Overview
Find academic sophistication, pastoral sensitivity, and accessibility in the award-winning BECNT series
In this addition to the BECNT series, respected New Testament scholar Robert Stein offers a substantive yet highly accessible commentary on the Gospel of Mark.
The commentary focuses primarily on the Markan understanding of the Jesus traditions as reflected in this key New Testament book. For each section in Mark, the author analyzes how it fits the immediate and larger context of the Gospel; offers verse-by-verse comments on the words, phrases, sentences, and themes found in the section; and explores what Mark is seeking to teach.
As with all BECNT volumes, this informative, balanced commentary features:
● Detailed interaction with the Greek text
● Extensive research
● Chapter-by-chapter exegesis
● A blend of scholarly depth and readability
● An acclaimed, user-friendly design
The BECNT series aims for academic sophistication with pastoral sensitivity and accessibility, making it a useful tool for pastors, church leaders, students, and teachers.
In this addition to the BECNT series, respected New Testament scholar Robert Stein offers a substantive yet highly accessible commentary on the Gospel of Mark.
The commentary focuses primarily on the Markan understanding of the Jesus traditions as reflected in this key New Testament book. For each section in Mark, the author analyzes how it fits the immediate and larger context of the Gospel; offers verse-by-verse comments on the words, phrases, sentences, and themes found in the section; and explores what Mark is seeking to teach.
As with all BECNT volumes, this informative, balanced commentary features:
● Detailed interaction with the Greek text
● Extensive research
● Chapter-by-chapter exegesis
● A blend of scholarly depth and readability
● An acclaimed, user-friendly design
The BECNT series aims for academic sophistication with pastoral sensitivity and accessibility, making it a useful tool for pastors, church leaders, students, and teachers.
Table of Contents
Series Preface
Author's Preface
Abbreviations
Transliteration
Map
Introduction to the Gospel of Mark
I. Prologue: The Beginning of the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God (1:1-13)
A. The Witness of John the Baptist to Jesus (1:1-8)
B. The Baptism of Jesus (1:9-11)
C. The Temptation of Jesus (1:12-13)
II. Who Is This Jesus?--Part 1 (1:14-3:6)
A. A Summary of Jesus's Message (1:14-15)
B. Jesus Calls the First Disciples (1:16-20)
C. Jesus's Healing Ministry in Capernaum and Galilee (1:21-45)
D. Jesus's Mighty Acts in Capernaum and Galilee (2:1-3:6)
III. Who Is This Jesus?--Part 2 (3:7-6:6a)
A. A Summary of Jesus's Ministry (3:7-12)
B. Jesus Calls the Twelve Apostles (3:13-19)
C. Jesus, His Family, and Beelzebul (3:20-35)
D. Jesus Teaches in Parables (4:1-34)
E. Jesus--Lord of Nature, Demons, Disease, and Death (4:35-5:43)
F. Jesus Encounters Unbelief in Nazareth (6:1-6a)
IV. Mission and Misunderstanding (6:6b-8:21)
A. A Summary of Jesus's Ministry and the Mission of His Disciples (6:6b-13)
B. The Death of John the Baptist (6:14-29)
C. Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand (6:30-44)
D. Jesus Walks on the Sea (6:45-52)
E. A Summary of Jesus's Healings at Gennesaret (6:53-56)
F. Jesus and the Tradition of the Elders (7:1-23)
G. Jesus and the Syrophoenician Woman (7:24-30)
H. Jesus Heals a Deaf Mute (7:31-37)
I. Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand (8:1-9)
J. Jesus Is Asked for a Sign (8:10-13)
K. Jesus's Miracles of the Two Feedings Recalled (8:14-21)
V. On the Way to Jerusalem (8:22-10:52)
A. Jesus Heals the Blind Man of Bethsaida (8:22-26)
