Abstract

This article reexamines the meaning and narrative function of ἐξουσία in Mark 2:1–12 by situating it within the Markan prologue and the Gospel’s early conflict scenes. While scholarship commonly interprets Jesus’ authority as a divine endowment grounded in his unique relationship to God, this study argues that Mark intentionally presents Jesus’ ἐξουσία as exercised through spirit-agency—that is, through the enabling presence and activity of the Holy Spirit. A narratological analysis shows that the prologue (1:9–13) equips the reader with privileged insight into Jesus’ identity as Spirit-bearer, shaping expectations for how his authority will manifest. The subsequent exorcism in Capernaum (1:21–28) further associates Jesus’ authoritative teaching and dominion over unclean spirits with his Spirit-endowment, particularly through the demon’s recognition of him as the “Holy One of God.” Against this backdrop, the healing of the paralytic demonstrates not only Jesus’ authoritative speech in forgiving sins but also his Spirit-enabled insight into hidden human dispositions. His perception of both faith and internal skepticism functions as the narrative’s initial manifestation of ἐξουσία, preceding and grounding the visible healing. Thus, Mark portrays Jesus’ authority as inseparable from the Spirit’s empowering presence—not only as a source of miraculous power but also as a mediator of supernatural knowledge. This reading contributes to Markan pneumatology by highlighting the Spirit’s role in Jesus’ discernment, anticipates later applications of spirit-agency to the disciples (e.g., Mark 13:11), and suggests broader implications for understanding the integration of Christology and Pneumatology in the Gospel.