The Gospel of Mark Book Study Overview [+Videos]

Mark Commentary

Mark: Masterfully-Written

Update: For an updating list of Bible Studies and Verse-by-Verse Commentary, click here.

Before we began our first lesson in our book study of the Gospel of Mark, I thought it wise to show a brief video summary.

As I’ve written before, too often I believe we take Scripture “verses” out of context — reading them as if they were individual phrases that were disconnected from the masterfully-crafted, divinely-inspired words that surround them.

Thus, since we already know how this movie ends (spoiler alert: Jesus rises from the dead — the historical foundation over our faith!), I figured an overview that shows how Mark has structured the account would be beneficial.

For example, as mentioned in a previous sermon (“If We’re Following Christ, Christ Comes First” | Mark 8:34-38), Peter’s great confession (Mk 8:29) essentially splits the Gospel of Mark in half.

Mark tells us in the first line that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God (Mk 1:1). Yet, most people in the narrative will struggle to make sense of Jesus’ messianic, divine identity. Even Peter has the right answer but the wrong understanding.

Ironically, it seems no one gets who Jesus truly is until a Roman soldier — one of His executioners! — exclaims, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” (Mk 15:39).

Mark Video Summaries

In any case, our brothers and sisters at The Bible Project, do a wonderful job with their animated shorts. Here is their shorter video on the Gospel of Mark:

Also, here is a longer video (the one shown in class).

 

Let’s Read a Book… In Its Entirety

I hope you find these videos helpful, and I encourage you to read the entire Gospel. Like most other books, books of the Bible were meant to be read (especially out loud) from start to finish.

If we read a few “verses” from the middle of one book, and then a few “verses” from the beginning of another book, etc., we can miss the richness of Scripture — and even misread Scripture.

So let’s feast on the word! Meditate on it day and night (Ps 1:1-2; 119:97) — the key to godly success (cf. Jos 1:8). Let’s take delight in walking through the action-packed, fast-paced Gospel of Mark.

Lord willing, stay tuned for more posts from our book study of Mark!

Updates

Bibliography

Sources cited in this book study are as follows:

  • Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000. [BDAG]
  • Aland, Barbara, Kurt Aland, Johannes Karavidopoulos, Carlo M. Martini, and Bruce M. Metzger, eds. The Greek New Testament. Fifth Revised Edition. Stuttgart, Germany: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2014.
  • Balz, Horst Robert, and Gerhard Schneider. Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1990–. [EDNT]
  • Barry, John D., David Bomar, Derek R. Brown, Rachel Klippenstein, Douglas Mangum, Carrie Sinclair Wolcott, Lazarus Wentz, Elliot Ritzema, and Wendy Widder, eds. The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016. [LBD]
  • Beaulieu, P.-A. “History of Israel 6: Babylonian Period.” Edited by Bill T. Arnold and H. G. M. Williamson. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2005. [DOTHB]
  • Bellinger, W. H., Jr. Leviticus, Numbers. Edited by W. Ward Gasque, Robert L. Hubbard Jr., and Robert K. Johnston. Understanding the Bible Commentary Series. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2012.
  • Bock, Darrell in Turner, David, and Darrell L. Bock. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Vol 11: Matthew and Mark. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2005.
  • Bratcher, Robert G., and Eugene Albert Nida. A Handbook on the Gospel of Mark. UBS Handbook Series. New York: United Bible Societies, 1993. [UBS]
  • Brooks, James A. Mark. Vol. 23. The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1991.
  • Chan, Sam, and D. A. Carson. Evangelism in a Skeptical World: How to Make the Unbelievable News about Jesus More Believable. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2018.
  • Cole, R. Alan. “Mark.” In New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, edited by D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, and G. J. Wenham, 4th ed., 946–77. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994. [“Cole” in first lesson]
  • Cole, R. Alan. Mark: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 2. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1989. [“Cole T” in first lesson, Cole afterwards]
  • Comfort, Philip W. New Testament Text and Translation Commentary: Commentary on the Variant Readings of the Ancient New Testament Manuscripts and How They Relate to the Major English Translations. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008.
  • Edwards, James R. The Gospel according to Mark. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos, 2002.
  • Edwards, James R. “Mark.” In The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary, edited by Gary M. Burge and Andrew E. Hill. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2012. [Edwards B]
  • Elwell, Walter A., and Barry J. Beitzel. Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988. [BEB]
  • English, Donald. The Message of Mark: The Mystery of Faith. The Bible Speaks Today. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1992.
  • Evans, Craig A. The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary: Matthew–Luke. Edited by Craig A. Evans and Craig A. Bubeck. First Edition. Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2003.
  • France, R. T. The Gospel of Mark: A Commentary on the Greek Text. New International Greek Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press, 2002.
  • Garland, David E. Mark. The NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996. [Garland]
  • Garland, David in Arnold, Clinton E. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke. Vol. 1. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002. [Garland Z]
  • Guelich, Robert A. Mark 1–8:26. Vol. 34A. Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1989.
  • Hurtado, Larry W. Mark. Understanding the Bible Commentary Series. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2011.
  • Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Second Edition. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2014.
  • Kernaghan, Ronald J. Mark. The IVP New Testament Commentary Series. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2007.
  • Kiuchi, Nobuyoshi. Leviticus. Edited by David W. Baker and Gordon J. Wenham. Vol. 3. Apollos Old Testament Commentary. Nottingham, England; Downers Grove, IL: Apollos; InterVarsity Press, 2007.
  • Lane, William L. The Gospel of Mark. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1974.
  • Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996. [LN]
  • Morris, Leon. Luke: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 3. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988.
  • Metzger, Bruce Manning, United Bible Societies. A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, Second Edition a Companion Volume to the United Bible Societies’ Greek New Testament (4th Rev. Ed.). London; New York: United Bible Societies, 1994.
  • Omanson, Roger L., and Bruce Manning Metzger. A Textual Guide to the Greek New Testament: An Adaptation of Bruce M. Metzger’s Textual Commentary for the Needs of Translators. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2006.
  • Porter, Stanley E., and Craig A. Evans. Dictionary of New Testament Background: A Compendium of Contemporary Biblical Scholarship. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000.
  • Schnabel, Eckhard J. Mark: An Introduction and Commentary. Edited by Eckhard J. Schnabel. Vol. 2. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. London: Inter-Varsity Press, 2017.
  • Silva, Moisés, ed. New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014. [NIDNTTE]
  • Stein, Robert H. Mark. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2008.
  • Strauss, Mark L. Mark. Edited by Clinton E. Arnold. Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014.
  • Treier, Daniel J., and Walter A. Elwell, eds. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2017.
  • Wallace, Daniel B. Greek Grammar beyond the Basics: An Exegetical Syntax of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1996.
  • Watts, Rikk E. “Mark.” In Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament, 111–237. Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, UK: Baker Academic; Apollos, 2007.
  • Wessel, Walter W., and Mark L. Strauss. “Mark.” In The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew–Mark (Revised Edition), edited by Tremper Longman III and David E. Garland, Vol. 9. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010. [Wessel]
  • Witherington, Ben, III. The Gospel of Mark: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2001.
  • Wood, D. R. W., and I. Howard Marshall. New Bible Dictionary. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996. [NBD]
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Imperfect Servant ✝?⛪ | Husband | Princeton U. Alum | M. Div. | Assistant (to the) Pastor | Sound Doctrine & Apologetics @catchforchrist