After Reading Mark and Galatians, one might notice the overarching theme of ethical guidance presented in each of these books. If we analyze this, we can compare and contrast Mark’s view on ethics with Paul’s. We see many similarities when discussing faith and trust. Both Mark and Paul believe that one must believe and trust in the Lord for them to live a proper ethical life. However, we also see contrast between the two books when talking about forgiveness. In Mark, Jesus forgives many people and tells them that they are cleansed of their sins. In Galatians, Paul does more scolding than forgiving, telling the Galatians how they should be living their lives and what they are doing wrong. In fact, if we compare Mark to Galatians we can see many large similarities and key differences that can help us better understand the text as a whole.
The texts of Mark and Galatians have many similarities. One of the similarities seen is teaching. In Mark, Jesus acts as a teacher in many instances, such as when he flips over the money changing tables in the temple (Mark 11:15). In this situation, Jesus first addresses the problem, and then explains why it is a problem and why it should be fixed. This is mirrored by Paul in Galatians,
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starting with when he states, “You foolish Galatians!” (Galatians 3:1). Here we see Paul angry with the Galatians much like how Jesus was angry with the money changers at the temple. Following this Paul explains why the Galatians were foolish, similar to when Jesus explains to the money changers. The topic of their teachings are similar at some points as well. Both Paul and Jesus speak about faith in the Lord many times during their passages in the Bible. One of the places Faith is referenced by Jesus is in Mark 8:11. Here we see the Pharisees demanding a heavenly sign from Jesus, but Jesus refuses. Even though he does not say it outright, Jesus implies to the Pharisees that they must be faithful and trust Jesus. Once again we see Paul replicate Jesus, this time stating, “We know that a person is justified, not by works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ” (Mark 2:16). Similarities like these in the texts show that Paul agreed with Jesus when it came to how one should teach and what should be taught. However, even with the many similarities between Mark and Galatians, there are some key differences that stand out. The first main difference revolves around the topic of forgiveness. In Mark there are many situations where Jesus gets very angry, upset, and/or dissatisfied. In every one of these situations, Jesus forgives the party that displeased him. We even see him forgive people who did not displease him, such as the paralyzed man. Instead of telling the man to walk, he first states, “Son, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5). This is only one of the many times Jesus forgives people, and in this situation the man hadn’t even harmed Jesus in any way. This differs from Galatians because Paul spends more time insulting and rebuking the people than actually forgiving them of what they have done wrong. This shows that even though Paul and Jesus taught very similarly, their reactions to when people do wrong are different. Paul tends to stay angry at people, holding a grudge until they fix their mistakes. Jesus instead fixes their mistakes by forgiving them and explaining why what they did was wrong. The majority of the two texts of Mark and Galatians were quite similar in the way they portrayed ethical guidance.
Paul and Jesus both have similar topics they teach. Not only that, but Paul and Jesus have very similar teaching styles, with the key difference being how they react to mistakes made by their pupils. Paul and Jesus both lose their temper at points and get very angry, but Jesus transforms his anger into forgiveness, where Paul does not. These similarities and differences presented allow us to better understand what Jesus taught by referencing Galatians as a guide. Overall, we see that Mark and Paul’s letter to the Galatians show the similar beliefs Paul and Jesus had, but also show how they react when those beliefs are
challenged.
Aquinas, St. Thomas. COMMENTARY on SAINT PAUL'S EPISTLE to the GALATIANS. Trans. F. R. Larcher. Albany: Magi Books, 1996.
Mark's Gospel and Nature of Discipleship In Mark's Gospel, there are many accounts of Jesus' disciples and Apostles which are helpful to Christians as examples of the nature of discipleship. In this part of my coursework essay I hope to address questions involving what Mark's Gospel tells us about Jesus' disciples and Apostles, as well as defining the principle of what being a disciple entails, and defining also who the apostles were. This is because by learning about past disciples and the Apostles, a modern disciple of the Church can learn about the nature of discipleship. A disciple is somebody who is inspired enough by somebody to learn about them, listen to their ideas and follow them and their way of life.
Jesus Christ lived a very full, if short, life. He did and accomplished more in his thirty years than many men do in twice that. The gospels each tell their versions of his life. Of the four, I found the gospel of Mark to be the most interesting. I enjoy the style of writing in this gospel more than the others. I feel it gives a better summary of the events in Christ’s life. Whereas the other gospels tend to get bogged down with parables or spend too much time on specific events, the gospel of Mark moves along at a good pace and adequately gets the message across.
