Why Mark 16:9-20 Does Not Belong in the Bible

There has been a lot of controversy over Mark 16:9-20, so what’s wrong with that part of the gospel of Mark?

Controversy

There has been a lot of controversy over Mark 16:9-20 over the centuries, and for good reason, so what’s wrong with that part of the gospel of Mark? To begin with, the language is totally different from the rest of the gospel and the Greek grammar is starkly different than Mark’s writings elsewhere in the gospel. There are words used in Mark 16:9-20 in the Greek not used anywhere else in his gospel. These last few verses just seem like an awkward ending and it sounds like someone just wanted it to have a smoother ending. If that is true, and I believe it is, then Mark 16:9-20 is not inspired by the Holy Spirit, therefore it should not be in the Bible. More reasons on this next.

Earliest Manuscripts

If you own a New American Standard Bible or an English Standard version, or even a New King James version, there should be a note in the margin that explains that Mark 16:9-20 is a text that has been added to Mark. We have over 25,000 manuscripts and none of the earliest (which would be most accurate) has Mark 16:9-20. All of the earliest and best manuscripts end at Mark 16:8. In fact, Mark 16:9-20 does not show up in any manuscripts until over a century later, therefore, many scholars doubt that these verses were in the original Gospel of Mark. They conclude that the long ending to the book of Mark represents an attempt by an ancient, anonymous someone to provide a more “satisfactory” ending.

Did Jesus Say?

Jesus said, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16), but does this verse say or teach that unless you are baptized, you cannot be saved? First of all, this verse is not found in any of the earliest manuscripts or copies, so Jesus likely never said this. For the few who still believe you must be baptized in order to be saved, let’s ask, “What does the word baptism mean?” Obviously it refers to water baptism, and most take that as submersion or being baptized into and under the water, but an important factor is how the Greeks used this word in their everyday language. The Greeks used the word “baptize” as a way to identify something. For example, if they submerged (Greek, “baptizmō”) a cloth in purple dye, the fabric was then identified with the color purple. It was never identified with the water but the color of the dye. That’s how it’s now identified with…purple, not water. The water didn’t change a thing…the purple dye did that.

Roaring Silence

There is a roaring silence of evidence in regard to Mark 16:9-20 where these verses are absent from the Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus. We have great reason to not accept Mark 16:9-20. Another reason is we have what is called the Bodmer Papyri in which we find John and Luke which dates from 175 to 225. And then there’s the very famous papyrus called the Chester Beatty papyrus that has all four gospels and the book of Acts and it dates around 200. Not one of these sources has Mark 16:9-20. Rather, all have the Gospel of Mark end at 16:8.

God-Breathed?

I want to bring attention to two of the most important early manuscripts we have. One is called a Codex. It’s called a Codex because it is a bound volume rather than a scroll. The first one that is very important is called Sinaiticus, and its dates from about 350, and it contains the entire New Testament. These manuscripts all end at Mark 16:8. The second important one is called Vaticanus 325, but has the whole Bible. Incidentally, both Sinaiticus and Vaticanus end Mark at verse 8. Next, we also have eight thousand ancient copies of the New Testament in Latin called the Vulgate, and the Vulgate dates from 382 to 405. We also have 350-plus copies of the Bible in Syriac that goes back to the 200’s. Again, and to make my point, every one of these manuscripts all stop at Mark 16:8. This is why I believe Mark 16:9-20 are not inspired by the Holy Spirit and do not belong in the Bible, therefore, they should not be used in teaching or preaching. Shocking? Maybe, but don’t we want what is the pure, unadulterated Word of God. Do we want anything short of the very breath of God (2 Tim 3:16-17)?

Conclusion

After examining all of the earliest and best manuscripts, Codex L is the final nail in the coffin for Mark 16:9-20. The Codex L manuscript is described by Dr. Dean Burgon as, “the work of an ignorant foreign copyist who probably wrote with several manuscripts before him; but who is found to have been wholly incompetent to determine which reading to adopt and which to reject” [Dr. Dean Burgon, The Last Twelve Verses Of Mark, pg. 203.]. The conclusion regarding the Gospel of Mark, and specifically Mark 16:9-20, is that you must know that none of the earliest manuscripts have these verses, nor do the earliest Christian’s writings (including Gospel compilations!) ever mention them. I pray this settles it once and for all and why I know they are not inspired and why I will not preach or teach these verses in a church or anywhere else, for that matter.

Final Thoughts

There’s been lots of controversy over I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: 10 Events Seen in All 4 Gospels

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Tagged as: Gospel of Mark, Inspired, Mark 16:9-20, Scriptures