Jesus and Other Men: Ideal Masculinities in the Synoptic Gospels (Biblical Interpretation Series, 159)

Interest in the study of masculinities in the Bible emerged in the mid-1990sand has since grown slowly but steadily. Nevertheless, studies on the masculinityof Jesus or masculinities in the Synoptic Gospels are still few and farbetween. There remains a need for further study on the masculinity of Jesusand ideal masculinities in the Synoptic Gospels. In particular, what we do notyet have is a study that concentrates on both the masculinities of Jesus andthe other men in the Synoptic Gospels and compares the masculinity ideals ofthe Synoptic Gospels. How do the Synoptic Gospels address the same themesand issues concerning masculinity? What are the differences and similaritiesbetween the Synoptic Gospels? What are the characteristic features of theirrespective masculinity ideals?In this study, I focus especially on the masculinity of Jesus, but I also examinethe portrayal of the other male characters, as well as female characters, inthe Synoptic Gospels. It is important to study both male and female characters,since masculinity is defined both in relation to femininities and in relation toother masculinities. I do not study the masculinity of the historical Jesus, butconcentrate instead on how the Synoptic Gospels portray Jesus and the othercharacters. According to the two-source theory, Matthew and Luke have usedMark as their source. Do the changes that Matthew and Luke make to Mark’stext also reflect a different ideal of masculinity? Contents Acknowledgements Chapter 1 Introduction Of Masculinities and Men A Reassessment of Connell’s Theory Theorizing Marginalized Masculinities Outline of the Study Chapter 2 Masculinities in the Ancient Greco-Roman World Introduction Biological Sex in the Ancient Greco-Roman World Ancient Greco-Roman Gender Stereotypes Who is a Real, Hegemonically Masculine Man? Ideal Characteristics of Masculine Men Effeminacy and Lack of Self-Control Marginalized Masculinities in the Ancient Greco-Roman World Philo Josephus 4 Maccabees Rabbinic Judaism Conclusions Chapter 3 Jesus and His Opponents Introduction The Authority of Jesus The Opponents as Negative Examples of Unmasculine Behavior Jesus’ Disputes with His Opponents Challenges to the Masculinity of Jesus Herod The Death of John the Baptist Other Mentions of Herod Pilate Pilate in Mark (15:1–15) Pilate in Matthew (27:11–26) Pilate in Luke (23:1–25) Conclusions Chapter 4 Jesus and His Male Followers Introduction The Portrayal of the Disciples in the Synoptic Gospels Peter in the Synoptic Gospels The Messiah Confession Peter in the Passion Narratives Jesus’ Teaching on Ideal Behavior in the Sermon on the Mount Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3–12) Antitheses (Matthew 5:21–48) Piety (Matthew 6:1–18) Jesus and Family in the Synoptic Gospels Service and Slavery as the Ideal Masculinity Children as Examples for the Disciples Matthew, Eunuchs, and Subordinated Masculinities Conclusions Chapter 5 Jesus and Women Introduction Ideal Women in the Ancient Greco-Roman World The Women Followers of Jesus The Syrophoenician or Canaanite Woman Mark’s Account of the Story (Mark 7:24–30) Matthew’s Account of the Story (Matthew 15:21–28) The Syrophoenician Woman’s Challenge to Jesus’ Masculinity The Women Jesus Heals: The Hemorrhaging Woman The Anointing Woman The Ideal Woman in Luke Feminine Jesus Conclusions Chapter 6 Jesus and Emotions Introduction Emotions in Greco-Roman Antiquity Grief and Tears in Greco-Roman Antiquity Anger in Greco-Roman Antiquity The Emotions of Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels The Tears of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke The Incident at the Temple The Emotions of the Other Characters Conclusions Chapter 7 Jesus and Suffering Introduction Death and Suffering in the Ancient Greco-Roman World Jesus’ Teaching on Suffering Jesus in Gethsemane Mark 14:32–42 Matthew 26:36–46 Luke 22:39–46 The Masculinity of Jesus in Gethsemane The Arrest of Jesus The Jewish and the Roman Trials: The Silence of Jesus The Mocking and Scourging of Jesus The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus The Death of Jesus in Mark and Matthew The Death of Jesus in Luke Conclusions Chapter 8 Conclusions Bibliography Primary Sources Secondary Literature Index of Modern Authors Index of Ancient Sources In Jesus and Other Men, Susanna Asikainen explores the masculinities of Jesus and other male characters as well as the ideal femininities in the Synoptic Gospels. She studies the masculinity of Jesus vis- -vis his opponents, disciples, and women. She also considers the impact of Jesus' emotions and suffering on his masculinity. Arguing that there were several competing ideals of masculinity, she sets out to trace what strategies the early Christian masculinities used in relation to the hegemonic masculinities of the ancient Greco-Roman world. She shows that the Gospel of Luke is close to the ancient Greco-Roman ideal of self-controlled masculinity while the Gospels of Mark and Matthew portray Jesus and the disciples as examples of voluntarily marginalized masculinity In Jesus and Other Men, Susanna Asikainen explores the masculinities of Jesus and other male characters and the ideal femininities in the Synoptic Gospels. Readership: Anyone interested in masculinities and gender in the New Testament and in the ancient Greco-Roman world