ABSTRACT

Focusing on Jesus’ epistemological development of his disciples in Mark 4–9, this analysis finds two epistemological trajectories active in the story: Isaianic and Deuteronomic. Using the same basic epistemological process of Genesis and Exodus, The Deuteronomic use the heart/eyes/ears metaphor in Mark depicts disciples who are currently blind to the “mystery of the kingdom of God,” but are expected to eventually understand it—including the necessity of the crucifixion of Jesus. The Isaianic use of the heart/eyes/ears metaphor reveals no hope for the current generation to understand. Mark’s gospel orients readers to the disciples on the Deuteronomic path (blind, but expected to eventually see), while outsiders are on the Isaianic path (obdurately doomed to their blindness).