Mark

         As do all four Gospels, the Gospel According to Mark proclaims Jesus as the Risen Lord and Christ. Mark wrote in terms especially under­stand­able to Gentiles living outside Palestine, probably for one specific Christian community. Many contemporary biblical scholars are convinced that this Gospel was written by an unknown author representing the faith of Mark. However, according to tradition, John Mark (not one of the Twelve Apostles) is the author. Mark is said to have learned much about Jesus from Peter and Paul as well as other sources. Mark, the oldest of the Four Gos­pels, was probably written sometime between 65 and 75 AD; it was intended to be read aloud to the Christian community for whom it was written. None of the Gospels was intended as biography, but as Proclamation, with supporting faith-portraits of Christ and his ministry.