"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"
Principles Of Evangelism - I (10:5-10)
INTRODUCTION
1. In Mt 28:19-20, Jesus gave what is commonly called "The Great
Commission"...
a. In which His apostles were charged to make disciples of all the
nations
b. A charge which still holds true today for His church
2. As we seek to carry out "The Great Commission" today...
a. What principles should govern our efforts?
b. Has the Lord provided any advice or counsel as to how we might
best go about the work of evangelism?
3. In Mt 10:5-42, we find what is commonly called "The Limited
Commission"...
a. A charge given to the apostles during the earthly ministry of
Jesus - Mt 10:1-5
b. So-called because He limited their work to the house of Israel
- Mt 10:5-6
c. In which the Lord gave instructions to govern them as they sought
to carry out their work
4. From the instructions of Jesus, we can glean some "Principles Of
Evangelism"...
a. Principles that helped them also carry out "The Great Commission"
b. Principles that can help us be more successful in evangelism
today
[In this lesson and one to follow, I want to point out at least ten
principles that Jesus applied in sending out His apostles. They are
principles that I believe can prove successful today. The first one
is...]
I. UTILIZE THE POWER OF SYNERGY
A. THE APOSTLES WERE SENT OUT TWO-BY-TWO...
1. As evident from Mark's account - cf. Mt 10:5a with Mk 6:7
2. A practice continued...
a. When Jesus sent out the seventy - Lk 10:1
b. When the Spirit sent out Paul and Barnabas - Ac 13:2
c. When Paul and Barnabas went their separate ways - Ac 15:
36-40
B. THIS ILLUSTRATES THE PRINCIPLE OF SYNERGY...
1. Synergy: "The working together of two things (muscles or
drugs for example) to produce an effect greater than the sum
of their individual effects"
2. Two or more preachers working together can do more than by
working separately
a. They encourage one another, and help each other - cf. Ec 4:9-10
b. A plurality of witnesses lend credibility to their story
- cf. Jn 8:17
C. MAKING APPLICATION TODAY...
1. The practice of two or more preachers working together should
be encouraged
a. Especially in foreign fields or difficult areas
b. Through the principle of synergy they can be effective in
one area more quickly, and then move on to the next
c. This is better than preachers working alone, struggling for
years by themselves
2. Small congregations in the same area might need to ask
themselves which is better...
a. Trying to maintain two struggling works
b. Or perhaps becoming one in order to grow faster, swarming
later into two separate and larger congregations
3. In one's own personal evangelism...
a. Seek out a companion in the congregation with similar
interests
b. Go together in visiting, teaching home studies, etc.
[Perhaps much of the slow growth in evangelism today is a failure to
appreciate the principle of synergy which was applied by the Lord and
the early church. Another principle to consider is...]
II. EMPLOY THE PRACTICE OF SPECIALIZATION
A. THE APOSTLES WERE SENT TO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL...
1. Which is why this is called "The Limited Commission" - Mt 10:
5-6
a. Circumstances limited the arena in which they were to go
b. E.g., their mission was to prepare people for Jesus'
coming, and their time was limited - Mt 10:23; cf. Lk 10:
1-2
2. Later, in carrying out "The Great Commission", the apostles
had their individual "focus groups"
a. Peter focused on the circumcised (Jews), while Paul focused
on the uncircumcised (Gentiles) - Ga 2:7-9
b. Paul also focused on going where others had not gone - Ro15:20
B. THIS ILLUSTRATES THE VALUE OF SPECIALIZATION...
1. Specialization
a. The act of specializing; making something suitable for a
special purpose
b. The special line of work you have adopted as your career
2. Certain skills, backgrounds, circumstances, etc., may make us
more suitable to a certain area of endeavor
a. We need to appreciate the diversity of function - Ro 12:3-5
b. We should not hesitate to focus in our area of expertise or
opportunity - Ro 12:6-8
C. MAKING APPLICATION TODAY...
1. Preachers may choose to focus on certain areas or groups of
people
a. Based upon their background, ethnicity, or personal skills
b. Some may be well-suited for foreign work, others for local
work; some may be well-suited for holding gospel meetings,
others may be better at personal work
c. Time is limited, none can do it all
1) We should not expect every preacher to be alike
2) We should appreciate those who focus on their particular
"mission field"
2. As a congregation...
a. It's focus may depend upon several factors
1) The make up of its members and their abilities
2) The community in which the church is located
b. While the congregation should try to reach all, it might
focus on certain areas for which it is well-suited
1) E.g., senior citizens or young people
2) E.g., the affluent or poor
3) E.g., certain ethnic groups as opposed to others
3. In one's own personal evangelism...
a. You might concentrate on your peer group
b. You might focus on a particular type of evangelism for
which you are well-suited
[Certainly we should not specialize to the point that we refuse to help
those who come our way; but there is value in utilizing one's strengths
and circumstances, being selective in the direction we go. The next
principle is most essential...]
III. PROCLAIM THE WORD OF GOD
A. THE APOSTLES WERE SENT TO PREACH...
1. In "The Limited Commission", the subject was the kingdom of
heaven - Mt 10:7
2. In "The Great Commission", it was expanded to include the
gospel of Christ - Mk 16:15
a. So Philip the evangelist preached when he went to Samaria
- Ac 8:12
b. So Paul preached in synagogues and from house to house
- Ac 19:8; 20:18-21,25; 28:23,30-31
B. THIS ILLUSTRATES WHAT SHOULD BE OUR THEME...
1. It should always be the Word of God, the Gospel:
a. Which is God's power unto salvation - Ro 1:16
b. Able to save the souls of those who receive meekly - Jm
1:21
2. As Paul instructed Timothy: "Preach the word!" - 2Ti 4:1-5
C. MAKING APPLICATION TODAY...
1. Preachers need to avoid things...
a. Which entertain, rather than provide sound doctrine
b. Based more upon the ideas of men, rather than the Word of
God
-- Text based, expository preaching can help keep preachers in
the Word
2. Churches should consider what message they are presenting to
the lost...
a. Is it the gospel of health and wealth, or the gospel of
Christ?
b. Are we calling for people to become just church members, or
disciples of Jesus?
3. In one's own evangelism...
a. Do not get sidetracked on various issues
b. While many subjects may have their place, they may be
"second principles" rather than "first principles"
c. The lost need to know the gospel of Jesus Christ and His
kingdom, first and foremost!
[The next principle is also taken from the words of Jesus to His
disciples in "The Limited Commission"...]
IV. OFFER OUR SERVICES FREELY
A. THE APOSTLES WERE TO "FREELY GIVE"...
1. They were empowered to cast out demons and heal the sick - Mt10:1
a. Such signs were for the purpose of confirming their message
b. As explained later - cf. Mk 16:17-20; He 2:3-4
2. They were to offer this service freely - Mt 10:8
B. THIS ILLUSTRATES THE IMPORTANCE OF "PRACTICING WHAT YOU
PREACH"...
