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These commentaries are designed to help the reader of the Bible understand what the text says and what it means. The Introduction to each book gives a concise but thorough treatment of its authorship, date, original setting and purpose. Following a structural Analysis, the Commentary takes the book section by section, drawing out its main themes, and also comments on individual verses and problems of interpretation. Additional Notes provide fuller discussion of particular difficulties. In the new New Testament volumes, the commentary on each section of the text is structured under three headings: Context, Comment and Theology. The goal is to explain the true meaning of the Bible and make its message plain.
Mark wrote his Gospel to explain why and how Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God, who fulfils God's promises as he proclaims and embodies the coming of the kingdom of God. Mark emphasizes Jesus’ authority, and also his suffering and death, as God’s will for his messianic mission. Eckhard Schnabel’s commentary seeks to help today’s Christian disciples to communicate the significance of Jesus and the transforming power of the good news.
Mark wrote his Gospel to explain why and how Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God, who fulfils God's promises as he proclaims and embodies the coming of the kingdom of God. Mark emphasizes Jesus’ authority, and also his suffering and death, as God’s will for his messianic mission. Eckhard Schnabel’s commentary seeks to help today’s Christian disciples to communicate the significance of Jesus and the transforming power of the good news.
448 pages, Paperback
Published March 16, 2017
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29 people want to read
About the author
Eckhard J. Schnabel
41 books17 followersEckhard J. Schnabel (Ph.D., University of Aberdeen) is professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He has taught previously at Freie Theologische Akademie (Giessen, Germany), Wiedenest Bible College (Bergneustadt, Germany) and Asian Theological Seminary (Manila, Philippines).
His books include Early Christian Mission (volumes 1 & 2) and Der erste Brief des Paulus an die Korinther, and he is the author of numerous articles, including "Luke" (with David W. Pao) in Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament and contributions in InterVarsity Press's Dictionary of Paul and His Letters and Dictionary of the Later New Testament & Its Developments.
His books include Early Christian Mission (volumes 1 & 2) and Der erste Brief des Paulus an die Korinther, and he is the author of numerous articles, including "Luke" (with David W. Pao) in Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament and contributions in InterVarsity Press's Dictionary of Paul and His Letters and Dictionary of the Later New Testament & Its Developments.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 26, 2024
Schnabel is really good and so solid - his strengths in exegesis and historical realities shines through. And he does a lot in a little amount of pages (relatively). A really good resource on Mark. My main quibble, and this may be the series’ purpose, but Schnabel sometimes doesn’t go far enough theologically where I would want him to purposefully (like if he doesn’t see a clear theological connection he assumes it’s not there). I tend to think, yes we can’t just assume it’s there; BUT we can assume that God definitely intends more with His Word than we even realize.
Good commentary and recommended. Also Schnabel teaches where I went to seminary and he is a really gifted teacher.
Good commentary and recommended. Also Schnabel teaches where I went to seminary and he is a really gifted teacher.
February 8, 2018
The full review posted on January 4, 2018, on my blog, Spoiled Milks
The first commentary on the Gospel of Mark was written in the sixth century, and between “AD 650 and 1000, thirteen major commentaries were written on Matthew, but only four on Mark” (Strauss, 20). Despite the long neglect, much study has been done over Mark’s short Gospel for more than the last century.
Eckhard Schnabel, Professor of New Testament at Gordon-Conwell, replaces Alan Cole’s Mark volume in the Tyndale New Testament Commentary (TNTC) series with a Christmas meal—441 pages of commentary on the shortest Gospel. While adding to the growing list of commentaries, Schnabel (also the TNTC’s series editor) did not write a commentary of commentaries on Mark. Instead, writing for pastors, students, and laypeople, he comments on the meaning of Mark through theological reflection, historical points of reference, the meanings of words, and the literary development of the characters.
Summary
Schnabel gives very little attention to Markan priority (whether Mark’s Gospel was written first), saying that Markan priority “continues to be plausible,” but that “these questions are more significant for commentaries on the Gospels of Matthew and Luke” (4). Thankfully, Schnabel examines the text and not a possible Markan community behind the text, though he does acknowledge future Mark’s clarifications for Gentile readers (14, 162).
