Mark Allen Powell on the Gospel of Mark Summary and Critique

Introduction

Mark Allen Powell’s introductory overview of the Gospel of Mark provides a helpful description of the general content of this Synoptic Gospel. Powell highlights the principal themes of the Gospel of Mark, the sayings and teachings of the Lord which this Gospel includes, and highlights particular events of His life during the time that He walked the Earth among humanity. However, there is nothing particularly original to Powell’s scholarship. He simply presents a thorough and respectable account of the prevailing consensus among scholars regarding analysis and interpretation of the Gospel of Mark. 

Summary

Powell begins with a general survey of the contents of Mark with regards to its depiction of the events in the life of Jesus that this Gospel covers. The role of John the Baptist in the initiation of the Lord’s ministry, Jesus’ role as a healer and exorcist, and his willingness to associate with sinners and outcasts emerge as central themes of the Gospel of Mark. This Gospel also provides reference to the death of John the Baptist and describes many of the miracles performed by Jesus. Powell accepts the prevailing view among scholars that Mark was the first Gospel to be written and expounds upon different theories about the actual identity of Mark. The Gospel of Mark was likely written during a time when Christians were experiencing great persecution for their faith at the hands of a succession of Roman authorities. 

Strengths

Powell clearly possesses a comprehensive knowledge of the scholarship surrounding interpretive considerations of the Gospel of Mark. He is able to provide a summary of that scholarship in a way that is concise yet thorough. Powell’s writing is a very helpful introductory text for both believers and non-believers alike. Powell seems to accept much of the mainstream of prevailing scholarship regarding Mark, whether he is addressing the actual contents of the Gospel and their interpretive meaning, the source of the Gospel of Mark and its authorship, and its historical context. He also explicates well on the question of this Gospel’s ending and offers what he feels is the most cogent explanation for Mark’s ending that has long puzzled theologians and biblical scholars. As a general overview, Powell’s work is quite good.

Weaknesses

It would have been helpful if Powell had expounded more greatly on the “Q” theory regarding the original source material for the Gospel of Mark. Whether Powell accepts the “Q” theory as compatible with our historic faith or not, this particular strand of scholarly argument does command much respect among contemporary scholars. Yet the “Q” theory receives no mention from Powell.  

Powell also hints at the skepticism of the common theory that “Mark” was an associate, possibly a translator, for the Apostle Peter. He provides reasons for that skepticism (such as the way Peter is depicted in this Gospel) but provides no explanation of what an alternative theory might be concerning Mark’s identity or what the literature might have to say about this matter. If Mark was not part of the circle around Peter, who might he have been?  

Perhaps the greatest weakness of Powell’s exposition on Mark is his treatment of this Gospel’s conclusion. The Resurrection is, of course, central to the understanding and historicity of the Christian faith. The omission of the Lord’s post-Resurrection appearances from the Gospel of Mark and the silence of the women concerning the empty tomb have long been puzzling to believing scholars. Additionally, unbelievers who deny the historicity of the faith have pointed to the conclusion of Mark as evidence for their position. Given the magnitude of this question, it would have been helpful if Powell had explicated further on the matter. Instead, he addresses the question only briefly and offers only generalized answers.   For instance, Powell might have examined the argument of Stephen H. Smith that the ending of Mark is intended to have a dramatic effect whereby the extraordinarily shocking (in human terms) nature of the Resurrection is illustrated. The believers are left speechless by the empty tomb and are astounded by its implications.  

Conclusion

Powell’s overview of the Gospel of Mark is an excellent introductory summary and analysis. There is little in the way of original scholarship provided. Rather, Powell offers a “state of the field” summation of generally accepted consensus on various questions concerning Mark from conventional biblical scholars. This is an introductory work, not a scholarly work per se. Most of all, this is not a work of apologetics. Of course, a scholarly work need not be an apologetics work. Even the scholarship of unbelievers can bring understanding to the Christian and help to strengthen those who journey in the faith. Yet this work by Powell largely covers theological and historical terrain that will already be familiar to the believing Christian and fail to persuade unbelievers.

Bibliography

May, Herbert G. and Bruce M. Metzger. The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha. 1977.

Peter, Kirby. Early Christian Writings: Gospel of Mark. Accessed July 30, 2013. http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/mark.html.

Schroter, Jens. “Gospel of Mark,” in Aune, David E., editor. The Blackwell Companion to the New Testament. Blackwell Publishing, 2010, p. 277–8.

Smith, Stephen H.. "A Divine Tragedy: Some Observations on the Dramatic Structure of Mark's Gospel,” in Novum Testamentum, No 37, Vol 3, p. 209-231. Leiden: E. J.Brill, 1995.