Mark: A Commentary on His Apology for the Cross, Chapters 1 - 8

by Robert H. Gundry

This monumental work presents a careful, well-argued alternative reading of the Greek text of Mark-a reading that pays special attention to such literary devices as word order, chiasm, inclusio, asyndeton, and the historical present tense. Driving the commentary is Gundry's provocative, seldom-defended thesis that Mark's Gospel constitutes a straightforward apology for the shameful manner of Jesus' death; as such Mark is essentially an evangelistic tract rather than an obliquely written handbook of Christian discipleship and church life. "Sure to become recognized as the heavyweight English commentary on the Gospel of Mark.... This massive commentary, rich with exegetical detail and critical assessment of the secondary literature, makes an important contribution not only to Markan research but also to the study of the historical Jesus." - Christian Scholars Review

512 pages, Paperback

First published May 10, 2000

About the author

Robert Horton Gundry is Westmont College's Scholar-in-Residence after retiring from a teaching career of nearly forty years. His various areas of expertise include New Testament Greek, Eschatology (end times studies), the Gospels, and New Testament Theology. He received his Ph.D. in New Testament Studies from Manchester University in 1961. He has been honored with the Teacher of the Year Award three times, the Faculty Researcher of the Year Award, and the Sears-Roebuck Foundation Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership Award. His many publications include Jesus the Word according to John the Sectarian: A Paleofundamentalist Manifesto for Contemporary Evangelicalism, Especially Its Elites, in North America, First the Antichrist, Mark: A Commentary on His Apology for the Cross, A Survey of the New Testament, Matthew: A Commentary on His Literary and Theological Art, Soma in Biblical Theology with Emphasis on Pauline Anthropology, The Church and the Tribulation, The Use of the Old Testament in St. Matthew's Gospel with Special Reference to the Messianic Hope, as well as numerous articles and book reviews in New Testament studies.