Abstract
The article aims to explain why Jesus was crucified. Rather than using traditional approaches into the investigation of the 'theology of the cross' etc., the remark in Mk 15.10, 'it was out of envy that they handed Jesus over', is used as a starting point. Using a model from cultural anthropology supplemented by a close look at ancient sources dealing with envy, a full 'anatomy of envy' is developed to indicate how per vasive and culturally plausible envy is in a document of conflict such as Mark's Gospel. Knowledge of the full 'anatomy of envy' offers then a systemic model of a common social phenomenon in biblical times. As such the 'anatomy of envy' makes it more culturally plausible why Jesus was handed over and killed: He was envied unto death.
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