Included in the locked up vault at FRDB (which is being handled by top women) is my Award winning Thread, "The Simontic Problem". "Mark's" Negative Casting of Peter, where I demonstrate, and than some, that a primary literary objective of "Mark" was to discredit Peter as supposed witness to Jesus.
Most Believers will start with the conclusion that "Mark" credited Peter with historical witness to Jesus (mainly relying consciously or unconsciously on what "Mark" did not write) so it makes no difference to them how much evidence I present the other Way. Non-believers are much more open to the question, and the trend is definitely moving towards my conclusion, but I think most are still not convinced. What follows is my initial outline of evidence that "Mark" has a primary theme of discrediting Peter. Note that in order to try and support a primary theme theory, one must show quality and quantity:
Stage 1 of "The Simontic Problem" = An Inventory of "Mark's" Negative Casting of Peter:
Major Negative Casting:
- 1) 4:15 The Parable of the Sower specifically refers to Peter as in the category of Disciple Failure.
2) 8:32 Peter is presented as the Opposition to the Passion.
3) 14:30 Jesus predicts that Peter will Deny him Three times.
4) 14:53-72 Peter Denies Jesus Three times.
- 1) 1:29-31 Sickness in Simon's house.
2) 3:16 Jesus gives Simon an extra name, "Peter".
3) 6:3 The name "Simon" is assigned to a brother of Jesus who is presented unfavorably.
4) 14:1-9 A Simon is presented as a Leper.
5) 14:37 Jesus demotes Peter by using his pre-Disciple name, "Simon" to address him.
6) 14:34-42 Peter Fails to Watch out for Jesus.
7) 14:72 Peter mourns the loss of his life for Denying Jesus.
8) 15:21 Peter Simon is figuratively replaced as Leader of Jesus' followers.
The extent to which "Mark" discredits Peter as supposed historical witness to Jesus is important for a number of reasons. One is in the context of the MJ/HJ/AJ debate. The model for HJ is a movement from historical witness to Jesus to non-historical witness to Jesus. The model for MJ is a movement from non-historical witness to Jesus to claimed historical witness to Jesus. HJ's model has to claim a historical gospel narrative that existed before "Mark" but there is nothing extant to support that. The objective analysis than is based on what is extant which is in the following order:
- 1) Paul
2) "Mark"
3) "Matthew"
4) "Luke"
5) "John"
Joseph
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