•WHERE WAS MARK
WRITTEN?
• There are three suggested
places and one strange
possibility.
• Rome – favored.
• Antioch, Egypt, Galilee.
• Early tradition supports
Rome.
•WHERE WAS MARK
COMPOSED?
• When study begins, the
atmosphere in which you
do your research affects
your mood and spirit
when recording or
writing.
•WHERE WAS MARK
WRITTEN?
• God has placed every
Bible author in the very
places He desired for a
reason and for a season.
• God makes no
mistakes.
•WHERE WAS MARK?
• IRENAEUS OF LYONS
(France) was known for his
robust defense against
gnosticism and his skill at
preaching a clear sense of
scripture.
• He lived AD130-200.
• Mark, written in Rome.
•WHERE WAS MARK?
• CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA
(Egypt) student of
Pantaenus, head of the
school of Alexandria, also
guided that school in the late
2nd century.
• He saw TORAH as a
sophisticated, philosophical
creed.
•WHERE WAS MARK?
• CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA
(Egypt).
• Clement said that just as
the LAW prepared the way
for Jews to see Messiah, so
Greek philosophy
prepared the way for
Gentiles to see Messiah.
•WHERE WAS MARK?
• CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA
(Egypt – AD 150-215).
• Origen, another very
important figure in Early
Church leadership, was a
student of Clement. His
“TUTOR” exhortation to the Greeks is
considered “high writings”.
•WHERE WAS MARK?
• CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA
(Egypt – AD 150-215).
• Well respected, well
educated and highly
regarded by both Jews and
Gentiles, Clement of
Alexandria claims Mark was in
Rome when writing.
•WHERE WAS MARK?
• EUSEBIUS OF CAESAREA
(260-340 AD).
• Well respected and known
throughout time as the
FATHER OF EARLY CHURCH
HISTORY.
• He wrote “HISTORY OF THE
EARLY CHURCH” (Pent-324).
•WHERE WAS MARK?
• EUSEBIUS OF CAESAREA
(AD 260-340).
• EUSEBIUS also authored some
fascinating commentary on
the book of Psalms and the
prophet Isaiah.”
• He was very controversial
and was excommunicated.
•WHERE WAS MARK?
•EUSEBIUS OF CAESAREA
(AD 260-340).
• Later re-instated he still was
rumored to have conflict with
the NICAEA creed which was
developed at the Council of
Nicaea in 325.
• He claimed Mark was in Rome
when writing.
•WHERE WAS MARK?
• THERE ARE 6 REASONS
THAT WE BELIEVE MARK
WAS WRITTEN IN ROME.
• They are not all strong
reasons but together
they are convincing.
•WHERE WAS MARK?
•1) A huge number of
“Latinisms” in MARK (Widow’s 2
copper coins. Rendered to a LATIN
value (12:41-44). Courtyard rendered to
Latin name (15:16 ).
•2) Mention of Simon of
Cyrene’s sons - Alexander
and Rufus, Paul mentions
them (Rom. 16:13).
•WHERE WAS MARK?
•3) The apparent Gentile
audience of the Gospel
based upon its words,
explanation of Hebrew
customs, etc.
•4) The frequent allusions to
suffering - something the
Roman Church understood.
•WHERE WAS MARK?
•5) 1 Peter 5:13 locates Mark
with Peter in Rome.
•6) The “QUICK” need for
early Christianity and for the
doctrines of JESUS to be
placed in front of the capital
of the Gentile world.
•WHERE WAS MARK?
• There are some stray
theories that connect Mark
with Clement of Alexandria
composing a “deeper”
gospel there.
• Antioch has been proposed
because of its role in the early
church.
•WHEN WAS MARK?
• THERE ARE FOUR DIFFERENT
PROPOSALS FOR THE TIME OF
MARK:
• 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s.
• The problem with the 70’s is
the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70.
It is not mentioned in any of
the Gospels.
•WHEN WAS MARK?
Charles C. Torrey
Prof. Semitic
Languages at YALE
• THE FAST 40’S.
