The Gospel according to Mark:
Literary Features & Section Outlines by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.
For a brief outline of the whole Gospel, click
here. For webpages on related topics, click the words hyperlinked below.
Literary Features of Mark's Gospel:
Paratactic Style:
Parataxis - stringing together (lit. "placing next to") short, loosely connected episodes, like pearls on a string; an amazing 410 of the 678 verses in the original Greek version of Mark's Gospel begin with the word "And" (Gk. kai)!
Immediacy - Mark's Gospel emphasizes action, as seen in the frequent use of the Greek word euthys ("immediately, right away, at once, as soon as"), used an astounding 42 times, especially near the beginning of the Gospel (Mark 1:10, 12, 18, 20, 21, 23, 28, 29, 30, 42, 43; 2:8, 12; 3:6; 4:5, 15, 16, 17, 29; 5:2, 29, 30, 42; 6:25, 27, 45, 50, 54; 7:25; 8:10; 9:15, 20, 24; 10:52; 11:2, 3; 14:43, 45, 72; 15:1). One could feel exhausted after reading Mark's Gospel, so quickly does the action seem to occur.
Grouping - in some cases, Mark has placed similar stories together for thematic continuity, even if the events related might not have occurred one right after the other; for example, five controversy stories are in one block (2:1—3:6), several parables in one chapter (4:1-34), three "passion predictions" near the middle of the Gospel (8:31—10:45), many of Jesus' eschatological teachings in one place (13:1-37), etc.
Inclusios and Intercalations:
Inclusio - bracketing or "enclosing" a story or section by using the same or similar words, phrases, or themes at the beginning and the end.
Intercalation - enclosing or "sandwiching" one story in the middle of a different story (forming an A1, B, A2 pattern), so that each affects the interpretation of the other.
Examples of inclusio and intercalation in Mark, some of which involve larger blocks of material:
A1) 2:1-5 - A paralytic is brought to Jesus B) 2:6-10 - Dispute over Jesus' authority to forgive sins A2) 2:11-12 - Jesus heals the paralytic
A1) 3:20-21 - Jesus' family goes out to restrain him B) 3:22-30 - the Beelzebul controversy A2) 3:31-35 - Jesus' family arrives; who is his "true family"?
A1) 4:3-8 - Jesus tells parable of the sower and the seed B) 4:10-12 - Why does Jesus speak in parables? A2) 4:13-20 - Jesus explains parable of the sower and the seed
A1) 5:21-24 - Jairus asks Jesus to heal his dying daughter B) 5:25-34 - a hemorrhaging woman touches Jesus' clothes A2) 5:35-43 - Jesus raises the daughter of Jairus to life
A1) 6:7-13 - Jesus sends out the twelve apostles on a mission B) 6:14-29 - the death of John the Baptist is recalled A2) 6:30-31 - the apostles return, reporting what they had done
A1) 8:22-26 - Jesus gives sight to a blind man near Bethsaida B) 8:28—10:45 - three passion predictions; discipleship teachings A2) 10:46-52 - Jesus gives sight to blind Bartimaeus near Jericho
A1) 9:1 - the coming of the Kingdom of God in power B) 9:2-8 - the Transfiguration of Jesus A2) 9:9-13 - the coming of Elijah and of the Son of Man
A1) 11:12-14 - Jesus curses a fig tree outside of Bethany B) 11:15-19 - Jesus expels sellers and buyers from the Temple A2) 11:20-25 - the fig tree is withered; the importance of faith
Section Outlines of Mark's Gospel
The Structure and Contents of the Gospel's Beginning (Mark 1:1-45)
Introduction of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (1:1-15):
Evangelist's Literary Introduction - "The beginning of the good news (gospel; euangelion) of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." (v. 1)
As written by the prophet Isaiah (and Malachi), John the Baptist preaches repentance in the wilderness (vv. 2-6)
John speaks about Jesus coming after him: "I baptize with water; he will baptize with holy Spirit" (vv. 7-8)
Jesus comes from Nazareth and is baptized by John in the Jordan river; heavens open; the Spirit descends (vv. 9-10)
A voice from heaven speaks to Jesus: "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased." (v. 11)
The Spirit drives Jesus into the wilderness, where he remains for forty days, tested by Satan (vv. 12-13)
Jesus' Initial Preaching - "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news." (vv. 14-15)
[The first words of Jesus in Mark's Gospel proclaim the urgency of his message, his focus on God, and the response expected from the listeners.]
