Mark (I)

I. MARK. Saint Mark the Evangelist, according to Papias¹, Saint Irenæus², and the greatest Part of both Ancients and Moderns, was the Disciple and Interpreter of Saint Peter; and several Ancients³ believe, that ‘tis him of whom Saint Peter speaks in his first Epistle⁴, and whom he calls his Son in the Spirit, probably because he had converted him. ‘Tis thought he was of the Number of the Seventy Disciples, before he put himself in the Retinue of the chief of the Apostles. But some of the Fathers⁵ add this Particular, that Saint Mark was one of those who forsook our Saviour, when he had heard him say those Words, John vi. 55. Verily verily I say unto you, except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man, and drink his Blood, ye have no Life in you. But after Saint Peter had brought him back again to the Faith, he continued stedfast in it, always joining himself to this Apostle, and went to Rome with him, where he writ his Gospel.

Some have not distinguished him from John Mark, mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, and in the Epistles of Saint Paul; but this Notion is now almost intirely given up. Others maintain, that Saint Mark was of the Race of the Priests, and wore their Bonnet. This is affirmed by the anonymous Author of his Acts. ‘Tis also said that he was Nephew to Saint Peter, being the Son of one of his Sisters⁶. This Apostle going to Rome about the Year of Christ 44, Saint Mark accompanied him thither, where he writ his Gospel⁷; at the Request of the Brethren, who desired that he would give them in Writing what he had learned from Saint Peter by Word of Mouth. When this Apostle was acquainted with what his Disciple had done, he commended and approved his Undertaking, and gave out his Gospel to be read in Churches as an authentick Work. Tertullian⁸ ascribes this Gospel to Saint Peter, and the Author of the Synopsis imputed to Saint Athanasius will have this Gospel to be dictated to Saint Mark by Saint Peter. Eutychius, Patriarch of Alexandria asserts, that Saint Peter writ it himself; and some mentioned by Saint Chrysostom⁹ were of Opinion, that Saint Mark writ it in Egypt. Others affirm that he writ it after Saint Peter’s Death. All these different Sentiments are enough to prove, that the Circumstances of Time and Place are uncertain, when and where Saint Mark composed his Gospel.

Men are as much divided as to the Language in which it was writ, some saying it was composed in Greek, and others in Latin. The Ancients, and most of the Moderns, stand up for the Greek, which still at this Day passes for the Original of Saint Mark. But some Manuscript Greek Copies of this Gospel insinuate, that it was writ in Latin. The Syriac and Arabic concur in this also. It should seem probable, that writing it at Rome, and for the Use of the Romans, he might write it in their Language. Baronius¹⁰ and Selden¹¹ have declared themselves of this Opinion, which however has but few Followers. They shew at Venice some loose Sheets, which they pretend to be the Original in Saint Mark’s own Hand. If this were certain, and the Manuscript could be read, it would be an infallible Argument for deciding this Dispute: But it is doubted whether this be Saint Mark’s Original Writing, and it is so worn out by its Antiquity, that scarce one Letter can be made out. The last Author that has mentioned it, as I know of, is F. Montfaucon¹². He affirms that it is writ in Latin, and owns that he never saw so ancient a Manuscript. It is written upon Egyptian Paper, much thinner and finer than what is to be seen in several Places. Father Montfaucon thinks¹³, that it may be fairly supposed to be at least of the fourth Century. In 1564 it was put into a Cave, in Marsh-ground, the Roof of which was lower than the neighbouring Sea. So that the Water perpetually drops upon those, who have the Curiosity to go thither. It was legible when it was deposited there, in 1564. An Author that had seen it before him, believed that he had observed Greek Characters in it. Our Preface to Saint Mark’s Gospel may be consulted.

