The Unknown Exorcist in Mark 9: 38-40: A Study of Diversity and Inclusiveness in Early Christianity
This article discusses diversity and inclusiveness in the early church in terms of Mark’s attitudes towards the unknown exorcist in Mark 9:38-40. Exorcisms are well-documented phenomena in early Christianity. Mark’s episode of the unknown exorcist reflects such a historical situation. Through the ep...
| Published in: | The expository times |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Sage
[2017]
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| In: |
The expository times
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| RelBib Classification: | AD Sociology of religion; religious policy HC New Testament NBH Angelology; demonology |
| Further subjects: | B
Christian Life
B God’s Kingdom B Discipleship B Exorcism in the Bible B Unknown Exorcist B Bible. Markusevangelium 9,38-40 B Inclusiveness B Belonging (Social psychology) B Exorcism B Social Belonging |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | This article discusses diversity and inclusiveness in the early church in terms of Mark’s attitudes towards the unknown exorcist in Mark 9:38-40. Exorcisms are well-documented phenomena in early Christianity. Mark’s episode of the unknown exorcist reflects such a historical situation. Through the episode, Mark explains that God’s kingdom expands not merely through certain well-known authoritative figures, but also anonymous, minor figures such as the unknown exorcist. The evangelist explains the diversity and inclusive characteristic of God’s kingdom to the reader. While many studies on the given Marcan passage understand the exorcist as an outsider of God’s kingdom, this research suggests that the evangelist regards the exorcist as an authentic member of God’s kingdom and his exorcism as a mystical way of the growth of the kingdom. The twelve disciples fail to recognize such a secret expansion of the kingdom. They define the boundary of the kingdom rather narrowly. Mark reveals the disciples’ narrow view and engages the reader in reflections on the true characteristic of God’s kingdom. He invites the reader to understand the mysterious expansion and the inclusiveness of the kingdom and participate in that expansion. |
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| ISSN: | 1745-5308 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: The expository times
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1177/0014524616649136 |