Have you ever walked into the tail end of a conversation and wonder what started the discussion? The conversation made sense as you were apart of it, but when you found out the origination of the conversation it provided greater insight into the discussion. The same is true with the Bible. The Bible makes sense as you read it, but once you know the origination of the book, one gets greater insight into what it says. Over the next several weeks, PursuingHim.com will be sharing the skinny or overview of the origination of the books of the New Testament in hopes that this will provide some further insights for studying God’s word. These articles coincide with our Spring 2009 Lunch Bunch called New Testament Challenge. Previously, we looked at the book of Matthew, this week we will be continuing with the book of Mark.
The Book of Mark
Publication Date: According to most sources, including the early church identify that The book of Mark was written between 64 – 70 A.D.
Author: The book of Mark has the least questions regarding it’s author. The early church fathers attribute the writing of Mark to none other than Mark. Mark who was not an apostle (apostle defined as one who had seen Jesus, seen Jesus’ death and resurrection) traveled with Peter and wrote down a summary of the messages that Peter gave.
Target Audience: According to Zondervan’s Pictorial Bible Dictionary, “Mark’s Gospel (Gospel meaning Good News) was written at Rome. Several distinctive features point in this direction. Mark uses ten Latin words, some of which do not occur elsewhere in the New Testament. He explains Jewish customs because he is writing to Gentiles (people who are not Jewish). To his Roman readers he presents Jesus as the mighty conqueror and the suffering Servant of the Lord.” Most scholars believe that Mark was the first of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) to be written and that Matthew and Luke reference portions of Mark’s writing.
Book Outline:
- The Servant’s Coming (1:1 – 13).
- The Servant’s Work (1:14 – 13:37).
- The Servant’s Death (14:1 – 15:47).
- The Servant’s Resurrection (16:1-20).
Outline taken from The New Unger’s Bible Handbook.
