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Mark 1:1-8
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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NRSV, RSV, NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary & sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • The Five Gospels Parallels, John W. Marshall, University of Toronto.
  • Comparative primary texts at Mahlon H. Smith's Into His Own: Perspective on the World of Jesus, Rutgers University:
    • Baptism: Water & Spirit from DSS, Josephus, Babylonian Talmud.
    • Sin and Justice from Mishna and Babylonian Talmud.
  • "John's Message," "John the Baptist," The Jesus Database, an online annotated inventory of the traditions concerning the life and teachings of Jesus. Dr. Gregory C. Jenks, FaithFutures Foundation.
  • III.X.5, III.XVI.3, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
  • Chapter IX, Adversus Judaeos, Tertullian (c. 198)
  • Chapter X, On Baptism,  Tertullian (c. 198)
  • II.11, II.12, Paedagogus, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • V.8, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • Chapter II, Considering Repentance,  Tertullian (c. 203)
  • I.14, II.17, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Origen. (c.228)
  • VI.14-23, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Philocalia [anthology of Origen prepared by St. Basil and St. Gregory Nazianzen], Origen. (c.230)
  • II.IV, Against Celsus, Origen. (c.246)
  • Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists, John Calvin, 1558: Matthew 3:1-6/Mark 1:1-6/Luke 3:1-6, Matthew 3:11-12/Mark 1:7-8/Luke 3:15-18.
  • From the Catena Aurea, Patristic Commentary by St Thomas Aquinas.
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "A metaphor taken from the practice of kings, who used to have ushers go before them."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "When God sent his Son into the world, he took care, and when he sends him into the heart, he takes care, to prepare his way before him."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "Preaching the baptism of repentance - That is, preaching repentance, and baptizing as a sign and means of it."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "The abruptness with which he announces his subject, and the energetic brevity with which, passing by all preceding events, he hastens over the ministry of John and records the Baptism and Temptation of Jesus--as if impatient to come to the Public Life of the Lord of glory--have often been noticed as characteristic of this Gospel--a Gospel whose direct, practical, and singularly vivid setting imparts to it a preciousness peculiar to itself."
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "Repentance signifies, not only sorrow for sin, but the resolve to sin no more."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, Mark 1:1-8, David Schnasa Jacobsen, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2017.
    • "There is probably not a better text for the second Sunday of Advent than Gospel of Mark’s version of the John the Baptist story"
  • "The Angel in Camel Skin," Nancy Rockwell, The Bite in the Apple, 2017.
  • "Preparing the Way..." Janet H. Hunt, Dancing with the Word, 2017.
  • Pulpit Fiction, plus podcast. Reflections of lectionary text, pop culture, current events, etc. Robb Mc Coy and Eric Fistler, 2017.
  • Provoking the Gospel, Richard Swanson, 2017.
  • "Just the Beginning," David Lose, ....in the meantime, 2017.
  • Living by the Word, Dennis Sanders, The Christian Century, 2017.
  • "Ta-da! A Proclamation!" Glenn Monson, Law & Gospel Everywhere, 2017.
  • Commentary, Mark 1:1-8, Mark Allan Powell, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2014.
    • "So, when Advent comes around every year, we are reminded that God is coming to find us."
  • "Active Waiting," David Lose, ...in the meantime, 2014.
    • "No, what we do will not bring ultimate healing or comfort or peace or justice. That's God's job, and God will keep God's promises to the fullest in the fullness of time. But we don't have to wait for that passively but are invited to throw ourselves into that venture both trusting God's promises and living them right here, right now."
  • "A Truth-Telling Advent," Karoline Lewis, Dear Working Preacher, 2014.
    • "Truth-tellers are essential, but not very popular."
  • "The Beginning of the Gospel," D. Mark Davis, Left Behind and Loving It, 2014.
    • "The first imperative, 'prepare' is aorist while the second, 'make' is present. In the imperative voice, tenses do not indicate time as much as aspect."
  • Lectionary Greek, Mark 1:1-8, Rob Myallis, Lectionary Greek.
  • Mark 1:1-15, study notes, Travis Meier, The Bartimaeus Effect, 2014.
    • "For us who live under the power of a modern day empire, how do we live out this counter-cultural way of life? As the story of Jesus unfolds we will the patterns of discipleship that we are to follow 'on the way' with Jesus."
