The Gospel of Mark & Authorship

Overview

Early Christian tradition says that Mark (also called ‘John-Mark’) wrote his gospel based on the testimony of the Apostle Peter. This means that the gospel written by Mark is an eyewitness account of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ (the Jewish Messiah) from the perspective of Peter who was a disciple of Jesus. Peter identifies Mark as being present with him in Babylon (a likely reference to Rome) which shows that Peter and Mark were travelling companions and had a close relationship (1 Peter 5:13). Peter possibly referred to the Gospel of Mark when commenting on his approaching death and the eyewitness reminder that he wanted to leave behind (2 Peter 1:12-18).

The Apostle Paul states that Mark also knew Luke (another gospel author) as he mentions both being present with him (Colossians 4:10-15 & Philemon 23-24, see also 2 Timothy 4:9-13). Given that Mark and Luke were personally acquainted and had spent time together, it isn't surprising to see that the gospels written by Mark and Luke borrow material. Luke may have referred to the Gospel of Mark when he notes that others who were eyewitnesses and servants of the word had already written about the life and ministry of Jesus before Luke wrote his gospel (Luke 1:1-4).

In addition, the mother of Mark (Mary) owned a house in Jerusalem that was used by the Apostles and the Jerusalem Church (Acts 12:11-17). Mark also had a cousin called Barnabas who was a prominent member of the Early Church and an emissary of the Apostles (Acts 4:32-37, 9:19-30, 11:19-30 & 15:1-35). Mark accompanied Barnabas and Paul on several of their missionary journeys as they preached in Greek-speaking regions among Jews and Gentiles (Acts 12:25-13:13 & 15:36-41). This is noteworthy because the Gospel of Mark was written in Greek and internal evidence suggests that Mark wrote for Gentile Christians who weren't familiar with the Jewish language (Mark 5:35-43) or with Jewish customs (Mark 7:1-5).

These factors highlight that Mark was firmly rooted in the life of the Early Church, personally knew the Apostles and was fluent in both Aramaic (the primary language of Jesus) and Greek (the language of the Gospel of Mark). This makes Mark an ideal candidate to write a gospel about the life and ministry of Jesus from the eyewitnesses who knew Jesus personally. It is likely that Mark also knew and had interacted with Jesus as well.

Further Considerations: The Gospel of Mark & Greek

That Mark knew both Aramaic and Greek is clear from the biographical information presented in the New Testament. Mark’s home was in Jerusalem (an Aramaic-speaking region) and he accompanied Barnabas and Paul as they preached in several Greek-speaking provinces of the Roman Empire. Mark would have been useless to Barnabas and Paul on these journeys if he didn’t speak Greek and couldn’t connect with the Jews and Gentiles living in these places. It should be said too that Barnabas and Paul were native Greek speakers (Barnabas was from the island of Cyprus and Paul from the city of Tarsus). Both, however, knew Aramaic as their ability to freely mix among the Aramaic Jerusalem Church shows. This is likely why Barnabas was selected by the Apostles to be an emissary between the Jerusalem Church and the Antioch Church. He understood the customs and spoke the languages of both communities. Like Barnabas (his cousin and travelling companion), Mark also mixed freely among either community. Mark would therefore be competent in translating Jesus’ words from Aramaic to Greek as the need arose to communicate the events of Jesus’ life to non-Aramaic speakers (hence the Gospel of Mark written in Greek).

Bible References

Mark 5:35-43

(35) While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”

(36) Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

(37) He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. (38) When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. (39) He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” (40) But they laughed at him.

After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. (41) He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). (42) Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. (43) He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Mark 7:1-5

(1) The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus (2) and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. (3) (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. (4) When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.)

(5) So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?”

Luke 1:1-4

(1) Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, (2) just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. (3) With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, (4) so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Acts 4:32-37

(32) All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. (33) With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all (34) that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales (35) and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

(36) Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), (37) sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

Acts 9:19-30

(19) ... Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. (20) At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. (21) All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” (22) Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

(23) After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, (24) but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. (25) But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.

(26) When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. (27) But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. (28) So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. (29) He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. (30) When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

Acts 11:19-30

(19) Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. (20) Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. (21) The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

(22) News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. (23) When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. (24) He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

(25) Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, (26) and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

(27) During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. (28) One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) (29) The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. (30) This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

Acts 12:11-17

(11) Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

(12) When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. (13) Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. (14) When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”

(15) “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”

(16) But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. (17) Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.

Acts 12:25 & 13:1-13

(25) When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.

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(1) Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. (2) While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (3) So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

(4) The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. (5) When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.

(6) They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, (7) who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. (8) But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. (9) Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, (10) “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? (11) Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.”

Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. (12) When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

(13) From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.

Acts 15:1-35

(1) Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” (2) This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. (3) The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad. (4) When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.

(5) Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”

(6) The apostles and elders met to consider this question. (7) After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. (8) God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. (9) He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. (10) Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? (11) No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

(12) The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. (13) When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. (14) Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. (15) The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written: (16) ‘After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, (17) that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things’ - (18) things known from long ago. (19) It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. (20) Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. (21) For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

(22) Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers. (23) With them they sent the following letter:

The Apostles and Elders, your brothers, to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings.

(24) We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. (25) So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul - (26) men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (27) Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. (28) It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: (29) You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.

Farewell.

(30) So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. (31) The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. (32) Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. (33) After spending some time there, they were sent off by the believers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them. (34) (35) But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.

Acts 15:36-41

(36) Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” (37) Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, (38) but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. (39) They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, (40) but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. (41) He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Colossians 4:10-15

(10) My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) (11) Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. (12) Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. (13) I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. (14) Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. (15) Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.

2 Timothy 4:9-13

(9) Do your best to come to me quickly, (10) for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. (11) Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. (12) I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. (13) When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

Philemon 23-24

(23) Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. (24) And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.

1 Peter 5:13

(13) She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.

2 Peter 1:12-18

(12) So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. (13) I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, (14) because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. (15) And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

(16) For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (17) He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (18) We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.