The Church Fathers on this verse
THEOSIS
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Mark 1:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

And saying: The time is accomplished and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the gospel:

Douay-Rheims

και λεγων οτι πεπληρωται ο καιρος και ηγγικεν η βασιλεια του θεου μετανοειτε και πιστευετε εν τω ευαγγελιω

Greek (Byzantine text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

10 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 16 commentaries

John Chrysostom

5th centuryChurch Father

The Evangelist Mark follows Matthew in his order, and therefore after having said that Angels minister, he subjoins, But after that John was put into prison, Jesus came, &c. After the temptation and the ministry of Angels, He goes back into Galilee, teaching us not to resist the violence of evil men.

He retired also that He might keep Himself for teaching and for healing, before He suffered, and after fulfilling all these things, might become obedient unto death.

Since then the time was fulfilled, when the fulness of time was come, and God sent his Son, it was fitting that the race of man should obtain the last dispensation of God. And therefore he says, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Orig. in Matt. tom. x. 14. v. Orig. de Orat. 25, 26. in Matt. t. 12 14). But the kingdom of God is essentially the same as the kingdom of heaven, though they differ in idea. For by the kingdom of God is to be understood that in which God reigns; (non occ. v. Chrys, in Matt. Hom. 19. in c. 6:9.).

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and this in truth is in the region of the living, where, seeing God face to face, they will abide in the good things now promised to them; whether by this region one chooses to understand Love, or some other confirmatione of those who put on the likeness of things above, which are signified by the heavens. () For it is clear enough that the kingdom of God is confined neither by place nor by time.

Theophylact of Bulgaria

11th centuryChurch Father

Or else, the Lord means that the time of the Law is completed; as if He said, Up to this time the Law was at work; from this time the kingdom of God will work, that is, a conversation according to the Gospel, which is with reason likened to the kingdom of heaven. For when you see a man clothed in flesh living according to the Gospel, do you not say that he has the kingdom of heaven, which is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost? (Rom. 14:17)

And to shew us that in persecutions we ought to retire, and not to await them; but when we fall into them, we must sustain them.

Ephraem the Syrian

4th centuryChurch Father

The appointed times have come to completion, referring to the eras that have unfolded over generations. The first era stretched from Adam to Noah, marked by the separation of the Sethites from the line of the Cainites. The second era ran from Noah to Abraham, during which the consumption of blood was prohibited. God declared, "I have given you all things, ... as the grass of the field; only you shall not eat the blood with the soul" (cf. Gen. 9:3-4). The period from Abraham to Moses saw circumcision practiced outside of the law, and from Moses to the coming of Christ, the law itself was in effect. With Christ’s arrival, the appointed times are fulfilled, as no one remains to alter or continue these times.

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In the early age, from Abel to Noah, offerings were made to God freely. As it is written, "He will comfort us... with his sacrifices" (cf. Gen. 5:29). Following the flood, Noah presented a sacrifice on the altar erected on Mount Cordua (cf. Gen. 8:20). This was succeeded by Abraham's sacrifice on the Mount of the Amorites (Gen. 22:1-19), Jacob's offering at Bethel (Gen. 28:18-19), and Joshua's sacrifice in the midst of the Jordan at the crossing (Hab. 4:9). There were also sacrifices performed at Shiloh, where the tabernacle was established (Hab. 18:1), leading up to Solomon's offering in the first temple of Jerusalem (3 Kings 8:5, 2 Chron. 6:12), and ultimately to the sacrifice of Christ, which He instituted within His Church until the end of the age, unchanged forever. Thus, "the times are fulfilled," for as the Evangelist notes, "from this time, the kingdom of God shall be preached" (cf. Lk. 16:16). In other words, "the times have been fulfilled" refers specifically to the epochs of Israel.

Jerome of Stridon

5th centuryChurch Father

When the shadow ceases, the truth comes on; first, John in prison, the Law in Judæa; then, Jesus in Galilee, Paul among the Gentiles preaching the Gospel of the kingdom. For to an earthly kingdom succeeds poverty, to the poverty of Christians is given an everlasting kingdom; but earthly honour is like the foam of water, or smoke, or sleep.

For he must repent, who would keep close to eternal good, that is, to the kingdom of God. For he who would have the kernel, breaks the shell; the sweetness of the apple makes up for the bitterness of its root; the hope of gain makes the dangers of the sea pleasant; the hope of health takes away from the painfulness of medicine. They are able worthily to proclaim the preaching of Christ who have deserved to attain to the reward of forgiveness; and therefore after He has said, Repent, He subjoins, and believe the Gospel. For unless ye have believed, ye shall not understand.

