Mark (The IVP New Testament Commentary | IVPNTC)
Overview
The Gospel of Mark is widely regarded today as the first Gospel to be written. Until recent decades, its fast-paced, seemingly straightforward presentation led most readers to overlook its subtle theological sophistication.
Probing its depths, Ronald Kernaghan invites readers into a fascinating exploration of Mark’s Gospel as a parable, an open-ended story that invites us on a lifelong journey of discipleship. In this engaging, pastorally oriented commentary, readers will find an introduction with background material concerning authorship, audience, date, provenance and purpose. A passage-by-passage exposition follows that focuses on understanding what Mark had to say to his original readers in order to see its relevance for the church today.
Students, pastors, Bible teachers and everyone who wants to understand the message of Mark for the church will benefit from this excellent resource.
Looking for more resources like this one? Check out The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (18 Vols.).
Top Highlights
“Jesus’ preaching and teaching were not inspirational in the typical sense of that word. He did not dispense hopeful thoughts. His sermons and teachings were expositions of power. They were confrontational, and when he spoke, something happened.” (Page 47)
“The verb remember becomes an important term from this point on in Mark’s Gospel” (Page 219)
“Furthermore, Jesus did not invite the four fishermen to follow him. The words ‘come, follow me’ are in the imperative mood. It was a command, and the four men reacted as though they had been issued orders by a superior officer.” (Page 44)
“How could it be God’s will for the Messiah to die? Peter and presumably the other disciples were clinging to the idea that a dead messiah was of no earthly good at all. To deny oneself is to accept God’s point of view about life, which has implications not just for the Son of Man, but for everyone who is drawn to him.” (Page 163)
“The plain implication of this simple statement is that there was nothing wrong with the fig tree. The fig tree, then, is a sign or symbol of something else, and Mark’s intercalation points to the temple.” (Page 216)
About Ronald J. Kernaghan
Ronald J. Kernaghan (Ph.D., Fuller Theological Seminary) is an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA). He is Director of Presbyterian Ministries and assistant professor of Presbyterian ministries and pastoral theology at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. Previously he served on the staff of several different Presbyterian churches in Southern California.