The Divided House Revisited: A Narrative Reading of Mark 3:20–35
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21906/rbl.3789Keywords:
Gospel of Mark, Mark 3:20–35, narrative analysis, intercalation, house, οἶκος, οἰκία, Jesus’ family, οἱ παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ, ἐξέστη, biblical rhetoric, discipleshipAbstract
The article offers a narrative analysis of Mark 3:20–35, focusing on the intercalation structure (“Markan sandwich”) and the motif of the “house.” It demonstrates how repetition, rhetorical devices, and chiastic patterns shape the interpretation of the pericope. Particular attention is given to the expressions οἱ παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ and ἐξέστη, proposing its reading in terms of “amazement” rather than “madness.” The author argues that the text does not depreciate Jesus’ family but portrays their gradual movement toward faith. Ultimately, the “house” becomes an image of the community of disciples, where spiritual bonds surpass blood ties.
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