1. We preach a gospel of salvation offered as a gift - Ro 6:23
2. Jesus certainly gave Himself freely, that we might be rich
- 2Co 8:9
3. To charge people for the message we preach would be
incongruous to the spirit of the message
a. Do we want them to take our message of sacrificial love and
the gift of salvation seriously?
b. Then what we have to offer the lost should be without
charge!
C. MAKING APPLICATION TODAY...
1. Preachers have to be careful
a. They do have a right for support (see next point)
b. But they should not seek to get rich through their ministry
1) It is one thing to charge for the cost of producing
materials
2) It is another to charge above expenses with the view of
making money
c. One sign of a false teacher or prophet is to exploit others
by engaging in "covetous practices" - cf. 2Pe 2:3,14
2. Churches should also consider what they offer the community
a. E.g., services such as television and radio programs, audio
tapes, videos, Bible correspondence courses, etc.
b. Congregations which offer such things freely...
1) Display the spirit of the gospel
2) Avoid the appearance of "being interested only in
people's money"
3. In one's own evangelism...
a. Offer your message freely
b. What gifts or abilities to serve you might have, offer
without cost
c. By the grace of God you are what you are, follow the
example of Jesus and His apostles in offering themselves
freely to the lost
[At the same time, there is another principle of evangelism which
relates to when one might receive support for their labor...]
V. SUPPORT THOSE WILLING TO WORK
A. THE APOSTLES WERE ALLOWED MONETARY SUPPORT...
1. For which reason they were not to take anything - Mt 10:9-10
2. They could be supported by those who willing to provide for
them - cf. Lk 10:7-8
B. THIS ILLUSTRATES THE PRINCIPLE OF SUPPORTING WORKERS...
1. As expounded upon by Paul in 1Co 4:4-14
a. The right to forego secular work in order to serve in
spiritual matters
b. The right to receive carnal things in return for spiritual
service
c. A principle taught in the Law, and by Christ Himself
2. Applied to elders who rule well - 1Ti 5:17-18
3. A practice encouraged by John many years later - 3Jn 5-8
C. MAKING APPLICATION TODAY...
1. Preachers may rightly receive support for their labors
a. It allows them to concentrate their efforts in matters of
the gospel
b. Of course, this support should come from those who are
Christians, and should not be a means of accumulating
wealth (see previous point)
2. Churches have an important role in such support
a. Churches can provide support of preachers - 2Co 11:8-9
b. Much foreign evangelism goes undone today, not because
preachers are unwilling to go, but because churches have
not been willing to send and support - cf. Ro 10:15
3. In one's own efforts...
a. There is nothing limiting an individual from helping to
support preachers
b. While one might help support a local congregation's effort
to send and support, one can also help through direct
support
CONCLUSION
1. Here are "The Principles Of Evangelism" we have gleaned so far from
our Lord's instructions in giving "The Limited Commission"...
a. Utilize the power of synergy
b. Employ the practice of specialization
c. Proclaim the word of God
d. Offer our services freely
e. Support those willing to work
2. As we saw, these principles were later employed by the early
church...
a. Which may help explain the rapid spread of the gospel in the
first century
b. Which can still be useful to the Lord's church today
-- Could it be that failure to implement any of these may be reasons
why the church is not growing like it did then?
In our next lesson, we shall examine yet another five principles of
evangelism from the instructions Jesus gave to His apostles...
12/2/16
"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW" Principles Of Evangelism - I (10:5-10) by Mark Copeland
"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW" The Twelve Apostles (10:1-4) by Mark Copeland
"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"
The Twelve Apostles (10:1-4)
INTRODUCTION
1. Upon what is your faith in Jesus Christ based?
a. His miracles?
b. His teachings?
c. His resurrection from the dead?
2. In reality, our faith is based upon the words of the apostles of
Jesus Christ...
a. Apart from their gospels and letters, we know virtually nothing
about Him
b. They are the ones who tell us about His life, miracles, and
resurrection
3. Jesus acknowledged that our faith in Him would depend upon their
word...
a. As indicated in His prayer for us - Jn 17:20
b. The Lord expected us to believe in Him through their word
4. Who are these men upon which our faith is based?
a. What does the Bible and history tell us about them?
b. Are they credible witnesses that we should believe?
c. What is their role in the church of our Lord?
5. In Mt 10:1-4, we find the names of the twelve apostles...
a. Matthew lists their names as they were sent on "The Limited
Commission" - Mt 10:5-7
b. While Mark and Luke records their names when they were actually
appointed as apostles - cf. Mk 3:13-19; Lk 6:13-16
[In this lesson I wish to focus our attention on "The Twelve Apostles",
upon whom our faith is based, for whom we should be so grateful. Let's
start by taking a closer look at...]
I. THE IDENTITY OF THE APOSTLES
A. THE FIRST FOUR...
1. Simon, who is called Peter
a. Introduced to Jesus by his brother, Andrew - Jn 1:40-41
b. Given the name Cephas (Peter) by Jesus - Jn 1:42
c. A fisherman, called to follow Jesus along with Andrew
- Mt 4:18-20
d. Known for being impetuous; for example:
1) When Jesus walked on the sea - Mt 14:25-29
2) When Jesus foretold His death and resurrection - Mt 16:
21-23
3) When Jesus foretold of some who would stumble - Mt 26:
31-35
4) When Jesus was arrested in the garden - Jn 18:10-11
e. Known for his failures; for example:
1) Doubting when walking to Jesus on the sea - Mt 14:30-31
2) Denying the Lord three times - Mt 26:69-75
3) Leading himself and others into hypocrisy - Ga 2:11-13
f. But eventually living up to meaning of his given name (a
rock)
1) Restored by Jesus after His resurrection - Jn 21:15-19
2) Directing the selection to replace Judas Iscariot - Ac1:15-26
3) Preaching the first gospel sermon on the day of
Pentecost - Ac 2:14-41
4) Instrumental in the church at Jerusalem during its early
years - Ac 3-6; cf. Ga 1:18; 2:1-10
5) The first to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles - Ac
10-11; 15:6-11
2. Andrew, brother of Simon
a. A disciple of John the Baptist, he was one of Jesus' first
disciples - Jn 1:35-40
b. He led his brother Simon (Peter) to Jesus - Jn 1:41-42
c. A fisherman, called to follow Jesus along with Simon - Mt4:18-20
d. He introduced some Greeks to Jesus - Jn 12:20-22
3. James the son of Zebedee
a. Brother of John - Mt 10:2
b. A fisherman, called to follow Jesus along with John - Mt 4:
21-22
c. Perhaps because of fiery temperment (evidenced in Lk 9:
52-54), he and his brother were called "Sons of Thunder"
by Jesus - Mk 3:17
d. While seeking glory, they were promised suffering - Mk 10:
35-40
e. Indeed, James was the first of the apostles to be killed
- Ac 12:1-2
4. John, brother of James
a. Called along with his brother, James - Mt 4:21-22
b. Along with brother and father, they were partners with
Peter - Lk 5:10
c. Like his brother, he appeared quick to judge others - cf.
