Mark is the earliest of the Gospel writers. Source criticism helps us see how information and stories were shared to develop the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. There are several English translations of the Bible. The New Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha: New Revised Standard Version is one of the best. All original Greek New Testament documents have been destroyed over the centuries, so we rely on copies produced hundreds of years after the original texts. Recent translations are more accurate due to the discoveries of manuscripts like the Dead Sea Scrolls that have helped scholars understand more of the original meaning of the texts. The English language changes so there is an effort to express the meaning of the original text in current English. For example, the word “stoned” was a form of capital punishment in the time of Jesus. Today it might imply drug abuse. Thus, the New Revised Standard text reads, “received a stoning.” Biblical references are noted by the Book, chapter, and verse. For example, a reading from the Gospel of Mark: Mk. 4: 21 (the parable of the lamp). In the online “Gospel Parallels” you see five Gospels represented. The inclusion of the Gospel of Thomas is an important reference to understand that there were more than four Gospels. The four canonical Gospels were selected from among several others including the Gospel of Peter, and the Gospel of Mary.

What is the connection between source criticism and authorship of the Gospels?