Chapter 2
Literary Context
In order to perceive the meaning of the expression in Mark 9:48, it is necessary to understand its literary context. Thus, an examination of Mark 9:48 in its context are needed in order to fully elucidate the ramifications of the passage. The investigation in this chapter will be carried out in the areas such as, authorship, the placement, the structure, the genre and the theme.Authorship
The gospel does not contain a reference of the author
within the text. according to Lamar Williamson that “the superscription in the
text ‘According to Mark,’ was added in the second century.” [1] However,
John MacArthur states that the author of the book was Mark and affirmed
by the early church fathers unanimously.[2] There are
two evidences of Markan authorship of
the book; they are Scriptural Evidences and Extra biblical Evidences.
Scriptural Evidences
New
Testament mentions the name of Mark several times. Luke wrote in the book of Acts
that Mark was Paul’s colleague in spreading the gospel. In Acts 12:25 reads, “After Barnabas and Saul completed their relief mission,
they returned to Jerusalem, taking with them John, who is called Mark.” Paul
states that Mark
was one of Paul’s fellow worker (Cf. Col. 4:10; 2 Tim. 4:11). In addition, SDA Bible commentary affirms that “Mark
accompanied Paul on their first missionary journey.”[3]
However,
Acts 15:36-39 shows that there was a sharp
disagreement between Paul and Barnabas regarding Mark. Paul kept insisting not
to take Mark along because he left them in in Pamphylia and did not go with
them to the work. On the other hand, Barnabas insisted to take him to work with
them. Finally, because of the sharp dispute, Paul and Barnabas were separated.
Paul went through Syria and Cilicia with Silas and Barnabas went with Mark to
Syprus.
However when Paul was a
prisoner in Rome, it seems that there was a reconciliation between Paul and
Mark. Paul states that Mark is profitable to him for administration and ask
Timothy to bring Mark with him (2 Tim 4:1). In Col 4:10 and Philemon 1:24 Paul mentions that Mark was his
fellow worker. Mark helped Paul to give instruction to the church
member in Colossae. Kent Hughes states, “Mark served as his aide and
then as a delegate on an important mission to Asia minor.”[4]
Another mention of Mark name is in the book of first
Peter and calls him as his son (ch.5:13). Peter, together with Mark and others sends greeting
to those Christians who scattered in Pontus,
Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia (1 Peter 1:1). Thus, in New Testament Mark
is related to the apostles Peter and Paul.
Extra-Biblical Evidences
In the post apostolic era, it is believed that the
author of Mark was John Mark. Thomas C. Oden asserts that the early
Christians were largely uncontroverted of the Markan authorship. Louis Berkhof
affirms that “earlier church fathers such as Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian,
Origen and Jerome agree with Papias.”[5]
Papias was one of the earlier church father who believes
that Mark was author of the book.[6] Eusebius,
another earlier church father quoted Papias’ testimony as follows:
This also the presbyter said: Mark having
become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down accurately, though not in order,
whatsoever he remembered of the things said or done by Christ. For he neither
heard the Lord nor followed him, but afterward, as I said, he followed Peter,
who adapted his teaching to the needs of his hearers, but with no intention of
giving a connected account of the Lord's discourses, so that Mark committed no
error while he thus wrote some things as he remembered them. For he was careful
of one thing, not to omit any of the things which he had heard, and not to
state any of them falsely." These things are related by Papias concerning
Mark.[7]
[1]Lamar
Williamson, Mark, Interpretation, a Bible commentary for teaching and
preaching (Atlanta, Ga.: J. Knox Press, 1983), 28.
[2]John
Jr MacArthur, The MacArthur Study Bible, electronic ed. (Nashville: Word
Pub., 1997), Mk 1:1.
[3]Francis
D. Nichol, The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 5 (Review
and Herald Publishing Association, 1978), 561.
[4]R.
Kent Hughes, Mark : Jesus, Servant and Savior, Preaching the Word (Westchester,
Ill.: Crossway Books, 1989), 14.
[5]Louis
Berkhof, New Testament Introduction (<< Publisher Name >>),
39.
[6]Ibid.
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