The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
beginning.
Luke 1:2,3 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; …
Luke 2:10,11 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people…
Acts 1:1,2 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, …
Christ.
John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Romans 1:1-4 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, …
1 John 1:1-3 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; …
son.
Psalm 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Matthew 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matthew 14:33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
of the gospel
The term "gospel" means "good news" and refers to the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. In the Roman world, "gospel" was often used to announce significant events, such as the birth of an emperor. Here, it signifies the arrival of the Messiah and the fulfillment of God's promises. Isaiah 52:7 and 61:1-2 are Old Testament prophecies that speak of the good news of salvation, which Jesus fulfills.
of Jesus Christ
"Jesus" is the Greek form of the Hebrew name "Yeshua," meaning "Yahweh is salvation." "Christ" is the Greek translation of the Hebrew "Messiah," meaning "Anointed One." This title affirms Jesus as the promised deliverer and king, fulfilling prophecies such as those in Daniel 9:25-26 and Isaiah 9:6-7.
the Son of God
This title emphasizes the divine nature of Jesus, affirming His unique relationship with God the Father. It distinguishes Jesus from other messianic figures and highlights His authority and power. Psalm 2:7 and 2 Samuel 7:14 are Old Testament references that foreshadow the divine sonship of the Messiah. This declaration sets the stage for the miracles and teachings that demonstrate His divine authority throughout the Gospel of Mark.
“This is the beginning…” (Mark 1:1)
• Mark signals a fresh, decisive act of God, echoing Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” and John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
• Just as creation had a starting point, so the public revelation of salvation in Christ has a clear launch.
• 1 John 1:1 reminds us that what “was from the beginning” is now proclaimed; Mark invites readers into that same proclamation.
• By opening this way, Mark lets us know we are stepping into God’s unfolding story on earth, not a human invention (Galatians 1:11-12).
“…of the gospel…”
• “Gospel” means “good news,” the announcement that God has acted to save (Isaiah 52:7 “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace…”).
• Romans 1:16 stresses the gospel’s power: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.”
• 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 defines the core: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again.
• Acts 10:36 calls it “the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.” Mark’s account will unfold that peace in living color.
“…of Jesus Christ…”
• The gospel is not abstract philosophy; it is rooted in a historical person—Jesus.
• “Christ” (Messiah) speaks of His anointed mission promised throughout the Old Testament (e.g., Isaiah 61:1-2, fulfilled in Luke 4:17-21).
• John 20:31 states the aim: “These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.”
• Acts 4:12 affirms exclusivity: “There is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
• Focusing on Jesus keeps the gospel from drifting into mere moralism; it is about Him—who He is and what He has done.
“…the Son of God.”
• This title declares deity and unique relationship with the Father.
• At Jesus’ baptism the Father affirms, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11).
• John 3:16 links Sonship to salvation: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son…”
• Colossians 1:15-17 presents Him as “the image of the invisible God… by Him all things were created.”
• Matthew 16:16 records Peter’s confession, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” a truth that becomes the rock on which the Church stands.
• Recognizing Jesus as God’s Son demands worship, trust, and obedience (Hebrews 1:1-3).
Mark 1:1 serves as the title line for the entire book: God is launching something new—good news rooted in the historical Jesus, who is both promised Messiah and eternal Son of God. Every scene that follows will deepen our grasp of that proclamation and invite us to believe, follow, and share the same gospel today.
(1) The beginning of the gospel.--The opening words are interesting as presenting a transition stage in the history of the word Gospel, between its earlier sense, as meaning generally the "good news" of the kingdom of God (Mark 1:14; Matthew 4:23; Matthew 9:35), and the later sense, as a book recording the main facts in our Lord's life and work. In 1Corinthians 15:1, 2Timothy 2:8, where it clearly includes a narrative of some kind, we have an instance of a like transition.The Son of God.--This also is significant as to the Church's faith at the time when St. Mark wrote. He, of whom he speaks, was not a prophet or righteous man only, but was, in the highest sense which could be attached to the words, the Son of God. If we think of St. Mark as reproducing St. Peter's teaching, we cannot fail to connect the words, thus placed, as they are, in the very title of his Gospel, with the Apostle's confession in Matthew 16:16. . . .
Verse 1. - The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ. These words mean, not the title of the book, but the commencement of the narrative; and so they depend upon what follows, namely, "as it is written" (καθῶς for ὠς), "even as it is written." The words "the gospel of Jesus Christ" do not signify the book which St. Mark wrote, but the evangelical teaching of Jesus Christ. St. Mark means that the gospel announcement by Jesus Christ had such a beginning as had been predicted by Isaiah and Malachi, namely, the preaching of John the Baptist, and his testimony concerning Christ, to be fully laid open by the preaching and the death of Christ. The preaching of repentance by the Baptist was the preparation and the beginning of the evangelical preaching by Christ, of whom John was the forerunner. It has been well observed that St. Matthew and St. John begin their Gospels from Christ himself; but St. Matthew from the human, and St. John from the Divine, generation of Christ. St. Mark and St. Luke commence from John the Baptist; but St. Luke from his nativity, and St, John from his preaching. The words, the Son of God, are rightly retained in the Revised Version, although they are omitted by some ancient authorities.