The Beginning of the Gospel

Mark 1:1

I. Preliminaries

1) The Author: Mark (aka – John Mark)

• Early Church identified Mark as the author
• Cousin of Barnabus (Colossians 4:10)
• Influential Christian mother (Acts 12:12)
• Companion of the Apostle Paul
  • Left Paul and Barnabus on their first missionary journey (Acts 15:36-41)
  • Was later reconciled to Paul in spite of this early failure in ministry (2 Tim 4:11)
• Interpreter/ Scribe for the Apostle Peter
  • Bishop Papias (1st -2nd century) states that Mark’s Gospel was based on Peter’s eyewitness testimony
  • Papias hints that Mark’s Gospel doesn’t follow a strict chronological order
  • Mark was with Peter in Rome (1 Pet 5:13)
• Mark may have been an eyewitness to Jesus’ arrest as a young man (cf. Mark 14:51-52)

2) The Audience: Gentile Christians in Rome

• Mark was with Peter in Rome shortly before his martyrdom under Nero
• Rufus is mentioned in 15:21 (a member of the Church in Rome – Romans 16:13)
• Jewish customs are always explained

3) The Date: Early- mid 60s AD

• Most likely written after Peter’s martyrdom (early 60s), and before destruction of the Temple in 70 AD
• Early Church minimized the importance of Mark’s Gospel – considered to be an abridged version of Matthew’s Gospel
• Nearly all modern scholars believe that Mark was written before Matthew and Luke
• Reports are circulating that a 1st century fragment of Mark may have been discovered in Egypt – if true it will be the oldest New Testament fragment ever discovered

II. Purpose (v. 1)

1) To explain the ‘gospel’ (euangelion = good news)

• Mark ties the gospel to the reality of the historical Jesus – the gospel is all about Jesus!
  • ‘euangelion‘ was used by the Romans to announce the birth of the Emperor, his coming of age, his enthronement, his speeches, and his
  • ‘euangelion‘ was used in the Greek version of the Old Testament to announce God’s coming salvation (Isaiah 52:7)
• Mark’s Gospel focuses on action – what Jesus did rather than what Jesus said

2) To explain how the gospel ‘began’

• Matthew begins with Jesus’ Messianic identity
• Luke begins with Jesus’ miraculous birth
• John begins with Jesus’ pre-existence
• Mark begins with Jesus’ earthly ministry

3) To demonstrate the deity of Jesus Christ

• Mark’s Gospel begins and ends with an affirmation of Christ’s deity (1:1, cf. 15:39)
• ‘Son of God’ – title used by the Roman Caesar

4) To encourage suffering Christians

• Written in Rome during Nero’s persecution
• Almost half of Mark’s Gospel takes place during Jesus’ final week – emphasis on suffering and death