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Mark, Gospel of Action: Personal & Community Responses

Author:	Ed. John Vincent
Published By:	SPCK (London)
Pages:	211
Price:	£14.99
ISBN:	0 281 05831 8

Reviewed by Richard M Sewell.

John Vincent will be known by some as an uncompromising critic of “comfortable Christianity”, in both the spoken and written word. His life has been committed to changing the shape of theological education better to reflect the lived reality of contemporary society rather than the usual preoccupations of the sanctuary or the academy.

Mark’s gospel has been his source book and preoccupation throughout his life. He has searched relentlessly for new ways to discerning how this gospel text can shape Christian discipleship in contemporary contexts. In this collection of eight essays on methodology and thirteen on application, by a total of fourteen different authors, Vincent shows how there are now a plethora of others who share his vision for reading and applying this text.

As with many edited volumes, its strength is also its weakness. The variety of authors gives it a broad range of styles and scope, but the reader will inevitably be drawn to some and put off others. However, the overall standard of contribution is of a consistently high standard that makes it a worthwhile read, regardless of the few essays that any one reader will find less appealing.

What unites most, if not quite all, of the writers is a palpable passion for the gospel of Mark and a conviction that a contextual reading of it will bear fruitful application in the real lives of people today. What the writers mean by “contextual reading” is covered in the first set of essays on methodology. Those unfamiliar with this new-ish vogue in biblical interpretation may benefit from this section which is approached with academic rigour.

The second section on applications is divided into two themes: first, ‘Discipleship and Vocation’; and second, ‘Community and Politics’. The writers are an impressive gathering of mostly British ministers and theological educators (with the exception of Ched Myers from the USA) who use their life experiences to demonstrate how Mark’s Gospel has been a resource to shape their lives and challenge their sense of vocation. Subjects are very varied, and include the role of John the Baptist, fasting, ecology and the Iraq War, but each start and finish with the Marcan text.

This book can be a resource for many involved in ministry and education as useful material to demonstrate the vitality of Mark’s gospel and imaginative ways that Bible study can be done to bring fresh insights to our current situation.