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This unique commentary takes readers back to the first century to explore theoriginal meaning of Mark--but it also brings readers back to today, and showsthem how the message can be applied to their lives.
656 pages, Hardcover
First published September 28, 1996
98 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
David E. Garland
77 books12 followersDavid Ellsworth Garland (PhD, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is associate dean for academic affairs and William M. Hinson Professor of Christian Scriptures at George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University. He is the author of numerous books, including award-winning commentaries on 1 Corinthians and Mark.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 18, 2022
First of all, I must confess that I did not read this cover-to-cover, but read only the "Original Meaning" sections. I debated whether this was worthy of three or four stars. Sometimes Garland's writing is fresh, engaging, concise, and thoroughly informative. Not only did he answer my questions but he also delighted me with pictorial language and tied it up in a succinct package. Other times, it seemed like there wasn't much meat on the bone. It depended on the section. But when he was good--he was really good and left quite the impression!
The reason why I ended up giving this four stars is because my criticisms are likely a result of the limitations and aim of the NIV Application series. For being apart of that series, which is often lackluster and neglectful of exegesis, this is really quite good.
The reason why I ended up giving this four stars is because my criticisms are likely a result of the limitations and aim of the NIV Application series. For being apart of that series, which is often lackluster and neglectful of exegesis, this is really quite good.
June 11, 2015
Another great commentary from the NIV Application Commentary series
May 1, 2021
Not a bad commentary. But not a terribly good one either. I don't really like the format of the NIV Application commentary series.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes.
Because David prayed: “Test me, O LORD, and try me; examine my heart and my mind” (Ps. 26:2), some rabbis thought it was proper to place oneself in temptation, where our faith and obedience are put to the test, in order to overcome it (b. Abod Zar 17ab). Temptations were viewed as spiritual muscle-builders for the faithful. Jesus does not take this view. We should pray, ever mindful of the weakness of the flesh, for the cup to be removed. We are weak; and if we are not strengthened by God’s power, we will always fail.
Brown writes that Mark and his readers probably held Peter and his disciples as “saintly witnesses.” He goes on to say: "But Mark uses the Gospel to stress that such witness to Jesus did not come easily or under the disciples’ own impetus.… Mark is offering a pedagogy of hope based on the initial failure of the most famous followers of Jesus and a second chance for them. He may have in mind readers who failed initially or became discouraged by the thought of the cross. He is issuing parenetic warnings against the danger of being scandalized or falling away from faith and against overconfidence."
The biblical lament begins by invoking God’s name in a cry of distress and a frank expression of grievance against him. The mourner outlines the distress, expresses perplexity at the apparent triumph of enemies, and urgently prays for relief. The lament concludes with an expression of trust, thanksgiving, and confidence that God has heard. Many Christians today shy away from ever crying aloud to God or making an outcry of reproach when they are not rescued. Some do not feel that they can lay bare their true emotions to God, including their anger. They feel that such honesty reflects a deficiency of faith or blasphemous gall. This timidity may in fact reflect a sense of distance and alienation from God, because they fear that God might reject them if they are too complaining in an hour of trial.
his grammatical irregularity may explain the admonition, “Let the reader understand.” Modern Christians possess individual Bibles and study them privately, and we naturally assume that this aside advises an individual reader poring over the Gospel of Mark to take a hint (see Dan. 12:9–10).
But a hint about what? In contrast to the leads John gives in Revelation 13:11–18 to help identify the second beast, Mark offers no clues about what the reader is supposed to understand. Because we view Bible reading as something done mostly in private, most modern readers would not consider the possibility that Mark included this narrative aside for the one who publicly read the Gospel to the assembly (see Rev. 1:3). Individual copies of Scripture were rare, and it is more likely that this note instructs the one reading in Greek not to correct the masculine participle with a neuter noun out of some mistaken grammatical sensitivity. What Mark has written, he has written deliberately. The masculine participle makes “the abomination” refer to a person.20 Best likens it to our modern sic that is placed after a word that seems odd or misspelled: “But when you see that thing, the abomination of desolation, standing where he [sic] should not be.…”21
Here are a few of my favorite quotes.
Because David prayed: “Test me, O LORD, and try me; examine my heart and my mind” (Ps. 26:2), some rabbis thought it was proper to place oneself in temptation, where our faith and obedience are put to the test, in order to overcome it (b. Abod Zar 17ab). Temptations were viewed as spiritual muscle-builders for the faithful. Jesus does not take this view. We should pray, ever mindful of the weakness of the flesh, for the cup to be removed. We are weak; and if we are not strengthened by God’s power, we will always fail.
Brown writes that Mark and his readers probably held Peter and his disciples as “saintly witnesses.” He goes on to say: "But Mark uses the Gospel to stress that such witness to Jesus did not come easily or under the disciples’ own impetus.… Mark is offering a pedagogy of hope based on the initial failure of the most famous followers of Jesus and a second chance for them. He may have in mind readers who failed initially or became discouraged by the thought of the cross. He is issuing parenetic warnings against the danger of being scandalized or falling away from faith and against overconfidence."