One of the main characteristics of the gospel of Mark is it’s length. Mark is much shorter than Matthew and Luke, but what it lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality. The author of Mark does not slow down the gospel story and makes sure that only important and relevant details are included. When Mark is compared with Matthew and Luke, it becomes obvious to see what Mark has eliminated. The author’s omission of Jesus’ birth, lineage, resurrection, and ascension denote careful planning and purpose in the gospel of Mark.
Mark’s gospel and John’s gospel contain many differences from the beginning, but both end with Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. The gospels of John and Mark represent Jesus as two different people. The disparity is that Mark represents Jesus as a servant while John portrays Jesus as a divine being. However, one must realize the two texts are meant to read by different audiences during different time periods. Each description presents a particular aspect of the life of Historical Jesus.
Paul the Apostle is the central figure in many New Testament writings. Many historians have attributed fourteen New Testament letters to Paul’s writing; seven of these letters are uncontested meaning historians are sure that Paul wrote them, the remaining seven are contested. Paul was not always a Christian; in fact, he persecuted Christians before Christ came and temporarily blinded him. Upon seeing Christ, Paul devoted his life to Christianity and set out to spread the teachings of Christ. Scholars often credit Paul’s leadership to the ability of the Church to become Hellenistic in one generation. Paul also answered specific worries and questions that his converters may have had in many of his writings; one of these writings is 1 Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians, Paul set out to deal with the many believers in Corinth who are divided into the followings of Paul or Apollos rather than Christianity as a whole. The converts of Paul in 1 Corinthians 12-14 were divided during times of worship because of jealousy invoked by the spiritual gifts received from the “Spirit”; the worships and the church became a place to boast who is closest to God, instead of a place of worship, interpretation, and love. In 1 Corinthians 14:26-33, Paul set guidelines in times of worship to heal the divide among his converts present in 1 Corinthians 12-14.
Teaching infuses understanding and knowledge. Spreading the message about Christ and the ability to lean, trust, and depend on Him is the message of gospel and the New Testament. “Paul evangelized as the commissioned representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. Evangelism was a task that had been specifically entrusted to him. Paul saw himself as Christ’s herald” (Packer, 1961, p. 42-43). The gospel is a real message about Christ who comes to save real sinners. It’s critically important that sinners come to an understanding that they are far apart from God and known as enemies to Him. “The gospel is a message about sin. It tells us how we have fallen short of God’s standard; how we have become guilty, filthy, and helpless in sin, and now stand under the wrath of God. It tells us that the reason why we sin continually is that we are sinners by nature, and that nothing we do, or try to do, for ourselves can put us right, or bring us back into God’s favor” (Packer, 1961, p.
God’s written law is something that is and should be continuously turned, to not only when Christians find themselves in need, but also throughout in one’s daily life. The four gospels tell to story of Jesus’ life and his teachings he gave while on the earth making it possible for there to be a true example of Christ-like faith. The proposition that there are differences in the story of Jesus and in his teachings seems to question the basis upon which the Christian faith is found upon. Rather than proclaiming the gospels as falsehoods because on the differences they possess, by analyzing the differences in the context of the particular gospel it can be understood that the differences are not made by mistake, rather as a literary device. While the four gospels have differences and similarities, they cannot be regarded as an argument against the faith because their differences are what point to the many aspects of Christ.
In these letters Paul provides the most complete statement of the doctrine in the New Testament. If want to know the ins and outs of Christianity, let people check out the writings of Paul to the Romans. So says a notable interpreter. Because of that this note on Romans should earnestly by every Christian, as very important and contains the full spiritual object.
France, R.T. The Gospel of Mark: New International Commentary on the Greek Testament (New International Greek Testament Commentary). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2002.
Mark was Peter's son (I Peter 5:13, possibly spiritual son), who wrote down what Peter said about who Jesus was, what He did, where He went and what happened; Mark's gospel is therefore Peter's account, an eye-witness account, written down by Mark.
Jesus and Paul are two crucial characters in the New Testament. They both depict the Gospel on which Christianity is based upon, but there is debate about rather these two versions of the Gospel are complementary. Scholars like George Shaw claim that Paul is “anti-Christian,” and he “produced a fantastic theology” (Shaw 415-416). On the other hand, I believe that even though Jesus and Paul may present the Gospel different at times, they are still advocating the same religion. Through the understanding of the Gospels and Paul’s letters it is clear that Jesus and Paul have the same underlining goals and values.
The bible has teachings that can be applied to any situation in life. The book of Galatians, found in the New Testament, houses just a few of these teachings. Galatians...
How did Jesus and Paul stay faithful to God’s message while presenting this message to different audiences?
...which is indeed a vital aspect. Only when such things are considered, people can be transformed to be great beings. They should also spread the quality of forgiveness among others by developing it within themselves. It needs to be referred that this is an integral quality mentioned in the Bible, which needs to be followed by one and all.