Lk 9:49,54
d. But he became "the beloved disciple whom Jesus loved"
1) Who sat next to Jesus during the Last Supper - Jn 13:23
2) Who was given charge to care for Jesus' mother - Jn 19:
26-27
3) Who was among the first to see the empty tomb - Jn 20:
2-8
4) Who recognized Jesus following the resurrection - Jn 21:
7
5) Who made a veiled reference to himself as the author of
the Gospel of John - Jn 21:20-24
-- Of these four, Peter, James and John became "the inner circle"
of Jesus' disciples. These three were present when Jesus
raised Jairus' daughter (Mk 5:37), witnessed the
transfiguration (Mt 17:1), and were summoned by Christ for
support during His agony in Gethsemane (Mt 26:36-37).
B. THE REMAINING EIGHT...
5. Philip
a. Called by Jesus, the day after He met Peter and Andrew - Jn1:43
b. From Bethsaida, home of Peter and Andrew - Jn 1:44
c. He led Nathaniel to Jesus - Jn 1:45-46
d. He with Andrew brought the inquiring Greeks to Jesus - Jn12:21-22
e. He was the one who asked Jesus, "Show us the Father" - Jn14:8-9
6. Bartholomew
a. He is traditionally considered to be Nathanael, because he
is connected to Philip in the lists of the apostles in the
Gospels - Mt 10:2-4; Mk 3:16-19; Lk 6:14-16
b. If so, then he was introduced to Jesus by Philip - Jn 1:
45-46
c. And was praised by Jesus as having no guile - Jn 1:47-51
d. He lived in Cana, and saw Jesus after the resurrection - Jn21:1-14
7. Thomas
a. He was also called The Twin (Didymus) - Jn 20:24
b. At one point he was willing to die for Jesus - Jn 11:16
c. After the resurrection, he required empirical evidence
before he would believe that Jesus was alive - Jn 20:24-25
d. A week later, such evidence was provided - Jn 20:26-28
8. Matthew the tax collector
a. Also known as Levi - Mt 9:9; Mk 2:14; Lk 5:27
b. Called the son of Alphaeus, leading some to think he was
related to James the son of Alphaeus - Mk 2:14; 10:3
c. Called to follow Jesus from his tax office, and later gave
a feast at his home in honor of Jesus - Mt 9:9-13
9. James the son of Alphaeus
a. He may be "James the Less", son of Mary (who witnessed
Jesus' death, sought to prepare Him for burial, and found
the tomb empty) - Mk 15:40; 16:1
b. Other than in the lists of apostles, he is not mentioned
elsewhere in Scripture
10. Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus
a. Evidently the same as "Judas, not Iscariot" (Jn 14:22) and
"Judas, brother of James" - Lk 6:16; Ac 1:13
b. He is not mentioned elsewhere in Scripture
11. Simon the Cananite (Cananaean)
a. Also called "the Zealot" - Lk 6:15; Ac 1:13
b. As such he had been a member of a radical party seeking to
destroy Roman rule
12. Matthias, who replaced Judas Iscariot the betrayer
a. Judas, of course, would later betray Jesus and hang himself
- Mt 26:14-16,47-50; 27:3-10
b. In his place, Matthias was chosen - Ac 1:15-26
c. He had evidently been with Jesus from His baptism until His
ascension - cf. Ac 1:21-22
[What an amazing and diverse collection of men upon which to trust the
continuation of His mission! Men with personal failings, from opposite
ends of the political spectrum. Yet Jesus took this band of men,
worked with them for three years, and through them turned the world
upside down! Let's now consider what is revealed in Scripture about...]
II. THE MINISTRY OF THE APOSTLES
A. AS WITNESSES FOR THE RESURRECTION...
1. Jesus had shown Himself alive through various proofs - Ac 1:
1-3
2. Jesus commissioned them to testify concerning Him - Ac 1:8
3. Peter explained that the apostles were to be witnesses for the
resurrection - Ac 1:21-22
4. Thus they testified again and again - Ac 2:32; 3:15; 4:33; 5:
30-32; 10:39-41; 13:29-31
-- The apostles served the important role of providing historical
and legal proof that Jesus arose from the dead, so that our
faith in Him might rest on a solid basis!
B. AS TEACHERS FOR THE DISCIPLES...
1. Jesus did not reveal all during His earthly ministry - Jn 16:
12
2. The Holy Spirit would reveal all the truth, working through
the apostles - Jn 16:13-14; cf. 14:25-26
3. Thus the apostles' doctrine became the authority for the
church, as commissioned by Jesus - Mt 28:20; Ac 2:42
4. This doctrine they preserved in their writings - e.g., 2Pe 3:
1-2
-- Through His apostles, Jesus continues to instruct His church
as we continue stedfastly in their teachings!
C. AS THE FOUNDATION FOR THE CHURCH...
1. The church is built upon the foundation of the apostles, with
Christ as the corner-stone - Ep 2:19-22
a. Their eyewitness testimony is the basis of our faith
b. Their teaching is basis of our doctrine and practice
2. Their names are even depicted as written on the foundation for
the New Jerusalem, which is the Lamb's bride (the church)
- Re 21:9-10,14
[To such a small and simple group of men Jesus entrusted the future of
His church! Was His trust well-founded? Well, consider what we know
from Scripture and tradition concerning...]
III. THE DEDICATION OF THE APOSTLES
A. IN CARRYING OUT THE GREAT COMMISSION...
1. They were commanded to make disciples of all the nations - Mt 28:19
a. We read of the early work of the apostles in Jerusalem,
Judea and Samaria in the book of Acts
b. We can also read Peter's letters to those througout Asia
Minor (Turkey)
2. From sources outside the Bible, we are told:
a. Peter is thought to have travelled to Rome, and possibly
Babylon - cf. 1Pe 5:13
b. Andrew is said to have preached in Bithynia, Scythia,
Greece, and among the Parthians
c. James the brother of John is said to have preached in
India and Spain before he was beheaded by Herod
d. John, brother of James, spent time in Patmos, later in
Ephesus, and is thought by some to have established the
churches of Smyrna, Pergamos, Sardis, Philadelphia,
Laodicea, and Thyatira
e. Philip ministered in Phrygia
f. Bartholomew is said to have taken the gospel of Matthew
to India
g. Thomas is also thought to have travelled to India
h. Matthew is said to have preached 15 years in Palestine,
and then went to Ethiopia, Macedonia, Syria, Persia,
Parthia and Medea
i. James the son of Alphaeus - little is known of any work
outside Jerusalem
j. Thaddaeus is said to preached in Syria and Edessa
k. Simon the Zealot is said to have preached the gospel in
Mauritania, Africa, and even in Britain
l. Matthias is thought to have gone to Damascus
-- While much of the above is not known for sure, it does seem
to coincide with Paul's statements concerning the spread of
the gospel - Ro 10:14-18; Col 1:23
B. IN GIVING THEIR LIVES FOR THE LORD...
1. The apostles suffered much for the Lord
a. As He warned them - Jn 15:18-20
b. As Paul described in 1Co 4:9-13
2. But they did more than suffer discomfort, in most cases they
gave their lives
a. Peter - crucified upside down in Rome
b. Andrew - imprisoned in Greece, then crucified on a cross,
the two ends of which were fixed transversely in the ground
(from which came the term, St. Andrew's Cross)
c. James - beheaded by Herod - Ac 12:1-2
d. John - the only apostle thought to avoid a violent death
e. Philip - scourged, thrown into prison, and afterwards
crucified
f. Bartholomew - said to have been placed into a sack and
thrown into the sea, some say he was crucified
g. Thomas - thrust through with a spear in India
h. Matthew - said by some to have died a natural death, by
others that he died in Ethiopia, being slain with a halberd
(pike fitted with an axhead) in the city of Nadabah
i. James the son of Alphaeus - stoned by the Jews for
preaching Christ
j. Thaddaeus - unknown
k. Simon the Zealot - suffered martyrdom under Trajan; some
think crucified in Britain
l. Matthias - said to have been stoned and then beheaded
CONCLUSION
1. Do we appreciate the significance of the "supreme sacrifice" these
men made?
a. Their willingness to suffer and die strengthens the credibility
of their testimony
b. And what is that testimony? That Jesus died for our sins and
rose from the grave!
