The Last Twelve Verses of Mark

A study of the authenticity and interpretation of the last twelve verses of St Mark's Gospel.

William R. Farmer (Author)

9780521020527, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 6 October 2005

144 pages
21.6 x 14 x 0.4 cm, 0.194 kg

A study of the authenticity and interpretation of the last twelve verses of St Mark's Gospel. These verses are omitted from at least one important manuscript tradition and queried in most modern translations (though not from the NEB). Professor Farmer traces the history of the text tradition for omission back to Egypt, and argues that one important factor contributing to their omission was the dangerous teaching they seemed to contain: they appear to encourage Christians to handle deadly snakes and drink poisons to prove their faith, a practice which has been revived today by some Christian sects who accept the scriptural authority of these verses. The teaching of these verses has, however, never become established in orthodox Christianity and indeed most Christians are unaware of their doctrinal significance. Professor Farmer reviews all the textual and patristic evidence and examines the most plausible solutions that have been canvassed. This is another substantial contribution to a series that has set the highest standards of scholarship in biblical and New Testament studies.

Preface
Abbreviations
Part I. The External Evidence: 1. The witness of Eusebis
2. The witness of Jerome
3. A scholium to Victor of Antioch's commentary
4. The witness of Origen
5. Summary of witness for inclusion
6. B, N, and the Armenian version: the chief witnesses for omission
7. Alexandria and the chief witnesses for omission
8. Remaining manuscript witnesses for omission
9. Evaluation of the manuscript evidence
10. A proposed conjectural solution
11. A tentative conclusion
Part II. The Internal Evidence: 12. Introduction
13. An examination of the fiction of Mk. 16: 9-20
Part III. Conclusions: 14. Summary statement
15. Concluding statement
Bibliography
Indexes.

Subject Areas: Religion: general [HRA]