Gospel of Mark

The Gospel of Mark is the second of the four canonical Gospels and one of the three Synoptic Gospels. It narrates the ministry of Jesus from his baptism by John the Baptist to his crucifixion, his burial, and the discovery of his empty tomb. It portrays Jesus as a teacher, an exorcist, a healer, and a miracle worker.

Jesus refers to himself as the Son of Man and is called the Son of God, though he keeps his messianic nature secret and even his own disciples fail to understand him. This is consistent with the Christian interpretation of prophecy, which is believed to foretell the fate of the Messiah as a suffering servant.

The gospel is traditionally attributed to Mark the Evangelist, a companion of the Apostle Peter. The author is not named, and scholars debate the identity of the author. It is dated to around 70 CE and was likely written in Rome for a Gentile audience. It is classified as an ancient biography that was intended to strengthen the existing faith of its intended audience rather than to evangelize.

Most scholars believe that Mark is the earliest gospel and was used by Matthew, Luke, and John; some scholars have regarded Mark as the most reliable gospel, though this view is debated. There is no universal agreement on the structure of Mark, but a break at Mark 8:26–31 is widely recognized. Mark 16:8, which ends with a resurrection announcement, was the original ending.