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 1:15 mean?

Explanation

The verse Mark 1:15 is part of the opening chapter of the Gospel of Mark and represents the beginning of Jesus' public ministry.

Here, Jesus proclaims that a significant moment in history has arrived, the "time is fulfilled." This implies that a period of waiting or prophecy is now complete.

The phrase "the kingdom of God is at hand" indicates the imminent arrival of God's rule, which in Jewish expectation meant a time of justice, peace, and liberation.

When Jesus calls people to "repent," he is asking them to turn away from their sins and to change their hearts and lives.

Repentance was, and remains, a fundamental aspect of Jewish and Christian faith as it signifies a turning back or return to God.

By believing "the gospel," which means the "good news," Jesus is inviting people to put their faith in the message of salvation that he brings.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of Mark was written in a first-century Roman context, possibly around 70 AD, after the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.

It was a period of upheaval and expectation for the Jewish people.

Many Jews were looking for a messianic figure to free them from Roman domination and restore the kingdom of Israel. Mark's readers would have been familiar with the concept of God's kingdom from the Hebrew Scriptures and the prevailing apocalyptic expectations.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse is pivotal because it encapsulates the essence of Jesus' message, the advent of God's kingdom and the necessity for personal conversion.

Different denominational viewpoints may emphasize varying aspects; for example, evangelical theology often stresses personal salvation through repentance and faith, while liberation theology might focus on the societal implications of the coming kingdom of God.

Practical Applications

This verse serves as a personal call to individuals to examine their lives and prioritize spiritual transformation and alignment with God's will.

The notion of repentance implies not only a feeling of sorrow for past wrongs but also the active commitment to live differently.

Believing in the gospel translates to trusting in God's promises and living out one's faith through actions that reflect the values of the kingdom of God, such as love, justice, and mercy.

Cross-References

Matthew 4:17: From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Acts 2:38: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Luke 5:32: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Language Study

Two key terms in the original Greek text of Mark 1:15 are "repent" (μετανοεῖτε/metanoeite) and "believe" (πιστεύετε/pisteuete). μετανοεῖτε (metanoeite) comes from the root words "meta," meaning "after," and "noeo," meaning "to perceive," together forming the concept of a change of mind or direction. πιστεύετε (pisteuete) includes the idea of placing trust or confidence in something, in this context, the gospel message.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The call to repentance and anticipation of a divine kingdom has parallels in various religious traditions. For example, in Judaism, the concept of teshuvah involves repentance and returning to a righteous path.

In contrast, some ancient myths speak of golden ages or eras of the gods, though these typically lack the ethical and redemptive aspects central to the message of Jesus.

Scientific Perspectives

The scientific community does not typically engage with theological claims about divine kingdoms or periods of fulfillment as these concepts are considered outside the purview of empirical investigation.

However, discussions related to the psychological and sociological benefits of repentance and belief systems are areas where scientific perspectives might intersect with this verse.

Commentaries

Commentary on Mark 1:15 varies among biblical scholars.

Some emphasize the apocalyptic nature of Jesus' proclamation, suggesting that he heralded an imminent transformation of the world. Others focus on the personal dimension of the message, seeing in it a call to spiritual rebirth and a new way of being in relationship with God.

Most agree that this verse represents a core summary of the teachings of Jesus and establishes key themes that will be developed throughout the Gospel of Mark.

Mark 1

Mark 1

What does Mark 1:15 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 1:15 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?