Topical Encyclopedia
Introduction:John Mark, often referred to simply as Mark, is a significant figure in the New Testament, known for his close associations with key apostles and his contribution to the early Christian Church. He is traditionally credited as the author of the Gospel of Mark, one of the four canonical Gospels.
Family Background:John Mark was the son of Mary, a prominent woman in the early Jerusalem church. Her home served as a meeting place for believers, as noted in
Acts 12:12: "When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying." This indicates that Mark was raised in a devout Jewish-Christian household, which likely influenced his early involvement in the Christian community.
Missionary Journeys:John Mark's early missionary work is documented in the Book of Acts. He accompanied Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey, as recorded in
Acts 13:5: "When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper." However, Mark's departure from the mission in Pamphylia (
Acts 13:13) led to a sharp disagreement between Paul and Barnabas, resulting in their separation. Barnabas took Mark with him to Cyprus (
Acts 15:39), demonstrating Barnabas's continued support and belief in Mark's potential.
Reconciliation with Paul:Despite the earlier conflict, Mark later reconciled with Paul. In
Colossians 4:10, Paul refers to Mark as a fellow worker: "Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas." This indicates that Mark was not only restored to Paul's favor but also became a trusted companion in ministry. Furthermore, in
2 Timothy 4:11, Paul writes, "Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry," underscoring Mark's valued role in Paul's later work.
Association with Peter:Mark is also closely associated with the Apostle Peter. In
1 Peter 5:13, Peter refers to Mark as "my son," suggesting a spiritual father-son relationship and indicating that Mark may have been a disciple or interpreter for Peter. This connection is significant, as early church tradition holds that Mark's Gospel is based on Peter's teachings and eyewitness accounts of Jesus' life and ministry.
Authorship of the Gospel of Mark:The Gospel of Mark is traditionally attributed to John Mark. It is considered the earliest of the four Gospels and is characterized by its concise and action-oriented narrative. The Gospel emphasizes the deeds of Jesus, portraying Him as the suffering servant and Son of God. Mark's Gospel has been a foundational text for Christian doctrine and has influenced the synoptic Gospels of Matthew and Luke.
Legacy:John Mark's legacy is multifaceted. As a missionary, he played a crucial role in the spread of the Gospel in the early church. His reconciliation with Paul highlights themes of forgiveness and restoration within the Christian community. As the author of the Gospel of Mark, he provided a vital account of Jesus' life and ministry, which continues to be a cornerstone of Christian faith and teaching.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
John MarkJOHN MARK
SeeMARK, JOHN.
Greek
2491. Ioannes --John, the name of several Israelites... Ioannes Phonetic Spelling: (ee-o-an'-nace) Short Definition:
John Definition:
John:
the Baptist, the apostle, a member of the Sanhedrin, or
John Mark.
...921. Barnabas -- Barnabas, an Israelite companion of Paul
... Barnabas Phonetic Spelling: (bar-nab'-as) Short Definition: Barnabas Definition:
Barnabas, a Cypriote Jew, uncle ofJohn Mark; his other name was Joseph....
3137. Maria -- Mary, the name of several Christian women
... Miriam Definition: Mary, Miriam, (a) the mother of Jesus, (b) of Magdala, (c) sister
of Martha and Lazarus, (d) wife of Cleopas, (e) mother ofJohn Mark, (f) a...
4498. Rhode -- Rhoda, a servant girl
... Transliteration: Rhode Phonetic Spelling: (hrod'-ay) Short Definition: Rhoda Definition:
Rhoda, a maidservant in the house ofJohn Mark's mother at Jerusalem....
3138. Markos --Mark, a Christian
... mar'-kos) Short Definition:Mark Definition:Mark, who also had the Hebrew name
John, son of Mary, nephew of Barnabas, coadjutor of Barnabas, Paul, and Peter....
993. Boanerges -- Boanerges, an epithet applied to the two sons of...
... the victim of an early martyrdom (Ac 12:2); and which sounds in the thunders of
John's Apocalypse" (, 98). ["" is an Aramaic term, interpreted byMark (for his...
Library
John Mark
... XIII TO ENDJOHN MARK. '...... The few brief notices ofJohn Mark in Scripture are
sufficient to give us an outline of his life, and some inkling of his character....
Concerning the Monks of Thebais: Apollos, Dorotheus; Concerning...
... Chapter XXIX."Concerning the Monks of Theba??s: Apollos, Dorotheus; concerning Piammon,
John,Mark, Macarius, Apollodorus, Moses, Paul, who was in Ferma...
Foreword
... "Jesus of Nazareth, a Biography, byJohn Mark," recognizes the author of the second
Gospel as that "John, whose surname wasMark" (Acts 15:37), whom Barnabas...
The Water-Mark ofJohn's Gospel.
... IJohn's Story The Water-Mark ofJohn's Gospel. The very... This picture is really
the water-mark on the paper ofJohn's Gospel. Hold up...
Jesus of Nazareth - A Biography
... Title Page. JESUS OF NAZARETH A BIOGRAPHY. BY.JOHN MARK. D. APPLETON AND COMPANY.
NEW YORK : : LONDON : : MCMXXII. COPYRIGHT 1922, BY. D. APPLETON AND COMPANY....
Second Missionary Journey
... Let us go again and visit our brethren i +The Companions+ (Acts 15:37-40)."Barnabas
proposed to takeJohn Mark, his nephew, with them on this second journey....
First Missionary Journey Scripture
... Companions of the Journey+, Barnabas and Saul (Acts 13:2) andJohn Mark
(Acts 13:5). Barnabas has been called the discoverer of Saul....
Christ Walks Upon the Waters. (John, vi. , 16; Matt. , xiv. , 2...
... CHAPTER IX. SECOND COURSE OF EXTENDED LABOURS IN GALILEE. Section 177. Christ Walks
upon the Waters. (John, vi., 16; Matt., xiv., 2;Mark, vi., 45.)....
Of the Concord Between Matthew,Mark, andJohn in their Notices of...
... Chapter LXXIX."Of the Concord Between Matthew,Mark, andJohn in Their Notices of
the Supper at Bethany, at Which the Woman Poured the Precious Ointment on...
Of the Question Whether There is any Contradiction Between Matthew...
... Chapter LXXVIII."Of the Question Whether There is Any Contradiction Between Matthew
andMark on the One Hand, andJohn on the Other, in So Far as the Former...
Resources
What does it mean that believers do not continue to sin (1 John 3:6; 5:18)? | GotQuestions.orgIn what way was John the Baptist the greatest (Matthew 11:11)? | GotQuestions.orgQuestions about John | GotQuestions.orgJohn: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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