Mark 1:1

Ver. 1. The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,.... Not that the Gospel first began to be preached at this time, for it was preached by Isaiah, and other prophets before; and long before that,

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

MARK CHAPTER 1 Mark 1:1-8 The Gospel begins with the preaching of John the Baptist. Mark 1:9-11 Jesus is baptized, witnessed to from heaven, Mark 1:12-13 and tempted of the devil, Mark 1:14-15 preacheth in Galilee, Mark 1:16-22 calleth Peter, Andrew, James, and John, Mark 1:23-28 healeth one possessed of an unclean spirit, Mark 1:29-31 Simeon's mother-in-law, Mark 1:32-34 and divers other diseased persons, Mark 1:35-39 prayeth alone, and goeth on to preach, Mark 1:40-45 cleanseth a leper. The Gospel seems to have taken its name, euaggelion, from the angel's words to the shepherds, Luke 2:10, I bring you good tidings of great joy; for the word in the Greek signifies a good message, or good news or tidings. It sometimes signifieth the historical narration of the coming of Christ, John Baptist's and Christ's preaching, and what he did in the world, his birth, life, death, &c.; sometimes the doctrine of salvation by Christ, in opposition to that of the law; sometimes, the dispensation of it, or that period of time when God began to publish the mystery hid from ages openly to the world. It seemeth here to signify the latter; for both Matthew and Luke seem to begin the history higher. Luke, from the history of John the Baptist and Christ, as to what things preceded their birth. Matthew, from the birth of Christ. But the dispensation of the gospel began with the preaching of John the Baptist. Before his time the doctrine of the gospel was made known to Adam, and Abraham and David; prophesied by Jacob, Isaiah, and several of the prophets; but John was the first in whom those promises and prophecies were fulfilled, the first public and plain preacher of the doctrine of the gospel; for the law and the prophets prophesied until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it, Matthew 11:13 Luke 16:16. So as John's preaching was the beginning of the gospel; for though the doctrine of the gospel was before darkly made known, yet it then began to be plainly and publicly declared to the world. He was the first in whom the gospel prophecies began to have an end, as both the prophecies and the types of it had a more full completion in Christ. Two prophecies at least had their completion in John, which we find in Malachi 3:1, which the evangelist mentions in the next verse, and Mark 4:5, concerning Elias first to come, which our Saviour applies to John, Matthew 11:14 Mark 9:11-13, and the angel before him, Luke 1:17; besides Isaiah's prophecy, Isaiah 40:3, applied unto him by Matthew 3:3 Mark 1:3, and by John applied to himself, John 1:23. This Gospel is called the Gospel of Jesus Christ, because the history of Christ's birth, life, and death is the matter of it.

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; Ver. 1. The beginning of the Gospel, &c.] The history of our Saviour’ s life and death, St Mark is recorded to have written at the request of the Romans. In the Latin tongue, say some (who pretend to have seen the original copy at Venice), but it is more likely in Greek, a tongue (then) very well known to the Romans also. He begins with John’ s ministry, passing over Christ’ s birth and private life for brevity’ sake (as it may seem) though Papists feign many idle relations thereof, and so expose us to the jeers of Jewish and Turkish miscreants. There are those who make Mark an epitomator of Matthew. But forasmuch as he neither begins like Matthew, nor keeps the same order, but relateth some things that Matthew hath not, and other things much larger than Matthew hath them; judicious Calvin thinks that he had not seen St Matthew’ s Gospel when he wrote his (as neither had St Luke seen either of them): but that being acted by the same Spirit, they agree so harmoniously and happily; an undoubted argument of the Divinity of the Scripture, which therefore a Greek Father calls παναρμονιωτατην, every way suitable to itself. (Nazianzen.) Euseb. Hist. Eccles. ii. 15, ex Clementc.

(1) The beginning of the gospel.—The opening words are interesting as presenting a transition stage in the history of the word Gospel, between its earlier sense, as meaning generally the “good news” of the kingdom of God (Mark 1:14; Matthew 4:23; Matthew 9:35), and the later sense, as a book recording the main facts in our Lord’s life and work. In 1 Corinthians 15:1, 2 Timothy 2:8, where it clearly includes a narrative of some kind, we have an instance of a like transition. The Son of God.—This also is significant as to the Church’s faith at the time when St. Mark wrote. He, of whom he speaks, was not a prophet or righteous man only, but was, in the highest sense which could be attached to the words, the Son of God. If we think of St. Mark as reproducing St. Peter’s teaching, we cannot fail to connect the words, thus placed, as they are, in the very title of his Gospel, with the Apostle’s confession in Matthew 16:16.

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. -Usherian year of the World, 4030. -Alexandrian year of the World, 5528. -Antiochian year of the World, 5518. -Constantinopolitan AEra of the World, 5534. -Rabbinical year of the World, 3786. -Year of the Julian Period, 4740. -AEra of the Seleucidae, 338. -Year of the Christian AEra, 26. -Year of the CCI. Olympiad, 2. -Year of the building of Rome, 769. -Year of the Julian AEra, 71. -Year of the Caesarean AEra of Antioch, 74. -Year of the Spanish AEra, 64. -Year of the Paschal Cycle or Dionysian Period, 27. -Year of the Christian Lunar Cycle, or Golden Number, 8. -Year of the Rabbinical Lunar Cycle, 5. -Year of the Solar Cycle, 7. -Dominical Letter, F. -Epact, 17. -Year of the Emperor Tiberius, 14. -Consuls, C. Calvisius Sabinus, and Cn. Corn. Lentulus Getulicus, from January 1 to July 1; and Q. Marcius Barca and T. Rustius Nummus Gallus, for the remainder of the year. The reason why two sets of Consuls appear in this Chronology is this: the Consuls were changed every year in July; therefore, taking in the whole year, four Consuls necessarily appear: two for the first six months, and two for the latter half of the year. CHAPTER I. The mission, preaching, and success of John Baptist, 1-5. His manner of life, 6. Proclaims Christ, and baptizes him in Jordan, 7-11. The temptation of Christ, 12, 13. John being put in prison, Christ begins to preach, 14, 15. He calls Andrew and Simon, 16-18. James and John, 19, 20. Teaches in Capernaum, 21, 22. Casts out a demon, 23-28. Goes into the house of Simon, and heals his mother-in-law, 29-31. Heals many diseased persons, 32-34. Goes to the desert, and is followed by his disciples, 35-37. Preaches in different towns and synagogues of Galilee, and casts cut devils, 38, 39. Cleanses a leper, who publishes abroad his miraculous cure, 40-45. NOTES ON CHAP. I. Verse 1. The beginning of the Gospel] It is with the utmost propriety that Mark begins the Gospel dispensation by the preaching of John the Baptist, he being the forerunner of Jesus Christ, and the first proclaimer of the incarnated Messiah. Gospel-for the meaning of the word see the preface to Matthew. Matthew 1:1 Son of God] To point out his Divine origin; and thus glancing at his miraculous conception. This was an essential character of the Messiah. See Matthew 16:16; Matthew 26:63; Lu 22:67, &c.

Ch. Mark 1:1-8. The Preaching and Baptism of John The object of St Mark is to relate the official life and ministry of our Lord. He therefore begins with His baptism, and first relates, as introductory to it, the preaching of John the Baptist.

The beginning of the gospel - The word “gospel” literally signifies good news, and particularly the good tidings respecting the way of salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ.

§ 15. — OF JOHN THE BAPTIST, Mark 1:1-8.1. The beginning of the gospel — This phrase is equivalent to the liturgical phrase, “Here beginneth” the Gospel of Jesus.