Monergism Books

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Description: Drawing on many years of Marcan studies, world-class scholar R. T. France has produced an exegetical commentary on the Greek text of Mark that does what the best of recent Greek commentaries have done but in France's own inimitable, reader-friendly way.This work is a commentary on Mark itself, not a commentary on commentaries of Mark. It deals immediately and directly with matters that France himself regards as important. Working from his own translation of the Greek text and culling from helpful research into the world of first-century Palestine, France provides an extensive introduction to Mark's Gospel, followed by insightful section and verse commentary.France sees the structure of Mark's Gospel as an effective “drama in three acts.” Act 1 takes up Jesus' public ministry in Galilee. Act 2 covers Jesus' journey to Jerusalem with his disciples. Act 3 focuses on Jesus' public ministry in Jerusalem, including his confrontation with the Jewish leaders, his explanatory discourse on the future, and his passion, death, and resurrection. France carefully unpacks for modern readers the two central themes of this powerful narrative of Jesus' life — the nature of Christ and the role of discipleship.

Supported by careful argumentation and impressive in its sensitivity to Mark's structure, context, and use of the Old Testament, France's study of the second Gospel is without peer.

D.A. Carson’s “Best Buy” on the book of Mark. While France’s commentary is on the Greek text, it is “nevertheless remarkably accessible and includes a healthy mix of history, theology, social context, even warmth.”

Robert Stein (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary)
“The commentary by France, advertised by the publishers as ‘without peer’ in the cover jacket, is part of The New International Greek Testament Commentary series. It may very well be the crowning work of a well-known scholar who has made numerous contributions to Gospel studies…There is no doubt that for those looking for a commentary on the Greek text of Mark this is the best one-volume text available today.”

Steve Patton (Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary)
“As the rash of commentaries on the Gospel of Mark continues unabated, one may search for a work that can offer a ‘definitive’ word. That work comes from R. T. France, a prolific writer on the Gospels who has perhaps written his magnum opus on the second Gospel.”

Albert L. Lukaszewski (Society of Biblical Literature)
“ The work is exceptional. Refusing to write a commentary on commentaries, France pulls sparingly and illustratively from other commentators. In his conclusions, France is acutely aware of the theological conclusions of his analysis. However, the end never justifies the means in his treatment of the text. The result is a work of surprising freshness that will doubtless be a spring from which future studies will draw benefit.”