Several of the Moderns¹⁴ think, that Saint Mark was sent by Saint Peter from Rome to Aquileia, where he continued two Years and a half, and founded a Church; but this Fact has no Proofs from Antiquity. ‘Tis thought¹⁵, that it was in the Year of Christ 49, which was the ninth of the Emperor Claudius, that the Jews being driven out of Rome, Saint Peter and Saint Mark were obliged to retire from thence also. Saint Peter sent Saint Mark into Egypt, there to preach the Gospel. He first went down to Cyrene in Pentapolis, where he made many Converts. From thence he went to Alexandria, where he converted Anienus, whom he ordained first Bishop of this City. The Number of Christians there increased exceedingly, and they lived in so exemplary a Manner, that in the Judgment of several¹⁶, Philo the Jew¹⁷ was willing to give the Honour of it to his own Nation, by describing the Manner of Life of the primitive Christians, under the Name of Therapeutes. See THERAPEUTES.

The Number of Christians increasing every Day, the Pagans opposed themselves to Saint Mark, who was come to overthrow the Worship of their Gods. He thought it prudent to withdraw, and let the Tempest blow over. He returned to Cyrene, where he continued two Years longer; after which he came back to Alexandria. There he beheld with Joy, that the Faithful were increased in Faith and Grace, as well as in Number, and then he departed again. Probably he went to Rome, if it be true as is affirmed by the Chronicon Alexandrinum, that there he was present at the Death of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, in the Year of Christ 66. Thence he returned to Alexandria, where the Pagans provoked by the great Number of Miracles performed by him, and by the Reproaches made them by the Christians on Account of their Idols, sought after him to put him to Death. God concealed him for some Time, but afterwards they found him celebrating the Holy Communion. ‘Twas on the Lord’s Day, the 24th of April, in the Year of Christ 68. They put a Rope about his Neck, and drew him along the whole Day, saying, they must lead this Ox to Bucoles, which was a Place near the Sea, full of Rocks and Precipices. At Evening they put him into Prison, where in the Night he had two Visions. One of an Angel, assuring him that his Name was written in the Book of Life; and another of our Saviour, to give him Peace and Tranquillity of Mind. The Day following the Infidels began again to drag him through the Streets, till he gave up his Soul to God, April the 25th, in the Year of Christ 68. Several¹⁸ have said, that he ended his Life by Fire, probably they burnt his Body after his Death.

Several antient Hereticks, as Saint Irenæus¹⁹ reports, received only the Gospel of Saint Mark. Others among the Catholicks rejected the twelve last Verses of this Gospel²⁰, beginning at Verse 9. Now when Jesus was risen early, &c. Probably because it appeared, that in one Place Saint Mark was too opposite to Saint Matthew, and related Circumstances in this latter Part contrary to the other Evangelists. The ancient Fathers, the old oriental Versions, and almost all the old Copies, whether printed or Manuscript, Greek or Latin, read these twelve last Verses, and acknowledge them as genuine, as well as all the rest of Saint Mark’s Gospel.

As far as may be judged by comparing the Gospels of Saint Mark and Saint Matthew, the first is an Abridgment of the second. Saint Mark very often uses the same Terms, relates the same Facts, and takes Notice of the same Circumstances. Saint Mark sometimes adds new Particulars, which give great Light to Saint Matthew’s Text. There are also two or three Miracles in Saint Mark, which are not to be found in Saint Matthew. See Mark²¹. 23. and Chap. i. v. ix. xvi. What is most remarkable in our Evangelist is this, that tho’ he follows Saint Matthew in almost every Thing else, yet he forsakes him in the Order of his Narration, from Chap. iv. V. 12. to Chap. xiv. V. 13. of Saint Matthew. In these Places, instead of following Saint Matthew, he pursues the Order of Time as expressed by Saint Luke and Saint John. This has prevailed with the Chronologers to follow Saint Luke, Saint Mark, and Saint John, rather than Saint Matthew. He begins his Gospel with an Account of the preaching of John the Baptist, and omits several Parables related by Saint Matthew, Chap. xx, xxi, and xxv, and several Discourses of our Saviour to his Disciples and to the Pharisees, Chap. v, vi, vii, xvi, xxiii.

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