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Rating: 
Summary: An excellent reference for the rest of us
Review: The Anchor Bible series continues to provide excellent material for the inquiring Christian. The almost word-for-word translations and discussions of the alternate usages of the Greek give an excellent understanding of the meaning of the words. The commentary ties into the translation notes well and goes on to provide a scholarly understanding of the text. While it is difficult to not use the arcane language of the Biblical scholar, these books at least make the effort to minimize it. The perfect resource for a small town Sunday School bible teacher like myself.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent reference for the rest of us
Review: The Anchor Bible series continues to provide excellent material for the inquiring Christian. The almost word-for-word translations and discussions of the alternate usages of the Greek give an excellent understanding of the meaning of the words. The commentary ties into the translation notes well and goes on to provide a scholarly understanding of the text. While it is difficult to not use the arcane language of the Biblical scholar, these books at least make the effort to minimize it. The perfect resource for a small town Sunday School bible teacher like myself.
Rating:
Summary: But this book today!
Review: This is an excellent commentary, and surely all around the best now available on Mark in English, or perhaps any language. It is up-to-date, thoroughly conversant with the primary sources and secondary literature, and often original in its exegesis. It is also well written, so that while it must, of necessity, sometimes discuss involved topics, such as the meanings of Greek words, the author's meaning is always perfectly clear. Particularly important for scholars are the keen attention paid to the scriptural subtexts beneath Mark's surface and the consistent attempt to understand Mark within the context of the Jewish war. But this is a book for pastors as well as academics, full of intimations about the possibilities of contemporary meaning. Its length is just right -- the discussions are never too long to bore, nor too short to leave one unsatisfied. In sum, this is a worthy addition to the prestigious series to which it belongs, The Anchor Bible. Buy it.
Rating:
Summary: But this book today!
Review: This is an excellent commentary, and surely all around the best now available on Mark in English, or perhaps any language. It is up-to-date, thoroughly conversant with the primary sources and secondary literature, and often original in its exegesis. It is also well written, so that while it must, of necessity, sometimes discuss involved topics, such as the meanings of Greek words, the author's meaning is always perfectly clear. Particularly important for scholars are the keen attention paid to the scriptural subtexts beneath Mark's surface and the consistent attempt to understand Mark within the context of the Jewish war. But this is a book for pastors as well as academics, full of intimations about the possibilities of contemporary meaning. Its length is just right -- the discussions are never too long to bore, nor too short to leave one unsatisfied. In sum, this is a worthy addition to the prestigious series to which it belongs, The Anchor Bible. Buy it.
Rating: 
Summary: Marcus Finally Makes His Mark!
Review: Those of us who were familiar with Joel Marcus' monograph, "The Way of The Lord", have long awaited the day he would write a commentary on the Gospel of Mark. It seems fitting that a strong commentary like this one be used to replace the astonishingly lame commentary by C.S. Mann. The objective of the Anchor Bible commentary series is to make the Bible accessible to the modern reader by providing an exact translation, extended exposition and a reconstruction of the ancient setting. The targeted readership is the general reader with no formal training in biblical studies. Marcus' commentary does an outstanding job in reaching these objectives. His translation is fairly literal but is still readable for those of us whose first language is English. His crisp exposition also goes a long way in helping the general reader follow his arguments. With regard to some specifics about his interprative decisions Marcus believes that the Second Gospel was written by someone named Mark but probably not the one associated with Peter as the Papian tradition would suggest. He also denies that the gospel was written for a general audience (aka Richard Bauckham) or as an evangelistic tool (aka Robert Gundry) but instead argues the pervasive opinion that Mark is addressing a particular 'Markan' community. Marcus also argues that this community probably resided in Syria. He suggests that the purpose of the Gospel was to address a community under persecution during the Jewish War and that Mark presents Jesus as a paradigm for suffering. Undoubtedly this commentary is hefty and due serious consideration by students of the Gospel but nonetheless, I suspect, that many readers will find Marcus guilty of over-interpretation and straining to find subtle echoes of the OT where there probably is none to be found. For example, many readers may be bewildered by how Marcus can understand the author of the second Gospel to have felt on one hand the need to explain the OT Jewish custom of handwashing (7:3-4) and then on the other hand expect his readers to pick up on Jonah imagery in a storm on the lake. Even though some may disagree with various issues of 'Introduction' and may see places where Marcus' interpretations seem strained and overworked, I suspect, it will be found useful to many studying the second Gospel. If you are intending to study the Gospel of Mark definitly consider purchasing this book. I would have given the book a three and three quarter stars if possible.
Rating:
Summary: Marcus Finally Makes His Mark!
Review: Those of us who were familiar with Joel Marcus' monograph, "The Way of The Lord", have long awaited the day he would write a commentary on the Gospel of Mark. It seems fitting that a strong commentary like this one be used to replace the astonishingly lame commentary by C.S. Mann. The objective of the Anchor Bible commentary series is to make the Bible accessible to the modern reader by providing an exact translation, extended exposition and a reconstruction of the ancient setting. The targeted readership is the general reader with no formal training in biblical studies. Marcus' commentary does an outstanding job in reaching these objectives. His translation is fairly literal but is still readable for those of us whose first language is English. His crisp exposition also goes a long way in helping the general reader follow his arguments. With regard to some specifics about his interprative decisions Marcus believes that the Second Gospel was written by someone named Mark but probably not the one associated with Peter as the Papian tradition would suggest. He also denies that the gospel was written for a general audience (aka Richard Bauckham) or as an evangelistic tool (aka Robert Gundry) but instead argues the pervasive opinion that Mark is addressing a particular 'Markan' community. Marcus also argues that this community probably resided in Syria. He suggests that the purpose of the Gospel was to address a community under persecution during the Jewish War and that Mark presents Jesus as a paradigm for suffering. Undoubtedly this commentary is hefty and due serious consideration by students of the Gospel but nonetheless, I suspect, that many readers will find Marcus guilty of over-interpretation and straining to find subtle echoes of the OT where there probably is none to be found. For example, many readers may be bewildered by how Marcus can understand the author of the second Gospel to have felt on one hand the need to explain the OT Jewish custom of handwashing (7:3-4) and then on the other hand expect his readers to pick up on Jonah imagery in a storm on the lake. Even though some may disagree with various issues of 'Introduction' and may see places where Marcus' interpretations seem strained and overworked, I suspect, it will be found useful to many studying the second Gospel. If you are intending to study the Gospel of Mark definitly consider purchasing this book. I would have given the book a three and three quarter stars if possible.
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