Originally published in the June 1978 issue of The Testimony magazine
The Gospel of Mark
BASICALLY these are the articles published in The Christadelphian, 1972 to 1975. As a book the material is much easier to use both for reference and study; it is a valuable addition to the Truth’s literature. The writer presents us with a verse by verse commentary with sundry “Digressions” which form links with other Scripture and summarise Scripture teaching in general. We are usually presented with a number of alternative interpretations which naturally we must assess for ourselves although the author leaves us in no doubt as to which he favours. Perhaps at times when using such terms as “quite incredible” and “simply unacceptable” he tends to overemphasise, rightly or wrongly, the views that he rejects or accepts. From the beginning he shows a preference for the AV which is mainly used in the commentary. In his introduction he writes, “Usually we shall quote from the Authorised or Revised Versions. References may sometimes be made to modern translations, but since with the partial exception of the Revised Standard Version, they are far less consistent and scrupulous than the older translations, they will never be treated as in any way authoritative.” Again in his first Digression, “How should men address God?” he writes, “It is far more appropriate to call God by the name God, or by such translated titles as Eternal or Father, knowing what our words mean, than to take a word out of an unknown tongue, and attach some strange mystique to calling Him by that word.”
There are some 39 Digressions ranging over topics such as Demons, The Unforgivable Sin, Leavened or Unleavened Bread, Belief and Faith, and many others of interest to our readers. Not everyone will agree with all the conclusions that Brother Norris reaches. It is of course right that we should make our own assessments of the facts and opinions expressed. Readers will find some variations from the original articles. For example, in the discussion concerning divorce and remarriage he stresses the sanctity of marriage but omits the courageous conclusion which will be found in the original Christadelphian article. The year and page of this are given as a footnote, so those who wish can readily look this up in The Christadelphian, 1973, p. 551 – study page S59.
It is important in reading any series of articles to discriminate between those basic first principles which are absolutely essential and those which must be a matter of opinion. There are many occasions where we cannot be dogmatic because we have not sufficient information. Here we must be on our guard not to develop what Robert Roberts called “Crotchets”. It is very easy for any one of us to be so convinced of a particular interpretation that we would almost be prepared to make it a matter of fellowship. This is obviously something we must guard against.
The book is a valuable contribution to the study of Mark’s Gospel record, easy to read and providing a basis for discussion and meditation with carefully researched evidence and logical deductions which are very clearly set out.
This review originally appeared in the June 1978 edition of The Testimony Magazine (page 189), and is reproduced by kind permission.
