Abstract:
The study proposes a link between Mark’s healing stories in chapter 1 and praise songs and/
or poems performed at Apollo’s temple and other possible shrines of Asclepius in Southern
Antioch. Mark chapter 1 begins with Jesus healing the demoniac (Mk 1:21–28), healing of
Simon’s mother in law (Mk 1:29–31) and healing of various peoples who gathered at Simon’s
mother-in-law’s house (Mk 1:32–34) and people from the region and afar (Mk 13:39). The
chapter finishes with the controversial healing of the leper (1:40–45). Assuming that Mark is
located in Southern Antioch, with analogies from Zulu praise poems, this study reread Mark’s
healing stories alongside Greek aretalogies with a view to reveal the function and mood
around which the stories were told and/or performed. As hypothesis, Mark’s healing stories
exudes similar characteristics as Greek aretalogies, praising the benefactor (Jesus) vis-à-vis
known healers such as Apollo and Asclepius.
Description:
This research is part of the
project, ‘Healing during the
New Testament’, directed by
Dr Dube, Department of New
Testament Studies, Faculty of
Theology and Religion,
University of Pretoria.
