Over the centuries the gospel of Mark often has been considered a kind of pale imitation of the other “more substantial” gospels. Not as historically detailed as Matthew, not as narratively elegant as Luke, not as theologically articulate as John, at first glance Mark appears almost a derivative of the other texts.

But over the last century Mark has been re-examined by biblical scholars to the point and place where most now consider this shorter more focused work to be the earliest of the four gospels. As the earliest it thus is Mark who created the shape and format that would guide the other writers. Indeed it is from Mark’s opening statement that the unique Christian understanding of the term “euangelion” or “good news” or “gospel” comes into being.

Mark took a term familiar in Greco-…