Mark (Holman New Testament Commentary | HNTC)

by Rodney Cooper

Publisher:

B&H

, 2000

Overview

In his gospel, Mark presented Jesus as the ultimate servant, concentrating more on what Jesus did, then on what He said. The action begins almost immediately with the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. In the ‘deeper discoveries’ of Dr. Cooper’s commentary, he addresses the controversial ending of Mark’s gospel.

Contents

Top Highlights

“No, because parables are more than illustrations; they are also spiritual tests. They hide the truth from those who do not seek truth, but they reveal truth to those who seek it.” (Page 67)

“Compare Bartimaeus’s devotion in casting away his cloak with the rich young ruler, who could not bring himself to cast away anything he owned to gain what he wanted.” (Page 173)

“Jesus’ parable is clear. The religious system of the day had plenty of leaves but no fruit. Its surface piety was seen in tithes and prayers and fasts (cf. Matt. 5–7), in the ritual purity that kept out women, lepers, blind beggars, and those possessed by demons. The foliage of the religious leaders offered much promise but no fulfillment. As the figless tree could not satisfy Jesus’ appetite, so the religious system could not satisfy the spiritual hunger of the people.” (Page 187)

“But Jesus point was, How do children receive gifts? They receive with anticipation. They receive joyfully and thankfully. They receive without believing they did anything to deserve the gift.” (Page 166)

“The wilderness in Israel’s history symbolized rebellion and disobedience.” (Page 7)

Product Details

• Title: Holman New Testament Commentary: Mark
• Author: Rodney L. Cooper
• Publisher: Broadman & Holman
• Publication Date: 2000
• Pages: 289

About Rodney Cooper

Dr. Cooper came to Gordon-Conwell in 2001 from Denver Seminary, where he was Associate Professor of Leadership and Director of the M.A. in Leadership program. Prior to that, he had been Director of the Robert Pamplin, Jr. Leadership Institute at Western Seminary in Portland, OR. He also served on Denver Seminary’s faculty as Associate Professor of Counseling and on Colorado Christian College’s faculty as Chairman of the Psychology Department. Dr. Cooper is currently Associate Pastor at Tremont Baptist Church in downtown Boston, where he preaches as well as develops and leads the church’s men’s ministries. From 1995-1997, he served as the National Director of Promise Keepers and earlier served as Pastor of Family Ministries at Lake Baptist Church, Lake Oswego, OR. Dr. Cooper was also the first Executive Director of the Houston Bible Institute, now called the College of Biblical Studies, in Houston, TX. One of the very first multi-cultural institutions in the country, the Institute now has nearly 2,000 students and the same multi-cultural emphasis.