The beginning of the gospel . A Hebraism. No Article. Compare Hosea 1:2 , "[The] beginning of the word of Jehovah by Hosea". It is the beginning, not of the book, but of the facts of the good news. See note on Mark 8:11 . gospel = glad tidings. See note on Matthew (Title). Jesus Christ . See App-98 . the Son of God. See App-98 . read more
As. T Tr. WH R read "According as". it is written = it has been written; i.e. it standeth written, in. Greek. en. App-104 . prophets . Plural because it is a composite quotation Malachi 3:1 .Isaiah 40:3 . See App-107 . messenger = angelos. before Thy face. A pure Hebraism (compare Amos 9:4 , &c.) Unknown to pure Greek. before . Greek. pro . App-104 . which = who. before Thee . Omitted by L T Tr. WH R read more
John. Compare Matthew 3:1-6 . Luke 3:1-4 , did baptize = it came to pass John [was] baptizing. baptize . See App-115 . preach = was proclaiming, or heralding. App-121 . of. Genitive of Relation and Object. App-17 . repentance . See App-111 . for = resulting in. Greek. eis. App-104 . Sins . See App-128 . read more
went out = kept going out. Imperf. Tense. unto. Greek. pros. App-104 . all . Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Whole), App-6 , for all parts. the land = country, or territory. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6 , for the inhabitants. of = by. Greek. hupo. App-104 . the river of Jordan. Occ, only in Mark. confessing . See Matthew 3:6 . their = their own. read more
The style of Mark is quick-moving and dramatic, his gospel being one of swift and vigorous action, and one of his favorite expressions being straightway. The entire first year of our Lord's ministry is presented in this first chapter. He summarized the ministry of John the Baptist (Mark 1:1-8), related the baptism of Christ (Mark 1:9-11), and recorded the temptation (Mark 1:12-13) in the first brief section of things preparatory to Jesus' ministry. He then immediately launched into his... read more
Even as it is written in Isaiah the prophet, Behold. I send my messenger before thy face, Who shalt prepare thy way; The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.Some critics really have a problem with this passage, because Mark included with his quotation from Isaiah a passage from Malachi, and put it first at that! In fairness to Mark, it should be noted that he did not declare that Isaiah was the author of both passages, his only... read more
John came, who baptized in the wilderness and preached the baptism of repentance unto remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the country of Judaea, and all they of Jerusalem; and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.The wilderness ... That John was indeed the Elijah whose voice would cry "in the wilderness" is evident in the fact that, of all the great preachers in history, only one chose a wilderness as the scene of his ministry.Baptism of repentance... read more
Mark 1:1. Of Jesus Christ the Son of God— This exordium is singular; for while the other Evangelists describe our Saviour as the Son of man, St. Mark, in express words, stiles him the Son of God. A title the most likely, as being the most august, to engage the attention and obedience of the Romans, those Lords of the earth, to the religion which was promulgated by him. In describing this religion, St. Mark has brought together so many of our Saviour's discourses and miracles, as might serve to... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Mark 1:1-8
15. Preaching of John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:1-17; John 1:19-28)The preaching of John soon attracted opposition from the Jewish religious leaders. They sent representatives to question him and then report back on what he taught and who he claimed to be. John denied that he was promoting himself as some new leader in Israel. He did not consider himself to be either the prophet of Deuteronomy 18:15,Deuteronomy 18:18 or the ‘Elijah’ promised in Malachi 4:5. He was only a... read more