The biblical lament begins by invoking God’s name in a cry of distress and a frank expression of grievance against him. The mourner outlines the distress, expresses perplexity at the apparent triumph of enemies, and urgently prays for relief. The lament concludes with an expression of trust, thanksgiving, and confidence that God has heard. Many Christians today shy away from ever crying aloud to God or making an outcry of reproach when they are not rescued. Some do not feel that they can lay bare their true emotions to God, including their anger. They feel that such honesty reflects a deficiency of faith or blasphemous gall. This timidity may in fact reflect a sense of distance and alienation from God, because they fear that God might reject them if they are too complaining in an hour of trial.
his grammatical irregularity may explain the admonition, “Let the reader understand.” Modern Christians possess individual Bibles and study them privately, and we naturally assume that this aside advises an individual reader poring over the Gospel of Mark to take a hint (see Dan. 12:9–10).
But a hint about what? In contrast to the leads John gives in Revelation 13:11–18 to help identify the second beast, Mark offers no clues about what the reader is supposed to understand. Because we view Bible reading as something done mostly in private, most modern readers would not consider the possibility that Mark included this narrative aside for the one who publicly read the Gospel to the assembly (see Rev. 1:3). Individual copies of Scripture were rare, and it is more likely that this note instructs the one reading in Greek not to correct the masculine participle with a neuter noun out of some mistaken grammatical sensitivity. What Mark has written, he has written deliberately. The masculine participle makes “the abomination” refer to a person.20 Best likens it to our modern sic that is placed after a word that seems odd or misspelled: “But when you see that thing, the abomination of desolation, standing where he [sic] should not be.…”21
March 4, 2022
To be clear, I don’t care a thing about the NIV. Apparently neither do the authors of this commentary series as they continually correct it. I came across this particular commentary while searching through an online library database. I was immediately hooked. I’ve never found another commentary that could so clearly connect the broad Scriptural narratives with the immediate context. This is a must have for the expository preacher.
April 21, 2022
Didn’t get to read the complete book, but the commentary on the following passages that I got to preach were the ones I read. Does reading 75% of the book count as the whole book? Hmmm. For commentaries, I’ll say so! 😬🤷🏽♂️😂
Mark 1:1-8
Mark 1:9-15
Mark 1:21-45
Mark 3:13-35
Mark 4:1-20
Mark 6:30-44
Mark 7:31-37
Mark 8:11-21
Mark 9:2-13
Mark 9:38-49
Mark 11:1-11
Mark 11:12-26
Mark 14:12-31
Mark 14:1–15:47
Mark 16:1-8
Mark 1:1-8
Mark 1:9-15
Mark 1:21-45
Mark 3:13-35
Mark 4:1-20
Mark 6:30-44
Mark 7:31-37
Mark 8:11-21
Mark 9:2-13
Mark 9:38-49
Mark 11:1-11
Mark 11:12-26
Mark 14:12-31
Mark 14:1–15:47
Mark 16:1-8
December 22, 2022
This is the first commentary I’ve used in the NIV Application Commentary series. I enjoyed the layout of the commentary and found it refreshing compared to today’s norm. While I sometimes found myself in disagreement with Garland’s conclusions and applications, I really appreciated the way this commentary helped me brainstorm in the direction of application. I sometimes found useful illustrations here as well.
I’ll likely pick up more from this series in the future as a result of this one.
I’ll likely pick up more from this series in the future as a result of this one.
August 22, 2018
The value of the NIV Application Commentaries is with the intentional application that each section provides. This commentary is no different. Garland breaks up the text well, gives good explanation, and excellent application. This was the among my favorite commentaries when I worked through Mark. I highly recommend.
November 23, 2018
It's a solid commentary while not being anything remarkable or memorable. It is a fairly standard approach similar to some of the ones I've already been through. It is a quite a long one too! There were strong highlights throughput various spots but there is hardly anything here that is particularly fresh and or groundbreaking.
February 9, 2017
Overall a well thought out commentary, had many more exegetical insights than I thought would be in an NIV APP COMM. Garland is a well crafted writer and I very much enjoyed this large volume. It helped me appreciate Mark and grow a lot in my understanding of the Gospel.
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October 1, 2025“For Mark to say without apology that Jesus was the Christ, the fulfillment of Israel’s hopes, her liberator, the one who ushered in the reign of God and who reigns triumphantly at the right hand of God, was and should be startling if not incredible.”, p. 23
July 1, 2017
Excellent: deep an inspiring!
The author made me love the gospel which before I cared less for.
Mark is the gospel that invites me to be part of its end.
The author made me love the gospel which before I cared less for.
Mark is the gospel that invites me to be part of its end.
May 11, 2019
Helpful.
July 4, 2019
I always enjoy this series. And this volume is as good as all of the others I have read. I look forward to reading even more.
December 4, 2024
Love this series! Very helpful when thinking about modern application and understanding of an ancient culture.
May 17, 2007
Talbot Course: Exegesis in the Gospels
Excellent Commentary on Mark! The entire NIV Application Commentary is pretty darn good! The best way to own this commentary series is to buy on CD-ROM (if you can afford it)
Excellent Commentary on Mark! The entire NIV Application Commentary is pretty darn good! The best way to own this commentary series is to buy on CD-ROM (if you can afford it)
November 16, 2010
Not one of the stronger commentaries in this series. However, I think the format is generally helpful, and the "Contemporary Significance" section in each chapter gave me some good things to think about.
September 3, 2016
Probably read 75-80% while preaching through Mark. Excellent!
November 19, 2014
Good engagement with text. A lot of application for preachers to utilize.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews