The authorship of the New Testament Gospels has become a point of contention for many skeptics who deny the traditional attributions of Mark, Matthew or John. Mark’s Gospel is of particular importance due to its early dating and relationship to the other Gospels. In spite of the fact Mark isn’t mentioned as an eyewitness in any of the Gospel accounts, there are many good reasons to accept his authorship and regard his Gospel as an accurate record of the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus. The repeated and unanimous testimony of the early Church describes Mark’s Gospel as an accurate record of Peter’s teaching, captured faithfully by Mark acting as Peter’s scribe. Papias, Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, Clement of Alexandria, Eusebius, and Tertullian attribute the Gospel to Mark, and Mark is also described as the author in the Muratorian Fragment and the Anti-Marcionite Prologues.
Before we begin to look at some of the internal evidences for Peter’s connection to the Gospel of Mark, we ought to recognize Peter and Mark’s relationship as it is described in the New Testament. Mark is traditionally considered to be the “John Mark” mentioned as a companion of Paul in the Book of Acts. If this is true, Mark was a cousin of Barnabas (Colossians 4:10) and originally fell from favor with Paul when he failed to continue on an evangelistic journey with Paul and Barnabas as a young man. This caused the two older men to separate; Barnabas continued on with Mark and Paul continued with Silas (Acts 15:37-40). Mark eventually became a close associate of Peter; this is evident in two pieces of Biblical evidence. First, it appears Peter was part of a Christian group in Jerusalem that met in Mark’s home. When Peter miraculously escaped from jail (assisted by the angel of the Lord), he returned to this group to tell them the good news:
Acts 12:12-14
When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”
Peter appears to have been well known to Mark, and over the course of time, Mark became even closer to Peter as he ministered throughout Asia Minor and Rome. By the time Peter wrote his first epistle, Mark had become like a son to him:
1 Peter 5:13
She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.
In fact, Mark’s relationship with Peter seems to parallel Luke’s relationship to Paul. Every time Paul mentions Luke, he also mentions Mark (see Colossians 4:10-14, 2 Timothy 4:11, and Philemon verse 24). Mark and Luke clearly knew each other, and this relationship as “co-Gospel authors” is consistent with Luke’s opening statement in the Gospel of Luke:
Luke 1:1-4
Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.
Luke clearly describes himself as a careful investigator rather than a firsthand eyewitness to the life of Jesus. He also said he had access to the eyewitnesses and those who received the testimony of these witnesses. This would, of course, have included Mark, a man with whom he obviously had repeated contact (according to Paul’s letters). Luke curiously described his account as being written “in consecutive order,” a meaningful statement when you consider what Papias said about Mark’s Gospel:
“Mark became Peter’s interpreter and wrote accurately all that he remembered, not, indeed, in order, of the things said and done by the Lord.”
In the opening lines of his Gospel, Luke appears to be acknowledging Mark as a source who had direct contact with the eyewitnesses, distinguishing his Gospel from Mark’s on the basis of its orderly format. In addition, Luke quotes Mark more than any other source, repeating or quoting entire passages offered by Mark (350 verses from Mark appear in Luke’s gospel).Luke recognized Mark’s relationship with Peter, much like his own with Paul, and considered Mark to be a reliable source.
On the basis of the relationship between Mark and Peter, it is reasonable to conclude the testimony of history accurately describes Mark’s connection to the Apostle. Mark acted as a scribe for Peter and recorded his teaching and preaching in his Gospel.
For more information about the reliability of the New Testament gospels and the case for Christianity, please read Cold-Case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels. This book teaches readers ten principles of cold-case investigations and applies these strategies to investigate the claims of the gospel authors. The book is accompanied by an eight-session Cold-Case Christianity DVD Set (and Participant’s Guide) to help individuals or small groups examine the evidence and make the case.
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Carmelo Junior
July 24, 2021 at 11:23 am
It seems that by the year 64(the year St Peter wrote his second letter ) Mark was at least 15 years younger than Peter because he called him “son”. That might have Mark at 40 years old when he was with Peter and Paul in Rome. Marks was a teenager, maybe younger than the apostle John by the time Jesus was arrested(13 or 14 years old). Mark runs naked after the mercenaries and guards tried to seize him. Marks seems to be a wealthy kid by the way he was dressed with a “linen” sort of pajamas for rich kids today. The tradition that says Mark died in 68AD at the age of 63 does not makes sense as Peter called him “son” in 64 AD in his second letter from Rome. Mark was way younger than Peter by that year. Mark is always referred as a young assistant and scribe. Also Paul makes the notation that Mark has already had some “writings and advises” for the Church indicating that Mark might have already written his draft of the life of Jesus by 50AD. By 40 AD Mark was already well known in the Church as scribe. He might have written his account of the life of Jesus in his 20s.
Juan
August 21, 2023 at 6:28 am
w all due respect the bible never says mark was an apostle . it was an apostle who ran naked from the mob who wanted to arrest them. I doubt little.kid instead of peter who cuts servants priest ear does not get arrested nor gets his clothes ripped off but follows closely while “Judas”also walks w the guards now we have a close case of pedophile naked boy running. I think I snot funny the bible did not say it was a boy not mark nor even anyone else but an apostle who scattered together w the other ones. so mark was an apostle no so is unbiblical. I know my favorite pastor chuck smith also has the same.opinion about mark running naked as well as other traditions. and hence the Catholic Calvary Church grew. my hero chuck smith hides lots of truths. the way to reconcile the contradictions of peter follow closely sits w guards guard were just there w peter getting their ear cut off and restored by Jesus yet he sits w the guards and .another apostle suppose to he Judas asks the high priest to let him in so the servants open the door for peter. soon a female servant recognizes him as peter one of the apostles. I mean it makes no sense except to accept that peter was a jew always never became Christian and also and more important he was Satan possessed .
I love you I don’t care if ur married to a denomination I love u no matter what. but please.be married to Jesus and make Jesus one and only love.