The Long and Short of Mark’s Ending
Mark 16:1–8
1When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you. 8And going out they fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
equals Mark 16:1–8 + intermediate ending
Mark 16:1–8
(quoted under Form 1)
plus intermediate ending
And all that had been commanded them they told briefly to those around Peter. And afterward Jesus himself sent out through them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.
3a equals Mark 16:1–8 + Mark 16:9–20
Mark 16:1–8
(quoted under Form 1)
plus Mark 16:9–20
9Now after he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10She went out and told those who had been with him, while they were mourning and weeping. 11But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. 12After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. 13And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. 14Later he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were sitting at the table; and he upbraided them for their lack of faith and stubbornness, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. 16The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover. 19So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it.
3b equals Mark 16:1–20 + asterisks, obeli or a critical note
Mark 16:1–20
(quoted under Forms 1 and 3a)
plus asterisks, obeli or a critical note
In some copies the evangelist finished here [that is, Mark 16:8]
…but in many copies this also [16:9–20] is in circulation.
equals Mark 16:1–14 + Freer Logion + Mark 16:15–20
Mark 16:1–14
(quoted under Forms 1 and 3)
plus Freer Logion
And they excused themselves, saying, “This age of lawlessness and unbelief is under Satan, who does not allow the truth and power of God to prevail over the unclean things of the spirits. Therefore reveal your righteousness now”—thus they spoke to Christ. And Christ replied to them, “The term of years of Satan’s power has been fulfilled, but other terrible things draw near. And for those who have sinned I was handed over to death, that they may return to the truth and sin no more, that they may inherit the spiritual and imperishable glory of righteousness that is in heaven.”
plus Mark 16:15–20
(quoted under Form 3)
5a-d equals Mark 16:1–8 + critical note +
intermediate ending + critical note + Mark 16:9–20
Mark 16:1–8
(quoted under Form 1)
plus critical note
This also is in circulation.
plus intermediate ending
(quoted under Form 2)
plus critical note
This also is in circulation after “For they were afraid.”
plus 16:9–20
(quoted under Form 3)