An account of the life of Jesus from his baptism to the discovery of his empty tomb. Generally held to be the earliest gospel, written by John Mark, and using Peter as a primary source.
17
votes
3answers
936 views
What language did Jesus commonly speak?
According to Mark 15:34 (ESV):
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Jesus spoke Aramaic ...
7
votes
3answers
390 views
What are the arguments in favor of Markan priority?
The synoptic problem refers to scholars' attempts to understand the relationship among the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke (known as the synoptic gospels because they have so much material in ...
2
votes
2answers
180 views
Does the “lost leaf” theory for Mark's abrupt ending fail if written on a scroll?
I really like this explanation of Mark's rather abrupt ending:
There are three possible explanations for Mark ending at 16:8: (1) The author intentionally ended the Gospel here in an open-ended ...
8
votes
5answers
342 views
Who named the wrong priest in Mark 2:26?
Here's a story Jesus told about David according to Mark 2:23-28 (ESV):
One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. ...
7
votes
1answer
114 views
Can we date Mark without first committing to an interpretation of the Olivet Discourse?
Most scholars believe Mark is the earliest biography of Jesus. (Paul's writings and perhaps one or two other New Testament letters are earlier, but they include very little biographical material ...
4
votes
2answers
110 views
Is “puppies” a justifiable translation of κυναρίοις?
Mark 7 contains an odd little story:
And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. But ...
8
votes
3answers
174 views
What is the difference in the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God?
Some assert the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God refer to the same thing while others say they are synonyms. Which is accurate?
For example: Luke 17:21 uses Kingdom of God while Matthew 11:11 ...
8
votes
3answers
457 views
How does Jesus' argument from David and the show bread work?
Jesus defended his disciples gleaning on the Sabbath by retelling a story about David. Mark 2:23-28 (ESV):
One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his ...
5
votes
1answer
59 views
Does Mark 1:32 indicate two separate time periods?
The NET Bible reads:
When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and demon-possessed.—Mark 1:32 (NET)
Two time references are present:
"When it was evening" ...
5
votes
3answers
337 views
What did the blind man from Bethsaida see?
Mark 8:22-26 (ESV):
And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and ...
4
votes
2answers
121 views
What is the function of the sandwich stories in Mark?
I was reading an introduction to Mark and the author notes that Mark is fond of using so-called "sandwich-stories" where he begins to tell one story, and then interupts it to tell another story before ...
4
votes
2answers
305 views
Peter's Denial and the Rooster Crowing
In Matthew 26:34, we see Jesus telling Peter that before rooster crows, you will disown me three times:
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown ...
2
votes
1answer
100 views
Does the Sadducees' question in Mark 12 imply polygamy was considered sinful?
The passage in question is Mark 12:18-23 (ESV):
And Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a ...
