<P> The Gospel of Mark is anonymous . Early tradition commencing with Papias of Hierapolis links it to John Mark , a companion and interpreter of the apostle Peter , and hence its author is often called Mark , but most scholars are content to identify the author of Mark 's gospel as an unknown first - century Christian . It was probably written c . AD 66 -- 70 , during Nero 's persecution of the Christians in Rome or the Jewish revolt , as suggested by internal references to war in Judea and to persecution . The author used a variety of pre-existing sources , such as conflict stories ( Mark 2 : 1 -- 3 : 6 ) , apocalyptic discourse ( 4 : 1 -- 35 ) , and collections of sayings ( although not the Gospel of Thomas and probably not the Q source ) . </P>
<P> The Gospel of Mark is anonymous . Early tradition commencing with Papias of Hierapolis links it to John Mark , a companion and interpreter of the apostle Peter , and hence its author is often called Mark , but most scholars are content to identify the author of Mark 's gospel as an unknown first - century Christian . It was probably written c . AD 66 -- 70 , during Nero 's persecution of the Christians in Rome or the Jewish revolt , as suggested by internal references to war in Judea and to persecution . The author used a variety of pre-existing sources , such as conflict stories ( Mark 2 : 1 -- 3 : 6 ) , apocalyptic discourse ( 4 : 1 -- 35 ) , and collections of sayings ( although not the Gospel of Thomas and probably not the Q source ) . </P>
who is the author of the book of mark in the bible
who is the author of the book of mark in the bible
an unknown first - century Christian
an unknown first - century Christian