Mark's gospel was almost certainly the first of the four accounts of the life of Christ to be committed to paper.  A tradition dating back to the early second century and standing unchallenged in the early church, holds that Mark wrote the gospel that now bears his name, working mostly from what he had heard while serving alongside the Apostle Peter.  The common presumption among those who don't feel compelled to explain the scriptures away entirely holds that Mark gathered his information from Peter incidentally.  In other words, Peter would illustrate a sermon here or a lesson there with some event or teaching from the life of Jesus.  In so doing, Peter would not have been expected to have worked chronologically.  If this is the case, then we should not expect Mark to have worked in a perfect chronological manner.

Mark (and his gospel) is symbolized traditionally by a lion, especially a winged lion.  This symbol has served famously as the emblem of the city of Venice since certain reputable city fathers around 828 sailed to Alexandria where they "rescued" Mark's remains and brought them to rest in the church that now bears his name.

The Bare Facts

Who:  

 

Memorable Passages

Overviews and Outlines

Introduction to Mark

An outline-style introduction by David Malick.

An Outline of Mark

A Bible Links exclusive.  This outline represents my view of the structure of Mark's gospel.  It's hardly earth-shaking, but I'll stand behind it.

An Argument of Mark

David Malick's rhetorical outline of the book.

Mark: Introduction, Argument, and Outline

An overview by Daniel B. Wallace at the Biblical Studies Foundation.

Walk Thru the Bible: Mark

Another overview, this one from Windell Gann, a Church of Christ minister.

BibleNotes: Mark

An overview of the text.  Very thin summary.

Mark’s Portrait of Jesus: The Victorious Suffering Servant

A background and teaching outline of Mark supplied by Greg Herrick.

Blue Letter Bible: Mark

A solid introductory document from the Blue Letter Bible people.

Easton Bible Dictionary: Mark

The text from the 1897 version of this classic reference.

The Grace Institute: Mark

Notes from an online course.

The Gospel of Mark: Introduction

A primer from Atlantic Baptist University.  Reading this will give a student a good bit of the scholarly background on Mark.

Chiastic Structure of Mark

A brief outline of Mark as a chiasmus.

Crucified Son of Man or Mighty One?

An article by Jeffrey H. Krantz dealing with a more detailed chiasmic view of Mark's gospel.

Mark--Introduction

A lengthy introduction to the book prepared for the New American Bible web site by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mark: Catholic Encyclopedia

Here's the considerable information provided in the 1914 edition of the Catholic Encyclopedia.

Early Christian Writings--Mark

A source with much useful information but an overall "Higher Criticism" orientation.

An Introduction for Preachers

William Loader provides some expositional guidance.

The Mark Group: Society of Biblical Literature

This special-interest group of the SBL focuses on the study of Mark.

Bible Studies:  Whole Book

Tune My Heart Devotions: Mark

A Bible Links Exclusive.  This file includes sixty-three devotions drawn from the verses of Mark's Gospel and originally provided as the daily offerings of TuneMyHeart.net.

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

The relevant section of Henry's great commentary.

Brief Commentary on the Gospel of Mark

Provided by C.W. Conrad from the Classics Department at Washington University.

A Textual Commentary on the Greek Gospels

A very long (411-page) and very technical discussion of the book's text.  Written by Wieland Willker, about whom I know nothing more.  He also provides a document on the various endings of Mark.

Bible Commentary on Mark--John Wesley

This link takes you to the 1st chapter of Wesley's comments and notes.  Follow the on-screen guidance to navigate around.

Darby's Synopsis--Mark

John Darby's Chapter-by-Chapter view of Mark.

Strong Meat for Hungry Souls

A commentary on Mark dating back to at least 1896.

The Geneva Study Bible--Mark

The text of the 1599 Geneva Bible along with its study notes.

Gill's Exposition of the Bible--Mark

A chapter-by-chapter commentary by John Gill.

Jamieson, Fausset, Brown Commentary--Mark

The classic commentary on the entire Bible.

The People's New Testament

An 1891 commentary by B.W. Johnson.

The People's New Testament--Mark

The relevant chapter from B.W. Johnson's 1891 book.

Robertson's Word Pictures--Mark

The relevant sections from the 1932 book.

Commentary on the New Testament

A long file containing the comments of John Roberts.

Marsh Bible Commentary

This link goes to chapter one of the commentary.  You can click through to the other chapters.

Notes on Mark

This pdf file contains notes maintained by Dr. Thomas Constable of Dallas Theological Seminary.

David Guzik Commentary--Blue Letter Bible

This chapter-based commentary is by a Calvary Chapel pastor based in Germany.

Commentary on the Gospel of Mark

A seven-part overview provided by Dr. Peter Pett, an English scholar.

