Confusion easily happens when reading the gospels because it is some times hard to differentiate how to read the different passages. Literalism and metaphorical interpretation can often be interchangeable, and other times it is just difficult to know what a passages even means. This is why it is important to read the gospels more than just once to begin to understand them. Pre-critical naivete, critical, and post-critical naivete are excellent ways in which to view the gospels each time they are read.

I like to think that I am open-minded to many people's different opinions. However I've come to realize that I am more stuck on my views that I previously tho

The story of blind Bartimaeus is a symbol of insightful discipleship. Jesus and a crowd of followers were walking into Jericho when he came across a blind beggar who was out for Jesus to sure him. He was heard and Jesus summoned him. So he sprang, threw down his cloak and approach. He then asks for his sight, and Jesus replies, " Go your way; your faith has saved you". This shows a readiness to drop everything and follow God, just as the disciples left behind everything to follow Jesus.

The number forty comes many times in the Bible. Starting with forty years reign of Saul, David and Solomon, the famous flood that lasted forty days and nights, the forty years that Moses spent wandering in the wilderness, the forty days that Jesus was tempted by Satan, and the forty days from Jesus' resurrection to ascension. The Biblical significance of the number forty is that is was believed to be God's perfect time period.

ught. For example, my catholic belief that Jesus was born through the virgin conception can't be shaken by what we've done in during this course. On the other hand the possibility that Mary could ever have any other children never occurred to me. This is just one example of how my curiosity was aroused by the Gospel of Mark.

These were a few of the controversial readings I encountered. I chose to write about the contents of Mark's Gospel because it did not have much of the material that that Luke and Matthew had, which does not match up with each other. Also aside from being the first of the gospels I found it to be the most reliable because the other gospels had pretty much all of its stories in them plus their own varieties.

Many times some of the questions I had were addressed but more importantly many more that I wouldn't ever have thought of were surfaced. Many people today, if they are anything like me, don't try to challenge themselves to really read and understand the gospels. I always figured that what I was taught as a child was what the Bible meant and that was that. Now I am more open to what is out there, which as far as I'm concerned makes me a stronger Christian. Religion is at the center of our lives and reading the gospels brings us knowledge and as in every walk of life knowledge brings power. I'd like to end with a quote by Robert Fowler, which I found to be true for all the gospels, "Mark's gospel is like lace which creates its effect as much by its open spaces as by the tangible threads which outline them".

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1906
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)