In this book, Marie Sabin argues that Mark's gospel represents an early and evolving Christianity, which shaped its theological discourse out of the forms familiar to early Judaism. In that early Jewish context, she says, theology took the form of connecting scripture with current events: the biblical word was continually reopened - i.e. reinterpreted - so as to reveal its relevance to the present faith-community. At the time, the chief genre for this hermeneutical process was the synagogue homily. Sabin contends that Mark's composition represented an interweaving of homilies preached by Jesus and his followers in the local synagogues. Sabin sees Mark not as a mere collector or scribe, however, but as an original theologian shaping his material in the context of two theological traditions: the Jewish wisdom traditions and Jewish Creation theology. Reading Mark in the contexts of these traditions reveals fresh meanings that break open Christian formulas long frozen in time and illuminate the Gospel's striking relevance to our own time.

"Sabin's many keen observation, provocative suggestions, and intriguing statements throughout the book succeed in giving Mark a theological voice. Offers readers genuine insight for a deliberately reflective reading of Mark."- The Catholic Biblical Quarterly "This is a very noteworthy volume. In a very complicated field, the author writes in an admirably lucid, uncluttered style and draws upon the vast pertinent sources. The Gospel of Mark is one of the most scrutinized of all the Gospels. Dr. Sabin recognizes that it has been treated theologically, literarily, liturgically, and catechetically; but she is innovative in suggesting a fresh approach to that Gospel....After a very illuminating chapter in which she sets forth the meaning of the term Midrash, she examines Mark as a midrashic document. To show how such a midrashic approach leads to new insights, she juxtaposes her midrashic exegesis of Mark with one of the early Church Fathers and that of a contemporary exegete....The result is a presentation of Mark which is often provocative and enriching: it may prove to be seminal."--W.D. Davies, Duke University "This thoughtful and creative work of scholarship explores Mark's theology from an important vantage point. With deep respect and understanding of the Jewish context of early Christianity, Sabin proposes to read Mark's Gospel as much as possible from the Jewish perspective of its original audiences."-Donald Senior, The Bible Today "Sabin reminds us that in reading Mark's Gospel we must never forget that its author is a first-century Jewish writer who engages the entire Hebrew Bible in communicating his evaluation of Jesus, his followers, and his adversaries. She consequently claims that only an understanding of the Midrashic interpretation of Scripture in Mark's time can unlock the nature of his Gospel. Her aim is to counter longstanding standard approaches to the interpretation of Mark. She is singularly successful. Time and again she produces original insights into our understanding of Mark."-Calum M. Carmichael, Cornell University

New Collegeville Bible Commentary
The Gospel According to Mark
Volume 2

The absence of stories of Jesus' birth and infancy, a minimum of Jesus' parables and a resurrection scene without sight or sound of the risen Jesus have tempted readers to shortchange Mark's Gospel. Thanks to the insightful analysis and inspiring reflections of Marie Noonan Sabin, anyone studying this premier Gospel with her guidance will recognize the genius of the original author.

Sabin asserts that Mark's Gospel is not an eyewitness account or a work of biography or history. She writes, What Mark gives us is far richer. He interprets Jesus in the light of the Hebrew Bible, showing Jesus to be not only a teacher of Wisdom but Wisdom itself, calling his followers to an unconventional wisdom, a way of living (and a way of dying) that he himself exemplifies."

The cover of this commentary from The Saint John's Bible highlights Sabin's thesis that the transfiguration of Jesus is pivotal to the Gospel: "The scene 9:2-8]overshadows both parts of the Gospel, emphasizing God's creative, transforming, transfiguring power to restore life."

Sabin gives special attention to Mark's key words and phrases (e.g., "release," "rise up" or "be raised," "straightway," and "ecstasy") and his pattern of twos and threes. Especially helpful are the summaries at the end of each chapter. Here is a commentary that will restore Mark's prime place among the other two Synoptic Gospels.

"Marie Noonan Sabin, Ph.D., has taught the Gospel of Mark at Bangor Theological Seminary; an earlier book on Mark, Reopening the Word, was published by Oxford University Press in 2002."

Teilhard de Chardin, twentieth-century paleontologist and Jesuit, envisioned an explosion in global communication that could expand human consciousness to the point of universal empathy. In the process, he joined his scientific knowledge to his religious faith. Exploring Teilhard's ideas in biblical texts, Marie Sabin discovers that his vision has ancient seeds. In the book of Job, the Gospel of John, and in Proverbs' feminine Wisdom, as well as in the gospels' Christ, she finds a persistent theme of evolving human consciousness. The texts ground Teilhard's futuristic thought in ancient wisdom, while Teilhard's evolutionary insights give these ancient voices contemporary relevance.