Mark 1
From BKC:
The opening verse (a verbless phrase) stands as the book’s title and theme. The word gospel (euangeliou, “good news”) does not refer to Mark’s book, known as “the Gospel of Mark.” Instead it refers to the good news about Jesus Christ.
Those acquainted with the Old Testament knew the importance of the word “gospel” (cf. Isa_40:9; Isa_41:27; Isa_52:7; Isa_61:1-3). “News” meant that something significant had happened. When Mark used the word, it had
Using hyperbole (cf. also Mar_1:32-33, Mar_1:37), Mark showed the great impact John made on all areas of Judea and Jerusalem. The people went out and were baptized by John in the Jordan River (cf. Mar_1:9) as they confessed their sins to God. The imperfect tense of the Greek verbs portrays in motion-picture fashion the continual procession of people who kept going out to hear John’s preaching and to be baptized by him.
John emphasized the importance of the Coming One and showed his own humility (cf. Joh_3:27-30) by declaring that he was not worthy to stoop down (words recorded only by Mark) and untie the thongs (leather straps) used to fasten His sandals. Even a Hebrew slave was not required to do this menial task for his master!
"The opening words are literally, “And he was proclaiming as a herald, saying…” (cf. Mar_1:4). " BKC
The dove imagery probably symbolized the Spirit’s creative activity (cf. Gen_1:2). In Old Testament times the Spirit came on certain people to empower them for service (e.g., Exo_31:3; Jdg_3:10; Jdg_11:29; 1Sa_19:20, 1Sa_19:23).-BKC
The word “sent” is from a strong verb (ekballō) meaning “drive out, expel, send away.” Mark used it to denote the expulsion of demons (Mar_1:34, Mar_1:39; Mar_3:15, -BKC
The thought is that of strong moral compulsion by which the Spirit led Jesus to take the offensive against temptation and evil instead of avoiding them. The desert (erēmos cf. Mar_1:4) region, dry uninhabited places, was viewed traditionally as the haunt of evil powers. -BKC
Again, a clear distinction is maintained between physical sickness and demon possession (cf. Mar_6:13). -BKC
The required response to which Jesus summoned His hearers was a double command: Repent and believe the good news! Repentance and faith (belief) are bound together in one piece (not temporally successive acts). To “repent” (metanoē cf. Mar_1:4) is to turn away from an existing object of trust (e.g., oneself). To “believe” (pisteuō, here pisteuete en, the only NT appearance of this combination) is to commit oneself wholeheartedly to an object of faith. Thus to believe in the good news meant to believe in Jesus Himself as the Messiah, the Son of God. -BKC
The dove imagery probably symbolized the Spirit’s creative activity (cf. Gen_1:2). In Old Testament times the Spirit came on certain people to empower them for service (e.g., Exo_31:3; Jdg_3:10; Jdg_11:29; 1Sa_19:20, 1Sa_19:23).-BKC
The word “sent” is from a strong verb (ekballō) meaning “drive out, expel, send away.” Mark used it to denote the expulsion of demons (Mar_1:34, Mar_1:39; Mar_3:15, -BKC
The thought is that of strong moral compulsion by which the Spirit led Jesus to take the offensive against temptation and evil instead of avoiding them. The desert (erēmos cf. Mar_1:4) region, dry uninhabited places, was viewed traditionally as the haunt of evil powers. -BKC
Again, a clear distinction is maintained between physical sickness and demon possession (cf. Mar_6:13). -BKC
The required response to which Jesus summoned His hearers was a double command: Repent and believe the good news! Repentance and faith (belief) are bound together in one piece (not temporally successive acts). To “repent” (metanoē cf. Mar_1:4) is to turn away from an existing object of trust (e.g., oneself). To “believe” (pisteuō, here pisteuete en, the only NT appearance of this combination) is to commit oneself wholeheartedly to an object of faith. Thus to believe in the good news meant to believe in Jesus Himself as the Messiah, the Son of God. -BKC
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