Gospel of Mark, The

Trinity Journal, Fall 2003 by Williams, Joel F

France's interpretation of the coming of the Son of Man (8:38; 13:26; 14:62) stands out as one place in the commentary where the traditional approach is set aside. According to France, passages on the coming of the Son of Man do not refer to the second coming of Jesus at the end of present history, but instead, using the enthronement language of Dan 7:13-14, they describe the imminent vindication of the rejected Son of Man and his authority (pp. 32, 342-43, 500-501, 534-35, 611-13). Therefore, the coming of the Son of Man takes place in the heavenly throne room, a change in heaven that creates a new situation on earth. A new government is in place. The heavenly enthronement becomes visible on earth through the destruction of the temple and through the growth of the church into an international community that includes Gentiles. The temple and all it stood for is now out of power, and the Son of Man has gained all authority. This change in government took place entirely within the lifetime of those who heard Jesus' words, before the generation of Jesus' contemporaries had passed away.

France asks the skeptical reader to suspend disbelief at least temporarily so that he might work through the details of his argument concerning the coming of the Son of Man, hopefully in a compelling manner (p. 531). I am afraid that after reading through France's interpretation on this point, I still remain skeptical, primarily because it does not take the context of Daniel 7 sufficiently into consideration. I am willing to grant that the coming of the Son of Man is enthronement language (Dan 7:13), but this enthronement seems to take place at the end of present history, when the eternal and universal rule of the Highest One and his people appears on earth (Dan 7:14, 18, 22, 27). A dreadful kingdom that has devoured the whole earth and crushed it, one that has waged war with God's people and overpowered them, will be annihilated (Dan 7:11, 22, 26). From that point on, all the kingdoms of the earth will serve this one who is like a Son of Man (Dan 7:13-14, 22). In other words, Daniel 7 itself looks like an enthronement that takes place decisively at the end of the present age, not like a heavenly event that only progressively reveals itself on earth through events such as the destruction of the temple and the spread of the gospel in the midst of persecution.

I do not want this one point of disagreement to detract from my overall evaluation of France's commentary on Mark. It is a significant achievement. In the past, I have found it difficult to recommend to students a helpful commentary on Mark, because the best ones available are somewhat dated, while the most recent have been somewhat idiosyncratic. The situation has now changed, and I can gladly point people to France's commentary on Mark.

Joel F. Williams

Columbia International University

Columbia, South Carolina