THE BOOK OF MARK THE CEB STUDY BIBLE | THE BOOK OF MARK ISBN 978-1-5018-8282-1 BY THE NUMBERS THE CEB STUDY BIBLE There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. GALATIANS 3:28 TOTAL PARTICIPANTS 7OO IN THE CEB STUDY BIBLE PROJECT 34O SCHOLARS 26O PASTORS 1OO LAYPEOPLE TRANSLATORS CONTRIBUTORS EDITORIAL BOARD Biblical12O Scholars Contributors69 Editors8 94 MEN 48 MEN 5 MEN 26 WOMEN 21 WOMEN 3 WOMEN 24 DENOMINATIONS COMMON THE CEB ENGLISH BIBLE STUDY BIBLE 66 books of the Bible THOUSANDS of study notes 1,189 chapters in the Bible 297 sidebar articles 18 books of the Apocrypha (separate edition) 5 in-depth articles 21 maps 204 chapters in the Apocrypha Concordance Shedding new light on the journey of faith Written by leading scholars, the CEB Study Bible helps readers understand the biblical texts within the larger historical and literary framework of the Bible through book introductions, thousands of notes, more than 300 articles, and full-color images throughout, revealing cultural contexts and exploring relevant background information while always seeking to inspire. The CEB Study Bible gives you the context for what the Bible meant to its earliest readers and the tools to determine what it means for you right now. Your word is a lamp before my feet and a light for my journey. Psalm 119:105 TABLE OF CONTENTS About The CEB Study Bible ———————————————————————— 2 The Authority of Scripture by Joel B. Green ——————————————— 8 The CEB Study Bible Editorial Board ——————————————————— 13 The CEB Study Bible Contributors ———————————————————— 14 The CEB Board of Editors ———————————————————————— 15 The CEB Translators ——————————————————————————— 16 Mark —————————————————————————————————— 17 This is for promotional purposes only. Please do not reprint without permission from the publisher. ©2013 Common English Bible 2 RELATE TO THE STUDY BIBLE THAT RELATES TO YOU Who is using The CEB Study Bible? • A pastor or small-group leader at a local church who is preparing for a sermon or to lead a Bible study • Christians who want deeper understanding of the Bible and how it fits into the context of the culture and history of the time • Adults and teens looking for a Bible and study notes that are extremely readable and undeniably reliable to original texts • College professors teaching “Introduction to Religion” and “Introduction to the Bible” and their students READABLE • Anyone wanting to know more about the Bible Who are the translators? Translated by a diverse group of: • 120 biblical scholars • 22 faith traditions represented • Reviewed by 27 reading groups What faith communities were represented in the creation of The CEB Study Bible? The translators, reviewers, and editors represent the following faith communities: • African Methodist Episcopal Church • Moravian • American Baptist • National Baptist • Anglican • Presbyterian (USA) • Baptist • Progressive National Baptist • Baptist General Conference • Quaker • Church of the Nazarene • Reformed Church in America • Disciples of Christ • Reform Judaism • Episcopal Church • Roman Catholic Church • Evangelical Free Church • Seventh-Day Adventist • Evangelical Lutheran Church • United Church of Christ • Free Methodist • United Methodist • Mennonite 3 RELATE TO THE STUDY BIBLE THAT RELATES TO YOU READABLE t means more than reading phrases on a page. It means truly comprehending Ithe words, the sentences, the ideas, and their meaning. Within its approachable language, the CEB sets the reader on a path to new understanding. Running up to the carriage, Philip heard the man reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you really understand what you are reading?” The man replied, “Without someone to guide me, how could I?” Then he invited Philip to climb up and sit with him. Acts 8:30–31 4 THE CEB STUDY BIBLE HAS UNIQUE FEATURES THAT GIVE THE READER DEEPER UNDERSTANDING • The CEB Study Bible includes five insightful articles that give readers an in-depth foundation from which to approach this unique resource • The Authority of Scripture, Joel B. Green • How We Got Our Bible, Daniel G. Reid • Guidelines for Reading the Bible, Brian D. Russell RELIABLE • Chronology of the Bible, Pamela J. Scalise • The Unity of the Bible, Marianne Meye Thompson • 21 full-color maps from National Geographic, with indexes • Weight and measure conversions to modern scales • Additional in-text maps and informational charts • Comprehensive concordance • Beautifully printed in full color throughout A full-color photograph or image An outline of the book helps readers pertinent to the book is present see its structure and find significant in each introduction sections 5 THE CEB STUDY BIBLE HAS UNIQUE FEATURES THAT GIVE THE READER DEEPER UNDERSTANDING RELIABLE he CEB was built on the assembled knowledge of a diverse, cross-denominational Tgroup of men and women, translating directly from the original ancient texts— not revising tradition or inserting church doctrine. Exhaustive attention has been paid to ensure the work is impeccably balanced and rich in context. Every scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing mistakes, for correcting, and for training character, so that the person who belongs to God can be equipped to do everything that is good. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 6 THE RIGHT RESOURCES FOR RICHER STUDY An inviting, well-organized page layout makes The CEB Study Bible even easier to read. Biblical text in a reader-friendly single column Cross references are easily accessible in margins Footnotes below RELEVANT biblical text Double-column study notes that bring clarity and relevance to key points in the text SIDEBAR ARTICLES • 297 thought-provoking articles unique to The CEB Study Bible • Sidebars address topics that require a little more discussion than allowed in the usual format of study Bible notes • Subjects range from general topics throughout the Bible to articles relevant to a specific passage 7 THE RIGHT RESOURCES FOR RICHER STUDY RELEVANT he times change, but the Bible meets you where you are, providing guidance for Tevery situation you face and every season of life. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 8 THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE Joel B. Green Around the world and across time, millions of Christians have gathered and continue to gather regu- larly to hear the scriptures read in worship. When the reading is finished, the worship leader recites the familiar words and God’s people respond. Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. These words, simple as they are, bear profound witness to the church’s belief that, in the reading and proclaiming of scripture, we encounter God’s own voice. The word spoken at creation (Gen 1), the word that is “sweeter than honey in my mouth” (Ps 119:103), the word that doesn’t return empty but accom- plishes what the Lord intends (Isa 55:10-11), the word that John identifies with Jesus (John 1:1-14), the word that sometimes leads to the harassment of God’s people (Rev 1:9) and yet continues to grow (Acts 12:24)—this is the word we embrace as we attend to the scriptural voice of God. And the liturgy reminds us that we attend to scripture most faithfully when we do so together in worship. Of course, the Bible can be read in many ways. The Bible is a collection of books, an anthology. We find in its pages poetry and letters, historical narratives and visions, proverbs and oracles. For good reason, then, we might turn to the Bible as literature. Or we might turn to it as history. We find among the biblical writ- ings a keen interest in the beginnings of Abraham and Sarah’s people, the gathering of a tribal people as a nation, the rise and fall of leaders and kings, the movements and counter-movements of nations, the story of Jesus’ life and ministry, as well as the origins of the church and its spread across the Roman Empire. When we attend to these books as the church’s Book, however, we do so because of our shared belief that this collection of documents is nothing less than the Christian scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. Together, the Old and New Testaments make up the authoritative witness to God’s work in the world. We ought to consider the literary qualities of these documents. We need to reflect on the many ways that these books refer to the realities of ancient communities and cultures. Respecting the books of the Bible requires that we take seriously their literary artistry, their literary forms, and their literary pur- pose. Respecting the books of the Bible requires us to study them against the background of ancient customs, institutions, and geography. Reading the Old and New Testaments as scripture includes but also surpasses these kinds of methodological concerns, however. We come to scripture with ears attuned and hearts open to what the Holy Spirit is saying to God’s people. Reading and hearing these words as the church’s scriptures, we seek not only to understand the Bible’s message but also to “stand under” its authority. We seek not only to know but to be known. We put into practice the famed words of Johann Albrecht Bengel (1687–1752): “Apply yourself wholly to the text; apply the text wholly to yourself.” We open our lives, corporately and individually, to the ways, through scripture, we might grow in Christ- likeness and come to reflect more faithfully God’s own image. Embracing Scripture’s Authority Although the biblical books might be read for many reasons, the simple fact that these particular books have been gathered into this particular collection has nothing to do with the Bible’s status as a compila- tion of literary works or a history book.