He takes Mark to be the actual author (12), probably writing from Rome for various churches (14) anywhere between 50–64 AD. We don’t know what Mark’s sources are, but if Papias is correct, Mark’s “most significant — and perhaps the only — source” was Peter (18). Mark ends his Gospel at 16.8. Abrupt endings are attested in antiquity, and within the Bible Jonah ends abruptly and Acts ends with Paul still alive and his legal case unresolved. To paraphrase Demetrius (whom Schnabel quotes), some points need to be worked out be the hearers themselves (22-23).
Schnabel disregards William Wrede’s hypothesis of Mark’s “Messianic secret.” If there is nothing messianic about Jesus or his ministry, then there is no explanation for his death, nor is there any explanation as to how his disciples transformed their “unmessianic master into the Messiah after Easter” (25).
Mark does not have a “vendetta” against the disciples (29), but merely gives an “unvarnished” (aka, authentic) look at their pre-resurrection responses to Jesus (30). Nobody imagined a Messiah who would die, and though on occasion Jesus does rebuke the disciples, he often explains himself to them.
Schnabel provides much good historical and factual information on various people (Pilate, p. 394-95; the Sanhedrin, p. 373), places (Jerusalem, p. 261), and the timing of the Passover (350-51). Some of these details seem a bit much, such as the possible “House of Peter (1.29–31), heights of various mountains in Israel, and how a clay lamp was made in Galilean workshops (4.21). It can make the text seem too busy, and I personally think some of these details would work better as footnotes. Still, his points on why people go “up” to Jerusalem (247), just how the friends could dig their way through the roof of a house (65), or who Barabbas was (400), help make sense of the text. Schnabel is a careful exegete and historian.
Unfortunately, there are no indices in this volume (or in any of the Old and New Testament series).
Recommended?
I’ve read (chunks of) quite a few Markan commentaries. Schnabel’s volume isn’t going to break new ground, but he is trustworthy when it comes to biblical exegesis and exposition. He keeps the Gospel’s context in view in his theology sections, making sure that he doesn’t interpret something apart from anything else Mark has said, and points to Christ as our one and true Savior whose death ransomed sinners and inaugurated the new covenant. The pastor, student, Bible college teacher, and layperson would be filled with this huge 441 page meal.
The first commentary on the Gospel of Mark was written in the sixth century, and between “AD 650 and 1000, thirteen major commentaries were written on Matthew, but only four on Mark” (Strauss, 20). Despite the long neglect, much study has been done over Mark’s short Gospel for more than the last century.
Eckhard Schnabel, Professor of New Testament at Gordon-Conwell, replaces Alan Cole’s Mark volume in the Tyndale New Testament Commentary (TNTC) series with a Christmas meal—441 pages of commentary on the shortest Gospel. While adding to the growing list of commentaries, Schnabel (also the TNTC’s series editor) did not write a commentary of commentaries on Mark. Instead, writing for pastors, students, and laypeople, he comments on the meaning of Mark through theological reflection, historical points of reference, the meanings of words, and the literary development of the characters.
Summary
Schnabel gives very little attention to Markan priority (whether Mark’s Gospel was written first), saying that Markan priority “continues to be plausible,” but that “these questions are more significant for commentaries on the Gospels of Matthew and Luke” (4). Thankfully, Schnabel examines the text and not a possible Markan community behind the text, though he does acknowledge future Mark’s clarifications for Gentile readers (14, 162).
He takes Mark to be the actual author (12), probably writing from Rome for various churches (14) anywhere between 50–64 AD. We don’t know what Mark’s sources are, but if Papias is correct, Mark’s “most significant — and perhaps the only — source” was Peter (18). Mark ends his Gospel at 16.8. Abrupt endings are attested in antiquity, and within the Bible Jonah ends abruptly and Acts ends with Paul still alive and his legal case unresolved. To paraphrase Demetrius (whom Schnabel quotes), some points need to be worked out be the hearers themselves (22-23).
