History of the Gospel of Mark Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

History of the Gospel of Mark - Essay Example Researchers assert that the gospel of Mark was anonymously written but by tradition has been attributed to John Mark, the evangelist. It is also claimed that the content is thought to be the report of Simon Peter. Researchers also agree that the book was probably written between 50 and 70 A.D. in Italy or in Rome. Further, there is an indication of a secret book of Mark which so far has not had any significant impact on the history of Mark. The main evidence about the authorship and date of the gospel of Mark comes from the writing of Eusebius of Caesarea. Wettereau (as cited in Wikipedia) proposes that Eusebius of Caesarea was the bishop of Caesarea. Eusebius is often referred to as the father of Church history because of his recording of the history of the early Christian Church. Eusebius used sources such as Papias to obtain his information. Papias was a church leader in the first half of the second century and was later canonized as a saint. Eusebius (as cited in Kirby 2007and Malick 2007) quotes Papias as reporting that, Mark having become the interpreter of Peter wrote down accurately whatsoever he remembered. It was not, however, in exact order that he related the sayings or deeds of Christ. For he neither heard the Lord nor accompanied Him. But afterwards, as I said, he accompanied Peter, who accommodated his instructions to the necessities [of his hearers], but with no intention of giving a regular narrative of the Lord’s sayings. Wherefore Mark made no mistake in thus writing some things as he remembered them. For of one thing he took especial care, not to omit anything he had heard, and not to put anything fictitious into the statements. Two other sources ascribing the authorship of the gospel of Mark to John Mark include the writing of Peter himself in the book of Acts and the motivation of the early church. Kirby 2007 posits that the speech of Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, in Acts 10:34- 40, can serve as a