Parallelism: A Key to Study (Pt. 3)
Looking for what makes biblical passages go together.
(See the first and second articles in this series for more elaboration on the basics of parallelism if you would like to know more before jumping in.)
As we continue our talk on the benefits of understanding parallelism for Bible study, we can start by taking a look at Mark 1:16-2:17 as a chiasm (KEY-asm) as we have it illustrated below:
A. Calling of fisherman (1:16-20)
B.
C.
D.
C’.
B’.
A’. Calling of tax gatherers (2:13-17)
(Chiasm is the most widely used form of biblical literary structure and is designed to make subpoints in progressive order leading to a main point in the center. Then, the subpoints are repeated in reverse order, leaving connective clues so that the attentive reader is able to piece together the design, eventually illuminating the author’s primary emphasis. For the sake of time, I am giving away that there are seven parts to this chiasm, above, and that the outer parts [A and A’] are the ones we have already discussed in our second article in this series.)
If, as an early reader, I was wondering if this passage was written as a chiasm, my next recourse would be to take a step in from either end of the structure to see if the two short vignettes on the “inside” of A and A’ [namely, B and B’] had strong similarities, just as A and A’ do. Below are the two short passages in question:
21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God." 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." 28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee. (Mark 1:21-28)
And the second,
1 And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 "Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" 8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your bed and walk'? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--he said to the paralytic-- 11 "I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home." 12 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!" (Mark 2:1-12)
In order to keep this article from going beyond our normal length, I will make the connective tissue clear:
Both passages are set in Capernaum (1:21; 2:1).
Many people are hearing Jesus teach/preach (1:21; 2:2).
Jesus’ teaching is disrupted (1:23-24; 2:3-4).
At the heart of the disruption is one needing to be exorcised/healed (1:23; 2:3-4).
A challenge is made to Jesus by regarding his intentions (1:24; 2:7).
Jesus’ divine “authority” is displayed by his command for the unclean spirit to be quiet and come out and for the paralytic to rise and walk (1:25-27; 2:8-11).
Both stories end with the crowd’s astonishment and God’s glorification (1:28; 2:12).
Both of the stories revolve around the keyword, authority. Does Jesus have authority to make demons “be silent” and “come out” immediately? Yes. Does he have the authority to forgive sins? Yes. This is amazing and the crowds were rightfully astonished by it. Now what are the implications for us?
Simply showing the connective tissue above is all we have room for now, but we will continue this discussion next time.