"You are My Son": A Study of Mark's Use of Psalm 2 as Early Christian Theologizing

This study investigates the use of Psalm 2 in Mark’s Gospel, particularly as it relates to the central Christological designation “Son of God.” In so doing, it attempts to delineate the development of early theologizing on this major theological load-bearing term. Our thesis is that Mark portrays Jesus’ identity and role as Son of God by his distinctive appropriation of eschatological-messianic interpretations of Psalm 2 found in early Jewish literature. These interpretations are not just of the psalm’s Davidic son of God figure, but also of the psalm’s important themes arising from its basic plotline. Mark gives enough indications in his narrative so that his allusions to Ps 2.7 lead the audience to pick up these themes in the surrounding context where the allusions occur (1.11, 9.7, 15.39) and follow his story. As the story progresses, Mark’s development of these themes leads his audience to apprehend that full meaning of Jesus’ divine sonship includes suffering, rejection, and death; as well as supreme exaltation and sharing in God’s kingdom rule. Following a discussion of appropriate methods and limitations (Chapter 1), we examine the Second Psalm’s original setting and function, and its interpretation in early Jewish literature (Chapter 2), finding that many of these texts exhibit eschatological-messianic interpretation not only of God’s Son, but also two themes: opposition, rebellion, and hostile attack on God, his anointed one, and Israel (“the opposition theme”); and the defeat of this enemy assault under the universal dominion of the Messiah based upon his extraordinary relationship to God (“the vicegerency theme”). The following four chapters (Chs 3-6) then examine the influence of Psalm 2 in Mark’s account of the baptism of Jesus (1.9-11). Chapter 3 sets the stage by tracing the eschatological-messianic thread through 1.1-8. Chapter 4 follows with an analysis of the form, structure, and overall OT influences on the baptism scene proper (1.9-11), before specifically establishing the Ps 2.7 allusion in heavenly voice, confirming the presentation of Jesus as the Davidic messianic Son of God (σὺ εἶ ὁ υἱός μου from Ps 2) and Isaianic Servant of the Lord (ἐν σοὶ εὐδόκησα from Isa 42.1). Chapter 5 considers possible influences on the ἀγαπητός, suggesting that the epithet derives from Gen 22 and adds the nuance of a unique relationship between Jesus and God. Chapter 6 examines the meaning and function of the Psalm 2 allusion at the baptism, as it relates to the identity and vocation of Jesus as the messianic Son of God. Intrinsic to this identification is the son’s delegated kingship, which is threatened by hostile powers – the same two themes of “vicegerency” and “opposition” found in eschatological-messianic Jewish interpretations of Psalm 2. The next two chapters then explore how this portrait of Jesus as Son of God is developed in two important episodes. Chapter 7 demonstrates how the themes associated with Psalm 2 play a bigger role in the transfiguration of Jesus (9.2-8) than has been commonly supposed, and argues that the account evinces a development in the meaning of Jesus’ sonship, so that it must include: the passion themes of suffering, rejection, and death (“opposition”); and a heavenly, exalted, royal figure, who will be fully manifest after rising from the dead (“vicegerency”). Chapter 8 continues with an examination of the events around the cross and the confession of the centurion (15.39). The chapter demonstrates that in this final allusion to Psalm 2, Mark has continued to develop the meaning of Jesus’ sonship by the ironic fulfilment of both the opposition and viceregency themes of the psalm at Jesus’ passion and death – a parodic royal investiture – to inescapably include the suffering and cross, and unique exaltation as Ruler of God’s Kingdom, access to which he has now opened to all who truly see and truly confess. That Jesus’ sonship, affirmed by God at his baptism, is now affirmed by a Gentile, appropriately depicts the fulfilment of the divine promise, to make the Gentiles the inheritance of the son (Ps 2.8-9). Finally, Chapter 9 summarizes the results of the study, concluding that as Mark’s story progresses, the Psalm 2 themes of opposition and vicegerency are developed, so that the meaning of Jesus’ divine sonship includes suffering, rejection, and death; as well as supreme exaltation and sharing in God’s kingdom rule.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Cambridge

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Quek, Tze-Ming

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Jongkind, Dirk

• Gospel of Mark
• New Testament
• Psalm 2
• Use of Old Testament in the New
• New Testament Theology
• Christology
• Messianism

Licence

• https://apollo8-f-pro.lib.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/fbedd479-cad7-468a-8a5b-12dc6e50d5e1/download
• http://purl.org/NET/rdflicense/allrightsreserved

Language dc:language

eng

DOI dc:identifier.doi

https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.114766

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/378288