The writer of this gospel is believed to be John Mark and he seems to have been the same Mark mentioned as a traveling companion of Apostle Paul. "He was the son of a we-to-do lady of Jerusalem whose name was Mary, and whose house was a rallying point and meeting place of the early church. From the very beginning Mark was brought up in the very centre of Christian fellowship." It has been debated that this book was written sometime between 65 and 75 AD. It is argued that a date close to the destruction of the city of Jerusalem by the Roman military based on Jesus" prediction of the destruction of the temple in Mark 13:1-5. .
Mark seems to be writing within or to a community that has faced or is facing great persecution. It has been suggested that Rome was the place of this writing based on the persecution faced during the reign of Nero. .
Mark is the shortest gospel, and is believed to be the first gospel written. It is also believed that the source of Mark's information is the Apostle Peter. Mark gives us a look at Jesus that is not quite like the gospels that precedes it in the canon (but likely not in history), Matthew. Mark, though he acknowledges the divinity of Jesus, he tends to look more at the human side of Jesus than the other gospels do. He refers to Jesus as a carpenter (6:3) which gives him commonality with everyday workers. He makes note of the human characteristics Jesus shows such as anger (6:6), love (10:21), hunger (11:12), and need of rest (6:31). Mark has other peculiarities such as explanation of Jewish terms and phrases. .
These explanations are not found in corresponding passages in Matthew or Luke. (Mark 7:2; 7:34; 5:41; 2:26; 7:2-13). This is probably because Mark wrote to non-Jews who would not understand Jewish phrases and culture without explanation. Mark also gives an anonymous reference to himself which does not occur in the other gospels. .
Mark shows signs that his report came from an eyewitness to the work of Jesus.