Mark : Christian Community Bible

Introduction to Mark

From the end of the first century or at the beginning of the second century A.D., there are texts affirming that the second Gospel is the work of Mark: he accompanied Peter to Rome, where he also met Paul, and faithfully put in writing the teaching of Peter.

Mark wrote his Gospel for a definite type of community: he addresses Christians of pagan origin and wishes to proclaim the mystery of Jesus, Son of God, by relating the words and deeds by which he revealed himself to humankind.

Differing from Matthew and Luke who prefaced their Gospel with two chapters dealing with the childhood of Jesus, and differing also from John who placed at the beginning of his Gospel an admirable prologue, Mark holds to the pattern of primitive catechetics. The Acts of the Apostles in fact tell us what was the beginning and the end of this preaching by the Church of Jerusalem: at the time when Peter was looking for a replacement of Judas he said, “See among those who have been disciples with us from the moment Jesus was baptized by John to the day he was taken up” (Acts 1:21-22).

NOTE: excerpted from the introductory material for this book.