Journal for the Study of the New Testament 2015, Vol. 37(4) 381–406 © The Author(s) 2015 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/0142064X15581325 jsnt.sagepub.com What Type of Resistance? How Apocalyptic Discourse Functions as Social Discourse in Mark’s Gospel Elizabeth E. Shively St Mary’s College, University of St Andrews, UK Abstract Several scholars analyze the social dimensions of Mark’s apocalyptic discourse through socio-political or postcolonial models to identify Mark as resistance literature. Alternatively, this study uses literary analysis and metaphor theory to argue that Mark employs apocalyptic discourse for theological reasons with political implications. After evaluating representative socio-political and postcolonial interpretations and establishing the concept of apocalyptic discourse in light of the narrative’s theological and political aims, this study does two things: (1) it explains the function of Mark’s apocalyptic topoi to redefine the social concept of the family in order to explore the formation of the community that follows Jesus, and (2) it analyzes Mk 8.27–10.45 to demonstrate how apocalyptic discourse functions as social discourse in shaping that community’s identity and practice. The primary function of Mark’s apocalyptic discourse is not to combat alienation from the dominant cultural community, but from Jesus’ community as a result of misunderstanding and unbelief. Keywords Gospel of Mark, apocalyptic discourse, discipleship, metaphor, Roman Empire Introduction Very often written discourse is both descriptive and prescriptive. That is, texts reveal the author’s point of view about both what the world is and what the world should be. In particular, narrative texts function as persuasive rhetoric: more than Corresponding author: Elizabeth E. Shively, St Mary’s College, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9JU, UK. Email: ees3@st-andrews.ac.uk Article