The Gospel According to St. Mark: An Introduction and Commentary (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries)

The Tyndale New Testament Commentary series has produced a number of imitators in the last forty years. Some, like InterVarsity Press' The Bible Speaks Today series, have proven useful; others have not been worth the paper on which they were printed. But the Tyndale series remains unsurpassed for bringing scholarly insights to the books of Scripture in an accessible style that prizes economy of words. This particular commentary by Alan Cole on the Gospel of Mark brings keen insight into the theology of this wonderfully pithy Gospel. Cole has understood that the big message of this Gospel is to answer two questions: Who is Jesus Christ? and, What has he come to do? With remarkable clarity, insight and his well-known economy of words, Cole addresses how Mark answers these questions about Jesus. Working within Mark's own framework, Cole underscores that Jesus is the Son of God (1:1), who has come to bring the good news of the kingdom of God to his people (cf. 1:14f.). Cole unfolds Mark's underappreciated skill as an editor who brings together various episodes from Jesus' life in such a way that the reader is brought to the conclusion that Jesus is indeed the divine Son of God who has come to this world to pay the penalty that sinners owe God for their rebellion against him. The Gospel of Mark is about the cross, about Jesus' substitutionary death on behalf of those who turn to him in faith and repentance. Cole never relents in revealing this central focus of Mark's Gospel. Most readers will have no problem following Cole's commentary. Key words are explained; theology is succinctly expounded. Pastors who want a bit more would do well to supplement Cole with 1) C.E.B. Cranfield's commentary on Mark (Cambridge Greek New Testament Commentary), unsurpassed for its philological insights into Mark's theology; 2) William Lane's commentary (New Internation Commentary on the New Testament) for its in-depth treatment of Mark in terms of philology, historical background and theology. But, if you can only have one commentary on Mark, you would be hard pressed to do better than Alan Cole's commentary.