Religion and Theology

Marks Gospel has been described as quoted by Bartlet (page 3) as -
A succession of pictures in which a painter represents a complete history or
rather his interpretation of a unique person and his mission on earth.

Blaiklock ( page 110, 1966) describes it as fast-moving, tense and eager to convince.
It is of course one of the three synoptic gospels, the others being Luke and Matthew, both are whom are generally considered to have used large sections of Marks text as their basis. Matthews emphasis is on the Kingly Messiah, Luke concentrates on Jesus as the friend of the outcast and sinners, but Marks depiction is of Jesus as a wonder worker and tireless  servant of God, the Son of Man as in 8 v 38. This essay will consider how and why this gospel was written. This will include a summary of its contents and also how they are influenced by Marks purpose in writing and the particular audience he was writing for.

Author and Date
The document itself gives no clues as to authorship, although the gospel is closely associated from the earliest times with Mark. He was neither famous or important so there would be no reason for linking him with the gospel unless he was actually the  author. He, in his turn, is closely associated with Peter. Metzer and Coogan ( page 493) quote, as do other authors, Papias, the bishop of Hierapolis, who wrote in about C.E. 130 claimed that Mark was the author and that he was the Interpreter of Peter. Papias, according to Blunt,( 1949, page 26) said that he gained his information from a presbyter  by the name of John who said that Mark was -
Later a follower, as I said, of Peter, who ( i.e.Peter) used to adapt his teaching                                                                          to the needs (of his hearers), but not as if he were making a connected arrangement of the Lords words. So that Mark committed no error in thus
 writing down some things as he remembered them.

Justin Martyr in about 150 C.E. refers to Peters recollections. A few years later in 180 C.E. says that Mark committed to writing the things written by Peter (Bartlet, page 10). This seems to be the same Mark who is described by Peter in I Peter 5 v 13 as My son Mark, usually associated with the name John mark and mentioned by Luke in the Acts of the Apostles, first of all as the son of Mary of Jerusalem and in Acts 12 v 12, and he is also referred to in 2nd Timothy 4 v 11. In those instances he is however associated with Paul and in Colossians 4 v 10  he is described as the cousin of Pauls companion Barnabus. Cole suggests,( 2005, page 946)  without really solid evidence, that the Last Supper may have been held in his family home.

Blaiklock (1966, page 10) describes Mark as a failed missionary. It is certainly true that Luke describes in Acts 13 v 13 how he suddenly left Paul and his companions. No explanation is given, but the Greek word often rendered as left is quite a strong one implying rather desertion and abandonment as can be seen in the Amplified New Testament (1958) and the Living New Testament (1967)  version of events.

As far as dating is concerned Mark is generally accepted as having priority, although other arguments have been put forward. Metzer and Coogan (1993, page 926) says the main argument  for  Marcan priority  is the lack of content because if he had had access to the Sermon on the Mount  ( Mathew 5 ff) or parables such as that of the Prodigal son                 ( Luke15  verse 11-31) he could not fail to include them. There is also the vividness of the language used as in the story of the storm at sea (Mark 4 v 35-38), a storm still fresh in someones mind.

Among counterarguments that have been suggested one suggests  Matthew as having been written first, because, according to Metzer and Coogan,( page 726), his was apparently the best known of the gospels. Also there are instances where Mark seems to be writing an abbreviated form as in 1 v 12-13, Marks account of the temptations in the wilderness. Longer versions are to be found in both Matthew 4 and Luke 4. Whether or not Mark was condensing a longer document it is difficult to say whether this was Matthew, Luke or the mysterious Q.

The text of Mark, of which we now have modern translations, was certainly circulating well before the end of the first century according to Bartlett (undated, page 4) Cole (New Bible Commentary 2005, page 946) believes it to have probably been written between 60 and 70 C.E. i.e. about 30 years after the crucifixion and at about the same time as the deaths of Paul and Peter. This was before the Romans destroyed much of Jerusalem in C.E. 70. The evidence given for this is that Mark includes Jesuss predictions about the destruction, as in Mark 13 v 2, but that  he makes no mention of this  actually happening.

It is likely that Peter was executed in Rome in C.E. 64 and if so it is most probable that his companion Mark wrote his gospel while in that city. This central presence had its effect upon his style as will be discussed later.

Audience and Purpose
If Mark really is the author, and also if he has the priority generally accorded him, then it is he who invented the gospel genre, as Cole explains in his commentary ( page 946) His purpose was to make the good news accessible to the Gentiles. Rome, although  it had many  resident Jews, was of course primarily a Gentile city.  We tend to read the gospels in short sections in modern times, but this exciting and important story could easily have held its audience in one long sitting. The apostles had been the first witnesses to the resurrections in Acts 2 v 14 ff. In Acts 10 v 39 Peter says We are witnesses of everything he did . The other gospels were almost certainly written after the deaths of many the earliest church members according to most scholars. Mark includes less teaching because he still expected the good news to be spread by word of mouth from actual eye witnesses.
Metzer and Coogan (page 492), believe that the book was designed to be read aloud. It is short and sharp in its delivery. Blunt, (page 79) notes that the word straightway                         (immediately)  is used 41 times.  For this reason connections should be noted rather than trying to break the book up into sections. The Thompson Chain Bible (page 4263) says it is believed  Mark was writing for Gentile audience. The evidence for this is the general lack of Old Testament references, which is very obvious when this document is compared to that of Matthew. Gentiles would not have understood the Old Testament prophecies without a great deal of explanation, or even been particularly interested in them. Their belief in Jesus was more immediate, rather than based upon past experience and the interpretation of prophecy.  Also Jewish words and customs are explained in several instances, as in 3 v 17 where the word Boanages is translated and in chapter 7 v 3 where ceremonial washing is explained.  It was meant as a sort of sermon,  preaching  the facts that Christians relied upon, the basic facts of the gospel, that Christ was the Son of God ( Mark 1 v 11) performed wonders,( Mark 10 v 52)  was crucified according to  Gods eternal purposes ( Mark 10 v 45) , he rose from the dead ( Mark 16 v 6) and that whoever believes in him will be saved ( Mark 16 v 16)

