How did Mark obtain information for his Gospel?

Answer 1

The tradition, which comes from Papias who wrote in about AD 120, is that Mark got his information from Peter. Mark was also the first Bishop of Alexandria, and was ordained and sent there by the Apostle Peter.

Not all biblical scholars follow Papias as seeing the disciple Mark as the real author of the Gospel that now bears his name. Raymond E. Brown (An Introduction to the New Testament) says, "Mark seems to depend on traditions (and perhaps already shaped sources) received in Greek." He also says that parallels have been detected between Mark and Paul's letter to the Romans, thus suggesting a possible source.

As to what the Greek traditions were that Father Brown spoke of, Dennis R MacDonald (The Homeric Epics and the Gospel of Mark) has developed a credible theory that this was the result of Homeric influence, with Jesus a counterpart to Odysseus. This theory has not been widely accepted by scholars.

Another Answer

Peter was a source, along with Mark's own experiences and observations.