The Gospel of Mark

Analysis from A History of the New Testament by Father Raymond Brown, S.S. and Invitation to Mark, by Paul J Achtemeier

DATE: 65-70 CE

AUTHOR BY TRADITIOAL 20TH CENTURY ATTRIBUTION:
Mark, the follower and “interpreter” of Peter, usually identified as the John Mark of acts, whose mother had a house in Jerusalem. He accompanied Barabas and Paul on the “First Missionary Journey” and may have helped Peter and Paul in Rome in the 60’s. Some who reject this attribution allow that the author may have been an otherwise unknown Christian named Mark

AUTHOR DETECTABLE FROM CONTENT:
A Greek speaker, who was not an eyewitness of Jesus’ ministry and made inexact statements about Palestinian geography. He drew on pre-shaped traditions about Jesus (oral and probably written as well) and addressed himself to a community that seemingly had undergone persecution and failure.

LOCALITY INVOLVED:
Traditionally Rome (where Christians were persecuted by Nero). Other suggestions: Syria, the north Transjordan, the Decapolis and Galilee.

UNITY:
No reason to believe there was more than one author,

INTEGRITY:
Mark invented the art form of the Gospel . No small feat. About 97% of Mark is found in Matthew and Luke, although they reorder the materials and sometimes use it in different way, to suit their individual purposes.

STYLE:
There are no infancy narratives; the gospel jumps right into the beginning of Jesus’ adult ministry. It is a gospel that centers on the passion and death of Jesus. Jesus is portrayed as a man in a hurry; the gospel is very episodic as Jess heals, cures and teaches. It probably ended with MK 16:8. Which is the death of Jesus. The longer version (16:9-20) was likely added, even by another, as an epilogue.

A key part of Mark is chapter 13, which is known as the “Little Apocalypse”. (Two other bible “apocalypses” are the Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelation.) It is part of his farewell discourse before the passion. It is also a message to the Markan community who find themselves at odds with the authorities and sometimes with each other. This chapter is both comfort and warning…

Outline:
1:1-8:6 Ministry of Healing and Preaching to Galilee
8:27-16:8 Suffering predicted, travel to Jerusalem, Death in Jerusalem
16:9-10 (epilogue) Resurrection

According to those who know such things, the Greek is not as polished as that of Luke, for example. Mark is sloppy about some details and about geography. We see a great deal of criticism of the Apostles, especially Peter. It is a gospel that constantly reinforces the belief that there is no crown with a cross…