Mark 1:1Next

Mark 1

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;

And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.

I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.

And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.

And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.

And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.

And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,

Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.

And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.

And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.

And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.

And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.

And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.

And all the city was gathered together at the door.

And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.

And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.

And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.

And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.

And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.

And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;

And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

What does Mark 1:1 mean?

Explanation

Mark 1:1 serves as a preamble to the Gospel according to Mark, one of the four canonical Gospels in the New Testament.

The verse establishes the primary subject of the Gospel – Jesus Christ – and introduces Him with a significant title: "the Son of God." In this opening statement, the author declares the content of the following narrative to be "good news" or "gospel," which is derived from the Greek word "euangelion," meaning "good news" or "glad tidings."

The phrase "The beginning of the gospel" suggests a starting point for the story that follows, which will recount the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

By using the term "beginning," Mark draws attention to the fact that what is to be narrated is of foundational importance and has significant implications for the reader's understanding of Jesus' identity and mission.

The declaration that Jesus is "the Son of God" introduces a key theological concept early in the Gospel.

This title implies a unique and intimate relationship between Jesus and God, which is central to Christian belief about the divine nature of Christ.

By starting with this assertion, the author of Mark sets the stage for the reader to encounter Jesus as not merely a historical figure but as one with an essential divine identity.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of Mark is believed to be the earliest of the four Gospels, traditionally thought to have been written around 65-70 AD.

This was a period of great turmoil for the early Christian communities, especially due to the persecution by the Roman Empire and the Jewish-Roman wars.

The Gospel was likely penned in a Hellenistic or Roman context, possibly in Rome itself, where the audience would be familiar with the concept of "gospel" as a proclamation of significant news, often related to imperial victories or decrees.

Mark's Gospel is characterized by its succinct and action-oriented narrative, appearing to cater to a Gentile audience that may not be as familiar with Jewish customs and Scriptures as the audiences of Matthew or Luke.

The opening verse signals that this work is intended not just as a biography but as an announcement of profound religious significance.

Theological Insights

Different Christian traditions interpret Mark 1:1 and the title "Son of God" in various ways. The majority of mainstream Christian traditions, including Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and most forms of Protestantism, view Jesus as the eternally begotten Son of God, consubstantial with the Father.

This verse is therefore seen as an affirmation of the divine nature of Jesus, which is foundational to the Christian understanding of the Trinity and the Incarnation.

Some other Christian groups, however, such as Unitarians, interpret "Son of God" metaphorically, to mean that Jesus had a special relationship with God but was not divine in essence. They see this title as an honorific designation rather than an ontological statement about Jesus' nature.

Practical Applications

Mark 1:1 encourages believers to reflect on the identity and mission of Jesus Christ in their own lives. By acknowledging Jesus as "the Son of God," believers are called to recognize His authority and follow His teachings.

The verse's emphasis on the "gospel" or "good news" invites Christians to share the message of Jesus with others, drawing attention to the transformative power of the Christian narrative in individual lives and communities.

Additionally, seeing Jesus' ministry as the "beginning" can inspire believers to view their faith as a continuous journey that starts with the acceptance of the Gospel and unfolds throughout their lives as they grow in understanding and following Christ's example.

Cross-References

John 1:1-2: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
Matthew 16:16: "And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."
John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Romans 1:3-4: "Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:"

Language Study

The key terms in Mark 1:1 in the original Greek are "archē" (ἀρχή) translated as "beginning," "euangelion" (εὐαγγέλιον) translated as "gospel" or "good news," and "huios" (υἱός) translated as "Son."

"archē" often means the beginning or the first in a series, emphasizing the starting point of something significant.
"euangelion" was a term used to proclaim news of victory or other momentous events in the Greco-Roman world, which in this context refers to the message of Jesus Christ's life and works.
"huios" meaning "son," in this context, suggests a familial relationship, implying characteristics or attributes similar to those of a parent.

In theological terms, it refers to the intimate relationship between Jesus and God the Father.

Each of these terms contributes to the overall understanding of Jesus' identity and the Gospel's intent as a transformative announcement.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the Roman Empire, the term "gospel" (euangelion) was associated with the emperor's birth or a victory, often implying the emperor's divine status or favor.

The appropriation of this term in the context of Jesus Christ might have been seen as subversive, suggesting that the true "good news" was not about the emperor but about Jesus Christ as Lord.

Comparatively, in other religions and myths of the ancient world, the concept of a god or demigod being born to fulfill a special destiny is common. For example, figures like Hercules in Greek mythology were considered sons of gods with unique missions.

However, the Christian concept of Jesus as the Son of God differs significantly in its theological implications and in the nature of Jesus' mission, which involves the salvation of humanity rather than heroic feats.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific perspectives typically do not directly engage with theological claims such as those found in Mark 1:1.

Scientific approaches are based on empirical evidence and methodological naturalism and thus do not address supernatural claims about the nature or identity of religious figures like Jesus Christ.

However, historical-critical methods in Biblical scholarship employ various scientific and scholarly techniques to understand the text within its historical context, such as literary analysis, source criticism, and socio-historical research.

These methods can provide insights into the world in which the Gospel of Mark was written and how its audience might have understood terms like "gospel" and "Son of God."

commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have offered interpretations of Mark 1:1.

Some commentaries highlight the evangelist's intent to present Jesus as the culmination of God’s plan for salvation and as the messianic figure prophesied in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Others focus on the literary function of the verse as an overture to the themes and narrative that will follow in the Gospel.

Biblical scholar William Lane, in his commentary on Mark, suggests that the verse serves as a title for the entire Gospel, with "Son of God" being a confession that emerges out of the narrative itself.

Ben Witherington III, another New Testament scholar, emphasizes the political and cultural implications of using the term "gospel" in a world where it was typically associated with imperial news, suggesting a deliberate countercultural message.

These expert commentaries demonstrate the depth and variety of interpretations that Mark 1:1 continues to elicit among scholars, each bringing unique insights to the understanding of the text.

Mark 1

Mark 1

What does Mark 1:1 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 1:1 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?