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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Mark 1:1-8

We may observe here, I. What the New Testament is?the divine testament, to which we adhere above all that is human; the new testament, which we advance above that which was old. It is the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God, Mark 1:1. 1. It is gospel; it is God's word, and is faithful and true; see Rev. 19:9; 21:5; 22:6. It is a good word, and well worthy of all acceptation; it brings us glad tidings. 2. It is the gospel of Jesus Christ, the anointed Saviour, the Messiah promised and... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Mark 1:5-8

1:5-8 And the whole country of Judea went out to him, and so did all the people of Jerusalem, and they were baptized by him in the River Jordan, while they confessed their sins. John was clad in a garment of camel's hair, and he had a leather girdle round his waist, and it was his custom to eat locusts and wild honey. The burden of his proclamation was, "The one who is stronger than I is coming after me. I am not fit to stoop down and to loosen the strap of his sandals. I have baptized you... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 1:7

And preached, saying, there cometh one mightier than I after me ,.... From whence it appears, that John was a preacher of Jesus Christ; of the dignity of his person, the excellency of his office, and the nature and importance of his work: the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose ; expressing the great veneration he had for him, and the great sense he had of his own unworthiness, to be concerned in the lowest and meanest service of life for him; and that he was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 1:8

I indeed have baptized you with water ,.... This was spoken to the baptized persons, partly to take off their dependence upon him and his baptism; and partly to direct their views to Christ, from whom the gifts and graces of the Spirit are alone to be had: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost ; See Gill on Matthew 3:11 . One copy adds, "and with fire", as there: a Jewish writer says, the holy blessed God baptizeth with fire, and the wise shall understand F16 R. Menachem in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 1:7

The latchet of whose shoes - The shoe of the ancients was properly only a sole tied round the foot and ankle with strings or thongs. See on Matthew 3:11 ; (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 1:8

I indeed have baptized you with water - As if he had said: This baptism is not to be rested in; it is only an emblem of that which you must receive from him who is mightier than I. It is he only who can communicate the Holy Spirit; and water baptism is nothing, but as it points out, and leads to, the baptism of the Holy Ghost. The subject of these two verses is not found in Matthew nor John; but is mentioned with some varying circumstances by Luke, Luke 3:16 . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 1:1-8

Glad tidings. I. THEY ARE THE FULFILMENT OF LONG HOPES . Human nature is ideal; it is a creature of wishes and of hopes, and made for enjoyment. The love of the living God is at the root of all our instincts. Faith is our expression of the sense of this. It begets hope amidst suffering and sorrow, sustains the soul in patience. God seeking man, man in turn seeking God,—this is the secret life of Scripture and of history. History is sacred because it is the reflection of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 1:1-8

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ. "The gospel" is a revelation of the Divine love; the "beginning" of it is therefore hidden in the depths of the eternal love of God. The whole gospel was buried, the end from the beginning, in the Divine purpose; and it was contained seminally in the first promise. Every Divine promise is equal to the event. But the manifestation of the gospel in time, or the historic "beginning of the gospel," is the theme of this prologue. Thought of within... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 1:1-8

Parallel passages: Matthew 3:1-12 ; Luke 3:1-18 . The ministry of John the Baptist. I. THE BEGINNING OF ST . MARK 'S MEMOIR . 1 . The commencement. It is a remarkable circumstance and a curious coincidence that the first words of this Gospel are an echo of Peter's confession, in that confession, as recorded by St. Matthew, Peter expresses his belief in the very remarkable words, "Thou art the Christ , the Son of the living God. " In nearly the same words St.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 1:2-8

The ministry of the forerunner. This evangelist enters, upon his treatise with no further preface than is to be found in the first verse. He has to tell the good news concerning Jesus Christ the Son of God. And he begins his narrative at once, with an account of the ministry of that grand, heroic prophet, whose great distinction it was to be the herald of the Messiah, and whose greatness was in nothing more apparent than in this—he was willing to be superseded by his Lord, and to be lost... read more

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