  • "Mark 1:1 and 'The Price Is Right," Peter Lockhart, A Different Heresy, 2014.
    • "As I was thinking about this and how this emotion attached to these words might be expressed I kept thinking of that old game show The Price is Right. Contestant were selected from the audience with the word "Come on Down!" And as the words were spoken the audience erupted into cheering and excitement – it was good news to be picked."
  • "People Look East," Katie Munnik, Presbyterian Record, 2014.
  • "Prepared with Water and Spirit," Bob Cornwall, Ponderings on a Faith Journey, 2014.
    • "As we stop to take stock of our lives it is important that we remember that the journey we take is one empowered by the presence of the Holy Spirit."
  • "Wild Man John," Michael Coffey, 2014.
  • "At the Edge," Andrew King, A Poetic Kind of Place, 2014.
  • "Visions from the Catacombs," Catacomb Churches, December 7, 2014.
  • Pulpit Fiction, plus podcast. Reflections of lectionary text, pop culture, current events, etc. Robb Mc Coy and Eric Fistler, 2014.
  • "Divine Road Building..." Thomas Beam, 2014.
  • "Let the gospel make its mark," Andrew Prior, 2014.
  • Comentario del San Marcos 1:1-8, Luis N. Rivera-Pagán, Working Preacher, 2014.
  • Concise Exegesis, Richard Donovan, lectionary.org.
  • Commentary, Mark 1:1-8, Karoline Lewis, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2011.
    • "As we anticipate these words from the angels in heaven, Mark asks us to view God's good news in a different way."
  • Isaiah's Prophesy and John's Proclamation, audio telling, story in episodes, graphic, audio and written commentaries. Go Tell Communications, Biblical Storytelling for the Global Village, 2011.
  • Performance Commentary of Mark 1:1-13, Advent 2/Baptism of Jesus, Phil Ruge-Jones, the Network of Biblical Storytellers, You Tube.
  • "Channeling God," Peter Woods, I Am Listening, 2011.
    • "We are all sent to prepare channels for God."
  • "The Change Within and the Change Without," John van de Laar, Sacredise, 2011.
  • "This is the kind of change that stops us in our tracks and makes it impossible for us to live the same way anymore."
  • Holy Textures, Understanding the Bible in its own time and in ours, Mark 1:1-8, David Ewart, 2011.
  • "Unlike us, John the Baptizer is a wild and woolly character. But like us, he lives to point people to one who is greater than himself. John is the first Christian in the sense that he is the first who gives witness to Jesus."
  • "Go Ahead, Judge a Book By Its Title," Nadia Bolz-Weber, The Hardest Question, 2011.
    • "So…is it actually possible amidst our abject familiarity with the Christmas story to again hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ Son of God as Good and as News and as that which only just Began with the birth of Jesus and is yet to end?"
  • "Flinging not furrowed," Fr. Rick Morley, a garden path, 2011.
    • "This song needs to be the song of the church. It needs to be the song of all the faithful people of God to all those who need to have their parched hope quenched."
  • "God Barges into Our Lives," Michael Joseph Brown, ON Scripture, 2011.
  • "The Pumpernickel Gospel of Mark," Andrew Prior, First Impressions, 2011.
  • "Filling in the Gaps," Neil Chappell, a weird thing, 2011.
  • "Turnaround," Alyce M. McKenzie, Edgy Exegesis, Patheos, 2011.
• Comentario del Evangelio por J. Manny Santiago, San Marcos 1:1-8, Working Preacher, 2011.
• Commentary, Mark 1:1-8, Paul S. Berge, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2008.
• Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
• A Brief Commentary on the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 1, Carl W. Conrad. (Click superscript numbers for commentary.)
• "John the Baptist Announces the Coming of Jesus," Michael A. Turton's Historical Commentary on the Gospel of Mark, "a complete verse-by-verse commentary on the Gospel of Mark, focusing on the historicity of people, places, events, and sayings in the world of the Gospel of Mark."
• Exegetical Notes by Brian Stoffregen at CrossMarks Christian Resources.
  • "Perhaps we need to look at the Advent/Christmas season as a time to begin to hear the good news again for the first time."