-- They were not motivated by money or power; they were compelled by
events they could never deny having seen and heard!
2. Through "The Twelve Apostles", we see the power of faith in Christ,
transforming...
a. Judgmental disciples into apostles of love (e.g., John)
a. Political enemies into beloved brethren! (e.g., Matthew and Simon
the Zealot)
b. Cowards who denied Jesus into confessors who died for Him (e.g.,
Peter)
3. In "The Twelve Apostles", we have the basis for faith in Christ,
providing...
a. The foundation of our faith in Christ through their testimony
b. The foundation of our belief and practice through their writings
May we who are "built on the foundation of the apostles" (Ep 2:20),
never forget these 12 humble disciples who faithfully answered the call
of their Lord. May their example inspire us to greater faithfulness in
our service to Christ!
Is Mark 16:9-20 Inspired? by Dave Miller, Ph.D.
http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=13&article=704
Is Mark 16:9-20 Inspired?
by | Dave Miller, Ph.D. |
The science of textual criticism is a field of inquiry that has been invaluable to ascertaining the original state of the New Testament text. Textual criticism involves “the ascertainment of the true form of a literary work, as originally composed and written down by its author” (Kenyon, 1951, p. 1). The fact that the original autographs of the New Testament do not exist (Comfort, 1990, p. 4), and that only copies of copies of copies of the original documents have survived, has led some falsely to conclude that the original reading of the New Testament documents cannot be determined. For example, Mormons frequently attempt to establish the superiority of the Book of Mormon over the Bible by insisting that the Bible has been corrupted through the centuries in the process of translation (a contention shared with Islam in its attempt to explain the Bible’s frequent contradiction of the Quran). However, a venture into the fascinating world of textual criticism dispels this premature and uninformed conclusion.
The task of textual critics, those who study the extant manuscript evidence that attests to the text of the New Testament, is to examine textual variants (i.e., divergencies among the manuscripts) in an effort to reconstruct the original reading of the text. They work with a large body of manuscript evidence, the amount of which is far greater than that available for any ancient classical author (Ewert, 1983, p. 139; Kenyon, 1951, p. 5; Westcott and Hort, 1964, p. 565). [NOTE: The present number of Greek manuscripts—whole and partial—that attest to the New Testament stands at an unprecedented 5,748 (Welte, 2005)].
In one sense, their work has been unnecessary, since the vast majority of textual variants involve minor matters that do not affect doctrine as it relates to one’s salvation. Even those variants that might be deemed doctrinally significant pertain to matters that are treated elsewhere in the Bible where the question of genuineness is unobscured. No feature of Christian doctrine is at stake. Variant readings in existing manuscripts do not alter any basic teaching of the New Testament. Nevertheless, textual critics have been successful in demonstrating that currently circulating New Testaments do not differ substantially from the original. When all of the textual evidence is considered, the vast majority of discordant readings have been resolved (e.g., Metzger, 1978, p. 185). One is brought to the firm conviction that we have in our possession the New Testament as God intended.
The world’s foremost textual critics have confirmed this conclusion. Sir Frederic Kenyon, longtime director and principal librarian at the British Museum, whose scholarship and expertise to make pronouncements on textual criticism was second to none, stated: “Both the authenticity and the general integrity of the books of the New Testament may be regarded as finally established” (Kenyon, 1940, p. 288). The late F.F. Bruce, longtime Rylands Professor of Biblical Criticism at the University of Manchester, England, remarked: “The variant readings about which any doubt remains among textual critics of the New Testament affect no material question of historic fact or of Christian faith and practice” (1960, pp. 19-20). J.W. McGarvey, declared by the London Times to be “the ripest Bible scholar on earth” (Phillips, 1975, p. 184; Brigance, 1870, p. 4), conjoined: “All the authority and value possessed by these books when they were first written belong to them still” (1956, p. 17). And the eminent textual critics Westcott and Hort put the entire matter into perspective when they said:
Since textual criticism has various readings for its subject, and the discrimination of genuine readings from corruptions for its aim, discussions on textual criticism almost inevitably obscure the simple fact that variations are but secondary incidents of a fundamentally single and identical text. In the New Testament in particular it is difficult to escape an exaggerated impression as to the proportion which the words subject to variation bear to the whole text, and also, in most cases, as to their intrinsic importance. It is not superfluous therefore to state explicitly that the great bulk of the words of the New Testament stand out above all discriminative processes of criticism, because they are free from variation, and need only to be transcribed (1964, p. 564, emp. added).Writing in the late nineteenth century, and noting that the experience of two centuries of investigation and discussion had been achieved, these scholars concluded: “[T]he words in our opinion still subject to doubt can hardly amount to more than a thousandth part of the whole of the New Testament” (p. 565, emp. added).
THE AUTHENTICITY OF MARK 16:9-20
Those who reject the originality of the passage in Mark, while acknowledging the authenticity of the events reported, generally assign a very early date for the origin of the verses. For example, writing in 1844, Alford, who forthrightly rejected the genuineness of the passage, nevertheless conceded: “The inference therefore seems to me to be, that it is an authentic fragment, placed as a completion of the Gospel in very early times: by whom written, must of course remain wholly uncertain; but coming to us with very weighty sanction, and having strong claims on our reception and reverence” (1:438, italics in orig., emp. added). Attributing the verses to a disciple of Jesus named Aristion, Sir Frederic Kenyon nevertheless believed that “we can accept the passage as true and authentic narrative, though not an original portion of St. Mark’s Gospel” (1951, p. 174, emp. added). More recently, textual scholars of no less stature than Kurt and Barbara Aland, though also rejecting the originality of the block of twelve verses in question, nevertheless admit that the longer ending “was recognized as canonical” and that it “may well be from the beginning of the second century” (Aland and Aland, 1987, pp. 69,227). This admission is remarkable since it lends further weight to the recognized antiquity of the verses—what New Testament textual critic Bruce Metzger, professor Emeritus of New Testament Language and Literature at Princeton Theological Seminary, referred to as “the evident antiquity of the longer ending and its importance in the textual tradition of the Gospel” (1994, p. 105)—placing them in such close proximity to the original writing of Mark so as to make the gap between them virtually indistinguishable.
