1. MARK’S GOSPEL MARA ISABEL SANTOS

2. WERE THE GOSPELS WRITTEN DURING THE LIFE OF JESUS? IF NOT, WHEN AND WHERE WAS THE GOSPEL OF MARK WRITTEN? The Gospels, including Mark's Gospel, do not have an exact date of when they were written, but the Church Fathers say that it was written before Peter died. Most scholars think the writing of the Gospel was between AD 50 and 67.

3. WHO WAS THE AUTHOR? DID HE KNOW AND LIVE WITH JESUS? The author of the Gospel of Mark was John Mark, who was closely connected with Peter. Also called Mark the Evangelist, John Mark was Peter's interpreter and secretary, while Peter was one of Jesus' disciples. John Mark recorded Peter's preaching. John Mark would have known Jesus, because he was quite close to Peter, and Peter was indeed one of Jesus' disciples.

4. CAN WE TRACE WHERE THE JOURNEY OF JESUS AS DESCRIBED IN MARK? The journey of Jesus can be traced from Galilee to Jerusalem. Jesus stopped by many places during His journey from Galilee to Jerusalem. He was in Galilee after John was arrested and He called His first disciples Simon and Andrew at the Sea of Galilee. At Capernaum, He went to a synagogue and preached. He went to Gerasenes, where He healed a man from an evil spirit and restored the life of a girl. He also healed a woman. For some time, when went back and forth between Capernaum and Gerasenes. He went to Nazareth to teach in the synagogue. At Bethsaida, Jesus walked on water. Jesus then heals the sick in Gennesaret. He travels to Tyre and removes a demon from a girl. In Decapolis, He cures a deaf man, and then cures a blind man in Bethsaida. He went to Caesarea Philippi where Peter declared that Jesus is the Messiah. He also went to Jericho and healed a blind beggar. Jesus then arrived at Jerusalem.

5. CAN WE IDENTIFY THREE MAIN TOWNS WHERE MAJOR EVENTS TOOK PLACE DURING JESUS’ MINISTRY? The three main towns where major events took place during Jesus' ministry are Bethsaida, Sea of Galilee and Nazareth. The Sea of Galilee was the place where Jesus made his first disciples. In Bethsaida, he walked on water and at Nazareth he went to teach inside the synagogue.

6. HOW IS MARK’S GOSPEL BROKEN DOWN? Mark's Gospel is broken down in five sections. The use of this is to emphasise certain themes and this is called chiastic structure. The five sections of Mark's Gospels are: The Wilderness (1:1 - 5) Galilee (1:16 - 8:21) The Way (8:22 - 11:11) Jerusalem (11:12 - 14:52) The Tomb (14:53 - 16:20)

7. WHAT IS A CHIASTIC STRUCTURE AND CAN YOU GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF ONE? A chiastic structure is the way the gospel is split up into five sections to be read and understood. These sections parallel each other yet somehow link. The first and last sections are linked by the way there are same ideas and themes that appear in both. The second and fourth sections are opposite to each other while the third section is the key to the whole gospel and the centre. An example of a chiastic is "The Way" Mark 8:22 - 11:11.