• "First Thoughts on Passages from Mark in the Lectionary: Advent 2," William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
  • "There is therefore a lot of good news already in John. Catch up with where John can take you - conversion, forgiveness, inclusiveness and a simple lifestyle - and you are well on the way to being good news for the world."
• "The Forerunner," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
• "John the Baptist," Gospel Analysis, Sermons from Seattle, Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington. Detailed background and exegesis.
• "Eating Well," study guide, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Health," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2007.
• "A Way Made Ready," David Busic and Jeren Rowell, Preacher's Magazine: Listening to the Text, Engaging the Text, Preaching the Text.
  • "...Our response to the hope we recognize in the One who comes to us moves beyond simply 'turning away.' We 'turn toward' as well. We turn toward a Savior and dive into His life and His way."
• "Anticipation Proclamation," Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Catholic Resource for This Sunday's Gospel. Adult Study, Children's Story, Family Activity, Support Materials.
  • "What recent advertising pitch or headline sticks out in your memory? Why is it memorable?"
• Marginally Mark, by Brian McGowan, Anglican priest in Western Australia.
  • "I think it's John Dominic Crossan who's points out somewhere that there's a political edge to people being called out across Jordan to JB, & then, after baptism, having to re-enter the Promised Land & reconquer it for God. This time with changed hearts, rather than swords."
• Reflections by Rev Helen Hanten From Environmental & earth-centered reflections from the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota Environmental Stewardship Commission.
  • "What other voices cry from the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord"? How do we announce God's presence in other holy places where God's nearness is felt profoundly and where God speaks to us clearly?"
• "The Gospel of Mark from Beginning to End," James T. Dennison Jr. in Kerux: The Online Journal of Biblical Theology (Reformed)
  • "Mark begins and ends his gospel with schism-a division, a parting, a rending-the schism of the heavens (chapter 1: 10); the schism of the veil in the temple (chapter 15:38)."
• "John the Baptist," "Mark 1: John the Baptist," wikipedia.
• "Does Mark 1:1 call Jesus 'God's Son'? A Brief Text-Critical Note," by Daniel B. Wallace, Dallas Theological Seminary.
  • "...in light of the slim pedigree for the omission, coupled with the high probability of homoioteleuton here, as seen in other multiple ?ou passages, as well as intrinsic evidence, it is most likely that Mark wrote ?God?s Son? in the opening verse of his gospel. But the strongest argument that Sinaiticus accidentally omitted these words actually becomes evidence for the great antiquity of its form of text."
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices. Annotated list of "starting place" articles at ATLAS for this week's texts (includes direct links).
  • Achtemeier, Paul J., "Mark as Interpreter of the Jesus Traditions," Interpretation, 1978.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Blumenthal, David R., "Repentance and Forgiveness," Cross Currents.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Boring, M. Eugene, "Mark 1:1-15 and the Beginning of the Gospel," Semeia, 1990.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Charles, J. Daryl, "The 'Coming One'/'Stronger One' and His Baptism: Matt 3:11-12, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16-17," Pneuma, 1989.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Croy, N. Clayton, "Where the Gospel Text Begins: A Non-Theological Interpretation of Mark 1:1," Novum Testamentum, 2001.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Dillon, Richard J., "Mark 1:1-15: a 'new evangelization'?," Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2014.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Globe, Alexander, "The Caesarean Omission of the Phrase 'Son of God' in Mark 1:1," Harvard Theological Review, 1982.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Hutchison, John C., "Was John the Baptist an Essene from Qumran?" Bibliotheca Sacra, 2002.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Kelhoffer, James A., "Early Christian Studies among the Academic Disciplines: Reflections on John the Baptist's 'Locusts and Wild Honey,'" Biblical Research, 2005.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Montgomery, Stephen R., "Beyond Fear, Fundamentalism, and Fox News: The Active Hope of the Advent," Journal for Preachers, 2005.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Norfleet, Agnes W., "A Palm Sunday Sermon," Journal for Preachers, 2009.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Norris, Kathleen, "Mercy, Me," The Christian Century, 2005.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Perrin, Nicholas, "Where to Begin with the Gospel of Mark," Currents in Theology and Mission, 2008.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Sankey, Paul J., "Promise and Fulfillment: a Reader-Response to Mark 1:1-15," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 1995.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Stendahl, John, "On Your Mark," The Christian Century, 2002.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Williamson, Lamar, Jr., "Mark 1:1-8, Expository Article," Interpretation, 1978.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Sermons:
  • "Beginning before it Begins," the Rev. Brian Cole, Day 1, 2014.
