The Gospel According to Mark

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The General Acceptance of Markan priority in the nineteenth century directed unprecedented attention on the Gospel of Mark from both academy and church. No longer was the second Gospel viewed as an inferior abridgment of Matthew; rather, its author was seen as the first to write the story of Jesus in the form of a Gospel, which became the primary influence on the subsequent Gospels of Matthew and Luke.Scholarship on the Gospel of Mark today shows no sign of abating. Yet commentaries on Mark have not kept pace with the wealth of scholarly studies, articles, and monographs. This work by James R. Edwards is a welcome addition in filling this gap. Edwards has devoted three decades to the study of Mark and has endeavored to locate the second Gospel fully within the historical and social conditions of first-century Palestine as they are known through extrabiblical literature, inscriptions, and archaeology. Features unique to this commentary include clear discussions of terms like "scribe," "tax collector," "Sanhedrin," and "levirate marriage" -- terms that, though familiar to many readers of the Bible, are often inadequately understood. Additionally, Edwards explores the Gospel's literary features, including Mark's use of the "sandwich" technique as well as of imagistic motifs and irony. Edwards proposes a new paradigm for interpreting the difficult "Little Apocalypse" of chapter 13, and he argues for a new understanding of Mark's controversial ending.These are only the starting points of the commentary, however. The Gospel of Mark was a product of the earliest Christian community, and it remains a document whose primary message is for the church, even today. The central aim of Edwards's work is to interpret the Gospel of Mark according to its theological intentions and purposes, especially as they relate to the life and ministry of Jesus and the call to faith and discipleship.