Background to Mark's Gospel Flashcards
What are the four types of book in the New Testament?
Gospels, History, Letters and Revelation
What is the meaning of the word ‘Gospel’?
Good news
What is meant by the word ‘authority’?
Christians believe that the gospels should be respected as conveying deep religious truths.
Is Mark’s Gospel a biography or historical piece of writing?
No. Mark’s gospel isn’t just about the written life of Jesus. It is written from faith and for faith, telling the good news about Jesus and helping strengthen commitment and deepen faith.
Who wrote the gospel?
A man called Mark (also John Mark) is referred to in early Christian tradition and the early church.
The last supper was held in the room which his mother owned.
He might’ve been in the house at the time.
He would’ve had contact with the early Christian community through this room.
Mark was good friends with Peter (Jesus’ closest disciple)
However…
The human memory isn’t always accurate.
He wrote it down quite a long time after it all happened.
He was inspired by God, and god wouldn’t have let him make mistakes.
What sources did Mark have whilst writing the gospel?
He had contact with Peter, jesus’ closest disciple, which would account for the small details in the gospel. Also the other disciples were eye witnesses.
Personal experience- Mark might’ve seen the temple guards being led by Judas on the night of the last supper etc.
Mark had divine inspiration. (Or some believe that mark was open to making mistakes and interpreting what he heard).
Mark could’ve met other eye witnesses or people who had known Jesus (eg. Simon of Cyrene, who carried Jesus’ cross).
Mark might’ve heard the disciples in his mothers house and made an unbiased account of their stories.
Why were Christians unpopular?
They’re antisocial- Romans sacrificed to the Gods, and Christians didn’t believe in this so they probably wouldn’t have attended the social events.
They’re immoral- rumours were spread eg they were cannibals because they took the Eucharist literally (transubstantiation) and they were murdered because they were ‘dying to their old life’.
Political instability- they thought Christians were a threat because in Christianity, women and slaves were equal, so Christianity appealed to the oppressed in society.
Threat to economy- Romans made money from selling things like charms and gems to pilgrims, but wherever Christianity took over, the trade decreased because they didn’t do this.
Neronian Persecution- when there was a great fire in Rome, Nero was blamed, so he just blamed the already unpopular Christians. So then the Christians were persecuted and killed.
God emperor- Christians didn’t acknowledge the emperor as a god so they were disliked.
Points for the gospel being unreliable?
The information passed down was exaggerated or changed, and even eye witnesses might’ve not remembered what they saw accurately.
Mark was only human so he was open to making mistakes and interpreting what he heard.
Some of the Greek is questionable because Aramaic was marks first language, so it may not have been completely accurate.
Points for Marks’ Gospel being reliable?
Divine inspiration
Information from eye witnesses, and the disciples because Mark had contact with the early Christian community through his mothers inn/room.
People were better and remembering and passing on information accurately (notebooks were expensive so not much was written down).
Why did Mark write his gospel?
A gospel could reassure the Christians who were being persecuted to keep believing in their faith and motivate them to help support them, they needed ‘good news’.
To reassure non Christians that Christianity isn’t a dangerous religion, and to sort out the stories being made up about them. Stop the hate.
He wanted people who were coming into the church as new Christians to know what was correct and not make things up, he didn’t want the truth to be changed.
The false beliefs need to be proved wrong.
Mark was worried that the second coming wasn’t going to happen for a long time (30 years since death of Jesus), the truth needs to be written down so the stories aren’t changed over time, and they need to keep believing in the right things.
Eye witnesses are dying out.
Mark wanted to help Christians who were worried they had done something wrong and reassured them with examples of disciples who had been forgiven.
He needed to tell people that Jesus death suffering and resurrection was a success, it was supposed to happen and was gods plan, not a failure. Make it clear death isn’t the end.
How was Mark’s Gospel good news for 1st century Christians?
It helped Christians facing persecution to keep believing in their faith even though they were terrified. It was good news for them and the teachings brought encouragement and hope.
Helped them understand about failure and forgiveness- the disciples deserted Jesus and Peter denied all knowledge of him, they were forgiven though. This would’ve been a comfort to the Christians who had given up their faith because of persecution.
It would’ve reminded Christians about hope for eternal life because Jesus was resurrected.
What happened in the calming of the storm?
That evening, Jesus said to his disciples “let us go over to the other side”. Leaving the crowd behind they took him along into a boat. There were other boats with them. A huge storm started and waves started coming over the side of the boat. Jesus was in the stern sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him “teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
Jesus got up, and said to the waves “quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was calm. He said to his disciples “ why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”. They were terrified and asked each other “who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Describe some of the symbolism in the calming of the storm for 1st venture Christians.
In the ancient world, they thought storms were caused by demons and jesus’ words to the storm were like those used in exorcisms to drive away evils spirits. Nero was hated, so the Christians might’ve identified the demonic possession of the lake with him.
It shows that even if Christians thought god was asleep in their time of need, because of the persecutions, but this story showed jesus’ power to save them. In this story, Jesus demonstrated gods power over all forces of evil.
The ship on rough seas was an early Christian representation of the church sailing over the story seas of life to its haven, god. It reassured Christians that whether they lived or died or whether their faith was shaken, they would be safe with god.
How is the calming of the storm relevant for Christians today?
It shows gods power over al evil.
God is with them as Jesus was with the disciples.
