St.

Mark’s Gospel: BACKGROUND- Religious and political groups at the time of Jesus

Jews and Gentile

The world was divided into Jews, and non-Jews, called Gentile. Gentiles included Romans and
Greeks (the Greek Woman’s Daughter)

Romans
The Roman Empire governed a vast area including Palestine. Pontius Pilate was the procurator for
that region and had ultimate authority, although the northern part (Galilee – look on your map) was
governed on behalf of Rome by a client king called Herod Antipas. Jesus came into conflict with
empire because he accepted the tile ‘King of the Jews’. Anyone claiming to be a king without
permission was committing an offence under Roman law and could be punished by death.

Sanhedrin
The council in Jerusalem governed religious life for the Jews and was the closes thing to a political
government. The Sanhedrin was especially concerned by Jesus’ claims, which were blasphemous in
their eyes.

Temple
The centre of Jewish religious economic and political life was the temple in Jerusalem. It was here
that sacrifices were made to God. Jesus was particular angered by the way it had become more like
a market than a temple. Remember in the court of the Gentiles, goods were sold for sacrifice.

Essenes
The Essenes were a bit like monks. They pulled themselves away from normal society and started
communes in the caves and hills, where they spent much of their time praying, reading, and making
copies of religious texts.

Synagogue
A synagogue was found in most Jewish towns and acted as a school, al law court and worship hall all
in one. Jesus was often found teaching in the synagogue.

Pharisees
The Pharisees were a popular religious group whose name means ‘ people who are separate from
others’. They were local experts on religious law and often had discussion’s and arguments with
Jesus in the synagogues. There were particularly opposed to his attitude to the Sabbath laws. They
upheld laws and beliefs found in other parts of the Old Testament, such as belief in angels and life
after death, unlike the Sadducees.

Sadducees
The Sadducees were rich and powerful and controlled the temple, which was the religious centre of
the Jewish faith. They did not belief in the oral tradition, which the Pharisees through important,
and did not believe in the resurrection.

Herodians
Supporters of King Herod Antipas, who plotted against Jesus.

Zealots
A political group of Jews who felt there should be a military uprising against the Romans. Judas
Iscariot may have been a Zealot.
 Why is it a source of authority for Christians today?

The Gospel is a central source of Christian faith. The Gospel message gives hope, strength and
inspiration to Christians. It is the authoritative account of the saying and doings of the most
important person in their faith, Jesus Christ. Christians refer to it as the Word of God because it is a
written record of the teaching and actions of Jesus, who they believe is God, and also because the
Word of God refers to the spiritual present of Jesus in their life. Christian disagree on how they
interpret the world of God.

Literalists: believe that the bible is literally or historically true. If the bible says that God created the
world in six days, the world was created in six 24 hour periods.
Fundamentalists: Believe the bible is inspired by God and has no errors. Apparent contradictions are
misunderstandings.
Conservatives: Believe the bible was inspired by God and that the writers wrote what God wanted –
‘the truth’ from God for people to understand. The bible is not a scientific text and may not
always have a clear meaning.
Liberals: Believe that the writers of the bible were guided by God but as they were human there
could have made mistakes. The bible contains God’s word but needs to be interpreted by
people. It is not all intended to be taken literally, but to present spiritual truth using parables,
imaginative stories and poetic writing.

Christians use the bible in worship, where reading are given different parts, and also for personal
devotion, reading it at home for reflections, prayer and inspiration.

KEYPOINTS
a) The Gospel gives hope and strength to Christians.
b) The Gospel is the Word of God and Jesus is the fulfilled Word of God.
 Sources
Hebrews 4:12-13
Good News Translation (GNT)
12
The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way
through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the
desires and thoughts of the heart. 13 There is nothing that can be hid from God; everything in all
creation is exposed and lies open before his eyes. And it is to him that we must all give an account of
ourselves.
All sacred scripture is but one book, and that one book is Christ, because all divine scripture speaks
of Christ, and all divine scripture is fulfilled in Christ.’ (Hugo of St. Victor)

What is a Gospel?
Mark begins his Gospel with ‘this is the Good News about Jesus Christ the Son of God 1:1. The word
gospel comes from the old English word godspell, which means Good News. The Gospel is an
account of the life and teaching of Jesus aimed to bring people to personal faith commitment with
Jesus.