• Scholar C.C. Torrey likes to
believe that the
“ABOMINATION OF
DESOLATION” recorded in
Mark was actually the
attempt by Emperor Caligula
to set up his image in
Jerusalem.
•WHEN WAS MARK?
Jose O’Callaghan.
• THE FAST 40’S.
• Scholar claims that he found
fragments of Mark 6:52-53, 4:28
and 12:17 from the fragments in
cave 7Q5; 7Q6,1; 7Q7, which
date to AD 50, or earlier.
• This is intriguing, but many have
contested it.
•WHEN WAS MARK?
• THE FAVORED 50’S.
• The argument for AD 50 is
established in the date for the
Gospel of Luke. Many believe
that LUKE used Mark as a
source for his gospel. We have
a good date for Luke at AD 62.
Mark would be written in the
50’s and Luke used it.
•WHEN WAS MARK?
• THE SERIOUS 60’S.
• Most scholars place MARK mid
to late 60’s.
• After the death of Peter.
• Mark speaks much about
following Christ in pain and
persecution. Scholars believe it
was written to those suffering in
the persecution of Nero.
•WHEN WAS MARK?
• THE SERIOUS 60’S.
• MARK 13 is said to reflect the
SITUATION in Israel, just previous
to the bloody Jewish revolt in
AD 70.
•WHEN WAS MARK?
• THE SEVERE 70’S.
• Joel Marcus – Professor of
New Testament Studies at
Boston University School of
Theology, claims Mark’s
treatment of suffering doesn’t
reflect what we would expect
to see in Nero’s persecution.
•WHEN WAS MARK?
• THE SEVERE 70’S.
• The view of Mark’s gospel
originating in the 70’s is based
exclusively upon the
argument that Mark 13
reflects a Christian response to
the actual sacking of
Jerusalem by the Romans in
AD 70.
MARK 13:1-2
And as he came out of the
temple, one of his disciples said
to him, “Look, Teacher, what
wonderful stones and what
wonderful buildings!”
MARK 13:1-2
2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you
see these great buildings? There
will not be left here one stone
upon another that will not be
thrown down.”
• Mark specifically
mentioned the GREAT
BUILDINGS.
•Greek word for “GREAT”
•μέγας - “Megas”
meaning the vast
appearance of intruding
greatness (very Roman).
• Mark quotes JESUS as
using “MEGA-BUILDINGS”
and “MEGA-TEMPLES”
being torn down faster
than they go up.
• The argument is against
man’s works and for
CHRIST’S redemption.
• There is not a building on
the planet, a CHURCH
great enough, a religious
procedure powerful
enough to do what the
BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST
did on a old Roman cross.
MARK 13:3-8
And as he sat on the Mount of
Olives opposite the temple, Peter
and James and John
and Andrew asked
Him privately,
MARK 13:3-8
4 “Tell us, when will these things
be, and what will be the sign
when all these things are about
to be accomplished?” 5 And
Jesus began to say to them,
MARK 13:3-8
“See that no one leads you
astray. 6 Many will come in my
name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and
they will lead many astray. 7 And
MARK 13:3-8
when you hear of wars and
rumors of wars, do not be
alarmed. This must take place,
but the end is not yet.8 For nation
will rise against nation,
MARK 13:3-8
and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be earthquakes in
various places; there will
be famines. These are but the
beginning of the birth pains.”
• The greatest danger to
the CHURCH of the LORD
JESUS CHRIST is not the
structures of governments
or the enterprising
machines of man, but the
straying of the spirit to false
leaders and doctrines.
MARK 13:7-8
7 “And when you hear of wars
and rumors of wars, do not be
alarmed. This must take place,
but the end is not yet.
MARK 13:3-8
8 For nation will rise against
nation, and kingdom against
kingdom. There will
be earthquakes in various
places; there will be
MARK 13:3-8
famines. These are but the
beginning of the birth pains.”
• OUR LORD is describing
something much larger
than the fall of Jerusalem
sacked by the Romans.
This series of events can
only describe what the
prophets are calling THE
DAY OF THE LORD.
MARK 13:9-10
“But be on your guard. For they
will deliver you over to councils,
and you will be beaten in
synagogues, and you will stand
before governors
MARK 13:9-10
and kings for my sake, to bear
witness before them. 10 And the
gospel must first be
proclaimed to all nations.”
• THE GOOD NEWS OF
JESUS CHRIST WOULD TAKE
CENTURIES to reach ALL
NATIONS. And it did.
• Now the electronic roads
and pathways of
information to the masses
is possible and happening.
• For every child born in
today’s world, there are at
least six cell phones waiting
for him.
• Cell phones are electronic
roads of media, sending
thoughts and ideas to
humanity at the speed of
light.
MARK 13:11-13
“And when they bring you to trial
and deliver you over, do not be
anxious beforehand what you
are to say, but say whatever is
given you in that hour,
MARK 13:11-13
for it is not you who speak, but
the Holy Spirit. 12 And brother will
deliver brother over to death,
and the father his child, and
children will rise against parents
MARK 13:11-13
and have them put to
death. 13 And you will be hated
by all for my name's sake. But the
one who endures to the end will
be saved.”
• MARK’S DEFINITION OF
VICTORY here is FAITHFUL
ENDURANCE and
PERSEVERANCE. Not
typical Roman
domination and
domination of other
nations.
• The Gospel of Jesus
CHRIST is not LOCAL.
• It is not bound by TIME,
nor is it bound by SPACE.
• This teaching of JESUS IS
NOT LOCAL.
• It is not bound by Roman
time or space.
MARK 13:14-23
“But when you see the
abomination of desolation
standing where he ought not to
be (let the reader understand),
then let those who are in
MARK 13:14-23
Judea flee to the
mountains. 15 Let the one who is
on the housetop not go down,
nor enter his house, to take
anything out, 16 and let the one
MARK 13:14-23
who is in the field not turn back
to take his cloak. 17 And alas for
women who are pregnant and
for those who are nursing
infants in those days!
MARK 13:14-23
18 Pray that it may not happen in
winter. 19 For in those days there
will be such tribulation as has not
been from the beginning of the
creation that God created
MARK 13:14-23
until now, and never will
be. 20 And if the Lord had not cut
short the days, no human being
would be saved. But for the sake
of the elect, whom he chose,
MARK 13:14-23
he shortened the
days. 21 And then if anyone says
to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’
or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not
believe it. 22 For false christs
MARK 13:14-23
and false prophets will arise
and perform signs and
wonders, to lead astray, if
possible, the elect. 23 But be on
guard; I have told you all things
beforehand.”
• WHEN OUR LORD TELLS
US SOMETHING in our
present TIMELINE He sets in
motion a series of events
that cannot be stopped.
• GOD’s redemption and
Day of the LORD is at
hand.
• GOD’S TIMELINE IS BUILT
UPON SPIRITUAL
FULFILLMENT OR
MANIFESTATION OF
SPIRITUAL ASSIGNMENTS
that happen in our world.
• HIS TIME is not fixed to our
timeline or our universe.
WHEN WAS MARK?
• When was MARK
WRITTEN?
• Was it AD 40’s?
• Was it AD 50’s?
• Was it AD 60’s?
• Was it AD 70’s?
• Was it later?
MARK
• The gospel of MARK was
written long before TIME
BEGAN.
• Mark’s gospel existed
PREVIOUS TO ALL EMPIRES,
ALL CREATIONS!
JOHN 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God. 2 He was
in the beginning with God. 3 All
things were made through
JOHN 1:1-5
Him, and without Him was not any
thing made that was made. 4 In
Him was life, and the life was the
light of men. 5 The light shines in the
darkness, and the darkness has not
overcome it.
OUR OBJECTIVE
• Our objective is not to
determine the exact time
or place that the Gospel of
Mark was written. Our
purpose is to determine
the time, place and
purpose we have been
put into right now!