Unveiled at Last! The Chiastic Structure of Mark 14-16

To heck with work.

Here is Mark 14-16:2 pericoped in all its glory. I have relied on the following insights in constructing this.

Rules:

* Markan A brackets are almost always geographical movement. The A' of the previous pericope is always the A of the next one -- that is the only rule the writer never violates.

*actions may constitute separate brackets.

• And they laid hands on him and seized him.

*Speeches, regardless of length, may constitute separate brackets, so long as they are one speech.

• 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."

*speeches may be broken up if there there appears to be a natural demarcation between two parts.

*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."

*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.

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.

Notes: to complete these chiasms will require the restoration of two verses, one in Mark 14, where Jesus tells the would-be attacker to put up his sword, and the other in Mark 15, to oppose the Centurion's confession (see below). The former verse was proposed as missing almost a century ago, the latter to my knowledge has not yet been proposed. It is clear that the Gospel of Mark very badly needs new versification, pericoping, and chapter divisions.

Enjoy! Explanations tomorrow.