Eyewitnesses and Healing Miracles in the Gospel of Mark

Abstract

This essay builds on my extensive argument elsewhere to the effect that the Gospels are closely based on eyewitness testimony. It focuses on the nine healing miracles in the Gospel of Mark. The intention is not to offer any kind of proof that the stories really are based on eyewitness reports, but to show that Mark wanted to claim eyewitness testimony for them and that this explains some features of the narratives. The features that are discussed from this perspective are the Aramaic words of Jesus, the occurrence of personal names, and the literary construction of point of view.