The Holy One of God in Markan Narrative

Abstract

This article explores interpretive possibilities for the Christological title “the Holy One of God” in the context of the Markan narrative and through the prism of Second Temple Judaism. The article traces narrative connections of this title with other major Christological titles, their holiness connotations and the Markan portrayal of Jesus’ mission. This study suggests that the title is programmatic for the Second Gospel and finds its development throughout the whole of the Markan story. Jesus, the Holy One of God, is the one who restores the holiness and purity of the nation and (re)creates the new holy people of God. His contagious and transformative holiness enlarges the realm of purity and reduces the dominion of uncleanness through healings, exorcisms and forgiveness of sins. The article calls for reconsidering the place of this often neglected title in Markan Christology and adds some arguments for a higher view of Markan Christology.