Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 176:702 (Apr 2019)
Article: Women As “Model Readers” In Mark’s Gospel
Author: Nicoletta Gatti

BSac 176:702 (April-June 2019) p. 188

Women As “Model Readers” In Mark’s Gospel

Nicoletta Gatti

Nicoletta Gatti is senior lecturer in the Department for the Study of Religions, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.

Abstract

The Gospel according to Mark seems to give special attention to women. Female characters are present in key narrative moments, and they are described in positive terms in contrast to the negative portrayal of the Twelve. Employing Eco’s category of “model reader,” this article explores the literary function of female characters in the second Gospel through the narrative analysis of six portraits of women, who from the beginning (1:29–31) to the end of the Gospel (16:8) walk by the side of the readers, guiding them in a journey of revelation for transformation.

Introduction

Since the publication of Mark as Story by Rhoads and Michie in 1982, much attention has been given to the “little people,” minor characters who “consistently exemplify the value and rule of God,” in contrast to the opponents of Jesus and to his male disciples.1

Among the “little people,” women seem to receive special attention from the evangelist Mark. The first miracle of Jesus has a

BSac 176:702 (April-June 2019) p. 189

woman as protagonist (1:29–31); two women are praised for their faith (cf. 5:34; 7:29); an anonymous widow is indicated to the disciples as an example of radical self-giving (12:41); and the prophetic gesture of one of them will be told wherever the gospel is announced (cf. 14:9). Women are present in the key moments of Jesus’s life as witnesses of his death (15:40–41), burial (15:47), and resurrection (16:1–8). For some scholars, women represent a positive paradigm of discipleship, in contrast to Mark’s portrayal of the Twelve, which underlines their lack of faith (4:40; 9:19), inability to understand and hardness of heart (8:17–21), betrayal (14:18, 30), and final aband...