Ebook
Scholars have long debated the genre of the Gospels and many opinions have been put forward, such as biography, history, epic, or comedy. However, do the Gospels actually reflect these ancient genres? This book addresses this question and arrives at the conclusion that the Gospel of Mark was written as an ancient form of tragedy. Why would this matter to ancient or modern readers? Tragedy addresses the fundamental question of humanity's suffering and offers a philosophical perspective that orients the reader towards personal and societal growth. The Gospel of Mark fits within the tradition of tragic writings and speaks to the same challenges that all humanity faces: life is full of trouble and suffering, so how are we supposed to think about these things? The answer is to be found in Jesus, who is both divine and human, and who suffers as a result of engaging in conflict with the religious and political traditions of his time.
“Adam Wright is ideally situated to question the notion that the
Gospels are biographies and make a convincing case that Mark’s
Gospel, at least, is a tragedy. Wright’s education in both
classical and biblical studies enables him to examine the full
range of evidence. This is not a far-fetched hypothesis, but an
argument grounded in ancient and modern theory and Mark’s Gospel
itself. This is an important book that anyone considering the genre
of the Gospels must take into account.”
—Stanley E. Porter, President, Dean, and Professor of New
Testament, Roy A. Hope Chair in Christian Worldview, McMaster
Divinity College
“In his stimulating study, Of Conflict and Concealment, Adam
Wright probes the difficult and surprisingly complex question of
Mark’s literary genre. Swimming against the scholarly current,
Wright argues that the Gospel of Mark is best understood as an
example of Greek tragedy, not biography. This thesis has been
argued before, but not with the clarity and depth that we find in
Wright’s informative and well-researched book.”
—Craig A. Evans, John Bisagno Distinguished Professor of Christian
Origins, Houston Baptist University
“Of Conflict and Concealment offers a reading of Mark’s
Gospel as tragedy, which is both persuasive and intriguing. Adam
Wright gives a thorough survey of Greek tragedy, including a few
surprises for the non-specialist. These surprising elements open up
new perspectives on several interpretive conundrums in Mark, and
evoke fresh respect for its author, as someone who harnessed the
literary power of the tragic genre.”
—Iain Luke, Principal, College of Emmanuel & St. Chad