Peter or Paul: Who Sanctioned the Gospel of Mark in the Churches?

The Gospel of Mark has long been a subject of fascination and debate among scholars. One of the most intriguing questions revolves around who sanctioned this Gospel for use in the early Christian churches. Was it Peter, whose teachings Mark documented, or Paul, who played a crucial role in spreading Christianity? Eusebius of Caesarea provides accounts that seem to support both possibilities, leading to much scholarly discussion.

Eusebius’s Accounts in Ecclesiastical History

In his Ecclesiastical History (2.15), Eusebius quotes from Clement of Alexandria’s Hypotyposes, providing an account of how the Gospel of Mark came to be written:

"And thus when the divine word had made its home among them, the power of Simon was quenched and immediately destroyed, together with the man himself. And so greatly did the splendor of piety illumine the minds of Peter's hearers that they were not satisfied with hearing once only, and were not content with the unwritten teaching of the divine Gospel, but with all sorts of entreaties they besought Mark, a follower of Peter, and the one whose Gospel is extant, that he would leave them a written monument of the doctrine which had been orally communicated to them. Nor did they cease until they had prevailed with the man, and had thus become the occasion of the written Gospel which bears the name of Mark. On learning what had been done, through the unveiling of the Spirit, it is said that the apostle was delighted with the enthusiasm of the men, and sanctioned the composition for reading in the Churches."

Here, Eusebius mentions "the apostle" who sanctioned Mark’s Gospel, but he does not specify whether this apostle was Peter or Paul. This ambiguity has fueled much speculation.

Peter’s Ambiguous Stance

When Eusebius revisits this narrative in Ecclesiastical History (6.14), he provides a different perspective on Peter's reaction to Mark's Gospel:

"The Gospels containing the genealogies, he says, were written first. The Gospel according to Mark had this occasion. As Peter had preached the Word publicly at Rome, and declared the Gospel by the Spirit, many who were present requested that Mark, who had followed him for a long time and remembered his sayings, should write them out. And having composed the Gospel he gave it to those who had requested it. When Peter learned of this, he neither directly forbade nor encouraged it."

This account suggests that Peter had a neutral stance towards the Gospel of Mark, neither endorsing nor disapproving of it. This is in contrast to the earlier account where the apostle is depicted as sanctioning the Gospel enthusiastically.

The Case for Paul

Given the ambiguity in Eusebius’s text, there is a compelling argument to be made that Paul might have been the apostle who sanctioned Mark’s Gospel. Clement of Alexandria, as cited by Eusebius, often uses the term “revelation” (ἀποκάλυψις) in connection with Paul. In Stromata 1.28, Clement attributes Paul’s knowledge of the mystery of Christ to revelation:

"Rightly, then, the apostle says that it was by revelation (ἀποκάλυψιν) that he knew the mystery: 'As I wrote afore in few words, according as ye are able to understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ.'"

In Stromata 5.10, Clement further emphasizes that Paul’s insights came through revelation:

"According to the revelation (ἀποκάλυψιν) of the mystery sealed in the ages of eternity, but now manifested by the prophetic Scriptures, according to the command of the eternal God, made known to all the nations, in order to the obedience of faith."

These references make it plausible that Clement, when speaking of an apostle receiving a revelation about Mark’s Gospel, could have been referring to Paul rather than Peter.

Theological and Historical Implications

If Paul was indeed the apostle who endorsed Mark’s Gospel, this has significant implications for our understanding of early Christian history. Paul’s endorsement would align with his broader mission to spread Christianity beyond the Jewish community and into the Gentile world. Mark’s Gospel, known for its straightforward and action-oriented narrative, would have been a valuable tool in Paul’s evangelical efforts.

Paul’s enthusiastic support for a written Gospel also fits with his broader theological emphasis on the universality of the Christian message. Unlike Peter, who might have been more focused on oral traditions and teachings, Paul understood the strategic importance of written texts in establishing and spreading Christian doctrine.

Conclusion

The question of whether Peter or Paul sanctioned the Gospel of Mark remains open to interpretation, primarily due to the ambiguous phrasing in Eusebius’s accounts. However, the evidence leans towards the possibility that Paul, known for his prolific writing and endorsement of scriptural dissemination, may have been the apostle who enthusiastically supported the Gospel of Mark for reading in the churches. This perspective invites further exploration and underscores the intricate and collaborative nature of early Christian scripture formation.