Creating Jesus: Why Mark’s Gospel Was Forgotten?

This Gospel of Mark course will provide an in-depth study of one of the four biblical Gospels in the New Testament. It will offer insights into the life and teachings of Jesus Christ as well as the early Christian community. The course will also examine the literary, historical, and theological context of the Gospel of Mark and its significance in the development of Christianity. Additionally, it will provide a deeper understanding of the Bible and its impact on religious and cultural history.

Scholars have put forward a variety of perspectives on the Gospel of Mark. Some argue that it is the earliest of the four Gospels, written around the year 70 CE, and that it served as a source for the other Synoptic Gospels (Matthew and Luke). Others suggest that it was written later, around the year 80-90 CE. Many scholars see the Gospel of Mark as a product of the early Christian community, written to address the needs and concerns of that community. They argue that the author of Mark chose certain events and teachings of Jesus to emphasize and that these choices reveal something about the community's beliefs and practices.

Overall, scholars have a wide range of perspectives on the Gospel of Mark, but they all agree that it is an important text for understanding the life and teachings of Jesus and the early Christian community. To learn more about the Gospel of Mark from one of the lead experts in the field, Dr. James D. Tabor, then register now!

Dr. James Tabor is a retired Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte where he taught Christian origins and ancient Judaism for thirty-three years, serving as Chair of the Department for a decade. His Ph.D. is from the University of Chicago. He previously taught at the University of Notre Dame and at the College of William and Mary.

Dr. Tabor now devotes himself full-time to research, archaeological field work, and publishing. He combines his work on ancient texts with extensive field work in archaeology in Israel and Jordan. Since 2008 he has been co-director of the acclaimed Mt Zion excavation in Jerusalem and been involved in a half dozen other archaeological projects in the Holy Land over the past thirty years.

In the early 1990s he was involved in the release of the unpublished Dead Sea Scrolls and was one of the first scholars to examine and publish several very important ones. In 1995 he testified before the US Congress on the Waco tragedy, drawing upon his expertise in understanding ancient Biblical apocalyptic ideas.

Things Unutterable (1985).

A Noble Death: Suicide and Martyrdom Among Ancient Jews and Christians, co-authored with Arthur Droge (San Francisco and New York: HarperCollins, 1992).

Why Waco: Cults and the Battle for Religious Freedom in America, co-authored with Eugene Gallagher (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1995), paperback edition published in April, 1997.

The Jesus Dynasty: A New Historical Investigation of Jesus, His Royal Family, and the Birth of Christianity (New York: Simon & Schuster, April 2006.) Published in twenty languages.

The Jesus Discovery: The New Archaeological Find That Reveals the Birth of Christianity, with Simcha Jacobovici. (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2012).

The Book of Genesis: A New Translation from the Transparent English Version (Charlotte, NC: Genesis2000, 2020).

Paul’s Ascent to Paradise: The Apostolic Message and Mission of Paul in the Light of his Mystical Experiences (Charlotte, NC: Genesis2000, 2020).

Paul and Jesus: How Paul Transformed the Gospel of Jesus. (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2012).

The Lost Mary: From the Jewish Mother of Jesus to the Virgin Mother of God which is out in French (Marie: De son enfance juive à la fondation du christianisme Flammarion, 2020) and forthcoming in English (Knopf, 2024).

[Working on two new books] - (1) Jesus Betrayed: How Christianity Lost its Way and (2) Prophecy Belief in 21st Century America: Shifting Biblical Interpretations and Why They Matter.

