The Chapters – Quick Access
Basics
BOOK: Mark
Description: 2nd of the three Synoptic (same or similar) Gospels
Author: Mark, thought to be young protégé of Peter who shared the story with him
Date written: Opinions vary, some suggest to 50’s or early 60’s, others before AD70.
Chapters: 16
Accuracy of dating, authorship etc.
Depending on which scholar you read, when they wrote, and so on, dates and opinions about authors will vary because the truth is that we do not know these things definitely. Therefore hold the dates lightly although they will probably only vary a few years one way or another. As far as authorship is concerned we have tended to go along with ancient tradition, what the Early Church Fathers (senior leaders in the centuries following Christ) said. For more detail on each of these Gospels, please go to the Gospels Introduction page.
Brief Synopsis
• The baptism & temptation of Jesus and then the three years of ministry leading up to his death and resurrection.
• Mark’s Gospel appears to appeal particularly to the Roman audience.
Outline
1:1-13 The Beginnings of Jesus’ Ministry
- 1:1-8 His Forerunner
- 1:9-11 His Baptism
- 1:12,13 His Temptation
1:14-6:29 Jesus’ Ministry in Galilee
1:14-3:12 Early Galilean Ministry
- 1:14-20 Call of the first disciples
- 1:21-34 Miracles in Capernaum
- 1:35-45 A tour of Galilee
- 2:1-22 Ministry in Capernaum
- 2:23-3:12 Sabbath controversy
3:13-6:13 Later Galilean Ministry
- 3:13-19 Selection of the 12 apostles
- 3:20-35 Teachings in Capernaum
- 4:1-34 Parables of the kingdom
- 4:35-5:20 Trip across the Sea of Galilee
- 5:21-43 More Galilean miracles
- 6:1-6 Unbelief in Jesus’ hometown
- 6:7-13 Six apostolic teams tour Galilee
6:14-29 King Herod’s reaction to Jesus’ ministry
6:30-9:50 Withdrawals from Galilee
- 6:30-52 To the Eastern Shore of the Sea of Galilee
- 6:53-7:23 To the Western Shore of the Sea of Galilee
- 7:24-30 To Phoenicia
- 7:31-8:10 To the Region of the Decapolis
- 8:11-9:32 To the Vicinity of Caesarea Philippi
- 9:33-50 Final Ministry in Galilee
Ch.10 Jesus’ Ministry in Judea and Perea
- 10:1-12 Teaching concerning Divorce
- 10:13-16 Teaching concerning Children
- 10:17-31 The Rich Young Man
- 10:32-34 Prediction of Jesus’ Death
- 10:35-45 A Request of Two Brothers
- 10:46-52 Restoration of Bartimaeus’s Sight
Chs. 11-15 The Passion of Jesus
- 11:1-11 The Triumphal Entry
- 11:12-19 The Cleansing of the Temple
- 11:20-12:44 Concluding Controversies with Jewish Leaders
- Ch.13 The Olivet Discourse concerning the End of the Age
- 14:1-11 The Anointing of Jesus
- 14:12-15:47 The Arrest, Trial and Death of Jesus
Ch.16 The Resurrection of Jesus
Alternative Outlines
Someone has said this Gospel may be divided into two on the basis of Mk 10:45
“the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,//and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
i.e. Ch.1-10 To Serve
Ch.11-16 To give his life a ransom for many
An alternative simple division might be:
- 1:1-13 The preparation
- 1:14-9:50 The Ministry in Galilee
- 10:1-52 The Journey to Jerusalem
- 11:1-15:47 The Passion Week
- 16:1-20 The Consummation
Concluding Comments
We often suggest new readers of the Bible start with Mark’s Gospel in that it is the shortest of the four Gospels and has a sense of urgency or immediacy about it.