Hi, I have reading a book on Biblical Textual research. and I came across the section, where it was claimsed that the last twelve verses from last chapter of (16th chapter) Mark.. didn't actually exist in earliest Bible manuscripts.. and it was added later to the text.
It seems the original verses were lost, and the text now present is an interpolation
I reproduce the relevant passages here:
And these are the signs that will accompany those who believe: they will cast out demons in my name; they will speak in new tongues; and they will take up snakes in their hands; and if they drink any poison,it will not harm them; they will place their hands upon the sick and heal them. (vv. 17–18)
Jesus is then taken up into heaven, and seated at the right hand of God. And the disciples go forth into the world proclaiming the gospel, their words being confirmed by the signs that accompanythem (vv. 19–20).
It is a terrific passage, mysterious, moving, and powerful. It is one of the passages used by Pentecostal Christians to show that Jesus’s followers will be able to speak in unknown “tongues,” as happens in their own services of worship; and it is the principal passage used by groups of “Appalachian snake-handlers,” who till this day take poisonous snakes in their hands in order to demonstrate their faith in the words of Jesus, that when doing so they will come to no harm. But there’s one problem. Once again, this passage was not originallyin the Gospel of Mark. It was added by a later scribe.
[...] The verses are absent from our two oldest and best manuscripts of Mark’s Gospel, along with other important witnesses; the writing style varies from what we find elsewhere in Mark; the transition between this passage and the one preceding it is hard to understand [...] and there are a large number of words and phrases in the passage that are not found elsewhere in Mark. In short, the evidence is sufficient to convince nearly all textual scholars that these verses are an addition to Mark
Please share your view & opinions on this
-- Edited by Vishal on Friday 20th of May 2011 12:36:35 AM
Dear Vishal, The missed out chapter No. of Mark added by moderator!!
-- Edited by bereans on Friday 20th of May 2011 06:57:11 AM
Mark 16: 15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.17 And these signswill accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons;they will speak in new tongues;18 they will pick up snakeswith their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands onsick people, and they will get well.”
The verse 16:15 differs from Mathew 28:19 which reads "19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,"
The point to note is that Jesus never told that those who do not believe will be condemned in account of Mathew, but the condemnation point made a mark in the gospel of Mark!!
The churches are filled with believers, but it is in that building where so called demons are driven out, funny!! The people (believers) who are supposed to drive out demons are the ones in churches from whom demons are driven out!! A straight opposition of Mark 16:17.
What sort of new tongue (language) these people talk, it is only blah..blah...blah!! You can hear this same tongues in many of the temples!! These people are in the same spirit!! The Spirit of God is never confusing!!
About picking up of Snakes!! Even a forest department person picks up snakes!! You can watch discovery, Animal Planet channel to see how people handle snakes!! They all are not believers!! You don't require to be a believer to pick up a snake!! This verse might have been added up bu someone who might have seen the viper in the hands of Paul (description in Acts)!!
Ask all these Preachers, Evangelists, Apostles, Missionaries, and so called Miracle workers, to please prove that they will not die if they drink poison!! And then these will tell, Br, you should not test Lord your God!! But the verse never puts a condition for this verse!!It says these are the symbols of believers!! So not only the Preaching group, even those inside the church (the believer class) should be able to drink poison without hurting themselves!! Is it possible??
The Preachers, Evangelists, Apostles, Missionaries, the Miracle workers all have this fancy thing in their walk of life, they lay hands on sick and they get healed!! We read witnesses in all the magazines regarding this type of healings!!
In all these the so called Christiandom are willing to test the verses, excepting drinking of poison!! Height of Belief!!
Br you have rightly read that verses 9 to 20 is interpolation. Someone seeing the apostles do a few miracles out of excitement added up these verses!!