Some Typical Events in Jesus' Ministry (1:16-45):
Jesus calls four fishermen, who follow him as his disciples (vv. 16-20)
The First Exorcism: Jesus exorcises an unclean spirit in Capernaum (vv. 21-28)
The first healing narrative: Jesus heals Simon's Mother-in-law of a fever (vv. 29-31)
The first healing summary: Jesus heals many sick people and drives out many demons (vv. 32-34)
The First Journey: Jesus expands his preaching beyond Capernaum (vv. 35-39)
Jesus cleanses a leper, restoring him to health and to society (vv. 40-45)
A Comparison of Mark 1 and Parallel Episodes in the other Gospels:
Pericope
Mark
Matthew
Luke
John
Literary Introduction
v. 1
1:1
1:1-4
1:1-18
[Infancy Narratives]
—
[ch. 1-2]
[ch. 1-2]
—
John the Baptist preaches in the wilderness
vv. 2-8
3:1-6, 7-12
3:1-6, 7-20
1:19-23, 24-28
Jesus is baptized by John in the Jordan river
vv. 9-11
3:13-17
3:21-22, 23-38
[1:29-34]
Jesus is tested by Satan in the wilderness
vv. 12-13
4:1-2, 3-11
4:1-2, 3-13
—
Jesus preaches the Good News in Galilee
vv. 14-15
4:12-17
4:14-15, 16-30
—
Jesus calls his first four disciples
vv. 16-20
4:18-22
[5:1-11]
[1:35-51]
Jesus exorcizes an unclean spirit at Capernaum
vv. 21-28
—
4:31-37
—
[Sermon on the Mount]
—
[ch. 5-7]
[cf. 6:17-49]
—
Jesus heals Simon's Mother-in-law
vv. 29-31
[8:14-15]
4:38-39
—
Jesus heals and exorcizes many others
vv. 32-34
[8:16-17]
4:40-41
—
Jesus preaches beyond Capernaum
vv. 35-39
4:23
4:42-44
—
Jesus cleanses a leper
vv. 40-45
[8:1-4]
5:12-16
—
A Cycle of Five "Conflict Stories" (Mark 2:1—3:6)
Mark seems to have intentionally grouped these five conflict stories together near the beginning of his Gospel.
Note how each story ends with one or two brief sayings of Jesus, which seem to express the main point of the story.
Note also how the conflict builds from one story to the next, culminating in the plot to kill Jesus in 3:6.
Mark
Pericope Title
Who Objects?
Against Whom?
About What?
2:1-12
Healing a Paralytic
scribes
among themselves
forgiving/ blaspheming
Jesus' Saying: "the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" (2:10).
2:13-17
Calling Levi, a Tax Collector
scribes of the Pharisees
Jesus' disciples
eating with tax collectors and sinners
Jesus' Sayings: "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick"
(2:17a); "I have come to call not the righteous but sinners" (2:17b).
2:18-22
About Fasting
people
Jesus
disciples not fasting
Jesus' Sayings: "The wedding guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them."
(2:19-20); "No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak." (2:21-22).
2:23-28
Plucking Grain on the Sabbath
Pharisees
Jesus
breaking the sabbath
Jesus' Sayings: "The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath"
(2:27); "so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath" (2:28).
3:1-6
Restoring a Man's Withered Hand
Jesus
"them" (Pharisees & Herodians)
healing on the sabbath
Jesus' Question: "Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?" (3:4).
