Mark 1:1 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Of Jesus Christ the Son of God— This exordium is singular; for while the other Evangelists describe our Saviour as the Son of man, St. Mark, in express words, stiles him the Son of God. A title the most likely, as being the most august, to engage the attention and obedience of the Romans, those Lords of the earth, to the religion which was promulgated by him. In describing this religion, St. Mark has brought together so many of our Saviour's discourses and miracles, as might serve to exhibit a general view of his character, and shew the world at the same time what kind of principles they were concerned to embrace, and what course of life they were bound to lead, who professed themselves his followers and disciples. This fully answered the end of his design. The present verse may be connected with the following; and the sense will be, that the Gospel of Jesus Christ began, according to the prediction of the prophets, with the preaching and baptism of John the Baptist. I shall not take up the reader's and my own time by insisting upon those passages in this or the following Evangelists, which have been already explained in the notes on St. Matthew, and which explanations will be found by the copious marginal references.