SMYTH & HELWYS BIBLE COMMENTARY

MARK

R. ALAN CULPEPPER

Smyth & Helwys Publishing, Inc.

6316 Peake Road

Macon, Georgia 31210-3960

1-800-747-3016

© 2007 by Smyth & Helwys Publishing

All rights reserved.

ISBN 978-1-57312-775-2

Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary: Mark

Publication Staff

President & CEO

Cecil P. Staton

Publisher & Executive Vice President

Lex Horton

Vice President, Production

Keith Gammons

Senior Editor

Mark K. McElroy

Book Editor

Leslie Andres

Graphic Designer

Dave Jones

Assistant Editors

Betsy Butler

Kelley F. Land

DEDICATION

To teachers who loved the New Testament,

called forth the best in their students,

and lived what they taught.

William E. Hull

Harold S. Songer

Frank Stagg

W. D. Davies

D. Moody Smith, Jr.

Project Editor

R. Scott Nash

Mercer University

Macon, Georgia

Old Testament

General Editor

Samuel E. Balentine

Union Theological Seminary and

Presbyterian School of Christian

Education

Richmond, Virginia

Area

Old Testament Editors

Mark E. Biddle

Baptist Theological Seminary

at Richmond, Virginia

Kandy Queen-Sutherland

Stetson University

Deland, Florida

Paul Redditt

Georgetown College

Georgetown, Kentucky

New Testament

General Editor

R. Alan Culpepper

McAfee School of Theology

Mercer University

Atlanta, Georgia

Area

New Testament Editors

R. Scott Nash

Mercer University

Macon, Georgia

Richard B. Vinson

Baptist Theological Seminary

at Richmond, Virginia

CONTENTS

abbreviations

series preface

how to use this commentary

introduction

an outline of the gospel according to mark

1 Jesus and the Coming Kingdom

Mark 1:1–45

2 Conflict with the Religious Leaders

Mark 2:1–28

3 The Coming Kingdom Brings Divisions

Mark 3:1–35

4 Parables of the Kingdom

Mark 4:1–41

5 Jesus’ Power to Give Life

Mark 5:1–43

6 The Misunderstood Messiah and the Martyrdom of John the Baptist

Mark 6:1–56

7 Jesus’ Challenge to False Views of Holiness

Mark 7:1–37

8 Opening Eyes to Recognize the Messiah

Mark 8:1–38

9 Following a Glorified yet Suffering Messiah

Mark 9:1–50

10 Conditions for Entering the Kingdom

Mark 10:1–52

11 Jesus’ Entry into Jerusalem

Mark 11:1–33

12 Debating with the Authorities in the Temple

Mark 12:1–44

13 The Destruction of Jerusalem and the Coming of the Son of Man

Mark 13:1–37

14 Preparations for Jesus’ Death

Mark 14:1–72

15 The Crucifixion of Jesus

Mark 15:1–47

16 The Resurrection of Jesus

Mark 16:1–8

bibliography

index of authors

index of scriptures

index of sidebars

index of topics

ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS COMMENTARY

Books of the Old Testament, Apocrypha, and New Testament are generally abbreviated in the Sidebars, parenthetical references, and notes according to the following system.

The Old Testament

Genesis Gen

Exodus Exod

Leviticus Lev

Numbers Num

Deuteronomy Deut

Joshua Josh

Judges Judg

Ruth Ruth

1-2 Samuel 1-2 Sam

1-2 Kings 1-2 Kgs

1-2 Chronicles 1-2 Chr

Ezra Ezra

Nehemiah Neh

Esther Esth

Job Job

Psalm (Psalms) Ps (Pss)

Proverbs Prov

Ecclesiastes Eccl

or Qoheleth Qoh

Song of Solomon Song

or Song of Songs Song

or Canticles Cant

Isaiah Isa...