THE GENUINENESS OF MARK 16:9-20: THE TEXTUAL EVIDENCE
Four Textual Possibilities
According to Metzger (1994, pp. 102ff.), the extant manuscript evidence contains essentially four different endings for the book of Mark: (1) the omission of 16:9-20; (2) the inclusion of 16:9-20; (3) the inclusion of 16:9-20 with the insertion of an additional statement between verse 8 and verse 9 that reads: “But they reported briefly to Peter and those with him all that they had been told. And after this Jesus himself sent out by means of them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation”; and (4) the inclusion of 16:9-20 with the insertion of an additional statement between verses 14 and 15 which reads:And they excused themselves, saying, “This age of lawlessness and unbelief is under Satan, who does not allow the truth and power of God to prevail over the unclean things of the spirits [or, does not allow what lies under the unclean spirits to understand the truth and power of God]. Therefore reveal thy righteousness now”—thus they spoke to Christ. And Christ replied to them, “The term of years of Satan’s power has been fulfilled, but other terrible things draw near. And for those who have sinned I was delivered over to death, that they may return to the truth and sin no more, in order that they may inherit the spiritual and incorruptible glory of righteousness which is in heaven.”The fourth reading of the text may be eliminated as spurious. Meager external evidence exists to support it, i.e., only one Greek manuscript—Codex Washingtonianus. As Jack Lewis noted: “The support for the shorter ending is so inferior that no scholar would champion that Mark wrote this ending” (1988, p. 598). It bears what Metzger called “an unmistakable apocryphal flavor” (1994, p. 104). The statement does not match the style and grandeur of the rest of the section, leaving the general impression of having been fabricated. This latter point applies equally to the third ending since it, too, possesses a rhetorical tone that contrasts—even clashes—with Mark’s simple style.
The third ending represents a classic case of conflation—incorporating both verses 9-20 as well as the shorter ending—and may also be eliminated from consideration. In addition to internal evidence, the external evidence is insufficient to establish its genuineness. It is supported by four uncials (019, 044, 099, 0112) that date from the seventh, eighth, and ninth centuries, one Old Latin manuscript (which omits verses 9-20), a marginal notation in the Harclean Syriac, several Coptic (Sahidic and Bohairic) manuscripts (see Kahle, 1951, pp. 49-57), and several late Ethiopic manuscripts (see Sanday, 1889, p. 195, and Metzger’s response, 1972). Besides being discredited for conflation, the third ending lacks sufficient internal and external evidence to establish its genuineness as having been originally written by Mark.
Omission
Ultimately, therefore, the question is reduced simply to whether verses 9-20 are to be included or excluded as genuine. Over the last century and a half, scholars have come down on both sides of the issue. Those who have questioned the genuineness of the verses have included F.J.A. Hort (Westcott and Hort, 1882, pp. 29-51), B.H. Streeter (1924, pp. 333-360), J.K. Elliott (1971, pp. 255-262), and Bruce Metzger (1994, pp. 102-106). On the other hand, those who have insisted that Mark wrote the verses have included John W. Burgon (1871), F.H.A. Scrivener (1883, pp. 583-590), George Salmon (1889, pp. 156-164), James Morison (1892, pp. 446-449), Samuel Zwemer (1975, pp. 159-174), and R.C.H. Lenski (1945, pp. 748-775).The reading of the text that omits verses 9-20 altogether does, indeed, possess some respectable support (see the UBS Greek text’s critical apparatus—Aland, et al., 1983, p. 189). The weightiest external evidence is the omission of the verses by the formidable Greek uncials, the Sinaiticus and Vaticanus, which date from the fourth century. These two manuscripts carry great persuasive weight with most textual scholars, resulting in marginal notations in many English translations. For example, the American Standard Version footnote to the verse reads: “The two oldest Greek manuscripts, and some other authorities, omit from verse 9 to the end. Some other authorities have a different ending to the Gospel.” The New International Version gives the following footnote: “The two most reliable early manuscripts do not have Mark 16:9-20.” Such marginal notations, however, fail to convey to the reader the larger picture that the external evidence provides, including additional Greek manuscript evidence, to say nothing of the ancient versions and patristic citations.
Additional evidence for omission includes the absence of the verses from various versions: (1) the Sinaitic Syriac manuscript, (2) about one hundred Armenian manuscripts (see Colwell, 1937, pp. 369-386), and (3) the two oldest Georgian manuscripts that are dated A.D. 897 and 913. [NOTE: Many scholars list the Old Latin codex Bobiensis from the fourth/fifth century as evidence for the omission of the verses. However, as indicated by the critical apparatus of the UBS Greek text (see Aland, et al., 1983, p. 189), Bobiensis (k) contains the “short ending”—deemed by everyone to be spurious. Its scribe could have been manifesting his concern that something (i.e., verses 9-20) was missing and so settled for the “short ending”.]
Among the patristic writers (i.e., the so-called “Church Fathers”), neither Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 215) nor Origen (A.D. 254) shows any knowledge of the existence of the verses. [Of course, simply showing no knowledge is no proof for omission. If we were to discount as genuine every New Testament verse that a particular patristic writer failed to reference, we would eventually dismiss the entire New Testament as spurious. Though virtually the entire New Testament is quoted or alluded to by the corpus of patristic writers (Metzger, 1978, p. 86)—no one writer refers to every verse.]
Eusebius of Caesarea (A.D. 339), as well as Jerome (A.D. 420), are said to have indicated the absence of the verses from almost all Greek manuscripts known to them. However, it should be noted that the statement made by Eusebius occurs in a context in which he was offering two possible solutions to an alleged contradiction (between Matthew 28:1 and Mark 16:9) posed by a Marinus. One of the solutions would be to dismiss Mark’s words on the grounds that it is not contained in all texts. But Eusebius does not claim to share this solution. The second solution he offers entails retaining Mark 16:9 as genuine. The fact that he couches the first solution in the third person (i.e., “This, then, is what a person will say...”), and then proceeds to offer a second solution, when he could have simply dismissed the alleged contradiction on the grounds that manuscript evidence was decisively against the genuineness of the verses, argues for Eusebius’ own approval. The mere fact that the alleged contradiction was raised in the first place demonstrates recognition of the existence of the verses.
Jerome’s alleged opposition to the verses is even more tenuous. He merely translated the same interchange between Eusebius and Marinus from Greek into Latin, recasting it as a response to the same question that he placed in the mouth of a Hedibia from Gaul (see the discussion by Burgon, 1871, p. 134). He most certainly was not giving his own opinion regarding the genuineness of Mark 16:9-20, since that opinion is made apparent by the fact that Jerome included the verses in his landmark revision of the Old Latin translations, the Vulgate, while excluding others that lacked sufficient manuscript verification. Jerome’s own opinion is further evident from the fact that he quoted approvingly from the section (e.g., vs. 14 in Against the Pelagians, II.15 [Schaff and Wace, 1954, 6:468]).
