Latest Rules for Putting Together Markan Chiasms

I've expanded the rules for making Markan Chiasms. As I expand the rules, I am updating previous structures. For updated Chiasms, see the second excursus to Mark 16 on my commentary.

1. Markan A brackets are almost always people shifting location

2. The A' of the previous pericope is always the A of the next one -- that is the only rule the writer never violates.

3. Actions may constitute separate brackets.

And they laid hands on him and seized him.

4. Speeches, regardless of length, must be single brackets, so long as they are one speech directed at one audience.

And Jesus said to them, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled."

5. Speeches may be broken up if there there appears to be a natural demarcation between two parts, when the audience has shifted. This typically takes place when there is a shift from an address to persons present in the narrative, to a general saying, often signaled by a formula like "Truly I say" or "But I tell you.." For example, In Mark 10, Jesus says:

14: But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said to them, "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15: Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."

This saying is two brackets, one directed at the apostles, and one the general saying.

But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said to them, "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."

6. Actions plus speeches may be a bracket:

Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I shall kiss is the man; seize him and lead him away under guard."

7. Actions plus speech followed by actions/descriptions are never a separate bracket. This is an incorrect bracket:

And when he came, he went up to him at once, and said, "Master!" And he kissed him.

Hence, wherever "And" signals a new action, seemingly tacked on to the end of the verse; even where it is placed in the same verse, it is wrong (Mark is wrongly pericoped and versified). The correct bracketing here is.

C: And when he came, he went up to him at once, and said, "Master!"
D: And he kissed him.

Similarly, Mark 14:4-5 is wrongly versified.

4: But there were some who said to themselves indignantly, "Why was the ointment thus wasted? 5: For this ointment might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and given to the poor." And they reproached her.

The actual verses, in line with the writer's original thinking, should read:

4: But there were some who said to themselves indignantly, "Why was the ointment thus wasted? For this ointment might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and given to the poor."
5: And they reproached her.

8. Where the text "turns back on itself -- usually by way of explanation -- a new bracket is indicated.

And there was a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse.She had heard the reports about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, "If I touch even his garments, I shall be made well."

The "For..." signals the beginning of a new bracket.