This is the second volume of the Devotional Commentary Series and it is also written by George Knight. The first volume was on Hebrews. This new work surpasses the other in length by almost fifty pages. Exploring Mark is a concise treatment of Mark’s Gospel and provides good background information. The author has managed to give insights into the issues as to how passages relate to each other and are structured. Boxes throughout the book catch the attention of the audience and entice users to read at least certain segments.

Again no verse references are provided for the 61 sections of the book aside from the verse indications for the paragraphs found in the headings. Some passages are not treated sufficiently and details are missing which might have been of great interest to the reader. Furthermore, it seems that more space is devoted to verses or small passages in the beginning of the book than towards the end. But this has to be expected because this commentary is not an exegetical but a homiletical work, which also explains the use of illustrations.

Against the witness of the early church fathers Knight accepts Markan priority claiming that Mark was the first of the canonical Gospels that was written. He wrestles with the different endings of the book. Here and there he also points out differences between the synoptic Gospels (synoptic problem) but conclusions are normally not drawn, and we do not know where the author stands with regard to these critical questions. But again that may not be necessary, especially not in a devotional commentary. There are a few cases in which this reviewer would have some questions or would have wished to find balancing statements, for example when the issue of science and Scripture is mentioned (110) or when the human needs come in conflict with divine law (79-80). On page 116 A. McLaren is quoted who speaks about “the awful picture of the demoniac” calling it “painted from life” or “one of the most wonderful feats of the poetic imagination.” A sentence clarifying this statement would have been helpful.

But overall this is a wonderful work, easy to read and yet not superficial, which allows readers to gain a deeper understanding of the shortest of the canonical gospels.