Further evidence for omission of the verses is claimed from the Eusebian Canons, produced by Ammonius, which allegedly originally made no provision for numbering sections of the text after verse 8. Yet, again, on closer examination, of 151 Greek Evangelia codices, 114 sectionalize (and thus make allowance for) the last twelve verses (see Burgon, p. 391; cf. Scrivener, 1883).
In addition to these items of evidence that support omission of verses 9-20, several manuscripts that actually do contain them, nevertheless have scribal notations questioning their originality. Some of the manuscripts have markings—asterisks or obeli—that ordinarily signal the scribe’s suspicion of the presence of a spurious addition. However, even here, such markings (e.g., tl, tel, or telos) can be misconstrued to mean the end of the book, whereas the copyist merely intended to indicate the end of a liturgical section of the lectionary. Metzger agrees that such ecclesiastical lection signs constitute “a clear implication that the manuscript originally continued with additional material from Mark” (1994, p. 102, note 1).
The internal evidence that calls verses 9-20 into question resolves itself into essentially two central contentions: (1) the vocabulary and style of the verses are deemed non-Markan, and (2) the connection between verse 8 and verses 9-20 seems awkward and gives the surface appearance of having been added by someone other than Mark. These two contentions will be treated momentarily.
Inclusion
Standing in contrast with the evidence for omission is the external and internal evidence for the inclusion of verses 9-20. The verses are, in fact, present in the vast number of witnesses (see the UBS Greek text’s critical apparatus—Aland, et al., 1983, p. 189). This point alone is insufficient to demonstrate the genuineness of a passage, since manuscripts may perpetuate an erroneous reading that crept into the text and then happened to survive in greater numbers than those manuscripts that preserved the original reading. Nevertheless, the sheer magnitude of the witnesses that support verses 9-20 cannot be summarily dismissed out of hand. Though rejecting the genuineness of the verses, the Alands offer the following concession that ought to give one pause: “It is true that the longer ending of Mark 16:9-20 is found in 99 percent of the Greek manuscripts as well as the rest of the tradition, enjoying over a period of centuries practically an official ecclesiastical sanction as a genuine part of the gospel of Mark” (1987, p. 287, emp. added). Such longstanding and widespread acceptance cannot be treated lightly nor dismissed easily. It is, at least, possible that the prevalence of manuscript support for the verses is due to their genuineness.The Greek manuscript evidence that verifies the verses is distinguished, not just in quantity, but also in complexion and diversity. It includes a host of uncials and minuscules. The uncials include Codex Alexandrinus (02) and Ephraemi Rescriptus (04) from the fifth century. [NOTE: Technically, the Washington manuscript may be combined with these two manuscripts as additional fifth-century evidence for inclusion of the verses, since it simply inserts an additional statement in between verses 14 and 15.] Additional support for the verses comes from Bezae Cantabrigiensis (05) from the sixth century (or, according to the Alands, the fifth century—1987, p. 107), as well as 017, 033, 037, 038, and 041 from the ninth and tenth centuries. The minuscule manuscript evidence consists of the “Family 13” collection, entailing no fewer than ten manuscripts, as well as numerous other minuscules. The passage is likewise found in several lectionaries.
The patristic writings that indicate acceptance of the verses as genuine are remarkably extensive. From the second century, Irenaeus, who died c. A.D. 202, alludes to the verses in both Greek and Latin. His precise words in his Against Heresies were: “Also, towards the conclusion of his Gospel, Mark says: ‘So then, after the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God” (3.10.5; Roberts and Donaldson, 1973, 1:426). It is very likely that Justin Martyr was aware of the verses in the middle of the second century. At any rate, his disciple, Tatian, included the verses in his Greek Diatessaron (having come down to us in Arabic, Italian, and Old Dutch editions) c. A.D. 170.
Third century witnesses include Tertullian, who died after A.D. 220, in his On the Resurrection of the Flesh (ch. 51; Roberts and Donaldson, 1973, 3:584), Against Praxeas (ch. 30; Roberts and Donaldson, 3:627), and A Treatise on the Soul (ch. 25; Roberts and Donaldson, 3:206). Cyprian, who died A.D. 258, alluded to verses 17-18 in his The Seventh Council of Carthage (Roberts and Donaldson, 1971, 5:569). Additional third century verification is seen in the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus. Verses 15-18 in Greek and verses 15-19 in Latin are quoted in Part I: The Acts of Pilate (ch. 14), and verse 16 in its Greek form is quoted in Part II: The Descent of Christ into Hell (ch. 2) (Roberts and Donaldson, 1970, 8:422,436,444-445). De Rebaptismate (A.D. 258) is also a witness to the verses. All seven of these second and third century witnesses precede the earliest existing Greek manuscripts that verify the genuineness of the verses. More to the point, they predate both Vaticanus and Sinaiticus.
Fourth century witnesses to the existence of the verses include Aphraates (writing in A.D. 337—see Schaff and Wace, 1969, 13:153), with his citation of Mark 16:16-18 in “Of Faith” in his Demonstrations (1.17; Schaff and Wace, 13:351), in addition to the Apostolic Constitutions (5.3.14; 6.3.15; 8.1.1)—written no later than A.D. 380 (Roberts and Donaldson, 1970, 7:445,457,479). Ambrose, who died A.D. 397, quoted from the section in his On the Holy Spirit (2.13.145,151), On the Christian Faith (1.14.86 and 3.4.31), and Concerning Repentance (1.8.35; Schaff and Wace, 10:133,134,216,247,335). Didymus, who died A.D. 398, is also a witness to the genuineness of the verses (Aland, et al., 1983, p. 189), as is perhaps Asterius after 341.
Patristic writers from the fifth century that authenticate the verses include Jerome, noted above, who died A.D. 420, Leo (who died A.D. 461) in his Letters (9.2 and 120.2; Schaff and Wace, 1969, 12:8,88), and Chrysostom (who died A.D. 407) in his Homilies on First Corinthians (38.5; Schaff, 1969, 12:229). Additional witnesses include Severian (after 408), Marcus-Eremita (after 430), Nestorius (after 451), and Augustine (after 455). These witnesses to the genuineness of Mark 16:9-20 from patristic writers is exceptional.
The evidence for inclusion that comes from the ancient versions is also diverse and weighty—entailing a wide spectrum of versions and geographical locations. Several Old Latin/Itala manuscripts contain it. Though Jerome repeated the view that the verses were absent in some Greek manuscripts—a circumstance used by those who support exclusion—he actually included them in his fourth century Latin Vulgate (and, as noted above, quoted verse 14 in his own writings). The verses are found in the Old Syriac (Curetonian) as well as the Peshitta and later Syriac (Palestinian and Harclean). The Coptic versions that have it are the Sahidic, Bohairic, and Fayyumic, ranging from the third to the sixth centuries. The Gothic version (fourth century) has verses 9-11. The verses are also found in the Armenian, Georgian, and Old Church Slavonic versions.
What must the unbiased observer conclude from these details? All told, the cumulative external evidence that documents the genuineness of verses 9-20, from Greek manuscripts, patristic citations, and ancient versions, is expansive, ancient, diversified, and unsurpassed.
