Mark

Background and History

The chapters above are the King James text. This essay is the setting of Mark: who is said to have written it, when and where, what happens in it, and how the text has been copied.

At a Glance

Who Wrote It

The book carries no author’s name in its text. The heading According to Mark is attached to it in the early copies that carry titles. Mark was not an apostle, which makes the attribution unlikely to be invented: a later writer seeking authority would choose a more famous name.

Papias, quoted by Eusebius in Church History 3.39.15, reports that the elder said Mark became Peter’s interpreter and wrote down accurately, though not in order, what he remembered of the Lord’s words and deeds. (2) Irenaeus, in Against Heresies 3.1.1, says that after the departure of Peter and Paul, Mark, the disciple and interpreter of Peter, handed down in writing what Peter had preached. (3) Clement of Alexandria, reported by Eusebius in Church History 6.14, says Peter’s hearers in Rome asked Mark to write. (4) The John Mark of Acts 12:12Acts 12:12 · King James VersionAnd when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.Acts 12:12 · King James VersionOpen the Source travels with Paul and Barnabas, and 1 Peter 5:131 Peter 5:13 · King James VersionThe church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.1 Peter 5:13 · King James VersionOpen the Source has Peter call Mark his son.

Most scholars, including many critical ones, accept that a man named Mark wrote the book, though some doubt the link to Peter. They argue that the Gospel’s geography of Galilee is loose in places, as in Mark 7:31Mark 7:31 · King James VersionAnd again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.Mark 7:31 · King James VersionOpen the Source, and that the Petrine link may be a second-century effort to give the book apostolic standing. Others point to Peter’s prominence and to vivid detail as signs of eyewitness memory. The name itself is rarely contested.

Who It Is Not

The young man who flees naked at Jesus’ arrest in Mark 14:51–52Mark 14:51–52 · King James Version^14:51 And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: ^14:52 And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.Mark 14:51–52 · King James VersionOpen the Source is often guessed to be Mark himself, but the text does not say so. Mark is not the author of the Secret Gospel of Mark, a text known only from a modern report of a later letter, and of disputed authenticity.

When and Where

Bible Gateway’s survey gives AD 64–70. (5) Irenaeus places the writing after the departure of Peter and Paul, which most read as their deaths in the 60s. (3) Clement places it during Peter’s lifetime. (4) The two reports differ by a few years, and this page prints both. Readers who date the book before 70 point to Mark 13 as prediction rather than report. Those who date it just after 70 read the same chapter the other way.

Audience and Setting

Mark explains Jewish customs for readers who do not know them, as in Mark 7:3–4Mark 7:3–4 · King James Version^7:3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. ^7:4 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.Mark 7:3–4 · King James VersionOpen the Source, and translates Aramaic words such as talitha cumi in Mark 5:41Mark 5:41 · King James VersionAnd he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.Mark 5:41 · King James VersionOpen the Source. That fits Gentile readers, and the early tradition names Rome. A community facing persecution would hear in Mark 8:34–35Mark 8:34–35 · King James Version^8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. ^8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.Mark 8:34–35 · King James VersionOpen the Source the call to take up the cross.

Rulers at the Time

Herod the tetrarch, Antipas, beheads John in Mark 6:14–29Mark 6:14–29 · King James Version^6:14 And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. ^6:15 Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets. ^6:16 But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead. ^6:17 For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife: for he had married her. ^6:18 For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife. ^6:19 Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: ^6:20 For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. ^6:21 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; ^6:22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. ^6:23 And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. ^6:24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. ^6:25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. ^6:26 And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath’s sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. ^6:27 And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, ^6:28 And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother. ^6:29 And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.Mark 6:14–29 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Pontius Pilate tries Jesus in Mark 15:1–15Mark 15:1–15 · King James Version^15:1 And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate. ^15:2 And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it. ^15:3 And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing. ^15:4 And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee. ^15:5 But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled. ^15:6 Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired. ^15:7 And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. ^15:8 And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them. ^15:9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? ^15:10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy. ^15:11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. ^15:12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? ^15:13 And they cried out again, Crucify him. ^15:14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him. ^15:15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.Mark 15:1–15 · King James VersionOpen the Source. The high priest is unnamed in Mark’s trial scene. This page does not print reign dates, because a chronology was not checked for this essay.

