In Front | Who Is Mark?

Early Christian writings identify Mark as the author of the Gospel that takes his name. However, the topic of its authorship is not referenced in the text nor does the name Mark appear in this Gospel or any of the other three. 

The name Mark was attached to this Gospel from an early date, either at the beginning or ending of manuscripts, with phrases like “According to Mark,” or “Gospel According to Mark,” acting as informal headings or footers that identified the book in church libraries.

Mark is the only name attached to early manuscripts of this Gospel. While some early apocryphal works were given various titles and attributions in the Early Church, every early copy of this Gospel that includes a title or author reference, attributes the book to Mark.

Early Christian tradition also unanimously identified Mark the friend of Peter as the book’s author. This consensus is evident in the works of early Christian theologians. Peter was understood to have been the eyewitness behind the account and the source of its many intimate details. We know Peter well from Acts, the Gospel accounts, and 1 and 2 Peter—letters we’ll explore in Course 6. But who is Mark? 

He’s a minor character we’ll encounter briefly in the book of Acts (Acts 12:12, 25; 13:5, 13; 15:37-39), and later in Paul’s letters (Col 4:10; Philem 1:24; 2 Tim 4:11). In spite of these scattered references, we know little about him.

The most striking thing we hear of Mark is that Paul considered him a deserter during one of their missionary journeys:

Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.
Acts 15:37-38 (NIV)

If the consensus of early Christian tradition is correct, this narrative comes to us from one deserter through another. Mark deserted Paul and his difficult mission to take the Gospel to the Gentiles and Peter deserted Jesus—denying Jesus three times during his passion. 

This Gospel account is especially critical of the disciples’ behavior and lack of faith. Could it be that its author and primary eyewitness continued to bear regret and self-judgment? 

On the other hand, if Mark and Peter were integral in composing this work, it reinforces a message of hope. One deserter, Mark, ended up providing what is believed to be the earliest and in some ways most foundational Gospel, while the other deserter, Peter, became a leading figure in the church in Jerusalem and later in Rome. God forgives and empowers us to transcend our failures and limitations. Consequently, this Gospel—in both its narrative and authorship—carries a message of hope.

Sources: David E. Garland, A Theology of Mark’s Gospel, 2015, p. 49; Merrill C. Tenney, New Testament Survey, 1985, pp. 160-161.