Jesus' Early Ministry: Training the Twelve Disciples (Mark 3:7—6:6a)
Jesus Interacts with Crowds and Opponents, Disciples and Family (3:7-35)
Crowds from Galilee and beyond come to Jesus, who heals them (3:7-12)
Jesus chooses twelve followers "to be with him and to be sent out" (3:13-19)
Scribes from Jerusalem challenge Jesus: the Beelzebul controversy (3:20-30)
Jesus speaks of his family and true disciples, who do the will of God (3:31-35)
Jesus Teaches the Crowds and the Disciples with Enigmatic Parables (4:1-34)
The Evangelist introduces Jesus’ teaching in parables (4:1-2)
The Parable of the Sower & the Seed (4.3-8)
Why Jesus Uses Parables (4:10-12)
Jesus explains the Sower & the Seed to his disciples (4:13-20)
The Lamp on a Stand & various short sayings about Jesus’ parables (4:21-25)
Two Parables about the Kingdom of God:
The Seed Growing Secretly (4:26-29)
The Mustard Seed (4:30-32)
The Evangelist summarizes Jesus' use of parables (4:33-34)
Jesus Shows His Power in Words and Mighty Deeds (4:35—6:6a)
Jesus calms a storm on the Sea of Galilee by "rebuking" the wind (4:35-41)
Jesus expels a "Legion" of unclean spirits from the Gerasene demoniac (5:1-20)
Jesus heals a bleeding woman and restores Jairus' daughter to life (5:21-43)
Jesus teaches in Nazareth, his hometown, but is rejected by the people (6:1-6a)
Jesus' Expanded Ministry: Sending Out the Twelve Apostles (Mark 6:6b—8:21)
Jesus sends the Twelve on a mission to preach, heal, perform exorcisms (6:6b-13)
The death of John the Baptist is recounted (6:14-29)
Jesus' disciples fail to understand the significance of the yeast and bread (8:14-21)
Mark's Central Section: "On the Way" to Jerusalem (Mark 8:22—10:52)
Jesus Journeys from Bethsaida and Caesarea Philippi to Jericho and Jerusalem
[Transition/preface: 8:14-21 - The "blindness" of the disciples!]
8:22-26 - The Two-Stage Restoration of Sight to a Blind Person at Bethsaida,
north of the Sea of Galilee
8:27-30 - Peter's Confession near Caesarea Philippi: "You are the Christ";
but Jesus orders them "not to tell anyone about him"
8:31 - First Passion Prediction (Son of Man must suffer, be rejected, be killed, and rise after three days)
8:32-33 - Peter misunderstands and "rebukes" Jesus, who "rebukes" Peter in return
8:34-9:1 - Jesus teaches: "Take up your cross and follow me.; those who lose their life."
9:2-30 - Transfiguration; Coming of Elijah; Exorcism of an Epileptic Spirit
9:31-32 - Second Passion Prediction (Son of Man will be betrayed, be killed, but rise after three days)
9:33-34 - All the disciples misunderstand, arguing who among them was the greatest
9:35-50 - Jesus teaches: "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all."
10:1-31 - Teaching on Divorce; Blessing of Children; the Rich Man
10:32-34 - Third Passion Prediction (Son of Man will be handed over, condemned to death, mocked, spat upon, scourged, put to death, but will rise after three days)
10:35-40 - James and John misunderstand, asking for the seats of honor when Jesus is in "glory"
10:41-45 - Jesus teaches: "The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
10:46-52 - The Immediate Restoration of Sight to Blind Bartimaeus outside of Jericho, on the way to Jerusalem Jesus' Final Week in Jerusalem (Mark 11:1—13:37)
The Entry into Jerusalem and the Cleansing of the Temple (11:1-33)
Jesus and the disciples enter into Jerusalem in a triumphant procession (11:1-10)
They enter the Temple briefly, but soon go out to Bethany since it is evening (11:11)
The next morning, Jesus curses a fruitless fig tree (11:12-14)
They enter the Temple; Jesus casts out the sellers, buyers, and money changers (11:15-19)
The next morning, the disciples see the fig tree withered (11:20-25)
They enter the Temple again; officials approach and challenge his authority (11:27-33)
Further Controversies with the Jerusalem Authorities (12:1-44)
The Parable of the Wicked Tenants, directed against the temple authorities (12:1-12)
Pharisees and Herodians question Jesus about paying taxes (12:13-17)
Sadducees question Jesus about the resurrection of the dead (12:18-27)
The "Good Scribe" questions Jesus about the greatest commandment (12:28-34)
Jesus questions the scribes about the "Son of David" (12:35-40)
Jesus commends a poor widow for her offering (12:41-44)
