Mark 1:1-5

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 1:2

Even as it is written in the prophets . The weight of evidence is here in favor of the reading "in Isaiah the prophet." Three of the most important uncials ( א , B, and L), and twenty-six of the cursives, have the reading "Isaiah." With these agree the Italic, Coptic, and Vulgate versions. Of the Fathers, Irenaeus quotes the passage three times, twice using the words "in the prophets," and once "in Isaiah the prophet." Generally the Fathers agree that "Isaiah" is the received reading. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 1:2-8

The ministry of the forerunner. This evangelist enters, upon his treatise with no further preface than is to be found in the first verse. He has to tell the good news concerning Jesus Christ the Son of God. And he begins his narrative at once, with an account of the ministry of that grand, heroic prophet, whose great distinction it was to be the herald of the Messiah, and whose greatness was in nothing more apparent than in this—he was willing to be superseded by his Lord, and to be lost... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 1:4

John came, and preached the baptism of repentance . John came, that is, that he might rouse the people to repentance, and prepare them, by the outward cleansing of their bodies, to receive the cleansing of their souls through Christ's baptism, which was to follow his. So that the baptism of John was the profession of their penitence. Hence they who were baptized with his baptism confessed their sins, and thus made the first step towards the forgiving mercy which was to be found in Christ;... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 1:4-8

The ministry of John. I. OF WHAT IT CONSISTED . In each Gospel the descriptions are very general, and look as if they had been foreshortened in order to give due prominence to the gospel narrative that had to follow. Yet a fairly complete impression may be received of his main doctrines and rules of discipline. Generally in his ministry there are four elements discoverable. 1 . Exhortation. A direct appeal to the moral sense, the chief note of which was "Repent." It is a... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Mark 1:1

The beginning of the gospel - The word “gospel” literally signifies good news, and particularly the good tidings respecting the way of salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ. Some have understood the word “gospel” here to mean “history” or “life - the beginning of the history,” etc.; but Mark says nothing of the early life of the Saviour. The word “gospel” here has reference rather to the preaching of John, an account of which immediately follows, and means the beginning of the good news, or... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Mark 1:2-3

As it is written in the prophets - Mark mentions “prophets” here without specifying which. The places are found in Malachi 3:1, and in Isaiah 41:3. See the notes at Matthew 3:3. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Mark 1:4-8

See the notes at Matthew 3:3, Matthew 3:5-6, Matthew 3:11. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Mark 1:1-3

Mark 1:1-3. The beginning of the gospel That is, of the gospel history; of Jesus Christ, the Son of God Who was, or is, in the bosom of the Father, John 1:18, and came down from heaven, John 3:13, to reveal his Father’s will unto us, to confirm his doctrine by a great variety of astonishing miracles, to set us a perfect example of every branch of piety and virtue, to expiate our sins by the sacrifice of himself, and to abolish death, with respect to such as believe aright in him, by... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Mark 1:4

Mark 1:4. John Who was the very person spoken of by those prophets, being sent of God for that end, did baptize in the wilderness Which lay east from Jerusalem, along the river Jordan and the lake Asphaltites, also called the Dead sea. By wilderness, in the Scriptures, it is plain that we are not always to understand what is commonly denominated so with us, a region either uninhabitable or uninhabited. No more seems to have been denoted by it than a country fitter for pasture than for... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Mark 1:5-8

Mark 1:5-8. There went out to him all Judea, &c. So disposed were the people to receive his baptism. See note on Matthew 3:5. The latchet of whose shoes, &c. That is, whose servant I am not worthy to be, or to perform for him the meanest offices. He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost The promise of which is made to you and your children, Acts 2:39; where see the note, and on Matthew 3:11. read more

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