Rodney Cooper - Mark

W riting this commentary
on the book of Mark was not
only inspirational but transformational
as well. I want to
thank three key people who
were my team in finishing
well.

Thanks Cheryl Smith, without
your word smithing and
research I would not have
been able to complete the task.

Thanks to my mom, Avanell
Cooper, whose love and
encouragement are always an
inspiration.

And thanks to Nancy, my dear
wife, who modeled servant-hood
to me and for me during
this project. I love you.

Today's church hungers for Bible teaching, and Bible teachers hunger for resources to guide them in teaching God's Word. The Holman New Testament Commentary provides the church with the food to feed the spiritually hungry in an easily digestible format. The result: new spiritual vitality that the church can readily use.

Bible teaching should result in new interest in the Scriptures, expanded Bible knowledge, discovery of specific scriptural principles, relevant applications, and exciting living. The unique format of the Holman New Testament Commentary includes sections to achieve these results for every New Testament book.

Opening quotations from some of the church's best writers lead to an introductory illustration and discussion that draw individuals and study groups into the Word of God. In a Nutshell summarizes the content and teaching of the chapter. Verse-by-verse commentary answers the church's questions rather than raising issues scholars usually admit they cannot adequately solve. Bible principles and specific contemporary applications encourage students to move from Bible to contemporary times. A specific modern illustration then ties application vividly to present life. A brief prayer aids the student to commit his or her daily life to the principles and applications found in the Bible chapter being studied. For those still hungry for more, Deeper Discoveries take the student into a more personal, deeper study of the words, phrases, and themes of God's Word. Finally, a teaching outline provides transitional statements and conclusions along with an outline to assist the teacher in group Bible studies.

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Twelve volumes designed for Bible study and teaching to enrich the local church and God's people.

Introduction to

LETTER PROFILE

• Written for Gentile readers, especially Romans.
• Mark presents Jesus as the ultimate servant.
• Mark emphasizes what Jesus did rather than what he said. The word immediately is used over forty times to show Christ as a servant of action.
• Eighteen miracles (over half of Christ's thirty-five recorded miracles) are in the Book of Mark.
• Mark is the earliest and shortest of the Gospels.
• Some consider that Mark recorded the recollections of the apostle Peter about Jesus life.
• Chapters 18 center on Christ's ministry to the multitudes; chapters 810 deal with his ministry primarily to the disciples.
• Chapters 1116 focus on Jesus rejection by the Jewish rulers and his sacrifice of his life for the multitudes.
• Mark devotes almost as many chapters to the last week of Christ's life (six chapters) as he does to the prior three years of ministry (eight chapters).
• Key verse to summarize Mark's message is 10:45.

AUTHOR PROFILE

• Tradition holds that Mark is the author of this Gospel.
• Jewish; born in Jerusalem, probably from a well-to-do family. His mother, Mary, had a large house that was a meeting place for believers and they had servants (Acts 12:1216).
• He was Barnabas's cousin, and he went on the first missionary journey with Paul and Barnabas.
• Mark deserted Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. Restored by Barnabas's not going with Paul on the second missionary journey.
• Very close to the apostle Peter, who may have been the one who led Mark to Christ.
• Fully restored to service because Paul, nearing the end of his life, said Mark was useful for service and asked Mark to come see him.

A verse-by-verse explanation of the chapter.

An overview of the principles and applications from the chapter.

Melding the chapter to life.

Tying the chapter to life with God.

Historical, geographical, and grammatical enrichment of the commentary.>

Suggested step-by-step group study of the chapter.

Zeroing the chapter in on daily life.