The Gospel of Mark was likely written around 50-60 CE in Rome by an unknown author who was possibly Peter's secretary. It was intended for Christians from pagan backgrounds unfamiliar with Jewish customs. As the shortest gospel, it focuses on narrating the kerygma - the story of Jesus' death and resurrection to save humanity. The text explores the "Messianic secret" where Jesus instructs people not to reveal his identity until after his resurrection. It emphasizes Jesus' powerful actions over his teachings and highlights his suffering, death, and ultimate triumph as the revealed Son of God.

1. 2- The Gospel of St. Mark

2. 1. Author
 Attributed from the 2nd century
 A disciple of Jesus from the very
beginning
 Probably Peter’s secretary
 Based on the stories of the
disciples, mainly Peter (not an
eyewitness)
 The “young man covered with a
sheet who followed Jesus after
being caught”.
 Also accompanied Paul and
Barnabas

3. 2. Sources, Date, Place and Recipiens
SOURCES:
• Stories from eyewitnesses
• “Logia Iesu”
DATE: around 50-60
- but other theories: around 40
PLACE: Rome
RECIPIENS: Christians from the pagan world:
• Not too much interest to the issues of the Mosaic Law
• Careful to explain Jewish customs, unknown for the readers

4. 3. Language and literary style
 LANGUAGE: Greek. To be open to the gentils.
 LITERARY STYLE:
 The shortest of the 4 Gospels
 Arcaic style
 Clearly based in oral tradition
 The beginner of the genre “Gospel”
 Not a “classical” historical book
 Not enough space to Jesus’ origin and personality
 Contradictions in time and space
 Lack of coherence in the main characters
Because:
 consist of the historicization or narration of
the kerygma: Jesus died and resurrected
to save us.
 But still, historical!

5. 4. The “Mesianic secret”
 “Mesianic secret”: Confession of messianism and
divinity of Jesus
 Mark: frequency with which Jesus instructs certain
characters (unclean spirits, demons, benefited by
some miracle, disciples ...) to silent and not unveil
his identity
…until his resurrection.
Mc 1,25 Mc 7,24
Mc 1,34 Mc 8,26
Mc 1,43 Mc 8,30
Mc 3,12 Mc 9.9
Mc 5,43

6. 5. Main content of St. Mark’s Gospel (I)
 Main message: Jesus Christ is the
Son of God
 This has been declared by:
 God the Father (Baptism and
Transfiguration)
 Even the unclean spirits throgh
possessed men
 Jesus Himself, teaching and acting:
 With power: over spirits, men,
diseases, death, nature
 Authority over: the Law and jewish
institutions, his enemies, the sin

7. 6. Main content of St. Mark’s Gospel (II)
 Importance of His Passion:
 It was a scandal for the jewish
 It had been predicted by the
Old Testament and Himself
 It’s a part of his mission:
“Giving is life to save the
mankind”
 And he triumphs in the end
with the Resurrection

8. 7. Summarizing
 Few speeches and more interested in
Jesus’s actions
 Stories with a lot of details that show
Jesus’ humanity
 After this, he leads us to the “Secret”
 The Secret is revealed in the Passion and
Resurrection
 The Messiah is not the jewish one
 Who is Jesus? The answer is on the
Cross.
 We all have to follow his way.

9. THE END
Questions?