NT SURVEY Mark BACKGROUND Author Mark John Mark

NT SURVEY Mark

BACKGROUND

Author • Mark (John Mark) • Papias (c. A. D. 140) who quotes an even earlier source said this referring to the Gospel of Mark: • Mark was a close associate of Peter, from whom he received the tradition of things said and done by the Lord. • This tradition did not come to Mark as a finished, sequential account of the life of our Lord, but as the preaching of Peter—preaching directed to the needs of the early Christian communities. • Mark accurately preserved this material.

Author • The Gospel of Mark largely consists of the preaching of Peter arranged and shaped by John Mark.

Author • What do we know about John Mark? • Mark lived in Jerusalem (Acts 12: 12). • Mark accompanied Paul and Barnabas (Acts 12: 25, Acts 13: 5). • Mark deserted Paul and Barnabas at Perga, in Pampyhilia, to return to Jerusalem (Acts 13: 13). • Paul became deeply disappointed at Mark and caused the disagreement between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15: 36 -39). • Mark regained Paul’s trust later on (Col. 4: 10, Phm. 24, 2 Tim. 4: 11).

Recipients • Church at Rome and/or Gentile readers • Mark explains Jewish customs (7: 2 -4, 15: 42) • Translates Aramaic words (3: 17, 5: 41, 7: 11, 7: 34, 15: 22) • Special interest in persecution and martyrdom (8: 34 -38, 13: 9 -13)— subjects of special concern to Roman believers.

Purpose • Possibly written because of the persecutions against the Roman church at the time. • Possibly written to prepare his readers for suffering by showing them the life of Christ.

Genre • Ancient biography in the form of narrative

STRUCTURE See handout.

DISTINCT DETAILS

Distinct Details in Mark • Strong, theologically-packed beginning (1: 1) • Lack of the birth narratives • The most concise account of Jesus’ ministry (16 chapters) • More emphasis on what Jesus did than what He said • Mark has 9 parables of Jesus • Matthew has 23 parables • Luke has 28 parables

Distinct Details in Mark • Fast-paced narrative (one Greek adverb used 47 times) • Ex. 1: 12, 18, 20, 23, 28, 29, 42, 43 • The first Gospel to be written. One theory is that Mark was used as a source for Matthew and Luke. • Matthew contains 91% of Mark’s account. • Luke contains 53% of Mark’s account. • Mark’s strange ending (Mark 16: 8) • The original ending does not record the appearance of Jesus to anyone.

The Synoptic Gospels • See handout on the Miracles of Jesus. • Why the similarities? Here are the possibilities: • • Oral tradition An early Gospel that is now lost Written fragments Mutual dependence Two major sources: Mark and “Q” Priority and use of Matthew A combination of most of the above

SIGNIFICANCE

Significance of Mark • Emphasis on what Jesus did (especially his suffering) • One third of the gospel delves into the last days of Jesus. • Readability and fast-paced nature of the narrative • Being the earliest Gospel to be written, it’s regarded as the most historical of the narratives of Jesus.