Schnabel disregards William Wrede’s hypothesis of Mark’s “Messianic secret.” If there is nothing messianic about Jesus or his ministry, then there is no explanation for his death, nor is there any explanation as to how his disciples transformed their “unmessianic master into the Messiah after Easter” (25).
Mark does not have a “vendetta” against the disciples (29), but merely gives an “unvarnished” (aka, authentic) look at their pre-resurrection responses to Jesus (30). Nobody imagined a Messiah who would die, and though on occasion Jesus does rebuke the disciples, he often explains himself to them.
Schnabel provides much good historical and factual information on various people (Pilate, p. 394-95; the Sanhedrin, p. 373), places (Jerusalem, p. 261), and the timing of the Passover (350-51). Some of these details seem a bit much, such as the possible “House of Peter (1.29–31), heights of various mountains in Israel, and how a clay lamp was made in Galilean workshops (4.21). It can make the text seem too busy, and I personally think some of these details would work better as footnotes. Still, his points on why people go “up” to Jerusalem (247), just how the friends could dig their way through the roof of a house (65), or who Barabbas was (400), help make sense of the text. Schnabel is a careful exegete and historian.
Unfortunately, there are no indices in this volume (or in any of the Old and New Testament series).
Recommended?
I’ve read (chunks of) quite a few Markan commentaries. Schnabel’s volume isn’t going to break new ground, but he is trustworthy when it comes to biblical exegesis and exposition. He keeps the Gospel’s context in view in his theology sections, making sure that he doesn’t interpret something apart from anything else Mark has said, and points to Christ as our one and true Savior whose death ransomed sinners and inaugurated the new covenant. The pastor, student, Bible college teacher, and layperson would be filled with this huge 441 page meal.
July 26, 2017
Just like we’re placing a Hall of Fame sports figure, replace a legendary volume in a scholarly Commentary series is no easy task. Needless to say Eckhard J Schnabel had his work cut out for him to replace R. Alan Cole’s commentary on the gospel of Mark for the spectacular Tyndale New Testament Commentary series.
Eckhard J. Schnabel who also serves as a general editor for the series is a distinguished scholar and is no stranger to commentaries in the New Testament. And Schnabel apostrophe s academic credentials shine in this studious commentary. The Tyndale New Testament commentary is a great introduction commentary for pastors and laymen alike and requires no knowledge of the Civil Greek language. Yet this commentary is part of a growing trend of added girth in the Tyndale New Testament Commentary series. Weighing in at 441 pages this commentary is almost the length of a mid-range commentary. Yet the accessibility of this commentary makes it a wonderful introduction to the gospel of Mark. I own and have read many commentaries on the gospel of Mark and this new commentary is one of the greatest additions to that lineage. Furthermore this commentary shows great potential in giving phenomenal application combined with superior exegesis.
Mark, begins with the typical study into the introductory matters of this book of the Bible, yet while introductions are common, is atypical for Fee is so through with his research and interaction with recent scholarship. In a day where these matters are either glossed over to get to the exegesis of the text or are so cumbersome that they become useless, Fee found a good balance in being thorough, communicating depth and attention to recent scholarship, without losing the message of the text.
With reference to the commentary sections on Mark, Schnabel , expertly navigates the text showing the original context of passage while applying it directly to the modern day reader. He also uses a pastoral tone in many of his comments yet never sacrifices his scholastic approach. The outlines that he provides are also of great use for a pastor looking to preach though the Gospel of Mark.
In recommending , Mark, to others I would whole heartily recommend this commentary to students of scripture, with one caveat. By this I mean I recommend this work to Pastors, Bible Teachers, Bible College Students, and to a limited extent educated Laymen looking to teach a Sunday school class, there is enough scholarly weight to this work to understand a particular issue in the text while giving aid to pastors in preaching the text. There are many commentaries about the Gospel of Mark available at this moment but, Mark, of the TNTC series is a giant leap above the rest.
This book was provided to me free of charge from IVP Academic in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.