B. Peter's Confession and Jesus's First Passion Prediction (8:27-33)
C. Jesus's Invitation to Discipleship (8:34-9:1)
D. Jesus Is Transfigured (9:2-8)
E. The Son of Man and the Return of Elijah (9:9-13)
F. Jesus Performs a Difficult Exorcism (9:14-29)
G. Jesus's Second Passion Prediction (9:30-32)
H. Jesus's Teachings on Discipleship (9:33-50)
I. Jesus's Teaching concerning Divorce (10:1-12)
J. Jesus Blesses the Children (10:13-16)
K. Jesus, the Rich Man, and Eternal Life (10:17-31)
L. Jesus's Third Passion Prediction (10:32-34)
M. The Misguided Request of James and John (10:35-45)
N. Jesus Heals a Second Blind Man (10:46-52)
VI. Jesus's Entry into Jerusalem (11:1-13:37)
A. Jesus's Messianic Entry into Jerusalem (11:1-11)
B. Jesus's Judgment of the Fig Tree and the Temple (11:12-25)
C. Jesus Questioned concerning His Authority (11:27-33)
D. Jesus's Parable of the Vineyard (12:1-12)
E. The Pharisees and Herodians Seek to Trick Jesus (12:13-17)
F. The Sadducees Seek to Trick Jesus (12:18-27)
G. A Scribe Asks Jesus about the Great Commandment (12:28-34)
H. Jesus's Question concerning the Messiah (12:35-37)
I. Jesus's Denunciation of the Scribes (12:38-40)
J. Jesus's Teaching concerning the Widow's Great Gift (12:41-44)
K. Jesus's Eschatological Discourse (13:1-37)
VII. The Passion Narrative (14:1-16:8)
A. The Plot to Kill Jesus, and His Anointing by an Unnamed Woman (14:1-11)
B. The Last Supper and Jesus's Prediction of the Denial of the Disciples (14:12-31)
C. Jesus Prays in the Garden of Gethsemane (14:32-42)
D. Jesus Is Seized (14:43-52)
E. Jesus Is "Tried" by the Sanhedrin (14:53-65)
F. Jesus Is Denied by Peter (14:66-72)
G. Jesus Is Tried by Pontius Pilate (15:1-15)
H. Jesus Is Crucified (15:16-41)
I. Jesus Is Buried (15:42-47)
J. Jesus Is Raised from the Dead (16:1-8)
Works Cited
Index of Subjects
Index of Authors
Index of Greek Words
Index of Scripture and Other Ancient Writings
Author's Preface
Abbreviations
Transliteration
Map
Introduction to the Gospel of Mark
I. Prologue: The Beginning of the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God (1:1-13)
A. The Witness of John the Baptist to Jesus (1:1-8)
B. The Baptism of Jesus (1:9-11)
C. The Temptation of Jesus (1:12-13)
II. Who Is This Jesus?--Part 1 (1:14-3:6)
A. A Summary of Jesus's Message (1:14-15)
B. Jesus Calls the First Disciples (1:16-20)
C. Jesus's Healing Ministry in Capernaum and Galilee (1:21-45)
D. Jesus's Mighty Acts in Capernaum and Galilee (2:1-3:6)
III. Who Is This Jesus?--Part 2 (3:7-6:6a)
A. A Summary of Jesus's Ministry (3:7-12)
B. Jesus Calls the Twelve Apostles (3:13-19)
C. Jesus, His Family, and Beelzebul (3:20-35)
D. Jesus Teaches in Parables (4:1-34)
E. Jesus--Lord of Nature, Demons, Disease, and Death (4:35-5:43)
F. Jesus Encounters Unbelief in Nazareth (6:1-6a)
IV. Mission and Misunderstanding (6:6b-8:21)
A. A Summary of Jesus's Ministry and the Mission of His Disciples (6:6b-13)
B. The Death of John the Baptist (6:14-29)
C. Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand (6:30-44)
D. Jesus Walks on the Sea (6:45-52)
E. A Summary of Jesus's Healings at Gennesaret (6:53-56)
F. Jesus and the Tradition of the Elders (7:1-23)
G. Jesus and the Syrophoenician Woman (7:24-30)
H. Jesus Heals a Deaf Mute (7:31-37)
I. Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand (8:1-9)
J. Jesus Is Asked for a Sign (8:10-13)
K. Jesus's Miracles of the Two Feedings Recalled (8:14-21)
V. On the Way to Jerusalem (8:22-10:52)
A. Jesus Heals the Blind Man of Bethsaida (8:22-26)
B. Peter's Confession and Jesus's First Passion Prediction (8:27-33)
C. Jesus's Invitation to Discipleship (8:34-9:1)
D. Jesus Is Transfigured (9:2-8)
E. The Son of Man and the Return of Elijah (9:9-13)
