Mark Through Old Testament Eyes: A Background and Application Commentary

“A ground-breaking genial achievement—exceptional and virtually unique! Of its many admirable features three shine brightly: its user-friendly learning/teaching style laced with charts and summaries; its discovery-edge in identifying copiously Old Testament contexts for specific texts, verses, and phrases; and its attention to narrative structure and themes. A winner for both classroom and church group study. Though long a Markan scholar and author, I here found new treasures. Read and enjoy!” -- Willard Swartley, Prof. Emeritus of New Testament, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary

“To comprehend the four gospels, you must first get Mark right. Andrew Le Peau does just that, engaging with the text at a number of levels and using the best new tools available. His presentation of Mark lays the groundwork for understanding the wider life and world of Jesus of Nazareth, as well as providing a framework for comprehending the other three gospels.” -- Michael Card, Biblical Writer, Musician

“For decades, Andy LePeau has been chewing on the gospel of Mark. It certainly shows in this wonderful new commentary. Eminently accessible—via verse-by-verse exegesis—he capably bridges the chasm between the Old and New Testaments. Ancient concepts such “son of man” and “kingdom of God” provide fertile soil for the gospel’s narrative. An important resource for any serious Christian.” -- Alec Hill, President Emeritus, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship / USA

“Andrew Le Peau identifies a principal obstacle to reading the gospel of Mark with comprehension, namely the woeful lack of familiarity with the Hebrew Scriptures that were so formative for the authors of the New Testament writings and for Jesus himself. In Mark Through Old Testament Eyes, Le Peau lays out a great number of Old Testament background texts that might be at play in each passage of Mark’s Gospel, many of which are genuinely illumining. Alongside this, he gives extensive attention to ways in which the literary structure of Mark serves as a pointer to meaning. Le Peau’s passion for discipleship formation is, of course, evident throughout.” -- David A. DeSilva, Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek, Ashland Theological Seminary

“We are so often told that we must read the Old Testament through the lens of the New, and that we must make sure that all our preaching of Old Testament texts ultimately points to Jesus. I agree. But more rarely are we encouraged to do the reverse—to read the New Testament through the eyes of the Old, and especially to see Jesus in the light of the scriptures that were his, even though Jesus and his first followers and interpreters did so instinctively, reverently, and deeply. As does this book. Andrew Le Peau has woven together a fascinating and illuminating tapestry of Mark’s Gospel, not only letting us marvel at the number and color and richness of the multiple threads that Mark draws from the Old Testament, but pausing regularly to survey the broader patterns and structures that Mark creates in order to introduce readers to the full significance of Jesus within the whole Bible story from creation to new creation. This is a wonderfully informative book, guaranteed to deepen our appreciation of the inspiration and coherence of the scriptures and our understanding of our Lord and Savior—as Mark would wish. -- Christopher J.H. Wright, Langham Partnership

“Imagine you were born color-blind and did not know it. One day, a doctor hands you a pair of glasses that correct your vision. Suddenly, you see the true splendor of the world. You thrill at the beauty of the details, the wonder of the contrasts, the sheer marvel of the patterns that had always been there but, previously, missed. This is what it is like to read Andrew Le Peau’s superb commentary. I had no idea there was so much of the Old Testament in the New.

Whether you are a preacher or teacher seeking to usher others into the deeper meaning of familiar texts, or simply a person of faith eager for a more penetrating encounter with God’s Word, this book will be an eye-opening resource to which you will return again and again. Why did it take so long for someone to develop an approach to Scripture study as illuminating and useful as this one? I will buy every book that comes out in this series.” -- Daniel Meyer, Senior Pastor, Christ Church of Oak Brook