Mark 16:9-16
With Matthew ... "Great Commission" "Go and make disciples...."
and Luke ... Road to Emmaus, appearance in upper room ..
Luke 24:45 - referring to Old Testament prophecies concerning Him
then... charge to spread the Gospel - Luke 24:46-47
and promise of Holy Spirit Luke 24:48-49
Then, the Ascension
John = longest account!! Chap. 20 and 21
Jesus appears in upper room, "breathes on them" (promise of Holy Spirit)
Then, "Lord's Breakfast"
Summations: John 20:30-31, 21:24-25
Add: Acts 1:1-3 - began to do, continued to do through the apostles after His Ascension
Acts 1:8 - witnesses = martyrs
Acts 1:9-11 - Ascension
And 1 Cor. 15:3-8
Now back to Mark 16:17-20!!
Signs = 1) exorcisms (which Apostles had done)
2) speaking in tongues (never mentioned until Pentecost!)
3) handling serpents - on one hand Paul's experience with viper (Acts 28)
however, never mentioned elsewhere at all!!
4) drinking poison ... Never mentioned!
5) healing sick - Apostles did to some degree for awhile
On one hand such miracles HAVE occurred (on occasion)
However, nowhere else are they promised to ALL believers
(Christians are generally NOT exempt from natural laws!)
So?? what about this text?!? Are 3 theories (options)
#1. The text stands as written
#2. The end of Mark's gospel - lost and (so) Re-Written by early Christian scribes (church)
#3. Mark intentionally ended his story abruptly... but scribes felt need to add to it!
(note: endnote, footnote in most Bible translations)
Dilemma - On one hand, the majority of manuscripts include vs. 9-20
However, the oldest, best manuscripts end at Vs. 8
AND early church Fathers say V. 9-20 were added to the original!
(actually, are 4 different endings - we have copes of all 4)
At Issue here = The Reliability of Scripture
IF we order our "faith and practice" according to God's Word, we need to know it = accurate, relable, dependable!!
So... on one hand the Bible = clear 'God's Word' is Inspired!
2 Tim. 3:15-17 2 Pet. 1:20-21
So question = what (exactly) constitutes Scripture?
(which parts of the New Testament = Inspired?)
The orthodox stance: "All scripture is inspired and accurate and (therefore) authoritative in it's ORIGINAL FORM - known as "autograph Copies"
Problem = we don't ave autograph copies! (that we know of)
BUT ... lets look at what we DO have!!
Textual Criticism = the attempt to determine the original wording of documents whose original is not available.
Bible ancient manuscripts (hand written)
New Testament (Greek) - are more than 5800 (catalogued) manuscripts
Plus Latin, Coptic, Syriac, Armenian, etc.
(totally 10's of thousands!)
On one hand, a fragment counts as a manuscript
However, average size for New Testament manuscript = 450 pages!!!
So... 2.5 million pages of New Testament - (ancient, hand written manuscripts)
plus ... Old Testament = more than 66,000 manuscripts and scrolls
STACKED = NT - 1 mile high
w/OT - 2.5 miles high
Compare average classical author - 4' high
Plus ... quotations of the Bible by early church fathers ... these more than 1 million manuscripts and pieces of manuscripts to compare with one another.
Question? Objection! What about Variations within text?
Variations within the text (New Testament)
(1) Spelling changes - which change with the times, people, etc. Account for 75% of variants
(2) Changes that can't be (easily) translated - (to other languages) but do NOT change the meaning of the text. Account for another 20% of variants.
Examples: "cool!" "smoking hot", "what's happening? goin' down? Que Pasa?" "you the man"
(3) (actual) textual variants
example: Mark 16:9-20 - John 7:53 - 8:11
These are obvious variants!! But none of them challenge any primary, orthodox doctrines!! (account for another 4%)
Example: Lord's Prayer
(4) Textual variants that ARE meaningful.
these = 1% and (again) don't challenge any cardinal doctrines. example: 1 John 5:7-8
Point = IF you have a good English translation .. THEN you can be confident you have THE Words of Christ and the Apostles!!
(don't let issues like this shake your confidence!!!)
For your study = (1) Dan Wallace - Dallas Theological Seminary
(2) Josh McDowell = "evidence that demands a verdict",
(3) biblequestions.info == textual criticism
So, apply 'textual criticism' to Mark's passage ... Questions??
Whether you accept this passage or not... does it affect your faith, belief? lifestyle? practice??
Answer = only if you intend to test, prove, challenge God by ... casting out demons, speaking in tongues, handling snakes, drinking poison, healing the sick.
ie: testing God in these whether called and gifted to do so... or not!!
Aside from these (above) instances, (tests, challenges) this text should NOT affect your Christina walk (in any way)!!
Applications for today??U
#1. Don't tempt the Lord your God
from Matt. 4:5-7 (from Deut. 6:16)
ie: don't put Him to the test to see if He'll live up to His promises ... AS YOU INTERPRET them!!
example: "Lord will protect me" - therefore stand in the road?
OR publicly handle snakes, drink Draino, etc.
Signs, wonders, miracles DO occur.
But they are not the NORM!!
#2. Note... as a Christian.... You are not called to practice BLIND FAITH!!
"faith" = confidence with Good Reason!!
One one hand, may come to Christ with only evidence = drawing of the Holy Spirit.
BUT ... coming as a baby does not mean you should remain a baby!!!
Heb. 6:1
Eph. 4:14-15
#3. Your faith is strongest when it = Informed Faith!!
Some think "questioning scripture leads to loss of faith!!
However, questioning scripture will more than likely lead to greater confidence, greater faith BECAUSE NOW I'VE QUESTIONED, EXAMINED, AND FOUND THE WORD RELIABLE AND TRUE!!!
So.... (A) don't be afraid to question, examine God's Word (it'll stand the scrutiny)
But...(B) recognize differences in honest inquiry vs. seeking excuses to reject, refuse, rebel (attitude and intent matter!!)
#4. Your faith and practice should NOT be based on (built on) select and obscure texts (like this one!)
Example: 1 Cor. 15:29 - "baptize for the dead"
Remember this...
#5 Whether in Bible Study or daily practice... your obligation (as a follower) is to DISCOVER and Respond to His TRUTH... Not YOUR PREFERENCE!! You don't have that option!!!
Closing Scripture: 2 Tim. 2:15
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