  • "Making Straight the Way," the Rev. Dr. Russell Levenson, Jr., Day 1, 2011.
  • Have You Heard The Good News? -- John A. Stroman, SermonStudio
  • "A Parable: The City and the Wilderness," Sermons from Seattle, Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington.
  • "Finding Your Wilderness," Advent 2 - 4 December 2005, David Zersen, Göttinger Predigten im Internet: Every Sunday Sermons based on the RCL by a team of Lutheran theologians/ pastors.
  • "A Way Made Ready," Darrik Acre, Preacher's Magazine, 2005.
  • "You've Got to Be Kidding," the Rev. Dr. Samuel Massey, Day 1, 2002.
  • "The Future...It's Coming," the Rev. Dr. Elton Richards, Day 1, 1996.
  • Father Andrew M. Greeley, "Priest, Author, Sociologist," Commentary and Homily:
    • Advent 2, 2005
    • Advent 2, 1999
• With Children:
  • Worshiping with Children, Advent 2B, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2014. 2011.
  • "Storypath Lectionary Links: Connecting Children's Literature with our Faith Story," December 7, 2014, Union Presbyterian Seminary. Connections: Isaiah 40:1-11 and Come on, Rain! by Karen Hesse, 2 Peter 3:8-15a and Just a Second by Steve Jenkins, Mark 1:1-8 and The Doorbell Rings by Pat Hutchins. 2011.
  • "Preparation," Dianne Deming, Children's Sermons Today, 2011.
  • "John the Baptist," Illustrating the Story (lessons, children's sermons), coloring pages, activity sheets, crafts, children's songs. MSSS Crafts.
  • "The King Is Coming," Charles Kirkpatrick, Sermons4kids.com.
  • "John the Baptist Speaks Out," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
  • "The People Change Their Ways, and John Baptizes Them," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
  • "John Baptizes Jesus," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
  • "Crossword on Mark 1," Don Crownover's Bible Puzzles.
• Drama:
  • "A Voice in the Desert," from A Certain Jesus by Jose Ignacio and Maria Lopez Vigil. Ideal for catechetical and liturgical dramatization of today's gospel. Claretian Publications.
  • "John the Baptist," Ross Olson.
• Graphics, Multimedia, & Bulletin Materials:
  • Clip Art Images: Mark 1:1-8, Misioneros Del Sagrado Corazón en el Perú.
  • Mark 1:1-8, Liturgical Drawing, Maria d.c. Zamora, Claretian Resources, Philippines. ("Download and use these for free.")
  • Mark 1:1-8, at Cerezo Barredo's weekly gospel illustration. Liberation emphasis.
  • Images for this week's readings, Pitts Theology Library Digital Image Archive.
  • John the Baptist, Henry Martin, sermons4kids.com.
  • Commercial Site: "Don't Be Afraid," video for Advent 2B based on Mark 1 and Isaiah 40, The Work of the People.
  • Bulletin Cover, Mark 1:2-4, Will Humes, Word & Table.
• Hymns and Music:
  • “When John the Baptist Preached,” an original hymn by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette on John the Baptist.  This hymn was commissioned by The Presbyterian Outlook magazine for new Advent hymns to Christmas carol tunes. Tune: VENITE ADOREMUS 10.10.10.10 with Refrain (“The Snow Lay on the Ground”).
  • “Down by the Jordan,” an original hymn by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette on John the Baptist and Jesus’ baptism.  This hymn is in the United Methodists’ Worship and Song (2011).  Tune:  LOBE DEN HERREN 14.14.4.7.8 (“Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty”).
  • Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
  • Contemporary/Praise Song suggestions, Together to Celebrate, David MacGregor.
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Mark 1:1. The Cyber Hymnal.
  • At Digital Hymnal (midi files, guitar chords, karaoke files, projection text):
    • Fairest Lord Jesus
  • "Clear the Path," Brenton Prigge, NewHymn, new, relevant hymns set to traditional tunes.
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
  • Baptism of Jesus
  • John the Baptist
• Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
  • Baptism
  • John the Baptist
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Mark

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