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Is this course beginner-friendly?
Yes! Whether you're new to biblical studies or a seasoned reader, you'll find new insight.
How long will I have access?
You will have LIFETIME access to all materials and any future updates!
Can I use this for small group or church study?
Absolutely. The format is perfect for group discussion and guided learning.
What valuable resources are included when I enroll in this course?
Here’s everything you’ll get when you purchase this course:

Professionally Filmed, In-Person Recordings of All Seven Lectures
Downloadable PDF Course Guide — Perfect for Note-Taking and Review
️ Full Gospel of Mark Text Document in easy-to-read PDF Format
️ Printable PDF Reference Maps to Help You Visualize Key Locations
Curated Reading Recommendations & Assignments for Deeper Exploration
‍♀️ Live Access to Future Q&A Zoom Sessions with Dr. Tabor
(You’ll be notified by email and can also view scheduled sessions within the course.)
On-Demand Access to All Past Q&A Session Recordings
PDF Handouts that Accompany each Q&A Session
Downloadable MP3 Audio Files — Perfect for Learning on the Go
PDF Transcripts of All Video Chats for Quick Reference
Lecture Overviews and Supporting Text Lessons
Bonus Resource Page Packed with Tools to Enhance Your Learning Experience
Who Will Benefit Most from This Course?
⇒ Curious Bible Readers Who Want to Go Deeper:

● People who’ve read the Gospels but never understood why Mark feels “cut short” or confusing
● Churchgoers or former believers who’ve always sensed something missing or different in Mark
● Anyone who wants to “read between the lines” and see what traditional Christian teachings may have left out

⇒ Skeptics, Deconstructors, and Ex-Christians:

● Those who’ve left church or evangelical Christianity and are seeking the historical roots of the Jesus story
● People interested in understanding how Christianity evolved over time and why Mark is almost “anti-Christian” by modern standards
● Anyone fascinated by how theology and doctrine were shaped after the earliest Gospel

⇒ Students and Scholars of Religion, Theology, or Biblical Studies:

● College students, seminary attendees, or autodidacts studying the New Testament or Early Christianity
● Readers who want to explore “Markan Priority” and how Matthew, Luke, and even John used (and altered) Mark
● Those interested in literary, historical, and apocalyptic interpretations of the Gospels

⇒ Progressive Christians & Open-Minded Believers:

● Believers who want to reconcile faith with historical-critical thinking
● Pastors or Bible study leaders looking to challenge their own assumptions and deepen their scriptural literacy
● Those willing to ask hard questions like:

∘ What if Peter’s confession was false?
∘ Why does Jesus reject being called “good”?
∘ What if Mark’s Jesus is nothing like the Christ of creeds and churches?

⇒ Followers of Dr. James Tabor’s Work or MythVision Podcast:

● Fans of Tabor’s courses on the historical Jesus, Dead Sea Scrolls, or Paul
● Viewers of MythVision who appreciate evidence-based, non-dogmatic approaches to religious history
● Anyone seeking a course that blends academic rigor with bold, honest, and transformative interpretation
Why Register for Our Course?
⌛ Lifetime Access: Gain lifetime access to course materials, enabling the opportunity for comprehensive understanding through repeated study and giving you the ability to revisit essential concepts whenever needed.

Immediate Access: Begin right away with no waiting periods — start immediately upon purchase.

️ Self-Pace Learning: Take the course at your preferred speed and convenience, with no set schedule or deadlines to adhere to, allowing you to cover the content at your own pace and revisit key concepts as needed.

Comfortable and Convenient Learning: Acquire knowledge from the convenience and comfort of your own home.

Affordable Cost: Benefit from direct learning with a top industry expert at an affordable price, with a single payment.

Expert Guidance: Benefit from cutting-edge research and historical analysis to gain a clear, accurate understanding of the Gospel of Mark.

Critical Thinking: Learn to analyze ancient texts, challenge traditional narratives, and apply a scholarly lens to religious history.

Exclusive Course Content: From learning what it means for Jesus to be the Messiah to learning the reason Jesus taught with parables, you'll gain knowledge that’s often overlooked, giving you the perspective of Jesus according to Mark.

‍♂️ Engaged Learning: Whether you’re a scholar or a curious learner, our course makes complex historical and theological discussions easy to understand and exciting to explore by offering many additional tools and resources.

Understand the Context: Accessible explanations suitable for all levels of learners.

Online Flexibility: Our course is available online, allowing you to engage with the material from anywhere in the world.

Join our MVP Courses' Community: Connect and engage with like-minded learners who are passionate about delving into history, mythology, religious and cultural studies, and exploring the origins of life.