A literary explosion has occurred in the field of Marcan studies over the past few decades. How are we to make sense of this bewildering upsurge of interest in what was once viewed as an unsophisticated text, rather lightweight in its theology? William Telford offers a lucid and stimulating response to that question in his introduction to this important. volume of essays. He guides the reader with a sure hand through the various avenues by which scholars have reached their startling reappraisal of Mark's aims, influences and achievements as a creative theologian. The emergence of the 'Marcan hypothesis' is outlined, and the groundbreaking work of such scholars as Wrede, Dibelius and Bultmann is then discussed in the light of developing critical methods and hermeneutical approaches.