| − | The '''Gospel of Mark''' is a simple, easy-to-understand account of the teachings, miracles and Passion of Jesus. This Gospel emphasizes how suffering and loss enhances one's [[faith]] and [[salvation]].<ref>''See, e.g.'', Mark 8:35.</ref> This Gospel was written by [[Mark]], who probably saw the events as an impressionable, open-minded young boy, who subsequently was the first to publish his eyewitness account. Reportedly Mark became an apostle of Peter and a missionary companion of Paul, and ultimately founded [[Christianity]] in [[Egypt]]. The Gospel of Mark begins and ends abruptly, makes no mention of [[St. Joseph|Joseph]], and is much shorter than the other Gospels -- all of which may have been reasons to rank it second, rather than its first place chronologically. | + | The '''Gospel of Mark''' is a simple, direct, and easy-to-understand account of the teachings, miracles and Passion of Jesus. This Gospel emphasizes how suffering and loss enhances one's [[faith]] and [[salvation]].<ref>''See, e.g.'', Mark 8:35.</ref> This Gospel was written by [[Mark]], who probably saw the events as an impressionable, open-minded young boy, who subsequently was the first to publish his eyewitness account as an outsider. The Gospel of Mark begins and ends abruptly, makes no mention of [[St. Joseph|Joseph]], and is much shorter than the other Gospels -- all of which may have been reasons to rank it second, rather than its first place chronologically. |
| − | This Gospel is written from the perspective of a non-Apostle, who was probably never fully accepted by the [[Apostles]]. This Gospel pointedly endorses the value of [[free speech]] by unauthorized people: "But [[Jesus]] said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.'”<ref>Mark 9:39 ([[ESV]].</ref> Mark's discussion of the Apostles is slightly less flattering than in other Gospels. The Apostles did not invite Mark to their post-[[Resurrection]] gatherings. | + | This Gospel is written from the perspective of a non-Apostle, who was never fully accepted by the [[Apostles]]. Perhaps in response to his critics, Mark pointedly endorses the value of unauthorized [[free speech]]: "But [[Jesus]] said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.'”<ref>Mark 9:39 ([[ESV]].</ref> Mark's discussion of the Apostles is more critical than in other Gospels. The Apostles did not invite Mark to their post-[[Resurrection]] gatherings. |
| | Scientific testing confirmed that a recently discovered transcript from the Gospel of Mark dates from before A.D. 90, when Mark may have still been living.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150325223910/https://earliestchristianity.wordpress.com/category/textual-criticism/ First-Century Mark Manuscript: More News?] (web.archive.org)</ref> Indeed, the earliest manuscripts of the Gospel of Mark (and the Gospel of Matthew) are estimated to be from A.D. 60s.<ref name="McCall">http://www.levitt.com/essays/language</ref> Those oldest manuscripts are in Greek, and no ancient manuscript of the Gospel of Mark or the Gospel of Matthew has ever been discovered in [[Aramaic]].<ref name="McCall"/> | | Scientific testing confirmed that a recently discovered transcript from the Gospel of Mark dates from before A.D. 90, when Mark may have still been living.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150325223910/https://earliestchristianity.wordpress.com/category/textual-criticism/ First-Century Mark Manuscript: More News?] (web.archive.org)</ref> Indeed, the earliest manuscripts of the Gospel of Mark (and the Gospel of Matthew) are estimated to be from A.D. 60s.<ref name="McCall">http://www.levitt.com/essays/language</ref> Those oldest manuscripts are in Greek, and no ancient manuscript of the Gospel of Mark or the Gospel of Matthew has ever been discovered in [[Aramaic]].<ref name="McCall"/> |
| − | The audience is for Gentiles. Mark describes Aramaic words and Jewish customs that would not be necessary for a Jewish audience. | + | The audience is for Gentiles, and Mark may have been a Gentile himself. Mark describes Aramaic words and Jewish customs that would not be necessary for a Jewish audience. |