Mark 6:14-29

With thanks to page sponsor:
The Rev. Patricia A. Snyder
Trinity Lutheran Church
Codorus (Jefferson), PA
(June0910)

• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary & sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • The Five Gospels Parallels, John W. Marshall, University of Toronto.
  • Stephen Carlson's color-coded Greek Synoptic Parallels: 6:17.
  • XVIII.1, 4-9, 11-19; Tatian's Diatessaron (c. 150-160).
  • VI.7, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Philocalia [anthology of Origen prepared by St. Basil and St. Gregory Nazianzen], Origen. (c.230)
  • X.20, Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Origen. (c.247)
  • From the Catena Aurea, Patristic Commentary by St Thomas Aquinas.
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "The gospel confirms the godly and vexes the wicked."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "Thus many love good preaching, if it keep far away from their beloved sin."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "Herod Antipas, one of the three sons of Herod the Great, and own brother of Archelaus (Mt 2:22), who ruled as ethnarch over Galilee and Perea."
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, Mark 6:14-29, Mark G. Vitalis Hoffman, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2009.
    • "Our affirmation of and allegiance to the truth of the Gospel cannot be a hedge position. It's all or nothing, regardless of the consequences."
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • A Brief Commentary on the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 6:7 - 8:26, Carl W. Conrad. (Click superscript numbers for commentary.)
  • "Herod Executes John the Baptist," Michael A. Turton's Historical Commentary on the Gospel of Mark, "a complete verse-by-verse commentary on the Gospel of Mark, focusing on the historicity of people, places, events, and sayings in the world of the Gospel of Mark."
  • Exegetical Notes by Brian Stoffregen at CrossMarks Christian Resources.
    • "A contrast could be made between these two "sending out" events. Jesus sends his followers out to bring health and wholeness to life. Herod sends his *employees* out to destroy life."
  • "Good, Unpopular News," Nadia Bolz-Weber, Blogging toward Sunday, Theolog: The Blog of The Christian Century, 2009.
    • "It just isn't about cash and prizes. It's about a suffering God who offers us life and salvation, a God who bids us come and die. Is there a line around the block yet?"
  • Holy Textures, Understanding the Bible in its own time and in ours, Mark 6:14-29, David Ewart, 2009.
    • "Just in case we are getting too excited and thinking this business of being a disciple of Jesus is going to be a piece of cake, is going to be a story of ever increasing fame, miracles, and wonders, Mark gives a story of a good man being executed because of weakness, capriciousness, and vengence."
  • "Mark 6:14-29 - 'Head on a Platter" for Pentecost 6," Rev. Todd Weir, bloomingcactus.
    • "Murder is the ultimate extreme of trying to erase the harm we feel has been done to us."
  • "First Thoughts on Year B Gospel Passages in the Lectionary," Pentecost 6, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "Mark’s readers may have made the connection between themselves and Herod’s wondering: can it be that someone so callously executed comes to life again? Is the risen Jesus to be seen where such powers are confronted anew, whether within us as individuals or among us in our society? Or does the entertainment drown out the voices?"
  • "Deceptive Simple, Deeply Subersive: John the Baptist, Politics and Religion," The Journey with Jesus: Notes to Myself, Daniel B. Clendenin, Journey with Jesus Foundation, 2009.
    • "With his pronouncement and then martyrdom, John counsels us to turn away from anything and everything that might hinder ultimate allegiance to Jesus."
  • "Beheading of John the Baptist," Gospel Analysis, Sermons from Seattle, Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington. Detailed background and exegesis.
  • "Connected to the Kingdom," Paul Jaster, Sabbatheology, The Crossings Community, 2009.
    • "Those who are connected to Christ's kingdom become, not begrudging, but beneficent."
  • "A Terrible Text," Joanna Adams, The Christian Century, 2003.
    • "Those who follow Jesus in any age must never become carried away with the naive notion that faithfulness to God will ever be easy."
  • "John the Baptist's End," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
  • "Jesus as a Prophet," study guide, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Prophetic Ethics," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2003.
  • Marginally Mark, by Brian McGowan, Anglican priest in Western Australia.
  • "Herod Was Afraid," Jerry Goebel, One Family Outreach. "Focus on scripture from a justice perspective." Exegesis, study, and teen study and activities.
• Articles & Background:
  • "Mark 6," "John the Baptist," wikipedia.
  • "The 'Passion' of John the Baptist and Jesus before Pilate: Mark's Warnings about Kings and Governors," Mark McVann, Biblical Theology Bulletin, 2008.
    • "It is argued that Herodian and Roman (in) justice are indistinguishable and that Mark warns his readers that they should expect no better treatment from the authorities with whom they may have to deal than John and Jesus had."
  • "Why Didn't John the Baptist Commit Himself to Jesus As a Disciple?" Michael H. Crosby, Biblical Theology Bulletin, 2008.
    • "A more critical reading of Luke and, especially, Matthew points to the possibility that John's 'pre-understanding' vis-a-vis the Messiah kept him from making the leap of faith to become a disciple of Jesus."
  • John the Baptist, L. Michael White, John Dominic Crossan, Harold W. Attridge. From "A Portrait of Jesus' World," at the webpages accompanying the PBS Frontline special From Jesus to Christ.

  • "Having Men for Dinner: Deadly Banquets and Biblical Women," Nicole Duran, Biblical Theology Bulletin, 2005.

    • "This essay looks at several biblical women who use the power of food and drink, the banquet with its implications of seduction, to kill men or to determine whom the dining men kill. I will be asking in particular how the symbolism of food and drink interacts with gender, sexuality, and killing in the tradition."

  • "Murderous Mother, Ditto Daughter? Herodias and Salome at the Opera," Caroline Vander Stichele, Lectio Difficilior, 2001.

    • "When women started to scrutinize the Bible in search of strong women they could identify with, they did not immediately consider Herodias and her daughter."
  • "Where Was the Temple of Herod?" Richley Crapo, Utah State University. Bible and Interpretation.
    • "Utah State University anthropologist says Dome of the Rock is not location of Herod's Temple."
  • Herod and the Dance of Salome, from And Adam Knew Eve: A Dictionary of Sex in the Bible by Ronald L. Ecker.
  • St John the Baptist, The Catholic Encyclopedia, 1916. Lengthy, excellent article.
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices.
  • Adams, Joanna, "A Terrible Text," The Christian Century, 2003.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Aichele, George, "Two Theories for Translation with Examples from the Gospel of Mark," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 1992.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Bach, Alice, "Calling the Shots: Directing Salome's Dance of Death," Semeia, 1996.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Baker, Kevin, "Capital T," The Christian Century, 2006.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Campbell, Charles L., "Speaking the Truth in Love," Journal for Preachers, 2005.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Delorme, Jean, "John the Baptist's Head -- The Word Perverted: A Reading of a Narrative (Mark 6:14-29)," Semeia, 1998.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Dewey, Joanna, "Women in the Gospel of Mark," Word & World, 2006. (Section on this text begins on page 24.)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Gardner, A. Edward, "Bad News and Good News, Comparing the Narratives of the Death of John and the Anointing of Jesus in Mark," Encounter, 2008.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Horsley, Richard A., "'Like One of the Prophets of Old,': Two Types of Popular Prophets at the time of Jesus," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1985.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Janes, Regina, "Why the Daughter of Herodias Must Dance," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 2006.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Kraemer, Ross S., "Implicating Herodias and Her Daughter in the Death of John the Baptizer: A (Christian) Theological Strategy," Journal of Biblical Literature, 2006.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Moloney, Francis, SDB, "Mark 6:6b-30: Mission, the Baptist, and Failure," Catholic Bible Quarterly, 2001.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Petersen, Norman R., "The Composition of Mark 4:1-8:26," Harvard Theological Review, 1980.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Rundin, John S., "Pozo Moro, Child Sacrifice, and the Greek Legendary Tradition," Journal of Biblical Literature, 2004.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Smith, Abraham, "Tyranny Exposed: Mark's Typological Characterization of Herod Antipas (Mark 6:14-29)," Biblical Interpretation, 2006.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Sweeney, James P., "Modern and Ancient Controversies over the Virgin Birth of Jesus," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2003. (Section on Mark 6:2-3 begins on page 148.)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Reviews:
  • Reviews: Florence Morgan Gillman, Herodias: At Home in That Fox's Den (Liturgical Press, 2003) Reviews by Donna Wallace and Eric Noffke in SBL's Review of Biblical Literature.
  • Review: Cosimo Pagliara, La figura di Elia nel vangelo di Marco: Aspetti semantici e funzionali. Pontificia Universia Gregoriana, 2003. Review by Edward L Bode in The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2004. (Review is in English.)
  • Review: Morten Hørning Jensen, Herod Antipas in Galilee: The Literary and Archaeological Source on the Reign of Herod Antipas and Its Socio-economic Impact on Galilee. Mohr Siebeck, 2006. Review by Mark A. Chancey, 2007.
• Sermons:
  • Two Very Different Banquets, the Rev. Dr. Barbara K. Lundblad, Day1, 2009.
  • "Ministry on the Move," the Rev. Dr. Ozzie E. Smith, Day 1, 2006.
  • "The Blessed of the Lord," Pentecost 6, 16 July 2006, Hubert Beck, Göttinger Predigten im Internet: Every Sunday Sermons based on the RCL by a team of Lutheran theologians/ pastors.
  • "Beheading of John the Baptist," Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington.
  • "Re-Membering Faith," the Rev. Dr. Catherine Taylor, Day 1, 2003.
  • "Barriers to Blessings," John Jewell, 2000.
• With Children:
  • "One Thing Leads to Another!" Charles Kirkpatrick, Sermons4kids.com.
  • "Principle," Fr Max Bowers, Kids Church.
  • "Herod Beheads John the Baptist," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
  • "Mark 5 & 6 Crossword," Don Crownover's Bible Puzzles.
• Drama:
  • "A Millstone," from A Certain Jesus by Jose Ignacio and Maria Lopez Vigil. Ideal for catechetical and liturgical dramatization of today's gospel. Claretian Publications.
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Images for this week's readings, Pitts Theology Library Digital Image Archive.
  • Clip Art: Beheading of John the Baptist, Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld woodcuts, World Mission Collection, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
• Hymns and Music:
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
  • Death of John the Baptist/Salome
• Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
• Literature and Literary References:
  • Salome, Oscar Wilde