Decoding Mark

Using both his background in interpreting biblical research and his interest in word-puzzles, nationally known journalist John Dart uncovers lengthy codes that illuminate the intent of Mark's gospel, with explosive results that will shake the foundation of New Testament studies.
Dart unlocks ancient, puzzle-like writing devices called chiasms, which are found throughout Mark, to reconstruct the original Gospel. By focusing on the presence or absence of these chiasms in particular parts, he identifies six miracles in the Gospel added by a later editor. He recovers passages from the Secret Gospel of Mark - a once-disputed find - that the pattern of chiasms repeatedly indicates had been deleted from original Mark.

John Dart, news editor of Christian Century magazine and a religion writer at the Los Angeles Times for 30 years, has written extensively about New Testament research. He won a 2004 American Academy of Religion award for in-depth reporting on religion. His books include The Laughing Savior: The Discovery and Significance of the Nag Hammadi Gnosti Library; The Gospel of Thomas: Unearthing the Lost Worlds of Jesus; and Deities & Deadlines. Dart has won numerous reporting awards.