Beda Venerabilis

8th centuryChurch Father

Repent, therefore, and believe; that is, renounce dead works; for of what use is believing without good works? The merit of good works does not, however, bring to faith, but faith begins, that good works may follow.

John being put in prison, fitly does the Lord begin to preach: wherefore there follows, Preaching the Gospel, &c. For when the Law ceases, the Gospel arises in its steps.

Let no one, however, suppose that the putting of John in prison took place immediately after the forty days’ temptation and the fast of the Lord; for whosoever reads the Gospel of John will find, that the Lord taught many things before the putting of John in prison, and also did many miracles; for you have in his Gospel, This beginning of miracles did Jesus; (John 2:11) and afterwards, for John was not yet cast into prison. (John 3:24) Now it is said, that when John read the books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, he approved indeed the text of the history, and affirmed that they had spoken truth, but said that they had composed the history of only one year after John was cast into prison, in which year also he suffered.

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Passing over then the year of which the transactions had been published by the three others, he related the events of the former period, before John was cast into prison. When therefore Mark had said that Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, he subjoins, saying, Since the time is fulfilled, &c.

Ignatij (Briantchaninow)

19th centuryChurch Father

The central commandment of the New Testament, which encompasses all other personal commandments, is the gospel. The appointed time has come, and the kingdom of God is near: repent and believe in the gospel. The Lord referred to His private commandments as small due to their straightforwardness and conciseness, allowing them to be easily comprehended by all. Though described as small, the Lord made it clear that anyone who violates even one of these commandments will be deemed a fool in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:19), meaning they will be excluded from this kingdom. Let us take heed of the Lord’s warning!

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Let us delve into the Gospel; let us recognize all the commandments of our Lord within it; let us engrave them in our hearts for diligent and unwavering adherence; let us hold a vibrant faith in the Gospel. The initial commandment entrusted to humanity by our Lord, who became flesh, is the commandment of repentance. The Holy Fathers emphasize that repentance should be the foundation of a righteous life and its sustaining essence (Venerable Mark the Sublime, Word 1 on Repentance). Without repentance, it is impossible to recognize the Redeemer or to maintain faith in Him. Repentance involves an awareness of one’s fallenness, which has rendered human nature undesirable and tainted, creating a perpetual need for a Redeemer. The all-perfect and all-holy Redeemer is overshadowed by the fallen man who acknowledges the need for the Redeemer.

Theophan the Recluse

19th centuryChurch Father

The Lord commenced His teaching with these words: ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is near: repent and believe in the gospel.’ At the culmination of the ages, it will likewise be declared, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom is near;’ however, the additional statement will not be ‘repent and believe,’ but rather ‘depart into judgment.’ The season for repentance and the efforts of self-reflection is concluded; everyone must account for their deeds, whether good or evil, performed in the body. Thus, while there is still time, strive to utilize it for your salvation. The Father’s arms are wide open to welcome all who approach Him with genuine remorse for their past and a commitment to serve Him diligently by obeying the commandments of His holy ones.

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For each individual, the end of the age is represented by death: it serves as the passage to eternal life. Reflect upon it frequently and contemplate: what will happen next? - Once you have considered this without self-pity, undertake the effort to prepare those who are unready to enter into the realm of everlasting joy, while also eliminating anything that might grant the forces of darkness a claim over us and ensnare us in their domain, from which there is no exit.

Gladkow B.I.

19th centuryCommentator

The Galileans attended the Passover feast and observed Jesus as he drove out the merchants and animals from the temple, witnessing the signs he performed and listening to his teachings. As a result, they greeted him with appropriate reverence, with many recognizing him as the Messiah. Following his baptism and temptation, Jesus went straight to Galilee, but his stay was brief as he quickly journeyed to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration. After being away for eight months, he returned from Jerusalem in glory and began preaching in Galilee. His message commenced with a call to repentance and spiritual rebirth, indicating that those who were unregenerate could not inherit the kingdom of heaven.

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The Evangelist Matthew records that Jesus began to proclaim, ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand’ (Matthew 4:17). However, this does not imply that Christ’s ministry had not started prior to this moment. Matthew focuses on Jesus’ preaching in Galilee, intentionally overlooking the previous eight months he spent in Judea, initiating his account with how Christ’s teaching commenced specifically in Galilee.

Lopuchin A.P.

19th centuryCommentator

John's confinement: refer to chapter 6. Jesus remained in Judea for roughly nine months, from Passover in April until the winter planting season in December or January (John 4:35). The crowds that came to hear Him continue to grow daily, although they rarely accepted His ‘testimony’ (John 3:32, John 4:45) (John 3:26). His renown expanded significantly, reaching as far as Galilee. However, His remarkable ability to draw large numbers compelled Him to retreat to other areas, as He was consistently scrutinized by the scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem. They viewed Him as a formidable challenger, even more threatening than John.

