12And immediately the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness. [1:13] And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tested by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving him. [1:14] Now after John was handed over, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, [1:15] and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has drawn near. Repent and believe in the gospel.'
MRK 1:12-15
The Temptation and Preaching of Jesus
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st-century Jewish context, the wilderness held deep symbolic significance as a place of testing, purification, and divine encounter, echoing Israel’s 40 years in the desert. The Spirit’s forceful expulsion of Jesus into this desolate space would have been understood as a divine commissioning, aligning Him with prophetic figures like Elijah and Moses, who also faced trials in the wilderness. The mention of Satan evokes the cosmic struggle between God’s purposes and adversarial forces, a theme familiar in Jewish apocalyptic thought. Wild animals, often associated with danger and chaos in Jewish and Greco-Roman imagination, underscore the perilous nature of Jesus’ experience. The angels’ service reflects the belief in heavenly beings who aid God’s chosen ones. Jesus’ proclamation of the kingdom’s nearness taps into Jewish eschatological hope for God’s reign, while His call to repentance aligns with prophetic calls for moral and spiritual renewal. The 'fulfilled time' signals a decisive, God-ordained moment in history.
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How other translations render this
MRK 1:12
- KJV
- And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness.
- BSB
- At once the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness,
- Koinōnos
- And immediately the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness.
MRK 1:13
- KJV
- And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.
- BSB
- and He was there for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels ministered to Him.
- Koinōnos
- And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tested by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving him.
MRK 1:14
- KJV
- Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
- BSB
- After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God.
- Koinōnos
- Now after John was handed over, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God,
MRK 1:15
- KJV
- And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
- BSB
- “The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!”
- Koinōnos
- and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has drawn near. Repent and believe in the gospel.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MRK 1:12
- drives out:The word translated 'drives out' here implies a forceful expulsion, suggesting an irresistible, almost violent, action of removal.
MRK 1:13
- days:The word translated 'tempted' carries the dual sense of both testing someone's character or loyalty, and enticing them to do wrong.
- angels:The word translated 'ministered' describes active service, often in a practical or humble capacity, like waiting on tables or providing for needs.
MRK 1:15
- time:The word translated 'time' here refers not to chronological duration, but to a specific, opportune, or decisive moment—a critical juncture.