Mark in Biblical History

Bible History

Schaff's Bible Dictionary

Definitions in Biblical History
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Who is Mark?
MARK or JOHN MARK
as he is also called, Acts 12:12, Gal 4:25; Acts 15:37, was a Jew, probably a native of Jerusalem, where his mother, Mary, resided. Acts 12:12. She was a person of some repute among the early Christians, as Peter, when released from prison, naturally went to her house. Mark was probably converted through that apostle, who calls him "his son." 1 Pet 5:13, and the minute account of the young man who followed Jesus on the night of the betrayal, Mark 14:51-52, together with the omission of the name, points to the evangelist as the person concerned. Going with Paul and Barnabas, who was his cousin. Col 4:10, as their minister, Acts 12:25, on their first missionary journey, he left them at Perga, Acts 13:13, and in consequence became, the occasion of "sharp contention" between them. Acts 15:36-40. Afterward he appears as a companion of Paul in Rome. Col 4:10; Phile 24. He was with Peter when that apostle wrote his first Epistle, 1 Pet 5:13, but was at Ephesus with Timothy at a date probably later. 2 Tim 4:11. Respecting his after-life trustworthy details are wanting, but ancient writers agree in speaking of him as the "interpreter" of Peter, which may mean that he translated for the apostle, but more probably means that he wrote his Gospel in close conformity to Peter's preaching. According to the unanimous testimony of antiquity, the second Gospel in our canon was written by Mark, and numerous details of the work indicate the close relation between its author and Peter. Many events are recorded as if from the lips of an eye-witness, and some have suggested that the Gospel is based upon a diary of Peter, sketching his fresh impressions of events as they occurred. The style shows the influence of that apostle. Peter's address to Cornelius, Acts 10, has been called the Gospel of Mark in a nutshell. A comparison of the accounts in Matt 16:13-23 and Mark 8:27-33 indicates that Peter himself (or an enemy of his, which is impossible) occasioned the omission of the praise, and yet the insertion of the rebuke. Mark alone mentions the two cock-crowings, Mark 14:72, thus increasing the guilt of Peter's denial. Although written in Greek, the Gospel was designed for Roman readers, and is especially adapted to their minds, so easily impressed by exhibitions of energy and power. It exhibits Christ as the spiritual Conqueror and Wonder-worker, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, filling the people with amazement and fear. Mark introduces several Latin terms; he even substitutes Roman money for Greek, Mark 12:42, which Luke does not, and notices that Simon of Cyrene was the father of Alexander and Rufus, Acts 15:21, who probably were Christians in Rome. Rom 16:13. It is therefore most likely that the Gospel was written in that city. The great similarity between the Gospel of Mark and that of Matthew has led some to consider the former a mere abridgment of the latter, but without sufficient reason. It occupies an independent position as the connecting-link between Matthew and Luke, Peter and Paul, the Jewish and the Gentile Christianity. The last part of the closing chapter, Mark 16:9-20, is not found in the two oldest and best manuscripts of the Bible, of which circumstance some have taken occasion to declare it a later addition. But it has been recognized as part of the Gospel and quoted by the Fathers of the second century - for instance, Irenaeus, whose testimony is older than the oldest manuscript. Possibly it was a later postscript of Mark, added to a second copy; hence its omission in some manuscripts.

Bibliography Information
Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'mark' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
bible-history.com - Schaff's

Copyright Information
© Schaff's Bible Dictionary

Schaff's Bible Dictionary Home
Bible History Online Home

Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
Online Bible (KJV)
Naves Topical Bible
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Schaff's Bible Dictionary
Fausset's Bible Dictionary
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
Hitchcock's Bible Dictionary

Schaff's Bible Dictionary

Popular in the New Testament

Popular in the
New Testament