Reconciling the Evidence
How may the conflicting evidence for and against inclusion of the verses be reconciled? In the final analysis, according to those who favor omission of the verses, the two strongest, most persuasive pieces of evidence for their position are (1) the external evidence of the exclusion of the verses from the prestigious Vaticanus and Sinaiticus manuscripts, and (2) the internal evidence of the presence of multiple non-Markan words. The fact is that the presumed strength of these two factors has led many scholars to minimize the array of evidence that otherwise would be seen to support the verses—evidence that, as shown above, is vast and diversified in geographical distribution and age. If these two factors are demonstrated by definitive rebuttal to be inadequate, the evidence for inclusion will then be recognized as manifestly superior to that which is believed to support exclusion. What, then, may be said concerning the two strongest pieces of evidence that have led many scholars to exclude Mark 16:9-20 as genuine?Vaticanus and Sinaiticus
Regarding the first factor, it is surely significant that though Vaticanus and Sinaiticus omit the passage, Alexandrinus includes it. Alexandrinus rivals Vaticanus and Sinaiticus in both accuracy and age—removed probably by no more than fifty years. Why should the reading of two of the “Big Three” uncial manuscripts take precedence over the reading of the third? Are proponents staking their case in this regard on mere numerical superiority, i.e., two against one? Surely not, given the fact that the same scholars would insist that original readings are not to be decided by counting numbers of manuscripts. If sheer numbers of manuscripts decide genuineness, then Mark 16:9-20 must be accepted as genuine. Vaticanus and Sinaiticus should carry no more weight over Alexandrinus than that assigned by critics to the manuscripts that support inclusion on account of their superior numbers.Vaticanus is technically, at best, a half-hearted witness to the omission of the verses. Though he considered the verses as spurious, Alford nevertheless offered an observation that ought to give one pause: “After the subscription in B [Vaticanus—DM] the remaining greater portion of the column and the whole of the next to the end of the page are left vacant. There is no other instance of this in the whole N.T. portion of the MS [manuscript—DM], the next book in every other instance beginning on the next column” (p. 484, emp. added). This unusual divergence from the scribe’s usual practice suggests that he knew that additional verses were missing. The blank space he left provides ample room for the additional twelve verses.
Interestingly, some have questioned the judgment of the scribe of Sinaiticus in his omission of Mark 16:9-20 on the grounds that he included the apocryphal books of the Shepherd of Hermas and the Epistle of Barnabas (Aland and Aland, 1987, p. 107). Likewise, the scribe of Vaticanus included several of the Apocrypha in the Old Testament, as Sir Frederic Kenyon observed, “being inserted among the canonical books in B [Vaticanus—DM] without distinction” (1951, p. 81, emp. added).
Those who support exclusion of Mark 16:9-20 have not been forthright in divulging that, as a matter of fact, Vaticanus and Sinaiticus frequently diverge from each other, with one or the other siding with Alexandrinus against the other. For example, the allusions by Luke to an angel strengthening Jesus in the Garden and the “great drops of blood” (Luke 22:43-44) are omitted by Vaticanus and Alexandrinus, but Sinaiticus (the original hand) contains these verses (Metzger, 1975, p. 177). Luke’s report of Jesus’ statement on the cross (“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do”—Luke 23:34), is included by Alexandrinus and Sinaiticus (the original hand), but omitted by Vaticanus (p. 180). On the other hand, Vaticanus sides with Alexandrinus against Sinaiticus in their inclusion of the blind man’s confession and worship of Jesus (“‘Lord, I believe!’ And he worshipped Him”) in John 9:38 (Metzger, p. 195). It is also the case that both Vaticanus and Sinaiticus are sometimes separately defective in their handling of a reading. For example, in John 2:3, instead of reading “they ran out of wine,” the original hand of Sinaiticus reads, “They had no wine, because the wine of the wedding feast had been used up”—a reading that occurs only in Sinaiticus and in no other Greek manuscript. Many other instances of dissimilarities and dissonance between Vaticanus and Sinaiticus could be cited that weaken the premature assessment of the strength of their combined witness against Mark 16:9-20. [Cf. Luke 10:41-42; 11:14; Acts 2:43,44; Romans 4:1; 5:2,17; 1 Corinthians 12:9; 1 John 4:19.] Further, in some cases the UBS committee rejected as spurious the readings of both Vaticanus and Sinaiticus, and instead accepted the reading of Alexandrinus (e.g., Romans 8:2—“me” vs. “you”; Romans 8:35—“the love of Christ” vs. “the love of God” [Sinaiticus] or “the love of God in Christ Jesus” [Vaticanus]).
Summary of External Evidence
Non-markan style
The second most persuasive piece of evidence that prompts some to discount Mark 16:9-20 as genuine is the internal evidence. Though the Alands conceded that the “longer Marcan ending” actually “reads an absolutely convincing text” (1987, p. 287), in fact, the internal evidence weighs more heavily than the external evidence in the minds of many of those who support omission of the verses. Observe carefully the following definitive pronouncement of this viewpoint—a pronouncement that simultaneously concedes the strength of the external evidence in favor of the verses:On the other hand, the section is no casual or unauthorised [sic] addition to the Gospel. From the second century onwards, in nearly all manuscripts, versions, and other authorities, it forms an integral part of the Gospel, and it can be shown to have existed, if not in the apostolic, at least in the sub-apostolic age. A certain amount of evidence against it there is (though very little can be shown to be independent of Eusebius the Church historian, 265-340 A.D.), but certainly not enough to justify its rejection, were it not that internal evidence clearly demonstrates that it cannot have proceeded from the hand of St. Mark (Dummelow, 1927, p. 73, emp. added).Listen also to an otherwise conservative scholar express the same sentiment: “If these deductions are correct the mass of MSS [manuscripts—DM] containing the longer ending must have been due to the acceptance of this ending as the most preferable. But internal evidence combines with textual evidence to raise suspicions regarding this ending” (Guthrie, 1970, p. 77, emp. added). Alford took the same position: “The internal evidence...will be found to preponderate vastly against the authorship of Mark” (1844, 1:434, emp. added). Even Bruce Metzger admitted: “The long ending, though present in a variety of witnesses, some of them ancient, must also be judged by internal evidence to be secondary” (1978, p. 227, emp. added). In fact, to Metzger, while the external evidence against the verses is merely “good,” the internal evidence against them is “strong” (1994, p. 105).
So, in the minds of not a few scholars, if it were not for the internal evidence, the external evidence would be sufficient to establish the genuineness of the verses. What precisely, pray tell, is this internal evidence that is so powerful and weighs so heavily on the issue as to prod scholars to “jump through hoops” in an effort to discredit the verses? What formidable data exists that could possibly prompt so many to discount all evidence to the contrary? Let us see.
Textual scholar Bruce Metzger summarized the internal evidence against the verses in terms of two factors: (1) the vocabulary and style of verses 9-20 are deemed non-Markan, and (2) the connection between verse 8 and verses 9-20 is awkward, appearing to have been “added by someone who knew a form of Mark that ended abruptly with verse 8 and who wished to supply a more appropriate conclusion” (1994, p. 105).
