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Artist: Andrea Mantegna]]

Artist: Andrea Mantegna]]

The '''Gospel according to Mark''', or simply the '''Gospel of Mark''', is a bold and irreverent account by an outsider eyewitness who had a youthful enthusiasm and charm, including clever references to himself.  Its style is anti-[[Establishment]] with simple wit, containing a direct, easy-to-understand explanation of the teachings, miracles, and [[Passion]] of [[Jesus]], emphasizing [[faith]] and deeds.  It was written by [[Mark]], seeing the events as an impressionable, [[Essay:Quantifying Openmindedness|open-minded]] young boy, who subsequently was the first to publish, without [[Apostles]]' approval.<ref>"Markan priority" is the term used to describe the nearly universal acceptance today that this was the first chronologically among [[the Gospels]].</ref>  The Gospel of Mark begins and ends abruptly, makes no mention of [[St. Joseph|Joseph]], and omits the post-[[Resurrection]] gatherings by [[the Apostles]] who met without Mark. The shortest [[Gospels|Gospel]] at only 14,949 words,<ref name="holyword.church">https://holyword.church/miscellaneous-resources/how-many-words-in-each-book-of-the-bible/</ref> this can be easily read in merely one hour.<ref>Adults read silently at about 238 words per minute, and aloud at about 183 words per minute. [https://scholarwithin.com/average-reading-speed#:~:text=Adult%20Average%20Reading%20Speed,-It%20has%20been&text=Silent%20reading%20adults%20average%20238,average%20183%20words%20per%20minute.]</ref>

The '''Gospel according to Mark''', or simply the '''Gospel of Mark''', has the key themes which revolve around Jesus' identity as the [[Messiah]] and [[Son of God]], the urgency of the [[Kingdom of God]], and the call to Christian discipleship which includes suffering. It also highlights Jesus' divine authority, the [[miracles]] he performed, and the great importance of [[faith]].<ref>[Mark: The Gospel of the Servant-Messiah]</ref><ref>[https://enterthebible.org/courses/mark/lessons/theological-themes-in-mark Theological themes of Mark]</ref><ref>[https://biblehub.com/q/main_themes_in_gospel_of_mark.htm#:~:text=Through%20its%20vivid%20portrayal%2C%20the,faith%2C%20and%20a%20transformed%20life. Main themes in Gospel of Mark], BibleHub.com</ref>

 

The Gospel of Mark is a bold and irreverent account by an eyewitness who had a youthful enthusiasm and charm, including clever references to himself.  Its style is anti-[[Establishment]] with simple wit, containing a direct, easy-to-understand explanation of the teachings, miracles, and [[Passion]] of [[Jesus]], emphasizing [[faith]] and deeds.  It was written by [[Mark]], seeing the events as an impressionable, [[Essay:Quantifying Openmindedness|open-minded]] young boy, who subsequently was the first to publish, without [[Apostles]]' approval.<ref>"Markan priority" is the term used to describe the nearly universal acceptance today that this was the first chronologically among [[the Gospels]].</ref>  The Gospel of Mark begins and ends abruptly, makes no mention of [[St. Joseph|Joseph]], and omits the post-[[Resurrection]] gatherings by [[the Apostles]] who met without Mark. The shortest [[Gospels|Gospel]] at only 14,949 words,<ref name="holyword.church">https://holyword.church/miscellaneous-resources/how-many-words-in-each-book-of-the-bible/</ref> this can be easily read in merely one hour.<ref>Adults read silently at about 238 words per minute, and aloud at about 183 words per minute. [https://scholarwithin.com/average-reading-speed#:~:text=Adult%20Average%20Reading%20Speed,-It%20has%20been&text=Silent%20reading%20adults%20average%20238,average%20183%20words%20per%20minute.]</ref>

'''''The Gospel of Mark is the most corroborated testimony in all of [[Scriptures]] and recorded history''''', as the independent eyewitness [[Matthew]] incorporated nearly all of it into his own [[Gospel of Matthew]], and [[John the Apostle]] corroborates much also. Mark preceded Matthew in following Jesus.<ref>Mark describes, as an eyewitness, the calling of Matthew (Levi) to be an Apostle; Mark records Jesus calling "Levi," while Matthew's Gospel never uses his old name. {{bible ref|Mark|2|14}}  Matthew is the corresponding Greek equivalent for the Hebrew name Levi.</ref>

'''''The Gospel of Mark is the most corroborated testimony in all of [[Scriptures]] and recorded history''''', as the independent eyewitness [[Matthew]] incorporated nearly all of it into his own [[Gospel of Matthew]], and [[John the Apostle]] corroborates much also. Mark preceded Matthew in following Jesus.<ref>Mark describes, as an eyewitness, the calling of Matthew (Levi) to be an Apostle; Mark records Jesus calling "Levi," while Matthew's Gospel never uses his old name. {{bible ref|Mark|2|14}}  Matthew is the corresponding Greek equivalent for the Hebrew name Levi.</ref>