Authorship of the Gospel of Mark

What is the main uncertainty regarding the authorship of the Gospel of Mark?

What evidence did the early church use to associate the Gospel of Mark with Peter?

Why might the early church have been less concerned with the actual authorship of the Gospels?

How did the attribution of names in the Gospels evolve over time according to the text?

What suggests a link between Mark and Peter despite varying scholarly acceptance?

What was the attitude of the early church towards the authorship of the Gospels?

What source did early church figures rely on to associate Mark with Peter?

Which of the following statements reflects a point of contention among scholars regarding Mark's authorship?

What is indicated by references to 'John who is called Mark' in Acts?

What evidence is found in the first letter of Peter regarding Mark?

Authorship of the Gospel of Mark

The actual author of the Gospel of Mark is unknown.
Existing manuscripts date back to the 4th century.
The names of the evangelists were added in the 2nd century.
The early church was more interested in connecting the Gospel narratives with apostolic witnesses than identifying the actual author.
The name "Mark" appears in the Gospel and was linked to Peter through Papias, a 2nd-century bishop, who described Mark as Peter's "interpreter."
This connection is further supported by the mention of "John who is called Mark" in Acts 12:12, who is described as hosting Peter in Jerusalem, and a reference to "Mark, my son" in 1 Peter 5:13.
Although not universally accepted, the link between Mark and Peter is supported by internal evidence within the Gospel.

The Gospel of Mark's Author

The actual author of Mark's Gospel is unknown.
Existing manuscripts of Mark's Gospel date back to the fourth century.
The names of the evangelists, including Mark, were added in the second century.
The early church was less concerned with the actual authorship of the Gospels and more interested in connecting them to apostolic witnesses.
The name “Matthew” is found within the Gospel of Matthew; the name “John” is found within the Gospel of John.
Luke, a traveling companion of Paul, is mentioned in the Gospel of Luke.
Papias, a second-century bishop, suggested that Mark was the “interpreter” of Peter.
This suggestion aligns with the reference in the book of Acts that Peter stayed with someone named “John who is called Mark” in Jerusalem.
The first letter of Peter refers to "Mark, my son," further suggesting a connection between Mark and Peter.
Some scholars contest the connection between Mark and Peter.
The internal evidence of Mark's Gospel, however, supports a link with Peter.

Explore the intriguing authorship of the Gospel of Mark in this quiz. Discover how the early church focused more on apostolic connections rather than the actual identity of the author. Learn about the historical figures associated with Mark and the evidence supporting the link to the apostle Peter.