Of Conflict and Concealment

“Adam Wright is ideally situated to question the notion that the Gospels are biographies and make a convincing case that Mark’s Gospel, at least, is a tragedy. Wright’s education in both classical and biblical studies enables him to examine the full range of evidence. This is not a far-fetched hypothesis, but an argument grounded in ancient and modern theory and Mark’s Gospel itself. This is an important book that anyone considering the genre of the Gospels must take into account.”


—Stanley E. Porter, President, Dean, and Professor of New Testament, Roy A. Hope Chair in Christian Worldview, McMaster Divinity College





“In his stimulating study, Of Conflict and Concealment, Adam Wright probes the difficult and surprisingly complex question of Mark’s literary genre. Swimming against the scholarly current, Wright argues that the Gospel of Mark is best understood as an example of Greek tragedy, not biography. This thesis has been argued before, but not with the clarity and depth that we find in Wright’s informative and well-researched book.”


—Craig A. Evans, John Bisagno Distinguished Professor of Christian Origins, Houston Baptist University





“Of Conflict and Concealment offers a reading of Mark’s Gospel as tragedy, which is both persuasive and intriguing. Adam Wright gives a thorough survey of Greek tragedy, including a few surprises for the non-specialist. These surprising elements open up new perspectives on several interpretive conundrums in Mark, and evoke fresh respect for its author, as someone who harnessed the literary power of the tragic genre.”


—Iain Luke, Principal, College of Emmanuel & St. Chad