RUDOLF STEINER Background to the Gospel of St. Mark Thirteen lectures given in Berlin, Munich, Hanover and Coblenz, between 17th October, 1910 and 10th June, 1911 Translated by E. H. Goddard and D. S. Osmond 1968 RUDOLF STEINER PRESS, LONDON ANTHROPOSOPHIC PRESS, INC., NEW YORK First Edition 1923 Second Edition 1937 Third Edition 1968 (a completely new translation with additions) Reprinted 1985 The translation has been made from shorthand reports unrevised by the lecturer. The original German texts are published in the Complete Edition of the works of Rudolf Steiner with the title: Exkurse in das Gebiet des Markus-Evangeliums (No. 124 in the Bibliographical Survey, 1961). This English edition is published by permission of the Rudolf Steiner Nachlassverwaltung, Dornach, Switzerland. All rights reserved. © 1968 by Rudolf Steiner Press, London Cover design by Christiana Beaven ISBN 0 85440 660 3 ISBN 0 88010 145 8 Printed in Great Britain by Billing & Sons Ltd, Worcester