2 - The beginning of the Gospel (Mark 1.1–13)

Summary

Mark's title (1.1)

Although it is not the place to argue the point, it is most likely that Mark 1.1 functions as a title for the whole narrative. Since τὸ εʾυαγγέλιον would be familiar to Mark's readers as the basic (oral) message by which the Christian movement sought to persuade others, Mark's work promises to show the foundation of gospel proclamation by anchoring the message – and the movement spawned by it – in the events to be narrated.

The title promises to make its impact upon the readers through engaging them in a narrative about ‘Jesus Christ, [the Son of God]’. Although the key words of Mark's title are firmly anchored in expectations generated by the OT, the Graeco-Roman readers would recognise this language from its usage in connection with the Caesars. The Augustan phraseology, whose currency continued across the first century, proclaimed him to be Son of God, and his birthday was proclaimed throughout the provinces in the calendar inscriptions set up by city officials as ‘the beginning of good news through him for the world’ (ἦρξεν δὲ τῶι κόσμωι τῶν διʾ αʾυτὸν εʾυανγελί[ων, OGIS458 = EJ 98 = Braund 122 (9 bc)). This notion evolved into the ruler's being viewed as ‘the source of all good things’ ([ʾαρ]χῂ ὤν | πάντων | ʾαγαθῶν, P.Oxy 1021.5–13 (17 Nov. 54, on Nero's accession)), a claim reinforced by the important social role played by the imperial cult.