Mark 1:1-8
- Reading the Text:
- NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
- Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
- The Bible Gateway: NRSV, RSV, NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
- The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
- The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary & sermons.
- Historical References, Commentary and
Comparative Texts:
- The Five Gospels Parallels, John W. Marshall, University of Toronto.
- Comparative primary texts at Mahlon H. Smith's
Into His Own: Perspective on the World of
Jesus, Rutgers University:
- Baptism: Water & Spirit from DSS, Josephus, Babylonian Talmud.
- Sin and Justice from Mishna and Babylonian Talmud.
- "John's Message," "John the Baptist," The Jesus Database, an online annotated inventory of the traditions concerning the life and teachings of Jesus. Dr. Gregory C. Jenks, FaithFutures Foundation.
- III.X.5, III.XVI.3, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
- Chapter IX, Adversus Judaeos, Tertullian (c. 198)
- Chapter X, On Baptism, Tertullian (c. 198)
- II.11, II.12, Paedagogus, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
- V.8, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
- Chapter II, Considering Repentance, Tertullian (c. 203)
- I.14, II.17, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Origen. (c.228)
- VI.14-23, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Philocalia [anthology of Origen prepared by St. Basil and St. Gregory Nazianzen], Origen. (c.230)
- II.IV, Against Celsus, Origen. (c.246)
- Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists, John Calvin, 1558: Matthew 3:1-6/Mark 1:1-6/Luke 3:1-6, Matthew 3:11-12/Mark 1:7-8/Luke 3:15-18.
- From the Catena Aurea, Patristic Commentary by St Thomas Aquinas.
- From the
Geneva Notes.
- "A metaphor taken from the practice of kings, who used to have ushers go before them."
- From
Matthew
Henry's Commentary.
- "When God sent his Son into the world, he took care, and when he sends him into the heart, he takes care, to prepare his way before him."
- From
Wesley's Notes.
- "Preaching the baptism of repentance - That is, preaching repentance, and baptizing as a sign and means of it."
- From the
Commentary on the Whole Bible
(Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
- "The abruptness with which he announces his subject, and the energetic brevity with which, passing by all preceding events, he hastens over the ministry of John and records the Baptism and Temptation of Jesus--as if impatient to come to the Public Life of the Lord of glory--have often been noticed as characteristic of this Gospel--a Gospel whose direct, practical, and singularly vivid setting imparts to it a preciousness peculiar to itself."
- From
The People's
New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
- "Repentance signifies, not only sorrow for sin, but the resolve to sin no more."
- Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
- Radical Gratitude, lectionary-based stewardship, Northwest United Methodist Foundation. (.pdf)
- Commentary,
Mark 1:1-8, Karoline Lewis, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org,
2011.
- "As we anticipate these words from the angels in heaven, Mark asks us to view God's good news in a different way."
- Isaiah's Prophesy and John's Proclamation, audio telling, story in episodes, graphic, audio and written commentaries. Go Tell Communications, Biblical Storytelling for the Global Village, 2011.
- Performance Commentary of Mark 1:1-13, Advent 2/Baptism of Jesus, Phil Ruge-Jones, the Network of Biblical Storytellers, You Tube.
- Isaiah's Prophesy and John's Proclamation, audio telling, story in episodes, graphic, audio and written commentaries. Go Tell Communications, Biblical Storytelling for the Global Village, 2011.
- "Channeling God," Peter Woods, I Am Listening, 2011.
- "We are all sent to prepare channels for God."
- "The Change Within and the Change Without," John van de Laar, Sacredise, 2011.
- "This is the kind of change that stops us in our tracks and makes it impossible for us to live the same way anymore."
- Holy Textures, Understanding the Bible in its own time and in ours, Mark 1:1-8, David Ewart, 2011.
- "Unlike us, John the Baptizer is a wild and woolly character. But like us, he lives to point people to one who is greater than himself. John is the first Christian in the sense that he is the first who gives witness to Jesus."
