Church Fathers Commentary Mark 1:14-15

"Now after John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe in the gospel." — Mark 1:14-15 (ASV)

Pseudo-Chrysostom: The Evangelist Mark follows Matthew in his order, and therefore after saying that angels ministered to Him, he adds, "But after John was put into prison, Jesus came..." ¹

After the temptation and the ministry of angels, He returns to Galilee, teaching us not to resist the violence of evil men.

Theophylact of Ohrid: He does this to show us that in times of persecution we should withdraw and not wait for it; but when we do fall into persecution, we must endure it.

Pseudo-Chrysostom: He also withdrew so that He could preserve Himself for teaching and healing before He suffered, and, after fulfilling all these things, become obedient to death. ²

The Venerable Bede: With John put in prison, it is fitting that the Lord begins to preach, which is why the text continues, "Preaching the gospel..." For when the Law ceases, the Gospel arises in its place.

Pseudo-Jerome: When the shadow ceases, the truth arrives. First, John is in prison, representing the Law in Judea; then, Jesus is in Galilee and Paul is among the Gentiles, preaching the gospel of the kingdom. For an earthly kingdom is followed by poverty, but to the poverty of Christians is given an everlasting kingdom. Earthly honor, however, is like the foam of water, smoke, or a dream.

The Venerable Bede: However, let no one suppose that John’s imprisonment took place immediately after the Lord’s forty-day temptation and fast. Whoever reads the Gospel of John will find that the Lord taught many things and performed many miracles before John was imprisoned. For in his Gospel you find, This beginning of miracles did Jesus (John 2:11), and later, for John was not yet cast into prison (John 3:24).

It is said that when John read the books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, he approved of the historical account and affirmed that they had spoken the truth. However, he also said that they had composed the history of only the one year after he was cast into prison—the same year in which he also suffered. Therefore, passing over the year whose events had been published by the other three, John related the events of the earlier period, before he was imprisoned.

So when Mark had said, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, he adds, saying, The time is fulfilled...

Pseudo-Chrysostom: Since the time was fulfilled, as it is written, when the fullness of the time was come... God sent forth His Son, it was fitting that the human race should receive God’s final dispensation. And therefore he says, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. ³

Origen of Alexandria: The kingdom of God is essentially the same as the kingdom of heaven, though they differ in concept.^{i 4}

The kingdom of God should be understood as that in which God reigns. In truth, this is in the realm of the living, where, seeing God face to face, they will remain in the good things now promised to them. One might understand this realm as Love, or as some other confirmationⁱ of those who put on the likeness of heavenly things, which are signified by the heavens.ⁱ

For it is quite clearⁱ that the kingdom of God is confined neither by place nor by time.

Theophylact of Ohrid: Alternatively, the Lord means that the time of the Law is complete. It is as if He said, "Until now the Law was at work; from now on the kingdom of God will be at work." This refers to a life lived according to the Gospel, which is rightly compared to the kingdom of heaven. For when you see a person clothed in flesh living according to the Gospel, do you not say that he has the kingdom of heaven, which is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17)?

The next word is, Repent.

Pseudo-Jerome: For anyone who would draw near to eternal good—that is, to the kingdom of God—must repent. Just as one who wants the kernel must break the shell, the sweetness of the apple makes up for the bitterness of its root, the hope of gain makes the dangers of the sea pleasant, and the hope of health removes the unpleasantness of medicine.

Those who have been found worthy to receive the reward of forgiveness are able to proclaim the preaching of Christ worthily. Therefore, after He says, Repent, He adds, and believe the gospel. For unless you have believed, you will not understand.

The Venerable Bede: Therefore, Repent, and believe; that is, renounce dead works. For what use is believing without good works? The merit of good works, however, does not lead to faith; rather, faith comes first, so that good works may follow.

1. Vict. Ant. e Cat. in Marc.
2. Vict. Ant. e Cat. in Marc.
3. vict. Ant. Cat. in Marc.
4. in Matt., tom. x, 14