Eckhard J. Schnabel who also serves as a general editor for the series is a distinguished scholar and is no stranger to commentaries in the New Testament. And Schnabel apostrophe s academic credentials shine in this studious commentary. The Tyndale New Testament commentary is a great introduction commentary for pastors and laymen alike and requires no knowledge of the Civil Greek language. Yet this commentary is part of a growing trend of added girth in the Tyndale New Testament Commentary series. Weighing in at 441 pages this commentary is almost the length of a mid-range commentary. Yet the accessibility of this commentary makes it a wonderful introduction to the gospel of Mark. I own and have read many commentaries on the gospel of Mark and this new commentary is one of the greatest additions to that lineage. Furthermore this commentary shows great potential in giving phenomenal application combined with superior exegesis.
Mark, begins with the typical study into the introductory matters of this book of the Bible, yet while introductions are common, is atypical for Fee is so through with his research and interaction with recent scholarship. In a day where these matters are either glossed over to get to the exegesis of the text or are so cumbersome that they become useless, Fee found a good balance in being thorough, communicating depth and attention to recent scholarship, without losing the message of the text.
With reference to the commentary sections on Mark, Schnabel , expertly navigates the text showing the original context of passage while applying it directly to the modern day reader. He also uses a pastoral tone in many of his comments yet never sacrifices his scholastic approach. The outlines that he provides are also of great use for a pastor looking to preach though the Gospel of Mark.
In recommending , Mark, to others I would whole heartily recommend this commentary to students of scripture, with one caveat. By this I mean I recommend this work to Pastors, Bible Teachers, Bible College Students, and to a limited extent educated Laymen looking to teach a Sunday school class, there is enough scholarly weight to this work to understand a particular issue in the text while giving aid to pastors in preaching the text. There are many commentaries about the Gospel of Mark available at this moment but, Mark, of the TNTC series is a giant leap above the rest.
This book was provided to me free of charge from IVP Academic in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.
November 6, 2020
Read up to Mark 8 (Nov/20). Relies heavily on RTFrance's
July 3, 2017
Here’s a brand new volume in the second cycle of revisions on the beloved Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (TNTC) series. The new editor, Eckhard Schnabel, contributes this new volume. I really am not familiar with Schnabel, but have thought that whoever had the task of filling the shoes of Leon Morris really had their hands full in light of his incredible scholarship. After perusing this volume, I have great hope for a series I really respect.
There’s no doubt this volume really improves on the earlier Cole volume. Schnabel was given more space and made good use of it. I find it superior to its competitors in other similar series as well. I’ve just recently reviewed the IVPNT volume on Mark and much prefer this one.
His Introduction begins by discussing Mark’s place among the Gospels and its history of interpretation. He describes and personally holds to the priority of Mark. He reached conservative conclusions on authorship, date, and historical reliability. His section on theological emphases is well done and he ends with a clear outline.
The commentary proper makes up the bulk of the book and is not only helpful, but well written. That is a winning trait missing in many commentaries. Every passage I reviewed was never superficial nor prolix. I thought many details and good points were brought out for the reader.
For its target audience, this would have to be highly rated. I recommend it!
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
There’s no doubt this volume really improves on the earlier Cole volume. Schnabel was given more space and made good use of it. I find it superior to its competitors in other similar series as well. I’ve just recently reviewed the IVPNT volume on Mark and much prefer this one.
His Introduction begins by discussing Mark’s place among the Gospels and its history of interpretation. He describes and personally holds to the priority of Mark. He reached conservative conclusions on authorship, date, and historical reliability. His section on theological emphases is well done and he ends with a clear outline.
The commentary proper makes up the bulk of the book and is not only helpful, but well written. That is a winning trait missing in many commentaries. Every passage I reviewed was never superficial nor prolix. I thought many details and good points were brought out for the reader.
For its target audience, this would have to be highly rated. I recommend it!
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
June 13, 2017
Current, balanced, succinct, and written from massive scholarly expertise.
July 30, 2019
Wonderful commentary on the Book of Mark. Many insights given on each verse and really liked the theology wrap up for each section too.
December 27, 2021
Superb commentary. By series editor which doesn’t show - it’s brilliant. Worth noting he stops at the shorter ending. A great entry in the refreshed TNTC.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews