Mark
Also: John Mark
Not one of the Twelve. He took part in early missions with Paul and Barnabas and is linked by tradition to Peter and to the Gospel of Mark, generally considered the earliest Gospel.
- Early Church
- Linked to a book of the Bible· according to tradition
- Missionary
Awaiting theological review
What we know — and how
Scripture tells us
- John Mark, cousin of Barnabas, went with Paul and Barnabas, left them, and later travelled with Barnabas; Paul later calls him useful for ministry.(Acts of the Apostles 12:25; Acts of the Apostles 15:37–39; Colossians 4:10; 2 Timothy 4:11)
- Peter calls him his son Mark (1 Peter 5:13).(1 Peter 5:13)
Tradition holds
- Early Christian writers (Papias, quoted by Eusebius) say Mark wrote down Peter's preaching; the Gospel is attributed to him.Source: Papias in Eusebius, Church History III.39 — locator pending review
Historians debate
- Whether all these New Testament references are to the same Mark, and the exact date of his Gospel (often c. AD 65–70).
Key passages