The Gospel of Mark: A Commentary
Overview
The Gospel of Mark, addressed to an early Christian community perplexed by failure and suffering, presents Jesus as suffering Messiah and Son of God. Recognizing that failure and suffering continue to perplex Christians today, world-renowned New Testament scholar and theologian Francis Moloney marries the rich contributions of traditional historical scholarship with the contemporary approach to the Gospels as narrative. This commentary combines the highest-level scholarship with pastoral sensitivity. It offers an accessible and thoughtful reading of Mark’s narrative to bring the Gospel’s story to life for contemporary readers.
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- Brings the Gospel of Mark into focus for contemporary readers
- Includes several different levels of exegesis that grows readers as they study
- Offers judicious treatment of important issues and troublesome passages
Top Highlights
“The Spirit of God, who cannot be seen, gently descends upon Jesus like a dove, which he can see.50” (Pages 36–37)
“no commentary on the Gospel of Mark appeared until the turn of the sixth century” (Page 1)
“the Markan Jesus endlessly on the move, urged on by a sense of mission” (Page 51)
“A respected religious leader would not take any woman by the hand” (Page 55)
“It was written to proclaim that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. He called this narrative form ‘the good news’ (τὸ εὐαγγέλιον).” (Page 31)
Fr. Francis J. Moloney has given us a fine commentary on Mark that works on a number of different levels and therefore will be of use to a number of different audiences. The main part of the commentary, intelligible to any educated lay reader, sticks close to the text and story of Mark as it stands, providing a good sense of the overall story of Mark, with its own peculiar language, tone, structure, and theology. The numerous footnotes provide the more advanced reader with discussions of more detailed questions of history, traditions, sources, and modern-day debates among scholars. In sum, Fr. Moloney shows himself to be a first-class scholar and teacher.
—John P. Meier, William K. Warren Professor of Theology, University of Notre Dame
Moloney has provided the same detailed and thoughtful reading of Mark’s narrative that scholars familiar with his earlier work on John would expect. He incorporates the latest results of modern scholarship to show how carefully the evangelist has crafted a narrative out of earlier Jesus traditions. Based on the Greek text, this book provides a study of the Gospel for pastors, seminary students, and intermediate-level students.
—Pheme Perkins, professor of theology, Boston College
In his major commentary, F.J. Moloney succeeds in interpreting Mark’s Gospel at the highest scholarly level and also in a way that will be comprehensible to general readers. Moloney is one of those rare exegetes who is thoroughly familiar with the specialized literature on both sides of the Atlantic, so that this ranks as a truly ‘international’ commentary.
—Udo Schnelle, professor of New Testament, University of Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
Francis Moloney has written an insightful commentary on the Gospel of Mark that will serve readers well—scholars and laity alike. Readers are treated to judicious treatment of important issues and troublesome passages. Moloney has a knack for clarifying Mark’s goals and theological interests. This commentary is highly recommended.
—Craig A. Evans, Payzant Distinguished Professor of New Testament, Acadia Divinity College, Nova Scotia, Canada
Here is an accessible commentary by a great teacher. It combines historical and literary insights in a masterful way.
—Adela Yarbro Collins, Buckingham Professor of New Testament Criticism and Interpretation, Yale Divinity School
Francis J. Moloney is a senior professorial fellow of Australian Catholic University at its Melbourne campus, Australia, and member of the department of biblical studies. He is also the former provincial superior of the Salesians of Don Bosco for Australia and the Pacific region and former Katharine Drexel Professor of Religious Studies and dean of the School of Theology at the Catholic University of America. Moloney is a fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities, a member of the Order of Australia, and the author of more than 40 books, including The Living Voice of the Gospels and Mark: Storyteller, Interpreter, Evangelist. He is also a member of the editorial board for Paideia: Commentaries on the New Testament.
