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British Library

In the early New Testament manuscripts, including the fourth-century Codex Sinaiticus (shown here) from the British Library, the Gospel of Mark ends with the line “And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid” (Mark 16:8) (in the second column from the left in the photo). Only in later manuscripts do we read of Jesus’ reappearance to Mary Magdalene and the disciples, and of his subsequent assumption into heaven. In the accompanying article, author Michael Holmes evaluates the originality of the short and long endings of Mark.