When was Mark written?

While Mark is the shortest of the four New Testament Gospels, its message is powerful. Mark presents Jesus of Nazareth as the Son of God and the miracle-working Savior of all people, both Jews and Gentiles. According to early church tradition, the Gospel is based on the eyewitness testimony and firsthand experience of the apostle Peter, which helps explain its detail and insight. Mark was likely written between AD 55 and 60.

It’s important to note that the Gospel doesn’t explicitly state who wrote it. However, early church fathers, most notably Papias (AD 60—130), consistently identified John Mark as the author. The early church fathers’ testimony is why the book bears Mark’s name. Furthermore, other external evidence, especially from Justin Martyr (AD 100—165), supports the view that Mark used Peter as a source. Justin Martyr even refers to the Gospel as “the memoirs of Peter.” Along with this external testimony, the stories in Mark include details that indicate they came from someone close to the events.

Because the evidence points to Peter as Mark’s primary source, the timing of Peter’s death provides a helpful clue for when the Gospel was written. The New Testament doesn’t record the exact date of Peter’s death, but Jesus foretold it. After Peter denied Him, Jesus forgave and restored him to fellowship and then described the manner of his death: “Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go” (John 21:18). The next verse clarifies the meaning of this statement: “Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God” (John 21:19a).

In 2 Peter, likely written between AD 67 and 68, Peter indicates that his death was near: “Because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me” (2 Peter 1:14). According to early church tradition, Peter was martyred during Nero’s persecution between AD 64 and 68. This supports the view that Mark was written before Peter’s death, consistent with a date between AD 55 and 60.

Furthermore, the Gospel of Mark does not mention the destruction of the temple in AD 70. This was a major event for first-century Judaism, one that Jesus specifically prophesied. “Do you see all these great buildings?” Jesus said. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down” (Mark 13:2). If the temple had already been destroyed when Mark wrote his Gospel, it is likely he would have mentioned the fulfillment of this prophecy. The lack of any reference to it is consistent with a composition date of AD 55—60.

In addition, most Bible scholars believe that Mark was the first Gospel written. Therefore, if Luke is dated to 58—62 and Matthew to 55—65, estimations held by many conservative scholars, then Mark was likely written earlier, between 55 and 60.

Mark wrote his Gospel to present the life and ministry of Jesus to all people. He records Jesus saying, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Written soon after the events it describes, Mark’s Gospel is a reliable record of Jesus’ mission to bring salvation to the world.