Markan

Markan is an adjective and noun used in biblical studies to denote things related to Mark the Evangelist or to the Gospel attributed to him, traditionally identified as the second gospel of the New Testament. The term derives from Mark (Latin Marcus) and is used to distinguish features associated with this Gospel from those of Matthew, Luke, or John.

In scholarship, Markan denotes the Gospel of Mark itself and the Markan tradition of transmission. The Markan priority hypothesis argues that Mark was the earliest Gospel and that Matthew and Luke drew on it as a primary source, shaping the Synoptic Problem. The Markan text is commonly described as concise, fast-paced, and vivid, with a focus on the actions of Jesus and an emphasis on immediacy in narrative progression.

Scholars also discuss Markan literary devices, such as intercalation or Markan sandwich, whereby one narrative interrupts another to create a linked narrative unit. The term is used in discussions of textual criticism, source criticism, and historical Jesus research, as researchers examine how Markan material was edited and transmitted.

Outside biblical studies, Markan can appear as a proper name or toponym in various languages, though its primary usage remains within academic discussions of the Gospel and its tradition. See also Gospel of Mark, synoptic problem, and Markan priority.