New Testament Introduction The vo

This work argues that the original purpose of Mark's Gospel was a defence of Pauline Christianity composed by Paul's followers after his death. The author follows this with commentary that defends the thesis by showing how each part of the second Gospel was designed to serve that purpose.

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Fr Tarazi explains how the very concept of a New Testament 'scripture' came into being, beginning with Paul's letters. Paul's death then left a void in the leadership of Gentile Christianity, which was still under attack by Jewish Christianity. In order to defend the faith as it was preached by Paul, some of his followers created what is now the Gospel of Mark. Their purpose was not to make a historical chronicle of Jesus' life or a systematic presentation of Christian doctrine, but rather to defend Paul's conception of Christianity from the remaining (Jewish) apostles. In writing the story of Jesus, they interpreted Jesus himself and the events of his life according to what they knew of the teaching s and life story of their own leader Paul.