The Long Ending of the Gospel of Mark

2023-03-25

You may have come across footnotes in your Bible that say that Mark 16:9-20 really are not a part of the original text. This school of thought emphasizes certain “older” manuscripts, codices Sinaiticus and Vaticanus. Mark is also seen as being the first Gospel, from which other Gospel writers allegedly borrowed. In other words, this group believes that this Gospel ended with this verse: “And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid” (Mark 16:8). However, a lot happened after that.

If the latter verses of Mark 16 were added later, who did this, and why? Thousands of Greek texts and early translations contain all 20 verses. Likewise, early church father Irenaeus, by the late second century, was quoting Mark 16:19, and said it was from Mark:

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;” confirming what had been spoken by the prophet: “The Lord said to my Lord, Sit Thou on My right hand, until I make Thy foes Thy footstool.” (Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 3.10.5)

This is clearly Mark 16:19: “So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.”

James Snapp Jr. also points out the thematic parallels between Justin Martyr’s First Apology and the latter half of Mark showing that this church father was also familiar with the long ending of Mark. There are a few other allusions in Justin’s writings as well. See other arguments in Snapp’s work here.

Other ancient manuscripts which are nearly as ancient as Sinaiticus and Vaticanus include these verses, such as Codices Bezae (ca. 400), Alexandrinus (ca. 400-440) and Ephraemi Rescriptus (ca. 450).

Next time you read the last chapter of Mark’s Gospel, be confident that you are truly reading God’s Word, and not some later interpolation. Don’t let two manuscripts spoil the myriad testimony concerning the long ending of the Gospel.