The Coherent Unity of Mark 10: 17-31

There is a prolonged discussion about the unity and the historicity of Mark 10: 17-31. Some scholars believe it consists of three distinct units. Others propose its unity, yet always with notes. For example, many scholars suggest Mark 10:17–31 a coherent narrative unit within the Gospel’s larger section on the journey to Jerusalem (Mark 8:22–10:52). The author introduces the rich man in the first section (vv. 17-22). This character leaves the scene altogether in v. 22. Although Jesus still maintains the theme of riches, it clearly relates it to the rich man in the first scene, while the style of conversation in the second scene is different. The third scene is even more detached story-wise, especially the problematic floating logion in v. 31. The purpose of this paper is to affirm the coherent unity of Mark 10: 17-31, not only in a literary sense, but also historically. While some scholars tend to believe in loose connection between the three scenes, this paper suggests that the text was intentionally, or even forcefully, unified by the author. The unified theme and meticulous choices of words make this notion is more plausible so as to see the three scenes as a coherent story unit. The vocabularies make it possible to produce a concentric structure of the passages. At the same time, it emphasizes the contrast between the failed rich man and the successful disciples in answering Christ’s calling. The text should have been put together intentionally by the author since the beginning of its composition. The methodological approach used in this paper is a narrative analysis, concentrating on the metonymies and the composition of the three scenes in question.