Mark 1 - Introduction

The title of the Gospel exists in various forms, none of which can be part of the original autograph. No Evangelist would write such a heading; least of all would the earliest Evangelist do so. These titles point to a time when the Gospels had already been collected into one volume, with the general title Εὐαγγέλιον. The earliest form of the title is the simplest; κατὰ Μᾶρκον ([30][31][32] secundum Marcum, or, in some Latin MSS., cata Marc. (so Codex Bobiensis, one of the most important Old Latin MSS.). Other forms are εὐαγγέλιον κατὰ Μᾶρκον ([33][34][35][36] τὸ κατὰ [37] ἅγιον εὐαγγ. (some cursives) and ἐκ τοῦ κατὰ [38] ἁγίου εὐαγγ. (69).

[30] Codex Sinaiticus. 4th cent. Discovered by Tischendorf in 1859 at the Monastery of St Katharine on Mount Sinai. Now at St Petersburg. The whole Gospel, ending at Mark 16:8. Photographic facsimile, 1911.

[31] Codex Vaticanus. 4th cent., but perhaps a little later than א. In the Vatican Library almost since its foundation by Pope Nicolas V., and one of its greatest treasures. The whole Gospel, ending at Mark 16:8. Photographic facsimile, 1889.

[32] odex Boreelianus. Once in the possession of John Boreel. 9th cent. At Utrecht. Contains Mk 1–41; Mark 2:8-23; Mark 3:5 to Mark 11:6; Mark 11:27 to Mark 14:54; Mark 15:6-39; Mark 16:19-20.

[33] Codex Alexandrinus. 5th cent. Brought by Cyril Lucar, Patriarch of Constantinople, from Alexandria, and afterwards presented by him to King Charles I. in 1628. In the British Museum. The whole Gospel. Photographic facsimile, 1879.

[34] Codex Bezae. 6th cent. Has a Latin translation (d) side by side with the Greek text, and the two do not quite always agree. Presented by Beza to the University Library of Cambridge in 1581. Remarkable for its frequent divergences from other texts. Contains Mark, except Mark 16:15-20, which has been added by a later hand. Photographic facsimile, 1899.

[35] Codex Basiliensis. 8th cent. At Basle.

[36] odex Seidelianus II. 9th or 10th cent. Contains Mark 1:1-31; Mark 2:4 to Mark 15:43; Mark 16:14-20.

[37] Codex Campianus. 9th cent. At Paris. Gospels complete.
[38] Codex Campianus. 9th cent. At Paris. Gospels complete.

The κατά implies conformity to a type, without necessarily asserting authorship; but the Christians of the first four centuries who affixed these titles believed that each Gospel was written by the Evangelist whose name they affixed. Had they intended the κατά to mean no more than “according to the teaching of,” this Gospel would have been called κατὰ Πέτρον, for it was commonly held that Mark wrote according to the teaching of Peter.