Noted biblical scholar Elizabeth Struthers Malbon asks a literary question in this landmark volume: how does the Markan narrative characterise Jesus? Through a close narrative analysis, she carefully examines various ways the Gospel discloses its central character. The result is a multi-layered Markan narrative christology, focusing not only on what the narrator and other characters say about Jesus (pro-jected christology), but also on what Jesus says in response to what these others say to and about him (deflected christology), what Jesus says instead about himself and God (refracted christology), what Jesus does (enacted christology), and how what other characters do is related to what Jesus says and does (reflected christology). Holding significant implications for those who wish to use Mark's Gospel to make claims about the historical Jesus, as well as for those who wish to use Mark's Gospel to construct confessions about the church's belief, Malbon's research is a groundbreaking work of scholarship.

"With characteristic insight, Malbon here opens our eyes to the multi-layered Markan narrative. An invaluable companion." -- Paula Gooder, Writer & Lecturer in Biblical Studies
"This is Malbon at her most insightful and resourceful. Experts and dabblers alike will find the book enlightening and rewarding." -- Stephen D Moore, author of "Mark & Method: New Approaches in Biblical Studies"
Malbon has now pulled together the research of more than twenty-five years of research into an attractive and readable volume that both brings the inexperienced reader up to speed and advances the discussion. -- Review of Biblical Literature

Elizabeth Struthers Malbon is Professor in the Religious Studies Program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She is the editor of Between Author and Audience in Mark: Narration, Characterization, Interpretation and the author of Hearing Mark: A Listener's Guide and In the Company of Jesus: Characters in Mark's Gospel. She lives in Blacksburg, Virginia.