6. Commonly Misunderstood Bible Verses (CMBV) Mark 16:17-18

[GoldenEagle]

I agree that we should not tempt God by purposefully handling deadly snakes or drinking poison. But there is the promise that should these things inadvertently happen, especially while in God's service, that God will heal them. And while walking in obedience to God should we be led to lay hands on the sick, He does say they will recover.

The Alexandrian text, while the latest discovery of a complete manuscript and oldest to date, is like discovering the Jehovah's Wittness' version of the Bible, the New World Translation.

The Gnostics not only wrote false gospels, they changed the Holy Bible to fit their cult's beliefs. The Alexandrian/Gnostic manuscripts are the least reliable for that reason. Since the letters of the church fathers quoted these verses and by far predated the Alexandrian texts, there is still plenty of reason to leave the verses in. Even the Majority text uses the longer ending of Mark, and that was the text that was most copied and relied on by the Greek speaking church. But since believers usually copied onto parchment, fewer survived and since they were often copied by laymen for their own used, many errors were made. Still, Vss 16-20 are included in the Tyndale's translation of the Majority text as well as Young's Litteral Translation of Textus Receptus, the Peshitta, the Vulgate and all early translations that I am aware of that predated the discovery of the Gnostic Alexandrian version.

 

I agree we shouldn't tempt God by purposefully putting ourselves in theses situations.

 

Yes exactly regarding the Alexandrian text. Very well put sister.

[GoldenEagle]

 

 

1. What do you think about Mark 16:17-18?

 

I think I agree with everyone else threads on this. 

 

3) How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken  by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him;  4) God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own will?  Hebrews 2:3-4 

 

IMO yes we as followers of Christ still have these ability but not to such a degree as the early Church did.  And one must remember while God has given us power over these things, that doesn't mean I take up a snake and say God promise to heal me, for this would be to tempt God, but if one by accident was bitten by a snake God would cure the person.

2. What do you think of the thoughts in the above quote?

 

Mostly disagree with the overall view.

 

 

3. Where do you stand on the ending of Mark?

 

Mark's Gospel was written by Mark while Peter spoke to him what to write.  Peter in Acts 2:24 share the fact that Jesus did rise from the dead, and again stated in Acts 10:39-40 that himself and the Apostle where witnesses of the Resurrection.  Yet when I read of modern Bible Scholars questioning the ending of Mark I can almost see the serpent coming to the woman and  stating Yea, hath God said,  Genesis 3:1.   But after Peter did mention the whole Gospel message (see I Corinthians 15:3-4) in his sermons we are suppose to believe that he ended the Gospel of which he is associated with, without the Apostle Witness of the Resurrection or that our All Powerful God was to weak to preserve His Word either idea is very offensive to me (I know some don't seem to have a problem with this)

 

I also take a look at the Book of I Peter and find it interesting that in quoting Isaiah 40:8 he claimed that the Word that Isaiah refers to is the Gospel preached unto you, I Peter 1:24-25.  So the Gospel being eternal, would God have allowed part of  His love letter (Luke 1:3 Theophilus-- dear, friend to God, or even of lover of God)  to His people to be misplaced or lost.   Peter even preached the Gospel message in I Peter 1:17-25.   Which includes Who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him Glory, that your faith and hope might be in God.  I Peter 1:21.

 

One thing I know is most scholars think that the language changes so much from verse 8 to 9 in Mark 16 that it couldn't be Mark that wrote It, not sure about that, but I have often wondered if maybe while Peter was telling Mark what to write, right after verse 8 the Holy Spirit so overpowered Peter that he told Mark to move while he wrote the last 12 verses.

 

So yes I believe that Mark 16:9-20 is truly authentic and the very Word of God.  I think I pretty much in agreement with Willamina on this.

 

Amen! I would agree with what you've said. Very well put!

[Amplitudo]

The signs were given to validate the authority of the apostles. It is not a consistent herminutic to look into Scripture and attempt to claim for ourselves today all that we see believers doing and accomplishing in history.

 

Beyond that, there are zero confirmed reports of the signs given to the early church through spiritual gifts (healing, tongues, etc.) present in history after the early church or in the world today. Certainly, there are millions of claims, but none of them have ever been substantiated.

 

Also, I am confident the verses belong.

Edited November 4, 2013 by Amplitudo

[Digout]

 

And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ¹⁸ they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well. Mark 16:17–18

 

Many scholars believe the Gospel of Mark originally ended at verse 8. With this in mind, the team takes the position that there’s no foundation to believe in those practices because they’re not in the original. They add, however, that this verse doesn’t mean every Christian will do these things, but there certainly was that kind of activity in the early church—casting out of demons, speaking in other languages, handling of snakes (e.g., Paul on the Island of Malta). Not that anyone should seek to engage in these activities, but they did occur.

Source: http://www.reasons.org/blogs/take-two/a-look-at-10-or-so-commonly-misunderstood-bible-verses

1. What do you think about Mark 16:17-18?

2. What do you think of the thoughts in the above quote?

 

3. Where do you stand on the ending of Mark?

 

I believe that they are all relevant verses, but not for our testing. We may experience similar things in our life though not exactly. As a matter fact, much more wonderous things may happen!