Mark 16 – Skeptic's Annotated Bible answered
A response and reply to the notes on Mark 16 in the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB).
King James Version
SAB comment
My comment
1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
When did the women (or woman) arrive?
3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
Was the tomb opened or closed when the women arrived?
4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
Was the man (men or angels) inside or outside?
Were the men or angels sitting or standing?
Who did the women see?
On if the angels were sitting or standing, see Luke 24:4.
On whom the women did see, see Matthew 28:2.
6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
Jesus came back to life after being dead for a while.
7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
Where did Jesus tell his disciples to go?
8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
Did the women immediately tell the disciples?
9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
To whom did Jesus first appear?
Verses 9-20 were are not found in the earlier manuscripts and are therefore considered later additions. So the gospel of Mark ended without anyone seeing the resurrected Jesus or any of the cool stuff about snake handling, drinking poison, or damned non-believers.
The author of the SAB also claims that verses nine till twenty do not appear in the earlier manuscripts. Or as the author of the SAB seems to claim: they are later additions. In order to make that claim we need to have the autograph of Mark. Else we wouldn't know. We could have a manuscript that didn't have verse nine till twenty, but perhaps it was deleted for some reason. Unfortunately we don't have the autograph so we'll need to resort to indirect methods to determine what manuscripts are the most reliable.
First of all, almost every manuscript that contains Mark has the verses nine till twenty. The two notable exceptions are the Vatican and Sinai manuscripts which are the ones the author of the SAB calls “earlier”. But if, let's say a ninth century manuscript is based on a second century manuscript but our Vatican manuscript is based upon a corrupted manuscript of the third century, which one would be more reliable?
As the last verses of Mark are quoted by Church Fathers such as Irenaeus, Vincentius and Hippolytus in the second and third century and used in the Greek liturgy probably already the 3rd century we have clear evidence these verses predate the ‘older’ manuscripts. For more, read the most complete discussion ever on this topic in the Catholic Encyclopedia.
It is interesting to note that the Vatican and Sinai manuscripts are known as the Alexandrian texts. Alexandria was a place in Egypt and was never visited by any of the apostles. It is known in church history as the origin of many heretics, notably Arius, who denied that Jesus is God, and Basilides, a gnostic teacher.
The interested reader should also read The Style Of The Long Ending Of Mark. Another good summary is “How did Mark's Gospel end” by James Patrick Holding who quotes Ben Witherington to make several unique points.
10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
Jesus transformed himself into a different form, appearing as a completely different person. (Maybe the disciples saw another person and assumed it was Jesus.)
The author of the SAB also says “assumed it was Jesus.” That's quite contrary to the description given of the disciples. They were hard pressed to believe it was Jesus, it took a lot of convincing. They absolutely do not appear as eager to assume someone is Jesus.it seems to have been the form, or habit of a gardener that he appeared in to Mary; since she thought him to be one, and to be the gardener that belonged to the garden, in which the sepulchre was: but now it was in another form, or habit, that he appeared; very likely in the habit of a Scribe, or doctor; since he took upon him to expound the Scriptures to the persons he appeared to
13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.
14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Should the gospel be preached to everyone?
BOM: Mormon 9:22
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Is Salvation by faith alone?
How are people judged by God?
What must you do to be saved?
BOM: Mormon 9:23
On how people will be judged: they will be judged according to their deeds, their words and their thoughts as God's law requires perfect obedience. For those who believe in Christ they will be judged according to Christ's perfect obedience as they have taken on his righteousness and don't appear before God with their own righteousness. Faith does not save in and by itself. It is as the hand that receives a gift. So does faith receive the righteousness of Christ by believing that he is the son of God.
On what you must do to be saved: either keep the law, perfectly and without fail. But who does not sin (Eccl. 7:20)? Or else seek a righteousness outside the law.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
How to tell a believer: They can: - cast out devils,
- speak in tongues,
- handle serpents,
- drink deadly poisons,
- heal the sick.
Who can cast out devils in the name of Jesus?
What the Bible says about believers and Christians
BOM: 2 Nephi 31:14, Mormon 9:24
"He ... sat on the right hand of God."
Is Jesus God?
"The Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs."
Did Jesus perform any signs?
- The Bible says only true believers can cast out devils.
- The Bible says some unbelievers cast out devils.
- The Bible says true believers can cast out devils.
- The Bible says some unbelievers cast out devils.
On true Christians, the author of the SAB seems to make the claim that only if a believer casts out devils, speaks in tongues, take up serpents and drink poison without getting hurt, he or she is a true believer. That is not what the Bible claims. Although these signs follow them that believe, see Acts 28:3-6, it does not mean Christians must put themselves in danger to prove their faith. That is contrary to Scripture, see Matthew 4:5-7. It might be interesting to note here that Mohammad died from the effects of poisoning (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 47).
On if Jesus did do many signs, it is abundantly clear he did.
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
"After the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven."
When did Jesus ascend into heaven?
20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
How many women came to the sepulcre?