- "Go Ahead, Judge a Book By Its Title," Nadia Bolz-Weber, The Hardest Question, 2011.
- "So…is it actually possible amidst our abject familiarity with the Christmas story to again hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ Son of God as Good and as News and as that which only just Began with the birth of Jesus and is yet to end?"
- "Flinging not furrowed," Fr. Rick Morley, a garden path, 2011.
- "This song needs to be the song of the church. It needs to be the song of all the faithful people of God to all those who need to have their parched hope quenched."
- "God Barges into Our Lives," Michael Joseph Brown, ON Scripture, 2011.
- "The Pumpernickel Gospel of Mark," Andrew Prior, First Impressions, 2011.
- "Filling in the Gaps," Neil Chappell, a weird thing, 2011.
- "Turnaround," Alyce M. McKenzie, Edgy Exegesis, Patheos, 2011.
- Preaching Mark 1:1-8, Shannon Johnson Kershner, Lectionary Homiletics sample.
- Comentario del Evangelio por J. Manny Santiago, San Marcos 1:1-8, Working Preacher, 2011.
- Commentary, Mark 1:1-8, Paul S. Berge, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2008.
- Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
- A Brief Commentary on the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 1, Carl W. Conrad. (Click superscript numbers for commentary.)
- "John the Baptist Announces the Coming of Jesus," Michael A. Turton's Historical Commentary on the Gospel of Mark, "a complete verse-by-verse commentary on the Gospel of Mark, focusing on the historicity of people, places, events, and sayings in the world of the Gospel of Mark."
-
Exegetical Notes
by Brian Stoffregen at CrossMarks Christian Resources.
- "Perhaps we need to look at the Advent/Christmas season as a time to begin to hear the good news again for the first time."
-
"First
Thoughts on Passages from Mark in the Lectionary: Advent
2," William
Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
- "There is therefore a lot of good news already in John. Catch up with where John can take you - conversion, forgiveness, inclusiveness and a simple lifestyle - and you are well on the way to being good news for the world."
- "The Forerunner," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
- "John the Baptist," Gospel Analysis, Sermons from Seattle, Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington. Detailed background and exegesis.
- "Eating Well," study guide, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Health," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2007.
-
"On
Your Mark," John Stendahl, The
Christian Century, 2002.
- "To be at a beginning is to find that we are not prisoners of the past. John the Baptist announced as much. We and our blessed and foolish land need not be bound to our idolatries or regrets, our greeds or fears. We can begin again."
-
"A Way Made Ready,"
David Busic and Jeren
Rowell, Preacher's Magazine: Listening to the Text, Engaging the
Text, Preaching the Text.
- "...Our response to the hope we recognize in the One who comes to us moves beyond simply 'turning away.' We 'turn toward' as well. We turn toward a Savior and dive into His life and His way."
-
"The
Gospel of Jesus Christ," Jerry Goebel, One
Family Outreach. "Focus on scripture from a justice perspective." Exegesis, study, and teen study
and activities.
- "This is a very important term to Christians. It doesn?t mean, ?good news.? It means, ?To announce and declare good news!? It is a verb, not a noun."
-
"Anticipation Proclamation,"
Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A
Catholic Resource for This Sunday's Gospel. Adult Study, Children's
Story, Family Activity, Support Materials.
- "What recent advertising pitch or headline sticks out in your memory? Why is it memorable?"
-
Marginally Mark, by Brian McGowan, Anglican priest in Western
Australia.
- "I think it's John Dominic Crossan who's points out somewhere that there's a political edge to people being called out across Jordan to JB, & then, after baptism, having to re-enter the Promised Land & reconquer it for God. This time with changed hearts, rather than swords."
- Reflections by Rev Helen Hanten From
Environmental &
earth-centered reflections from the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota Environmental
Stewardship Commission.
- "What other voices cry from the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord"? How do we announce God's presence in other holy places where God's nearness is felt profoundly and where God speaks to us clearly?"
