The Bible Study Reading PlanSample

GOSPEL OF MARK

AUTHOR:

The Gospel of Mark was written by the man himself, Mark (Latin version) aka John Mark (Hebrew).

DATE:

There is a lot of debate about which Gospel was written first. Some believe that Matthew and Luke were first, with Mark pulling his stories from them, while others believe that Mark wrote first and Matthew and Luke drew from him. We do not know for sure which one it is.

If Mark wrote earlier, it would have most likely been around AD 55-60. On the other hand, if Mark wrote later, during the persecution of Christians by Nero, he would have written around AD 64-68, before Peter's death. You can decide which date to choose.

AUDIENCE:

The Gospel of Mark was written to Christians in Rome. If Mark was written at a later date, we know that there were thousands of Christians being martyred in Rome at the time. We also know that the early church met down in the Catacombs, the graveyard for martyrs. They didn't do it to hide, but to remind themselves of the risk they were taking. That's where Mark would have read this Gospel to the other believers. Think about how much more impactful that would make the story. 

REASON:

Mark shows Jesus as a suffering servant in order to encourage the audience to press on through any form of persecution that they were dealing with. He shows the power and actions of Jesus more than the other gospels in order to prove this servant was truly the King.

THEME:

Jesus as the suffering servant.

KEY VERSE:
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." (10:45 ESV)

SPLIT:
Jesus' Ministry (1-10), Passion Week (11-16)

KEY WORDS/PHRASES:

Immediately, Authority, Spirit, Kingdom of God