Understanding The Bible |
BY THE AUTHOR
Dr. Clarence E. Mason, Jr.
Philadelphia College of Bible
1971
NOTE OF INTEREST ON MARK'S GOSPEL
(see outline of Mark on next page)
The world at this time was ruled by Rome and the Romans were very important
people. To have omitted them would have been fatal to the Christian cause. The
Romans were not interested in alien genealogies or messianic kingdoms; did not
they rule? They scorned the dreamy philosophizing of the Greeks as decadent.
This vigorous people of deeds needed to see the Great Servant of Jehovah, moving
swiftly and confidently about among men, DOING tilings; and what things indeed,
MIRACLES! They needed also to learn that the greatest deeds were not in the
realm of the material but in the realm of the spiritual. In short, they needed
Mark's Gospel, and God saw that they got it!!
John Mark had considerable association with Peter in his ministry. Although this is only alluded to in 1 Peter 5:13, it is mentioned clearly in the writings of many of the fathers, such as Papias, Jus tin Martyr, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Eusebius. Indeed, it is the uniform tradition that, in a very real sense, Mark simply organized and wrote out the story of our Lord on the basis of the vivid sermons and descriptions of Peter. Justin Martyr calls the Gospel "Peter's Memoirs." Certainly apostolicity was a definite requirement for a book to be received into the New Testament Canon. It would therefore appear that just as Paul sponsored Luke's Gospel and Acts, so Peter sponsored Mark's, who wrote it at the urging of Peter's hearers who wanted a permanent record.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK
(Adapted from Robert Lee and Albert Hughes)
The Gospel of Mark is addressed to Romans. It is the Gospel which sets forth our Lord as the Servant of Jehovah. Its outline may be given as follows:
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2012-11-21