- "The
Gospel of Mark from Beginning to End," James T. Dennison Jr. in
Kerux: The Online Journal of Biblical Theology (Reformed)
- "Mark begins and ends his gospel with schism-a division, a parting, a rending-the schism of the heavens (chapter 1: 10); the schism of the veil in the temple (chapter 15:38)."
- Articles & Background:
- "John the Baptist," "Mark 1: John the Baptist," wikipedia.
- "Repentance
and Forgiveness," David R. Blumenthal, Cross Currents.
- "Teshuvá is the key concept in the rabbinic view of sin, repentance, and forgiveness. The tradition is not of one mind on the steps one must take to repent of one's sins. However, almost all agree that repentance requires five elements: recognition of one's sins as sins (hakarát ha-chét'), remorse (charatá), desisting from sin (azivát ha-chét'), restitution where possible (peira'ón), and confession (vidúi)."
- "Does
Mark 1:1 call Jesus 'God's Son'? A Brief Text-Critical Note," by Daniel B. Wallace, Dallas
Theological Seminary.
- "...in light of the slim pedigree for the omission, coupled with the high probability of homoioteleuton here, as seen in other multiple ?ou passages, as well as intrinsic evidence, it is most likely that Mark wrote ?God?s Son? in the opening verse of his gospel. But the strongest argument that Sinaiticus accidentally omitted these words actually becomes evidence for the great antiquity of its form of text."
- "Mark
1:2 and New Testament Textual Criticism," by Daniel B. Wallace, Dallas
Theological Seminary.
- "...the evidence is overwhelming that Mark wrote ?in Isaiah the prophet.? Whatever one?s beliefs about inerrancy, it seems to me, they have to adjust to this piece of evidence."
- Jordan River, article and photos at Walking in Their Sandals, Journey through the Land of the Bible.
- Recommended articles
from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are
linked below.
ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of
selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices. Annotated list of "starting place" articles at ATLAS for this week's texts (includes direct links).
- Achtemeier, Paul J., "Mark as
Interpreter of the Jesus Traditions," Interpretation, 1978.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Blumenthal, David R., "Repentance
and Forgiveness," Cross Currents.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Boring, M. Eugene, "Mark 1:1-15
and the Beginning of the Gospel," Semeia, 1990.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Charles, J. Daryl, "The 'Coming
One'/'Stronger One' and His Baptism: Matt 3:11-12, Mark 1:8, Luke
3:16-17," Pneuma, 1989.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Croy, N. Clayton,
"Where the Gospel Text Begins: A Non-Theological Interpretation of Mark
1:1," Novum Testamentum, 2001.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Globe, Alexander, "The Caesarean
Omission of the Phrase 'Son of God' in Mark 1:1," Harvard Theological
Review, 1982.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials -
Hutchison, John C.,
"Was John the Baptist an Essene from Qumran?" Bibliotheca Sacra,
2002.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Kelhoffer, James A., "Early Christian Studies among
the Academic Disciplines: Reflections on John the Baptist's 'Locusts and
Wild Honey,'" Biblical Research, 2005.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Montgomery, Stephen R., "Beyond
Fear, Fundamentalism, and Fox News: The Active Hope of the Advent,"
Journal for Preachers, 2005.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Norfleet, Agnes W., "A Palm Sunday Sermon,"
Journal for Preachers, 2009.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Norris, Kathleen,
"Mercy, Me," The Christian Century, 2005.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Perrin, Nicholas, "Where to Begin with the Gospel of
Mark," Currents in Theology and Mission, 2008.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Sankey, Paul J., "Promise and
Fulfillment: a Reader-Response to Mark 1:1-15," Journal for the Study
of the New Testament, 1995.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Stendahl, John, "On Your Mark,"
The Christian Century, 2002.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Williamson, Lamar, Jr., "Mark
1:1-8, Expository Article," Interpretation, 1978.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Achtemeier, Paul J., "Mark as
Interpreter of the Jesus Traditions," Interpretation, 1978.
