two senses of the word: inclusive in its methods and perspectives, and shaped by the context of the Catholic tradition.

The Second Vatican Council described the study of the sacred page as the very soul of sacred theology (Dei Verbum 24). The volumes in this series illustrate how Catholic scholars contribute to the councils call to provide access to Sacred Scripture for all the Christian faithful. Rather than pretending to say the final word on any text, these volumes seek to open up the riches of the New Testament and to invite as many people as possible to study seriously the sacred page.

D ANIEL J. H ARRINGTON, S.J.

Biblical Books and Apocrypha

Other Ancient Texts

Periodicals, Reference Works, and Serials