The Date of Mark's Gospel: Insights from the Law in Earliest Christianity
Overview
This book argues that Mark’s gospel was not written as late as c. 65–75 CE, but dates from sometime between the late 30s and early 40s CE. It challenges the use of the external evidence (such as Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria) often used for dating Mark, relying instead on internal evidence from the gospel itself. James Crossley also questions the view that Mark 13 reflects the Jewish war, arguing that there are other plausible historical settings. Crossley argues that Mark’s gospel takes for granted that Jesus fully observed biblical law and that Mark could only make such an assumption at a time when Christianity was largely law observant: and this could not have been later than the mid-40s, from which point on certain Jewish and gentile Christians were no longer observing some biblical laws (e.g. food, Sabbath).
Top Highlights
“a reference to the Caligula crisis could plausibly be seen as underlying Mk 13:14” (Page 30)
“the tradition concerning authorship was unchallenged” (Page 16)
“the connections between Peter, Mark and the second gospel were most probably established by the end of the first century” (Page 13)
“the usual word for death in Irenaeus is θάνατος (=mors), occurring some 38 times in Adversus haereses Book 3.3 Ellis” (Pages 6–7)
“while Peter and Paul proclaimed the gospel in Rome and founded the community.” (Page 6)
- Title: The Date of Mark's Gospel: Insights from the Law in Earliest Christianity
- Author: Dr. James G. Crossley
- Publisher: Continuum International Publishing Group
- Publication Date: 2004
- Pages: 256
- Volume 266 in the Journal for the Study of the New Testament Supplement series