Where Does the Gospel of Mark End?

Consideration of the Four Endings

The Abrupt Ending (1)

The two oldest Greek manuscripts (the Vaticanus (B) and Sinaiticus (À) written in the 4th century), the Old Latin codex Bobiensis (it^k), the Sinaitic Syriac, about one hundred Armenian manuscripts, and the oldest Georgian manuscripts conclude with 16:8, ² ³ ⁴ supporting the idea that Mark's writing did not include verses 9-20.

The Shorter Ending (2)

The shorter ending is generally regarded as an attempt to provide a more appropriate, smooth ending to verse 8. In all but one case, the longer ending (3) follows the shorter ending, indicating these two sections were developed independently and then later combined. It also contains language not used by Mark. While it attempts to provide an opportunity for the women to follow the command in verse 7 to "go tell [the] disciples and Peter", it contradicts 8b "they said nothing to anyone" (Mark 16:7-8).

The Longer Ending (3)

The longer ending enjoys the support of the majority of manuscripts.⁵ But while there are many more manuscripts containing the longer ending, they all postdate the manuscripts omitting this section. Several early Christian writers such as Augustine (who lived in the fifth century) reference the longer ending in their writing, but the earliest church fathers such as Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Cyprian, and Cyril of Jerusalem make no mention of the section.⁶ Jerome (who lived in late 3rd and early 4th centuries) wrote that the longer endings was absent from almost all Greek codices know to him and Eusebius did not include it in his 'canons'⁷ saying that "accurate" copies of Mark end with verse 8.⁸ Justin may have made reference to verse 20 (I Apol. 45),⁹ but the earliest confirmed quotation from verses 9-20 comes from Irenaeus (A.D. 177).

The longer ending also has problems with its style and flow of thought. First, the vocabulary of 9-20 contains several phrases found nowhere else in Mark, and language found nowhere else in the New Testament.¹⁰ Verses 9-11 also begin with a new assumed subject (Jesus), and reintroduces Mary as if she had not been mentioned before. This awkward transition may indicate this section was originally compiled as a catechetical summary that was later appended to the end of Mark¹¹ or that it was excerpted from another document.¹² Whatever its origin, it was most likely not written by Mark.

2.	Metzger, Bruce M., A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, Second Edition (New York, New York: American Bible Society, 1994), 102.
3.	Lane, William L., The Gospel According to Mark (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 1974), 601.
4.	Cranfield, C.E.B., Gospel According to St. Mark (New York, New York: Cambridge University Press, 1977), 471.
5.	Mark 16 - Authentic and Inspired. The Revival Fellowship. 2/12/02. <http://www.trf.org.au/article34.asp>.
6.	Metzger, Bruce M., A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, Second Edition, 103.
7.	Cranfield, C.E.B., Gospel According to St. Mark, 471.
8.	Lane, William L., The Gospel According to Mark, 601.
9.	Cranfield, C.E.B., Gospel According to St. Mark, 472.
10.	Metzger, Bruce M., A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, Second Edition, 104.
11.	Cranfield, C.E.B., Gospel According to St. Mark, 472.
12.	Metzger, Bruce M., A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, Second Edition, 105.