Gospel according to Mark

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Gospel according to Mark 2d book of the New Testament. The shortest of the four Gospels and probably the earliest, it is usually thought to have been composed shortly before the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem in AD 70. Tradition claims St. Mark as the author and St. Peter as the eyewitness authority who supplied much of his information. Because much of the material in Mark is found in the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Luke, it is likely that Mark's Gospel was an important source for those later Gospels (see Synoptic Gospels ). The Gospel of St. Mark may be divided into four sections: beginning of the ministry of Jesus; his first two years of preaching and healing in Galilee; his third year of ministry, including the journey to Jerusalem; the passion and resurrection. The earliest manuscripts of the Gospel conclude with the news of Christ's resurrection proclaimed at his open tomb; later manuscripts conclude with a longer passage in which the risen Jesus appears to some of his disciples. A large portion of the Gospels is devoted to the events of the week leading up to Christ's trial and crucifixion; they are foreshadowed earlier in the Gospel by Christ's three "passion predictions." Mark teaches that true discipleship comes from an appreciation not so much of Christ's miracles as of the service and suffering that characterize his ministry and messiahship. Jesus is presented as reluctant to disclose his true nature to those who lack the understanding that comes from insight into his suffering.

Bibliography: See W. Telford, ed., The Interpretation of Mark (1985); P. J. Achtemeier, Mark (1986); R. Price, Three Gospels (1996).

Mark, Gospel of St. Papias states that the Gospel was written by St Mark, who drew his information from St Peter. Later tradition connects the Gospel with Rome. It may have been written by John Mark (see the previous entry); there is no obvious reason why it should have been wrongly attributed to so unimportant a figure, but ‘Mark’ is a common name. Written in ‘koine’ or common Greek, Mk. is the least polished of the Gospels. It was probably written soon after the death of Peter (commonly put in AD 64) and during the siege of Jerusalem, or perhaps soon after AD 70.

Mk. makes it clear that Jesus is Messiah and Son of God (1: 1). This truth, known to demons, is disclosed only gradually. After an account of the preaching of St John the Baptist, the Baptism and Temptation of Christ, and His ministry of healing and preaching, a turning-point occurs at 8: 27 ff. with the confession of Peter that Jesus is the Messiah. From this point Mk. describes the burden of the Lord's teaching as the need for the ‘Son of Man’ to suffer, die, and rise from the dead. The story of the Passion describes the death of Christ as a fulfilment of OT prophecy and as a sacrifice inaugurating the new covenant. The Crucifixion is followed by the Resurrection, but the Gospel ends abruptly at 16: 8. 16: 9–20 is one of two early supplements.

See also MARCAN HYPOTHESIS, MESSIANIC SECRET, and SYNOPTIC PROBLEM.