F. Jesus Performs a Difficult Exorcism (9:14-29)
G. Jesus's Second Passion Prediction (9:30-32)
H. Jesus's Teachings on Discipleship (9:33-50)
I. Jesus's Teaching concerning Divorce (10:1-12)
J. Jesus Blesses the Children (10:13-16)
K. Jesus, the Rich Man, and Eternal Life (10:17-31)
L. Jesus's Third Passion Prediction (10:32-34)
M. The Misguided Request of James and John (10:35-45)
N. Jesus Heals a Second Blind Man (10:46-52)
VI. Jesus's Entry into Jerusalem (11:1-13:37)
A. Jesus's Messianic Entry into Jerusalem (11:1-11)
B. Jesus's Judgment of the Fig Tree and the Temple (11:12-25)
C. Jesus Questioned concerning His Authority (11:27-33)
D. Jesus's Parable of the Vineyard (12:1-12)
E. The Pharisees and Herodians Seek to Trick Jesus (12:13-17)
F. The Sadducees Seek to Trick Jesus (12:18-27)
G. A Scribe Asks Jesus about the Great Commandment (12:28-34)
H. Jesus's Question concerning the Messiah (12:35-37)
I. Jesus's Denunciation of the Scribes (12:38-40)
J. Jesus's Teaching concerning the Widow's Great Gift (12:41-44)
K. Jesus's Eschatological Discourse (13:1-37)
VII. The Passion Narrative (14:1-16:8)
A. The Plot to Kill Jesus, and His Anointing by an Unnamed Woman (14:1-11)
B. The Last Supper and Jesus's Prediction of the Denial of the Disciples (14:12-31)
C. Jesus Prays in the Garden of Gethsemane (14:32-42)
D. Jesus Is Seized (14:43-52)
E. Jesus Is "Tried" by the Sanhedrin (14:53-65)
F. Jesus Is Denied by Peter (14:66-72)
G. Jesus Is Tried by Pontius Pilate (15:1-15)
H. Jesus Is Crucified (15:16-41)
I. Jesus Is Buried (15:42-47)
J. Jesus Is Raised from the Dead (16:1-8)
Works Cited
Index of Subjects
Index of Authors
Index of Greek Words
Index of Scripture and Other Ancient Writings
Endorsements
“Robert H. Stein has composed an excellent commentary on Mark 1:1–16:8. He explains well the purpose and structure of the Gospel, discusses in detail its problematic verses, judiciously selects views of other commentators, and explains why he thinks the Gospel ends at 16:8. Hence Stein’s commentary will be a precious vade mecum for pastors and preachers, students of the New Testament, and teachers in biblical studies.”
Joseph A. Fitzmyer, SJ†, Catholic University of America, Washington, DC
“Bob Stein has written a great commentary on the Gospel of Mark. It is rich with interpretive insight, yet it is very reader friendly. Scholars, pastors, students, and lay readers will appreciate how Stein tackles difficult questions head-on and presents sensible solutions. Reading this commentary gives the reader a real sense of what the evangelist Mark was trying to say and how his original readers would have understood him. It makes an excellent contribution to the BECNT series.”
Craig A. Evans, John Bisagno Distinguished Professor of Christian Origins, Houston Baptist University
“This comprehensive commentary is the seasoned work of a first-rate, evangelical scholar. The discussions are well informed, and the positions taken are judicious and fair. Anyone working on the Second Gospel will find significant help here, particularly with regard to the theology and purpose of the evangelist.”
Klyne Snodgrass, professor emeritus of New Testament studies, North Park Theological Seminary
Author
Robert H. Stein
Robert H. Stein (PhD, Princeton Theological Seminary), now retired, most recently served as senior professor of New Testament interpretation at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He previously taught at Bethel Seminary. A world-renowned scholar of the Synoptic Gospels, he is the author of several books, including Mark in the Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Studying the Synoptic Gospels, Luke, and Jesus the Messiah.