Papyri and the Synoptic Miracle Stories
Ancient History
Religious Studies and Jewish Studies
Final Report Abstract
The primary objective of the research project “Papyri and the Synoptic Miracle Stories” was to engage in a first systematic examination of all the miracle stories transmitted by the three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) from a papyrological point of view, with the final goal to produce a volume for the international series of “Papyrologische Kommentare zum Neuen Testament” (PKNT; Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht). Over the last decades, scholars have shown a growing interest in using documentary sources from the Hellenistic-Roman period so as to reconstruct and understand the social world of early Christian groups and texts. So far, however, the PKNT series represents the only international project dedicated to the analysis of documentary papyri for the interpretation of New Testament writings on a systematic scale. Following the methodology and goals of the PKNT series, this project started from a fairly simple question: How could a Synoptic miracle story have been perceived or understood by an average reader or listener of its time? To answer this, the analysis has sought to illuminate the language, key topics, and social scenarios of the Gospel narratives through a sound comparison with documentary papyri, ostraca, and tablets coming from the Greco-Roman world. Since most of the miracle stories transmitted in the synoptic tradition depict Jesus as a healer and exorcist, special attention has been paid to issues related to healing and disease, as well as to the close connection between miracle, magic, and medicine in the Gospel narratives. Because of this special focus, the comparative analysis has not been limited to documentary sources in the strict sense of the term, but has expanded to include magical papyri (such as amulets) and semi-literary texts (such as medical handbooks, prescriptions, and recipes). Among the many aspects of the synoptic miracle stories that have received new light are: the social construction of illness and the connection between illness, social status, ethnicity, and gender; the symbolic meaning of illness and suffering; the portrait of Jesus as a healer and exorcist; the relationship between Jesus and other healing practitioners of his time; the coexistence of different healing systems at the time of the Gospels; and the use of healing techniques and ancient medical knowledge by Jesus and his early followers. Besides the Papyrological Commentary on the Miracle Stories in the Synoptic Tradition that is currently in preparation, the project has also led to the production of a special monograph entirely devoted to the healing of Simon’s mother-in-law (Mark 1:29–31 and parallels) and the problem of fever in antiquity, to be published in the “Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament” series by Mohr Siebeck.
Publications
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2018: “He Makes Both the Deaf Hear and the Speechless Speak”: Mark 7:31–37 in the Light of Documentary Papyri and Semi-Literary Texts. Italian Centre for Advanced Studies on Religions (CISSR), Fifth Annual Meeting on Christian Origins, CEUB – University of Bologna Residential Centre of Bertinoro, Bertinoro (Italy), Sept. 27–29
Mara Rescio
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2019: Sensory Disability in Synoptic Miracle Stories and in Ancient Everyday Life: A Papyrological Reading of Mark 8:22–26 and Parallels. 29th International Congress of Papyrology (“Association Internationale de Papyrologues”), University of Salento, Lecce (Italy), July 28 – Aug. 3
Mara Rescio
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2019: What’s Behind a Fever: The Healing of Simon’s Mother-in-Law (Mark 1:29–31 and Parallels) in the Light of Documentary Papyri and Semi-Literary Texts. International Conference “The Gospel of Mark: History and Theology”, Saints Cyril and Methodius School for Post-Graduate and Doctoral Studies, Moscow (Russia), Sept. 23–27
Mara Rescio
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2021: How to Make Sense of Unspecified Diseases: Jesus’ Healing Activity One Evening (Mark 1:32–34 and Parallels) in the Light of Documentary Papyri and Ancient Medical Terminology. International Conference “Fresh Perspectives on the Chester Beatty Biblical Papyri, Papyrology, and Communication in the Ancient World”, Dublin City University & Chester Beatty Library, Dublin (Ireland), Oct. 8–10
Mara Rescio
