No stone is left unturned in this reference level introduction to the gospel of Mark. Craig S. Keener provides a thorough overview of both Mark's textual history and every issue related to the authorship and context of the gospel. This volume lays the groundwork for Keener's monumental International Critical Commentary on Mark. Keener begins by presenting an orientation to Markan studies as a whole, situating the reader within the scholarly debate and providing an overview of secondary sources and approaches. He then critically assesses the background to the gospel, with chapters on the Mark's authorship, genre, sources, setting and date, and audience. Together, these provide an in-depth analysis of the gospel and its world, providing readers with measured interpretation of the evidence at hand and the wealth of secondary literature on these crucial topics. Keener is at his most creative in the chapters that follow on Markan style and narrative features, and in his synthesis of Mark's theology.

This rich and detailed volume provides readers with the perfect overview of all literary, historical and theological debates necessary for in depth study of the gospel of Mark, and outlines Keener's key approach to the gospel, which will be developed further in his four commentary volumes on the gospel of Mark.