A secondary purpose suggested by Cole (page 947) is that Mark was trying to encourage those suffering from persecution. Rome was the centre of a huge Gentile empire and therefore could be assumed to be where any persecution would begin and be at its strongest. In about C.E. 64 there was a great persecution of Christian at the orders of Nero. This followed the great fire which destroyed much of central Rome as described by Roman historian Tacticus in his Annuls. The gospel tells them that Christ who died a death he so obviously did not deserve, was ultimately  triumphant as set out in detail in chapter 16.

Synopsis and Major Themes
The main theme of Marks gospel is of Jesus, the Christ, servant of God. He is described as performing many good works, healing the sick and those possessed by evil spirits. There are 19 miracles recorded, eight of these  showing  power over illness and disease, five demonstrate  his power over the forces of nature , four reveal his authority over evil spirits ,and finally there are two ( 5 v 42 and16 v 9) which show how he has conquered the power of death.

A large amount of teaching is also included as in Mark 2 v 18-22, although there is less than is included in either Luke or Matthew. It is the shortest gospel and it in the first few sentences that the most important information is contained.. As John does Mark begins by declaring the divinity of Christ. Mark 1 v 1) describes the gospel as being about Jesus Christ the Son of God, but unlike John he does not expand on this theme. Instead he includes rare references to the Old Testament prophecies before immediately setting his scene by introducing John the Baptist.  There are many pointers to this being the account of an eye witness, as in12 v 37, where the crowd are described as having listened with delight. Although he has begun be emphasizing Christs divine powers, Mark soon moves on to a portrayal of his humanity his disappointment in 3 v 5, his tiredness in 4 v38 and his amazement in 6 v 6.

The book has both an introduction and a series of events leading up to the entry of Jesus on the scene( Chapter 1 v 1-13). There is the announcement of who Jesus is, the coming of the forerunner, the baptism, his empowering and the conflict with Satan in the wilderness.
Mark then goes on to report upon the early Galilean ministry ( 1 v 14  7 v 23). He omits the Judean ministry described by John in his chapters 2 -4. This is followed by a tour of Tyre and Sidon (7 v 24-30) and then a return to northern Galilee. After this there is ministry in Perea and the turn towards Jerusalem (10 v 1-52) and the Passion Week as recorded by Mark in chapter 11 through to 16 v 8
The gospel ends very abruptly. Whether the original narrative was disturbed  for  some reason , or whether a more complete copy once existed but hasnt come down to us, Cole ( page 948)  explains that the ending as we have it was not written by Mark, but would have been added by early Christians attempting to round out the story. Matthew Henry               ( page 342, 1974) describes this passage as an epilogue.

Cole divides the work into even more simple parts - preaching the kingdom, chapters 1  8 v 26 the cost of the kingdom, 8 v 27  10 v 52 and finally bringing in the kingdom, 11 v 1 -16 v 20.

Personal comments
I can understand why there are arguments about Mark and his primacy and even his authenticity and historical truth although in this comparatively short essay there isnt time to investigate all of these.  The scholars concerned want to verify that the truth is found. However, the truths contained in the gospel are what is important, rather than when they were written down and by who and where. Marks is an important book, not least because of its simple language. It can be read easily by someone with relatively basic English and is often the first book translated into a language by missionaries who are themselves learning a language, as its grammar is simple, usually the simple past Jesus went, walked, talked , asked. It is a book of its time, meant for a particular circumstance and audience, and although to some extent neglected in comparison with the other gospels, seen as being perhaps less spiritual than John and because it does not contain the birth narratives.  At the same time it still with much to teach about who Jesus was and why he came.  No grand oratory as in Matthew, no difficult mysteries  as in John, basic simple language instead of Lukes finer descriptive Greek, but the essence of the gospel story is made clear. In that Mark achieved his purpose.

Conclusion
St Marks gospel is one of the most important books in Christianity, not least because of its early acceptance by the church and its association with St Peter, one of the first eye witnesses to Christs earthly ministry. It is also important because, like other New Testament texts, it was written by an actual eye witness to some of  the events. Mark may be the young man described as being present in the garden in Mark 14 v 51,52 and his mothers house was used as a base by the very earliest church members as described in Acts 12 v 12 . If he didnt witness all  it is based upon the memories of one who did , someone who believed that Jesus actually was the longed for Messiah. Peters confession, You are the Christ  recorded in Mark 8 v 29, shows that even before the resurrection, this belief was held by at least some of  his earliest followers. Because it contains that one bold assertion, a recognition that God had sent his Son into the world as he had promised this book is worthy of its place as a witness to the beliefs of the church.