Abstract
The Matthean redaction of Mark 7:30 in Matthew 15:28 often receives scant attention in scholarship in terms of its narrative quality. At most, it is regarded as a truncation of the full Marcan version, while all attention is given to Matthew’s introduction of the notion of ‘faith’ in this verse. This article argues, by contrast, and on the basis of a synoptic comparison and narratological analysis of both texts, that more justice is done to both versions of the conclusion of this healing miracle when understanding them as achieving different narrative effects, with Matthew focusing on the immediacy of the healing, while Mark creates suspense, thus focusing on the veracity of Jesus’ statement that the girl in question is healed.
Highlights
Read online: Scan this QR code with your smart phone or mobile device to read online
In research on the Matthean redaction of Mark 7:30 in Matthew 15:28, emphasis is usually given to the Matthean introduction of the notion of the woman’s πίστις, replacing the Marcan reference to her λόγος, which is rather Matthew’s redaction of Mark 7:29 than 7:30 and certainly shifts the emphasis from the strength of the Canaanite/Syrophoenician woman’s speech to her attitude towards Jesus that is usually seen as paralleling the faith of the Gentile centurion in Matthew 8:10 (e.g. Davies & Alllison 1991:556; Frankemölle 1997:209; Gnilka 1988:31–32; Hagner 1995:442–443; Konradt 2007:63–70; Luz 1990:131; Nolland 2005:636)
There is much more to the Matthean redaction of Mark 7:30 than just this change, important as it is; this is, often not discussed in scholarship on the verse, which makes both the literary art of this verse and its relationship to Matthew 15:28 somewhat like the ugly ducklings of the pericopes of which they are part
Summary
Redactional, stylistic and narratological observations on the retelling of Mark 7:30 in Matthew 15:28. There is much more to the Matthean redaction of Mark 7:30 than just this change, important as it is; this is, often not discussed in scholarship on the verse, which makes both the literary art of this verse and its relationship to Matthew 15:28 somewhat like the ugly ducklings of the pericopes of which they are part This concerns Matthew’s redaction, not so much of Jesus’ words to the woman, but rather of the narration of the subsequent events, that is, the actual departure of the demon (Mark) or the healing of the woman’s daughter (Matthew). Not the full arsenal of narratological (or, for that matter, redaction-historical) methodology will be used here, but only those methodological steps that are useful for an analysis that has its point of departure in the most immediately striking characteristic of Mark 7:[29–]30 when compared to Matthew 15:28: Mark’s apparent wordiness
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