Places in This Book

What Is Happening

Mark 1:1Mark 1:1 · King James VersionThe beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;Mark 1:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source announces the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Mark 1–8 move quickly through Galilee with the word immediately repeated, as Jesus heals, teaches, and confronts unclean spirits. Mark 8:27–30Mark 8:27–30 · King James Version^8:27 And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am? ^8:28 And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets. ^8:29 And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ. ^8:30 And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.Mark 8:27–30 · King James VersionOpen the Source is Peter’s confession, the hinge of the book. Mark 8–10 are the road to Jerusalem with three predictions of suffering. Mark 11–15 are the last week, trial, and cross. Mark 16 is the empty tomb.

Key Themes

The book centers on the cross. Mark 10:45Mark 10:45 · King James VersionFor even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.Mark 10:45 · King James VersionOpen the Source says the Son of man came to give his life a ransom for many. Discipleship is costly in Mark 8:34Mark 8:34 · King James VersionAnd when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.Mark 8:34 · King James VersionOpen the Source. The disciples often misunderstand, and Jesus repeatedly tells people to keep silent about him, as in Mark 1:44Mark 1:44 · King James VersionAnd saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.Mark 1:44 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Scholars call this the messianic secret. It ends at the cross, where a centurion confesses him the Son of God in Mark 15:39Mark 15:39 · King James VersionAnd when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.Mark 15:39 · King James VersionOpen the Source.

Apologetics Questions

The ending is the main textual question. The two oldest complete Greek manuscripts end at Mark 16:8Mark 16:8 · King James VersionAnd they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.Mark 16:8 · King James VersionOpen the Source, and the longer ending, Mark 16:9–20Mark 16:9–20 · King James Version^16:9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. ^16:10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. ^16:11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. ^16:12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. ^16:13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. ^16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. ^16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. ^16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. ^16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; ^16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. ^16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. ^16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.Mark 16:9–20 · King James VersionOpen the Source, is printed in the King James Version. This page states the question and does not hide it. Most scholars hold the longer ending was added. No Christian doctrine rests on it alone. Mark’s priority, the view that Matthew and Luke used Mark, is the most widely held solution to the Synoptic problem, and Augustine’s older view that Mark abridged Matthew still has defenders.

How the Book Points to Christ

Mark opens with Jesus as the Son of God in Mark 1:1Mark 1:1 · King James VersionThe beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;Mark 1:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source and applies Isaiah 40:3Isaiah 40:3 · King James VersionThe voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.Isaiah 40:3 · King James VersionOpen the Source, a prophecy about preparing the way of the Lord, to Jesus’ coming in Mark 1:2–3Mark 1:2–3 · King James Version^1:2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. ^1:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.Mark 1:2–3 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Jesus forgives sins in Mark 2:5–7Mark 2:5–7 · King James Version^2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. ^2:6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, ^2:7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?Mark 2:5–7 · King James VersionOpen the Source, which his critics say only God can do. He calms the sea in Mark 4:39–41Mark 4:39–41 · King James Version^4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. ^4:40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? ^4:41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?Mark 4:39–41 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Jesus is God. What Is the Deity of Christ? gathers these lines.

Text and Manuscripts

Codex Sinaiticus, from the fourth century, is one of the two oldest complete Greek copies of the New Testament books. (6) Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus are the copies usually named as ending Mark at Mark 16:8Mark 16:8 · King James VersionAnd they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.Mark 16:8 · King James VersionOpen the Source. This page did not collate them itself. The verse pages for Mark 16:9Mark 16:9 · King James VersionNow when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.Mark 16:9 · King James VersionOpen the Source onward show the King James text and note that the oldest copies end earlier. Mark 7:16Mark 7:16 · King James VersionIf any man have ears to hear, let him hear.Mark 7:16 · King James VersionOpen the Source, Mark 9:44Mark 9:44 · King James VersionWhere their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.Mark 9:44 · King James VersionOpen the Source, and Mark 9:46Mark 9:46 · King James VersionWhere their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.Mark 9:46 · King James VersionOpen the Source are other verses the critical Greek text omits.

Canon Reception

Mark was received as one of the four Gospels without dispute. Irenaeus names it. (3) Eusebius lists the four Gospels among the acknowledged books. (2)

Further Reading

Who Wrote Matthew, Mark, and Luke? sets out the evidence for all three Synoptic Gospels. Is the Bible True? covers the manuscripts, including the shorter ending.