Mark 16 Controversy- Part 2

-The Great Commission

       Some say the earliest reliable manuscripts of the Bible do not include Mark 16:9-20.  This is a look at the teaching in them to see if they are unscriptural or not worth accepting as truth instead of arguing if they belong or ignoring them because they aren’t legitimate.  Yesterday we looked at v.9-16, today we complete v.17-20 with more specific acts.

v.17  And miraculous signs* will follow to those believing* these things: in My name* they will cast out demons; they will speak new tongues;

    (*sign, miracle, wonder, token)  (*believe, commit, put in trust)

    (*name implies power and authority of the person whose name is used)

---cast out demons- Mt. 10:1,8; Lk. 10:17; Ac. 5:16; 8:7; 16:18; 19:12;

---speak new tongues- Ac. 2:4,6,11; 10:45,46; 19:6; 1Cor. 12:10; 14:5;

v.18  they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will be well.

---take up serpents- Ac. 28:3-6; Lk. 10:19

    (could this imply other’s persecution of us?- Ps. 140:1-3; Rom. 3:13; Jm. 3:8)

---drink deadly thing without getting hurt- no references found by me

---lay hands on sick and they will be well- Mt. 10:1,8; Lk. 10:9; Ac. 3:2-8; 5:15,16; 9:17,18;32-35,36; 14:10; 19:11,12; 28:8,9; 1Cor. 12:9

v.19  Then indeed, after speaking to them, the Lord was taken up into Heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. Lk. 24:50,51; Ac. 1:6-12; 1Tm. 3:16

v.20  And going out, they proclaimed everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the Word by miraculous signs following. Amen.

     specific (but unlisted above) signs, wonders, miracles- Ac. 2:3; 5:1-10,15,18-23; 8:39,40; 9:4,8; 10:3,9; 12:7; 13:11; 16:9,26,27; 18:9; 21:9; 27:24

     unspecified signs, wonders, miracles following (preaching or gospel)- Ac. 2:43; 5:12; 6:8; 8:6,13; 14:3; 15:12; 19:11; Rom. 15:19; 1Cor. 12:10; 2Cor. 12:12; Gal. 3:5; Heb. 2:4

Not mentioned in Mark but we know these were done along with other acts elsewhere:

---cleanse the lepers- Mt. 10:8

---raise the dead- Mt. 10:8; Ac. 9:37-41; 20:9,10 (Possibly Ac. 14:19,20)

       So I complete this part by saying that there is much proof that Mark 16:9-20 does fit in to the Bible.  As for some additional thoughts, if they were not included originally, consider how the chapter would end. (v.8) “And they went out quickly and fled from the tomb. For they trembled and were amazed. Neither did they say anything to anyone, for they were afraid.”  It’s hard to believe the book would end that way- hopeless and in fear.  Read Mt. 28:19,20; Lk. 24:52,53; Jh. 21:24,25 and then reread Mk. 16:19,20.  They would all end with hope and Amen.  Which is the better fit to you?

I thought today would finish this topic, but I will need a part 3 so that this is not too long.

I hope you return tomorrow for the completion of this topic.

Mark 16 Controversy- Part 1

-The Great Commission 

 

Jesus sends the 70- by James Tissot

       Some say the earliest reliable manuscripts of the Bible do not include Mark 16:9-20.  Perhaps those verses should be there, perhaps not, but let’s look at the teaching in them to see if they are unscriptural or not worth accepting as truth instead of arguing if they belong or ignoring them because they aren’t legitimate.

       Some say the ‘Great Commission’ is found in all four gospels (Mt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15-20; Lk. 24:45-49; Jh. 20:21-23) but I’d like to add that Jesus already had his disciples- 12 then 70- going out to preach with signs following: 12- Mt. 10:1-11:1; Mk. 6:7-13; Lk.9:1-6 and 70- Lk. 10:1-16.  This preceded His visit to those towns (Lk. 10:1).  So, even while Jesus walked the earth He gave His disciples (not just the ‘apostles’) His authority to preach with signs following.  Before Jesus gave the controversial commission in Mark, He said this in the upper room:

"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes* in me will also do the works* that I do; and greater* works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Jh. 14:12

*whoever believes means any and all believers, not just the apostles.                  ESV

*toil, acts, deeds, labour, work  *greater, larger, elder, stronger 

 

Check out the Scriptures that verify the ones in Mark as authentic / actually happened:

Mark 16:

v.9  And when Jesus had risen early the first day of the Sabbath, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. Jh. 20:11,12-17

v.10  She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. Jh. 20:18

v.11  And those hearing that He lives, and was seen by her, they did not believe.

v.12  After that He appeared in another form to two of them, walking and going into the country. Lk. 24:13-32

v.13  And they went and told it to the rest. Neither did they believe those. Lk. 24:33

v.14  Afterward He appeared to the Eleven as they reclined. And He reproached their unbelief and hardness of heart*, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. Jh. 20:26-29 *Mk. 8:17; Mt. 17:19,20 (disciples- ye of little faith- Mt. 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8)

v.15  And He said to them, Go into all the world, proclaim* the gospel to all the creation. Lk. 24:47; 9:2-6 (implied- Mt. 28:19,20) Mr. 6:12 Mt. 10:7

    (*preach, proclaim, publish)  Acts 1:8; 26:20

v.16  He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned.  Lk. 8:12; Jh. 3:16,36; Mt. 28:19; Ac. 2:41; 16:31

Tomorrow I will finish this topic.  I hope you come back to learn more.

Why Study the Word?

       We read the Word, meditate on the Word, memorize the Word, sing the Word, pray the Word etc, but how often do we study the Word?  Whoa now, I graduated already so why do I need to study?  After all, the Bible says, “…much study is a weariness of the flesh.” (Eccl. 12:12)  Yes, studying something means a time investment and can certainly make one weary.  More than once I fell asleep while studying for exams!

       But anything valuable is worth putting time and effort into.  If we truly want to know God as well as we can then we will delve deeply into the Word to consume every last morsel.  Paul told Timothy (a young pastor), “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2Tm. 2:15 KJV)  The word study actually means: use speed, make effort, give diligence, labour, study.  This is in context of rightly interpreting the Word.  So in order to properly interpret, we’ve got to invest some time into studying it.

Some ways to delve into the Word:

Ask who, what, where, when, why and how.  Ex. who is speaking and why?

Check out what some of the important words mean in their original languages. A concordance helps.

See if there are any oddities and why.  Ex. Jesus speaking to a woman publicly.

Find other scriptures that relate to passage being studied.

Paraphrase it. (Put it in your own words)

Meditate on the passage to get different perspectives of the people it’s speaking of.

Ask- does the Bible speak about this person in other places?

Check for a parallel gospel account that may add information.

(A couple free Bible software programs are: e-sword and the Word- By free I mean many Bible versions, dictionaries, graphics, etc are free but there are some extras you could choose to pay for) 

***Remember- try to always use the Bible to interpret the Bible***

       Still, when it comes right down to it, all the reading, meditating, memorizing, etc does us no good at all if the Spirit- who dwells in us (Rom. 8:9) if we are Christ’s, and teaches us (Jh. 14:26)- doesn’t open our eyes to understand it*.  Then… and this is most important… we apply it to our lives.  So we should ask, ‘What should I learn from this and how should I use the information to change?’

Jesus answered him,

"If anyone loves me, he will keep my word,

and my Father will love him,

and we will come to him and make our home with him.

Jh. 14:23

*these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.  1Cor 2:10,11