Summary
We find Strauss to be a wise guide through Mark, a Gospel that moves at pace yet carries immense theological weight. This volume is built for serious preparation, with close attention to the Greek text, careful handling of narrative flow, and a steady concern to show how each unit advances Mark’s purpose.
We are helped to see how Mark’s urgency works, how key themes are threaded through scenes and sections, and how the Gospel presses us toward the identity of Jesus, the cost of discipleship, and the surprising shape of the kingdom. The commentary is detailed, but it is not cluttered, Strauss keeps the main line visible and aims his work toward teaching and preaching rather than mere accumulation of notes.
Why Should I Own This Commentary?
We should own this because it strengthens our grip on Mark’s argument and structure, which is the difference between preaching episodes and preaching the Gospel. Strauss is particularly good at showing how the narrative turns, where emphasis falls, and how repeated ideas carry the reader forward. That makes it easier to preach Mark with clarity and momentum, without rushing past the text’s intended punch.
We also benefit from the way Strauss handles interpretive choices. We are not left with shallow certainty, nor are we buried under endless options. He weighs issues fairly, makes clear decisions, and keeps returning us to what the text is doing in context. That steadiness is a gift in Mark, where familiar stories can be domesticated, and where the demands of discipleship can be softened into inspirational sentiment.
We should also note the kind of labour this book rewards. It is not a quick skim commentary, and it is not mainly designed to hand us ready made sermon structures. It is a preparation tool, one that helps us do our work in the text so that our preaching has real backbone. Used well, it will sharpen exegesis, deepen theological confidence, and strengthen application that is driven by Mark’s own emphasis on Christ, the cross, and true following.
Closing Recommendation
We can commend this as a strong choice for pastors and Bible teachers who want careful exegesis without losing sight of proclamation. We will find it especially valuable when we need help tracing Mark’s flow, clarifying difficult details, and resisting common misreadings that flatten the Gospel’s urgency and edge. If we have time to study, this volume will repay it.
As a next step, see the Bible Book Overview for Mark at Bible Book Overview for Mark, browse Top Recommendations, or use the Reformed Commentary Index for a fuller shelf.
Mark L. Strauss
Mark L. Strauss is an American broadly evangelical New Testament scholar of the contemporary era. He is especially valued for clear, careful work in the Gospels that serves pastors and teachers.
We benefit from his ability to explain context, structure, and emphasis without losing the theological heart of a passage. He reads closely, communicates plainly, and helps us see why each scene is placed where it is, and what it is meant to do to the hearer.
His writing remains valued because it is reliable, accessible, and shaped for preaching that honours the text.
Recommended titles include Mark in ZECNT, Four Portraits One Jesus, and Introducing Jesus.
Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical