1. THE ENDING OF THE
GOSPEL OF MARK
ENCOURAGEMENT WEDNESDAY
5/24/23

11. Verses 1-8 are considered
“original.” (Referred to as
SE- short ending with a
closing sentence).

12. Verses 9-20 are
considered “added.”
(Referred to as LE- long
ending).

13. This is essentially
based on two Greek
manuscripts. Codex
Sinaiticus and Codex
Vaticanus.

14. There are three
categories or
compilations in N.T.
composition.

15. 1.The TR, Textus Receptus,
or received text, that
compiles the manuscripts
founding the King James,
New King James et al. (LE).

16. 2. The MT, Majority Text,
which gathered all the
manuscripts and compiled
them. (LE).

17.  3. The NU, Nestle Aland United
Bible Society, is a composition
based on three early manuscripts,
Codex Alexandrinus, Codex
Sinaiticus, and Codex Vaticanus.
(SE).

18. 4.NOTE: Though NU bases
its foundation on these three
manuscripts, Codex
Alexandrinus has the LE!

19. The LE is not found in only
two of the NU- Codex
Sinaiticus and Codex
Vaticanus, two fourth-
century copies.

20.  Irenaeus, bishop of Lyons in
Against Heresies, Book Three,
chapter 10 quotes Mark 16:19
from the LE. That is 200 years
before Codex Sinaiticus and
Codex Vaticanus.

21. It is inappropriate to
ignore such blatant
patristic evidence.

22.  Why are there variations at all?
 Many other variations are
mostly early translations into
the various dialects of the day.

23.  There were many dialects of
Greek, and the N.T. was
translated into those dialects to
make it clear.
 But there is more to Mark’s
variation.

25.  “The literature of the Romans
was exciting and extensive.
Roman literature included
poetry, comedy, tragedy, history,
satire, and rhetoric.

26.  It expressed their thoughts and
molded their expectations. The
fast-paced nature of Roman
literature reflected a busy
empire.

27.  Mark writes with an exciting,
fast-paced Roman style to
capture the Roman minds and
hearts.” 100 Days Through
Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

28. The SE is so
totally Roman of an
ending.

29. Was it wrong to complete it
with a different ending? NO,
it was already established as
a precedence!

30.  Moses wrote Deuteronomy –
But Deuteronomy 34 is the
death of Moses. He was dead,
so who added it? Moses’ death
was added by Joshua.

31.  Paul was OFTEN assisted in
writing and added to!
 Romans 16:22 “I, Tertius, who
wrote down this letter, greet
you in the Lord.”

32.  I Corinthians was co-written
with Sosthenes (I Cor. 1:1).
 II Corinthians was co-written
with Timothy (II Cor. 1:1). Et
al.

33. Mark makes NO claim to
have exclusively written
his Gospel. We know
Peter was part of it.

34. But why change the
ending that was perfect
for the Romans?

36.  There are essentially two different
versions of the ending of Mark, SE,
and LE. However, these do NOT
contradict each other.
 The LE ending is perfectly in line
with other Scripture.

37.  As the Gospels became part of
the New Testament Canon,
they were appropriately being
shared among many languages
and cultures.

38.  Matthew was translated from
Hebrew to Greek to make it
relevant outside of the Jewish
community.
 Mark’s LE was favored for people
outside of the Roman community.

39.  Luke’s Gospel was divided in two:
creating the Gospel of Luke and the
Book of Acts.
 John’s Gospel included in its
unredacted form (We will discuss in
our study of John 8).

40. There is nothing here that
does not appear elsewhere
in the Scriptures. Verses 9-
11 relate what is found in
John 20:11-18.

41. Verses 12-13 condense what is
told in Luke 24:13-35. Verse
14 is a synopsis of Luke 24:36-
49. Verses 15-16 are similar
to Matthew 28:19.

42.  Verses 17-18 prophetically
describe what occurs in the
book of Acts. Verses 19-20
present a historical description
of the Book of Acts.

43. The LE was an appropriate early
addition, perhaps added by Peter
himself, to make the Gospel of
Mark connect with more than just
the Romans. It is not a
contradiction. It is an inspired,
harmonious completion.