- Reviews:
- Review: Cosimo Pagliara, La figura di Elia nel vangelo di Marco: Aspetti semantici e funzionali. Pontificia Universia Gregoriana, 2003. Review by Edward L Bode in The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2004. (Review is in English.)
- Review: James A. Kelhoffer, The Diet of John the Baptist. Mohr Siebeck, 2005. Review by Tobias Nicklas, Review of Biblical Literature, 2006.
- Sermons:
- "Making Straight the Way," the Rev. Dr. Russell Levenson, Jr., Day 1, 2011.
- Have You Heard The Good News? -- John A. Stroman, SermonStudio
- "A Parable: The City and the Wilderness," Sermons from Seattle, Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington.
- "Finding Your Wilderness," Advent 2 - 4 December 2005, David Zersen, Göttinger Predigten im Internet: Every Sunday Sermons based on the RCL by a team of Lutheran theologians/ pastors.
- "A Way Made Ready," Darrik Acre, Preacher's Magazine, 2005.
- "You've Got to Be Kidding," the Rev. Dr. Samuel Massey, Day 1, 2002.
- "Preparing," John Jewell, 1999.
- "The Future...It's Coming," the Rev. Dr. Elton Richards, Day 1, 1996.
- Father Andrew M. Greeley, "Priest, Author, Sociologist," Commentary and Homily:
- With Children:
- Worshiping with Children, Advent 2B, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2011.
- "Children's Literature: A Resource for Ministry," December 4 , 2011, Union Presbyterian Seminary. Connections: Mark 1:1-8 and Mama Miti by Donna Jo Napoli.
- "Preparation," Dianne Deming, Children's Sermons Today, 2011.
- "John the Baptist," Illustrating the Story (lessons, children's sermons), coloring pages, activity sheets, crafts, children's songs. MSSS Crafts.
- "The King Is Coming," Charles Kirkpatrick, Sermons4kids.com.
- "John the Baptist Speaks Out," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
- "The People Change Their Ways, and John Baptizes Them," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
- "John Baptizes Jesus," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
- "Crossword on Mark 1," Don Crownover's Bible Puzzles.
- Drama:
- "A Voice in the Desert," from A Certain Jesus by Jose Ignacio and Maria Lopez Vigil. Ideal for catechetical and liturgical dramatization of today's gospel. Claretian Publications.
- "John the Baptist," Ross Olson.
- Graphics, Multimedia, & Bulletin Materials:
- Clip Art Images: Mark 1:1-8, Misioneros Del Sagrado Corazón en el Perú.
- Mark 1:1-8, Liturgical Drawing, Maria d.c. Zamora, Claretian Resources, Philippines. ("Download and use these for free.")
- Mark 1:1-8, at Cerezo Barredo's weekly gospel illustration. Liberation emphasis.
- Images for this week's readings, Pitts Theology Library Digital Image Archive.
- John the Baptist, Henry Martin, sermons4kids.com.
- Commercial Site: "Don't Be Afraid," video for Advent 2B based on Mark 1 and Isaiah 40, The Work of the People.
- Bulletin Cover, Mark 1:2-4, Will Humes, Word & Table.
- Hymns and Music:
- “When John the Baptist Preached,” an original hymn by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette on John the Baptist. This hymn was commissioned by The Presbyterian Outlook magazine for new Advent hymns to Christmas carol tunes. Tune: VENITE ADOREMUS 10.10.10.10 with Refrain (“The Snow Lay on the Ground”).
- “Down by the Jordan,” an original hymn by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette on John the Baptist and Jesus’ baptism. This hymn is in the United Methodists’ Worship and Song (2011). Tune: LOBE DEN HERREN 14.14.4.7.8 (“Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty”).
- Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
- Contemporary/Praise Song suggestions, Together to Celebrate, David MacGregor.
- Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Mark 1:1. The Cyber Hymnal.
- At Digital Hymnal (midi files, guitar chords, karaoke files, projection text):
- "Clear the Path," Brenton Prigge, NewHymn, new, relevant hymns set to traditional tunes.
- Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
- Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
- Study Links and Resources for the Book of Mark