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They could assess His stance towards them through His act of cleansing the temple and His miracles, which offered Him greater influence over the people than John possessed and led the masses to question the rigid legalistic interpretations upheld by the religious leaders. Despite their jealousy, the Pharisees held no overt hostility towards the Galilean Teacher, considering that Jesus had deliberately avoided direct confrontations with them. His appointed time had not yet arrived, and to confront the risk sooner than necessary would have been contrary to His overarching mission. Beyond the Pharisees' envy, the populace presented enough reasons for Christ to depart from Judea. He was not a popular instigator seeking to captivate the masses through sensational miracles. While many were gathered to hear His teachings, they were not yet prepared to receive His words, which often fell on hearts akin to seeds scattered on paths, rocky ground, or among thorns that stifled their growth. Thus, He chose to leave Judea once more to minister among the more receptive people of Galilee.

Despite the warm reception from the Samaritans, Jesus could not remain for long, as His primary mission was directed towards Israel. This nation had been anticipating the arrival of the Messiah for millennia, serving as the custodian of the true understanding of God's kingdom on earth. However, throughout their tumultuous history, marked by numerous trials and severe misconceptions, they had largely lost their original moral clarity and purity, becoming hardened and skeptical. Even their expectations of the Messiah's reign tended to be grounded in a materialistic and worldly perspective, viewing Him more as a powerful conqueror and avenger of Israel's woes rather than a Redeemer from spiritual death. It was crucial to correct this misunderstanding so that this nation could become the foremost apostle and herald of the new faith—a fulfillment of the Old Covenant. After spending two days in or near Shechem, Jesus continued His journey north towards Galilee. The route passed through Shechem, situated on a high hill 1,551 feet above sea level, in the splendid condition left by Herod. No longer the old Samaria, it had been transformed into the splendid Sebastia, named after the Roman Emperor Augustus (the Greek version of the Latin Augustus). As Jesus traveled through, He beheld the grand public structures, including a temple built by the Herods in veneration of Augustus, alongside impressive colonnades, triumphal arches, baths, and theaters—all enclosed by a famed wall encircling more than 3.5 versts (Antiq. 15:8, 5). At En-Gannim, the ‘Fountain of Gardens,’ located on the southern slope of the vast Jezreel valley, the roadway crossed the Samaritan border, and upon crossing, the Savior once again entered His native Galilee.

Michail (Lusin)

19th centuryCommentator

The designated moment has arrived, as determined by God and announced through His prophets, a time when the Messiah would come to establish a new and gracious Kingdom of God among humanity. All necessary preparations for people to enter this kingdom have been completed; the Messiah has appeared and is actively forming this kingdom through His teachings and deeds. The moment is approaching when this kingdom will be fully realized through the atoning sufferings, death, and resurrection of the Messiah. - Repentance is essential for entering the realm of Christ (see note on Matthew 3:2, 7) - Faith in the gospel is equally crucial, as without this belief, one cannot belong to this kingdom. 'Until now, He said, the law was in effect; but from this point forward comes the kingdom of God, the life lived according to the gospel.'

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.

The original text

Greek text, 18 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.

  1. καὶ
    kai
    and
    G2532 · καί
  2. λέγων
    legōn
    I say
    G3004 · λέγω
  3. ὅτι
    hoti
    that
    G3754 · ὅτι
  4. Πεπλήρωται
    peplērōtai
    I fill
    G4137 · πληρόω
  5. ὁ
    ho
    the
    G3588 · ὁ
  6. καιρὸς
    kairos
    fitting season
    G2540 · καιρός
  7. καὶ
    kai
    and
    G2532 · καί
  8. ἤγγικεν
    ēngiken
    I come near
    G1448 · ἐγγίζω
  9. ἡ
    hē
    the
    G3588 · ὁ
  10. βασιλεία
    basileia
    kingship
    G932 · βασιλεία
  11. τοῦ
    tou
    the
    G3588 · ὁ
  12. Θεοῦ
    theou
    God
    G2316 · θεός
  13. μετανοεῖτε
    metanoeite
    I repent
    G3340 · μετανοέω
  14. καὶ
    kai
    and
    G2532 · καί
  15. πιστεύετε
    pisteuete
    I believe
    G4100 · πιστεύω
  16. ἐν
    en
    in
    G1722 · ἐν
  17. τῷ
    tō
    the
    G3588 · ὁ
  18. εὐαγγελίῳ
    euangeliō
    the good news
    G2098 · εὐαγγέλιον