Jeff Cavins

But we don't just blend them together because each one of them is unique.

Right. It's true. And in fact, the early church didn't pay as much attention to Mark, I think because of the brevity of the gospel. But I think the first actual commentaries that were written on it were not even until the 8th century. But in recent times, lots of scholarship is being done on the gospel of Mark.

Right. It's true. And in fact, the early church didn't pay as much attention to Mark, I think because of the brevity of the gospel. But I think the first actual commentaries that were written on it were not even until the 8th century. But in recent times, lots of scholarship is being done on the gospel of Mark.

Right. It's true. And in fact, the early church didn't pay as much attention to Mark, I think because of the brevity of the gospel. But I think the first actual commentaries that were written on it were not even until the 8th century. But in recent times, lots of scholarship is being done on the gospel of Mark.

So this gospel, while short, is really packed with some uniqueness that gives us a glimpse of Jesus and the work that he is doing. I guess I would start off by saying that a lot of scholars believe that Mark was a real source for Matthew and Luke. You see about 90% of the stories that are shared there. In fact,

So this gospel, while short, is really packed with some uniqueness that gives us a glimpse of Jesus and the work that he is doing. I guess I would start off by saying that a lot of scholars believe that Mark was a real source for Matthew and Luke. You see about 90% of the stories that are shared there. In fact,

So this gospel, while short, is really packed with some uniqueness that gives us a glimpse of Jesus and the work that he is doing. I guess I would start off by saying that a lot of scholars believe that Mark was a real source for Matthew and Luke. You see about 90% of the stories that are shared there. In fact,

It's an important point to make again, and that is that Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called synoptic gospels. And by that, synoptic means to see with the one eye, with one vision, and that some even believe that there was another source that they were using called Q, and that gets into the weeds as far as theology goes.

It's an important point to make again, and that is that Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called synoptic gospels. And by that, synoptic means to see with the one eye, with one vision, and that some even believe that there was another source that they were using called Q, and that gets into the weeds as far as theology goes.

It's an important point to make again, and that is that Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called synoptic gospels. And by that, synoptic means to see with the one eye, with one vision, and that some even believe that there was another source that they were using called Q, and that gets into the weeds as far as theology goes.

But it is shorter. St. Augustine said that the Gospel of Mark was an abbreviated version of Matthew. That's what he thought it was. It was kind of like an expanded Cliff Notes, if you will.

But it is shorter. St. Augustine said that the Gospel of Mark was an abbreviated version of Matthew. That's what he thought it was. It was kind of like an expanded Cliff Notes, if you will.

But it is shorter. St. Augustine said that the Gospel of Mark was an abbreviated version of Matthew. That's what he thought it was. It was kind of like an expanded Cliff Notes, if you will.

Right. And the author, most people believe, is John Mark, and he is not so well known in the New Testament, and some people believe that he was a relative of Barnabas. And there's another interesting thing about Mark that scholars bring out, and then we'll get into some of the unique things of the Gospel.

Right. And the author, most people believe, is John Mark, and he is not so well known in the New Testament, and some people believe that he was a relative of Barnabas. And there's another interesting thing about Mark that scholars bring out, and then we'll get into some of the unique things of the Gospel.

Right. And the author, most people believe, is John Mark, and he is not so well known in the New Testament, and some people believe that he was a relative of Barnabas. And there's another interesting thing about Mark that scholars bring out, and then we'll get into some of the unique things of the Gospel.

is that it was really written in a layman's Greek, and some would say even poor, and it was extremely plain Greek, whereas you get into other parts of the New Testament, which are pretty complicated Greek. It's really more of an upper-scale Greek, if you will. So, here's what's really interesting. The overall structure of the Gospel of Mark can really be divided into two.

is that it was really written in a layman's Greek, and some would say even poor, and it was extremely plain Greek, whereas you get into other parts of the New Testament, which are pretty complicated Greek. It's really more of an upper-scale Greek, if you will. So, here's what's really interesting. The overall structure of the Gospel of Mark can really be divided into two.

is that it was really written in a layman's Greek, and some would say even poor, and it was extremely plain Greek, whereas you get into other parts of the New Testament, which are pretty complicated Greek. It's really more of an upper-scale Greek, if you will. So, here's what's really interesting. The overall structure of the Gospel of Mark can really be divided into two.

In the first half, you have really Mark focusing on the identity of Jesus as Messiah, as the mighty Messiah, the Son of God. And then in the second half of Mark, it really concerns the mission of the Messiah. He begins to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, be rejected by the elders, and then be killed and then rise from the dead.