The Connection Between
Verse 8 and Verses 9-20
Regarding the first point, a simple reading of the verses does not demonstrate a shift in subject from the women to Jesus. In actuality, the subject has been Jesus all along, but more specifically, His resurrection appearances. After pausing to relate specific details of the tomb incident involving three women (vss. 2-8), the writer returns in verse 9 to the subject introduced in verse 1—an enumeration of additional resurrection appearances, reiterating Mary Magdalene’s name for the reason that He appeared to her “first.”
Second, much is made of Mary Magdalene being identified in verse 9 though she had been identified already in 15:47 and 16:1. But if her name could be reiterated in 16:1—one verse after 15:47—why could it not be given again eight verses later? Has it escaped the critics’ notice that her name is also mentioned in full in 15:40—a mere seven verses before being mentioned again in 15:47? Yet, not one critic questions the genuineness of 15:47 or 16:1 though they redundantly identify Mary Magdalene again! The fact that there is more than one Mary in the text is sufficient to account for the repetition.
Third, it is also true that beginning in verse 9, the other women are not mentioned again. But, again, the reason for this omission is contextually obvious. Mary Magdalene is the one who spread the word about the resurrection to the others—“those who had been with Him” (vs. 10). It makes perfect sense that the focus would be narrowed from the three women to the one who performed this role.
Finally, the claim that the positioning of anastas de (“now when He arose”) and proton (“first”) are appropriate at the beginning of a lengthy narrative, but inappropriate in Mark 16 with only eleven verses remaining, is a claim unsubstantiated by Greek usage. It is not as if there is some observable rule of Greek grammar or syntax that verifies such a claim. It is simply the subjective opinion of one observer—albeit an observer who possesses a fair level of scholarly expertise. The term “first” (proton) has already been explained as appropriate since Mary Magdalene was the initiator of getting the word of the resurrection out to the others. Verses 9-14 are, in fact, intimately tied together in their common function of identifying resurrection appearances.
The precise construction “now when she arose” (anastasa de) is used by Luke (1:39) to introduce the narrative concerning Mary’s visit to Elizabeth—a section that extends for only eighteen verses (1:39-56). He used the same construction to introduce the narrative reporting Jesus’ visit to Simon (4:38)—lasting four verses (4:38-41)—the broader context actually extending previous to its introduction. Additional uses of the same construction (e.g., Acts 5:17,34; 9:39; 11:28) further verify that its occurrence in the concluding section of Mark is neither unusual nor “ill-suited.” How may one rightly claim that anastas de is inappropriate in Mark 16:9-20 if it is the only time Mark used it? Surely, what Mark would or would not have done cannot be judged on the basis of a single occurrence, nor should Mark’s stylistic usage be judged on the basis of what Luke or other users of the Greek language did or did not do. Is it possible or permissible that Mark could have legitimately used the construction intentionally only one time—without subjecting himself to the charge of not being the author? To ask is to answer.
Before leaving this matter of the connection between verse 8 and verses 9-20, one other observation is apropos. It is true that if Mark’s original book ended at verse 8, the book ended abruptly, leaving a general impression of incompleteness. However, the same may be said regarding the endings of both Matthew and Luke. Matthew reports the Jews’ conspiracy to account for the resurrection by bribing the guards to say the disciples stole away the body (28:11-15), and then shifts abruptly to the eleven disciples receiving the commission to preach (28:16-20). Likewise, Luke has two abrupt shifts in his final chapter. He reports the visits to the tomb by the women and Peter (24:1-12) and then suddenly changes to the two disciples traveling on the road to Emmaus (24:13ff.). Another takes place at the end of the Emmaus narrative (24:13-35) when Jesus suddenly appears in the midst of the whole group of disciples (24:36ff.). Yet no one questions the genuineness of the endings of Matthew and Luke. The final chapter of John (21) follows on the heels of John’s grand climax to his carefully reasoned thesis (20:30-31), and gives the general impression of being anti-climactic and unnecessary. Likewise, many of Paul’s epistles end abruptly, followed by detached and unrelated greetings and salutations. No one questions the genuineness of the endings of these New Testament books.
While Metzger does not accept verses 9-20 as the original ending of Mark, neither does he believe that the book originally ended at verse 8: “It appears, therefore, that ephobounto gar [“for they were afraid”—DM] of Mark xvi.8 does not represent what Mark intended to stand at the end of his Gospel” (1978, p. 228). But this admission that something is missing after verse 8 could just as easily imply that verses 9-20 constitute that “something.” Metzger concedes this very point when, after noting that “the earliest ascertainable form of the Gospel of Mark ended with 16:8,” he offers only three possibilities to account for the abrupt ending: “(a) the evangelist intended to close his Gospel at this place; or (b) the Gospel was never finished; or, as seems most probable, (c) the Gospel accidentally lost its last leaf before it was multiplied by transcription” (1994, p. 105, note 7, emp. added). If verses 9-20 are, in fact, attributable to Mark, its absence in some manuscript copies is explicable on the very grounds offered by Metzger against their inclusion, i.e., the last leaf of a manuscript was lost—a manuscript from which copies were made that are now being used to discredit the genuineness of the verses in question. If, on the other hand, verses 9-20 are not genuine, then the original verses that followed verse 8 have been missing for 2,000 years, and we are forced to conclude that the book of Mark lacks information that the Holy Spirit intended the world to have, but which they have been denied—an objectionable conclusion to say the least (yet see McMillan, 1973, p. 190).
The Vocabulary and Style of Verses 9-20
Over a century ago, in 1869, John A. Broadus provided a masterful evaluation (and decisive defeat) of this very contention (pp. 355-362). Using the Greek text that was available at the time produced by Tregelles, Broadus examined the twelve verses that precede Mark 16:9-20 (i.e., 15:44-16:8)—verses whose genuineness are above reproach—and applied precisely the same test to them. Incredibly, he found in the twelve verses preceding 16:9-20 exactly the same number of words and phrases (seventeen) that are not used previously by Mark! The words and their citation are as follows: tethneiken (15:44), gnous apo, edoreisato, ptoma (15:45), eneileisen, lelatomeimenon, petpas, prosekulisen (15:46), diagenomenou, aromata (16:1), tei mia ton sabbaton (16:2), apokulisei (16:3), anakekulistai, sphodra (16:4), en tois dexiois (16:5), eichen (in a peculiar sense), and tromos (16:8). The reader is surely stunned and appalled that textual critics would wave aside verses of Scripture as counterfeit and fraudulent on such fragile, flimsy grounds.
Writing a few years later, J.W. McGarvey applied a similar test to the last twelve verses of Luke, again, verses whose genuineness, like those preceding Mark 16:9-20, are above suspicion (1875, pp. 377-382). He found nine words that are not used by Luke elsewhere in his book—four of which are not found anywhere else in the New Testament! Yet, once again, no textual critic or New Testament Greek manuscript scholar has questioned the genuineness of the last twelve verses of Luke. Indeed, the methodology that seeks to determine the genuineness of a text on the basis of new or unusual word use is a concocted, artificial, unscholarly, nonsensical, pretentious—and clearly discredited—criterion.
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
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