The beginning of Jesus' ministry according to Mark's Gospel (1, 14-3, 6): a redaction critical study

Mk 1,14-3,6 deals with the initial phase of Jesus' public ministry. Three basic questions arise. What was Mark's aim in composing 1,14-3,6 the way he did? What is the theological significance of this section, and what function does it have in Mark's gospel taken as a whole? These questions are approached through a redaction critical investigation of Mk 1,14-3,6, composed of three parts. The first concerns the place of the section in Mark's Gospel. The second one presents a literary analysis and interpretation of Mk 1,14-3,6. The third one spells out the function of 1,14-3,6, considering first the literary relations and the thematic progress, and then the programmatic character of the section. The conclusion deals with the proleptic role of the section in Mark's Gospel.