Mark's Gospel is, in this commentary, considered to be the first of the Gospels, with its own perspective as a witness to Jesus as Messiah and Son of God. Prof. Lane accepts the positive contributions of redaction criticism (Marxsen), which appreciates Mark's creative role in shaping the gospel tradition and in exercising a conscious theological purpose, and which considers the Gospel as a total literary work. He aims also to reflect the wealth of scholarship found in journal articles and monographs. Above all he has sought a new and primary faithfulness to the biblical text. Lane's commentary follows the well-established NICNT tradition of thorough exegesis, careful attention to details, wide familiarity with contemporary scholarship, and deep commitment to the Christian faith. Special features include an excursus on "The Son of Man in Mark" and Additional Notes on Repentance in the Rabbinic Literature; The Supplementary Endings of the Gospel; and The Theology of the Freer Logion.