The Earliest Gospel

An Abingdon Press book from 1943, penned by Frederick C. Grant.

Study Courses

The Letter of Mark

This study was manuscripted from a series of lessons by Dwight Edwards, pastor of Grace Bible Church in College Station, Texas. Dwight attended Dallas Theological Seminary and has pastored in College Station for the past 18 years.

The Book of Matthew

About 40 lessons in a series from King's Chapel, Hershey PA.  The author of this series appears to be connected somewhat with Arnold Murray of Shepherd's Chapel, so please consult it with discernment if at all.

Gospel of Mark Free Online Bible Study

This 10-lesson series includes both the text and self-assessment quizzes you'll need to work through the entire gospel.  It's worth every penny!

Studies in the Gospel of Mark

A lengthy but as yet unfinished study of the second gospel by Dave Humpal.

Intervarsity Bible Study of Mark

A fourteen-lesson course that covers the first eight chapters of Mark.

Expository Study of Mark

A ten-week set of study questions for a self-guided study.

1 in Faith: Mark

A four-lesson study of Mark's gospel.

A Blogging Study of Mark

This is a Blog-based study of the Gospel of Mark.  You have to remember to read from the bottom of the page up.  It's okay but hardly earth-shaking.

A Bible Study on the Gospel of Mark

A six-lesson course by Mark Vitalis Hoffman.

Windows into the World of Jesus

A thirteen-class study provided by Daniel P. Schrock of Berkey Ave. Mennonite Fellowship of Goshen, IN.  This is more theme-oriented than chapter-oriented.

Class Notes on Sacred History

These notes are provided by J.W. McGarvey.  Although, since he wrote them in 1893, he probably didn't post them on the web.

The Gospel of Mark: A Study Based on the Old Testament

A chapter-based study that focuses on the gospel in its Jewish context.  Provided by Dr. Jeanie C. Crain, an English professor.

Orthodox Study Guide

This chapter-based study guide is attractively laid out (in pdf files).  Published by the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, an evangelical will find some of the theology a bit strained, but it's an intriguing change of pace.

The Gospel of Mark: Commentary and Meditation

This is a Catholic site that breaks Mark into about 70 chunks for meditational purposes.

Bible Studies: Part of Book

The Letter of Mark: Mark 1:1-45

A study by Dwight Edwards.

Mark 1:2 and New Testament Textual Criticism

A Bible study by Daniel B. Wallace.

A Watery Solution (Mark 1:4-11; Genesis 1:1-5)

An article by Barbara Sholis from Christian Century

The Heavenly Veil Torn

An article from the Journal of Biblical Literature that looks at a reputed inclusio between Jesus' baptism and the tearing of the temple curtain.  Written by David Ulansey.

Test Run: Mark 1:9-15

A study by Fred B. Craddock, first published in Christian Century.

A Crucial Change of Course: Mark 3:1-4:25

Part of a study of the life of Christ by Bob Deffinbaugh.

The Meaning of the Miracles: Mark 4 (lesson 8)

Part of a larger study by Bob Deffinbaugh.

Sail On: Mark 4:35-41

A Christian Century article by Bill O'Brien.

The Gerasene Demoniac: Mark 5 (lesson 9)

Part of a larger study by Bob Deffinbaugh.

Where There's Death There's Hope: Mark 5:21-43

More from Bob Deffinbaugh's larger work.

Demonism in Jewish/Hellenistic Literature and its Relation to Mark 5

A study by Greg Herrick.

A Precarious Righteousness: Mark 7:1-9

Ronald Goetz opines for Christian Century.

A Terrible Text: Mark 7:14-29

A brief article from Christian Century by Joanna Adams.

Why Follow a Crucified Christ? Mark 8:27-38

A brief Christian Century article by Kenneth L. Cardell.

The Transfiguration of Jesus (Mark 9.1-10)

A Bible study by Daniel B. Wallace.

The Perils of Riches: Mark 10:17-31

A Christian Century article by Kenneth L. Carder

A Sermon on Mark 10:45

An article by Geerhardus Vos from Kerux: the Online Journal of Biblical Theology.

The Triumphal Tragedy: Mark 11 (lesson 27)

Part of a larger study by Bob Deffinbaugh.

The Great Debate: Mark 11:27-12:37

The next lesson from Bob Deffinbaugh

A Brief Look at Mark 11:27-12:17: Jesus and the Religious Leaders

A study by Greg Herrick.

The Paramount Issues of Life (Mark 12:28-31)

A Bible study by J Hampton Keathley III.

The Unnamed Woman and Jesus (Mark 14:1-11)

An article by James T. Dennison, Jr. from Kerux: the Online Journal of Biblical Theology.

The Passion According to Mark

A six-part commentary by a Catholic author.