The writer of the Gospel

Papias was a bishop of Hierapolis who lived around 130AD. He stated that Mark wrote down Peter’s
accounts and saying of Christ, though it was not written in order. Mark was possibly a companion of
Peter, but he may also have travelled with Paul (who never met Jesus). It is thought that Mark MAY
have been the young man who ran away in the Garden of Gethsemane and that the Gospel was
written around 64-67 AD.

Nature of Marks Gospel

All the Gospels are Good News written by a believer for other believers for the potential of
converts. The opening verse of Marks Gospel makes it clear. It is not intended simply as an
objectively written life of a 1st century Palestinian Jew called Jesus. Marks Gospel is written ‘From
faith and for faith’. Its author was a Christian writing for a particular Christian community. By
proclaiming the Good News about Jesus Christ. Marks Gospel aimed to strengthen and deepen the
faith of the community.
Mark 1:1 ‘The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ the Son of God.’
 Why was the Gospel written?
For a number of reasons
a) To encourage and strengthen the early Christian community who were being persecuted at
the hands of Emperor Nero
b) To preserve the stories of Jesus so that they did not become corrupt or inaccurate
c) The early followers of Jesus were dying out, and so these stories needed to be written down.
d) To bring the followers of Jesus a personal faith and commitment.

How was the Gospel Written?

Mark might have recorded eyewitness accounts from those who met Jesus, such as Peter and also by
hearing ORAL TRADITIONS passed down by word of mouth within the Christian community. He may
have seen written letters or stories that other people had written about Jesus. He may have been
one of Jesus’ early followers and actually met him. Christians believe Mark was inspired by God in
his writing.

What are the possible sources of the Gospel?

MARK’S GOSPEL

Why was it written?

Languages of the Gospel

Mark’s Gospel was originally written in Greek, but there are some Aramaic phrases in the Gospel,
which Mark uses for dramatic purpose. Jesus spoke Aramaic and so it adds authenticity to the
account to include them, as it suggests that the writer knew Jesus’ actual words. Aramaic was the
spoken common form of Hebrew, the language of the Old Testament. Here are two occasions where
Aramaic phrases are found. Talitha Koum, (Little girl, I tell you to get up, 5:41 and Eloi, Eloi lama
sabachthani (My God, my God why have you abandoned me 15:34)
Tasks
1) What does the word ‘Gospel mean?
2) Discuss when Marks Gospel was written and give at least two reasons why it was written.
3) Give two phrases that Marks uses in Aramaic and give the translation.
4) Apply why the use of Aramaic words and eyewitness accounts give increased authority and
credibility to the Gospel of Mark.

Calming of the Storm Mark 4:35-41

1. 2.

3.

4. 5. 6.

Who was Jesus?

Jesus the God- Christians believe that Jesus is fully God, as he is the son of God born of a Virgin. He
is divine in that he can perform miracles.

Jesus the human- Christians describe Jesus as the Incarnation, meaning that he became human
becoming both God and man. He human in that he feels emotion and pain.

Jesus the Trinity-Christians believe that God is three in one, the TRIUNE God. Father – creator and
sustainer, Son – Jesus, Holy Spirit. All are present at the baptism of Jesus.

Jesus in Mark- Jesus has many titles in Mark, and demonstrates these in various ways. Also in Marks
Gospel there is no mention or evidence of his birth or early life. Remember that Mark’s Gospel is not
a biography or a diary of who Jesus was.

KEY POINTS
a) Through Jesus humanity is saved from sin and death.
b) Jesus is fully God and human.
c) Jesus is one of the Trinity.
d) Jesus was a Jewish wandering healing and teacher.
e) Jesus came into conflict with religious and political authorities.