Abstract
The meaning of the centurion’s remark in Mark 15:39 at the events of Jesus’ death on the cross remains hidden in the anarthrous predicate υἱὸς θeοῦ ἦν (hyios theou ēn). Understanding the phrase hyios theou is therefore the key to unravelling the meaning expressed by the statement. It is the crux interpretum of the text and in deed the essence of the crucifixion narrative in Mark. The phrase is traditionally translated as “the Son of God” to imply an acknowledgement by a Roman soldier of the unique messianic status of Jesus. The history of interpretations of this text equally reveals occasional scholarly doubts regarding the genuineness of the remark. This work sets out to interpret the anarthrous predicate with a view to shedding light on the meaning of the centurion’s remark. It uses the historical-critical method of exegesis and concludes that the phrase is to be understood qualitatively as implying the definiteness of an arthrous predicate. In the context of this interpretation the work understands the remark of the centurion as implying especially for Mark and the markan audience a Christological representation of the nature and role of Jesus as the unique Son of God. Article visualizations:
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