He Is Not Here: Mark 16:1-8

A brief Christian Century article by Fred B. Craddock.

Thematic Studies

Mark Studies from The Internet Monk

The Internet Monk, Michael Spencer, provides seven (at last count) lengthy missives regarding various topics from Mark.

Stages of Faith and the Gospel of Mark

An article from Spirituality Today by James V. Zeitz, S.J.

The Women of the Gospel of Mark and Contemporary Women's Spirituality

Mitzi Minor's article from a 1991 issue of Spirituality Today.

Questions, Chreiai, and Honor Challenges: The Interface of Rhetoric and Culture in Mark's Gospel

An article from Catholic Biblical Quarterly by Jerome H. Neyrey, S.J.

Images of Jesus and the Christian Vocation in teh Gospels of Mark and Matthew

An article, published in 1984 in Spirituality Today by Mary Rose D'Angelo.

Examples of Socio-Rhetorical Interpretation in Mark

You read it.  You figure it out if you can.

Links to images of Mark/The Gospel of Mark

This links to over a dozen relevant images.

Sermons

Mark: He Came to Serve

A sermon from Ray C. Stedman's "Adventuring through the Bible" series.

Back to Basics: The New Testament Witness of the Apostle Peter

A long series of sermons by Max A. Forsythe of Christ Covenant Reformed (PCA).

Sermons by Gordon Cook

Links to two years worth of audio sermons from Grace Baptist Church in Canton, MI.

Sermons on Mark by Don Fortner.

Approximately 50 HTML sermons are linked here.  You'll note that they're not in proper order.

Expository Studies in Mark--Ray C. Stedman

Links to 31 sermons in HTML, pdf, and mp3 audio formats.

Sermons from Dr. Neil Chadwick

I find 28 of these, and he only gets up through about chapter 10 before moving on to other topics.  You'll have to hit the "Next Sermon" button to move through the list.

Sermons on Mark

Fifty-seven sermons by Mark Balmer of Calvary Chapel-Melbourne.

Ken Ortize Sermons

A 15-sermon series by the Calvary Chapel-Spokane pastor.

Robert Brow's Sermons

About forty sermons spanning all of Mark's gospel.  You'll have to scroll past the Matthew series to reach these.

Children's Sermons Archives--Mark

Links to 30 children's sermons by Charles Kirkpatrick.  Scroll down to find them.

Spurgeon's Sermons

The relevant sermons preached by C.H. Spurgeon.  Only some of the listed sermons have links to the actual sermon text.

RFTP: Sermons on Mark

Eleven sermons by R. AuBuchon, Jr.

Mark: Rediscovering Jesus

Forty-nine messages by J. David Hoke.

Coty Pinckney on Mark

About half way down this page you'll find the beginning of a long series on Mark

Ken Gehrels

Links to 18 sermons.  Scroll down a bit to find them.

Bibliographies and Books

Bibliographies

Bibliography of Mark

David Malick's bibliography from the Biblical Studies Foundation.

Academic Bibliography

A listing of works from Oxford's Jeremy Duff.

A Bibliography for Preachers of Mark's Gospel

A preaching-oriented list from Waterloo Lutheran Seminary.

Journal Articles

Texts and Contexts: Interpreting the Disciples in Mark

An article from Semeia, a liberal academic journal.  The article is by Elizabeth Struthers Malbon.

Is There a Monkey in This Class

Another Semeia article.  By Ole Davidsen, it deals with textual determinacy in Mark.

The Rhetoric of Characterization of Jesus as the Son of Man and Christ in Mark

An article by Paul Danove from Biblica (2003).

Disciples on Trial

An article that appeared in Christian Century in 1998 by Susan R. Garrett.

The Gospel of Mark from Beginning to End

An article by James T. Dennison Jr. from Kerux: the Online Journal of Biblical Theology.

Books

Pillar Commentary: Mark

This commentary by James R. Edwards, Jr. and D.A. Carson comes from Eerdmans.

Mark: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary

Ben Witherington's commentary focuses on the ancient rhetorical devices used by Mark.

Mark: New International Commentary

The Mark volume from the well-received New International Commentary series.  This book is written by William Lane.

To Process

Mark 1:1-8 (13/4 TC)
Mark 1:4-11 (17/1 TC)
Mark 1:4-11 (8/1 TC)
Mark 1:14-28 (17/1 TC)
Mark 1:14-45 (8/1 TC)
Mark 8:27-35 (14/3 TC)
Mark 8:27-38 (23/3 TC)
Mark 9:2-9 (17/1 TC)
Mark 9:2-9 (23/1 TC)
Mark 9:30-50 (14/3 TC)
Mark 10:2-30 (14/3 TC)
Mark 13:33-37 (13/4 TC)
Mark 14:3-9 (15/3 TC)