THE CASE OF THE LAST TWELVE VERSES OF S. MARK’S GOSPEL, STATED.

These Verses generally suspected at the present time. The popularity of this opinion accounted for

THE HOSTILE VERDICT OF BIBLICAL CRITICS SHEWN TO BE QUITE OF RECENT DATE.

Griesbach the first to deny the genuineness of these Verses (p. 6).—Lachmann’s fatal principle (p. 8) the clue to the unfavourable verdict of Tischendorf (p. 9), of Tregelles (p. 10), of Alford (p. 12); which has. been generally adopted by subsequent Scholars and Divines (p. 13).—The nature of the present inquiry explained (p. 15).

THE EARLY FATHERS APPEALED TO, AND OBSERVED TO BEAR FAVOURABLE WITNESS TO THESE VERSES.

Patristic evidence sometimes the most important of any (p. 20).—The importance of such evidence explained (p. 21).—Nineteen Patristic witnesses to these Verses, produced (p. 23).—Summary (p. 30)

THE EARLY VERSIONS EXAMINED, AND FOUND TO YIELD UNFALTERING TESTIMONY TO THE GENUINENESS OF THESE VERSES.

The Peshito,—the Curetonian Syriac,—and the Recension of Thomas of Hharkel (p. 33).—The Vulgate (p. 34)—and the Vetus Itala (p. 35),—the Gothic (p. 35)—and the Egyptian Versions (p. 35).—Review of the Evidence up to this point (p. 36).

THE ALLEGED HOSTILE WITNESS OF CERTAIN OF THE EARLY FATHERS PROVED TO BE AN IMAGINATION OF THE CRITICS.

The mistake concerning Gregory of Nyssa (p.39).—The misconception concerning Eusebius (p.41).—The oversight concerning Jerome (p. 51); also concerning Hesychius of Jerusalem, (or else Severus of Antioch) (p. 57);—and the mis-statement concerning Victor of Antioch (p. 59).

MANUSCRIPT TESTIMONY SHEWN TO BE OVERWHELMINGLY IN FAVOUR OF THESE VERSES.—PART I.

S. Mark xvi. 9-20, contained in every MS. in the world except two,—Irrational claim to Infallibility set up on behalf of Cod. B (p. 73) and Cod. א (p.76).—These two Codices shewn to be full of gross Omissions (p.78),—Interpolations (p. 80),—Corruptions of the Text (p.81),—and Perversions of the Truth (p. 83).—The testimony of Cod. B to S. Mark xvi. 9-20, shewn to be favourable, notwithstanding (p. 86).

MANUSCRIPT TESTIMONY SHEWN TO BE OVERWHELMINGLY IN FAVOUR OF THESE VERSES.—PART II.

The other chief peculiarity of Codices B and א (viz. the omission of the words ἐν Ἐφέσῳ from Ephes. i. 1) considered.—Antiquity unfavourable to the omission of those words (p. 93).—The Moderns infelicitous in their attempts to account for their omission (p. 100).—Marcion probably the author of this corruption of the Text of Scripture (p. 106).—Other peculiarities of Codex א disposed of, and shewn to be errors (p. 109).

THE PURPORT OF ANCIENT SCHOLIA AND NOTES IN MSS. ON THE SUBJECT OF THESE VERSES, SHEWN TO BE THE REVERSE OF WHAT IS COMMONLY SUPPOSED.

Later Editors of the New Testament the victims of their predecessors’ inaccuracies.—Birch’s unfortunate mistake (p. 117).—Scholz’ serious blunders (p. 119 and pp. 120-1).—Griesbach’s sweeping misstatement (pp. 121-2).—The grave misapprehension which has resulted from all this inaccuracy of detail (pp. 122-3).

xiiiCodex L (p. 123).—Ammonius not the author of the so-called “Ammonian” Sections (p.125).—Epiphanius (p. 132).—“Caesarius,” a misnomer.—“The Catenae” misrepresented (p. 133).

INTERNAL EVIDENCE DEMONSTRATED TO BE THE VERY REVERSE OF UNFAVOURABLE TO THESE VERSES.

The “Style” and “Phraseology” of these Verses declared by Critics to be not S. Mark’s.—Insecurity of such Criticism (p.140).—The “Style” of chap. xvi. 9-20 shewn to be the same as the style of chap. i. 9-20 (p.142).—The “Phraseology” examined in twenty-seven particulars, and shewn to be suspicious in none (p.145),—but in twenty-seven particulars shewn to be the reverse (p.170).—Such remarks fallacious (p. 173).—Judged of by a truer, a more delicate and philosophical Test, these Verses proved to be most probably genuine (p. 175)

THE TESTIMONY OF THE LECTIONARIES SHEWN TO BE ABSOLUTELY DECISIVE AS TO THE GENUINENESS OF THESE VERSES.

The Lectionary of the East shewn to be a work of extraordinary antiquity (p.195).—Proved to be older than any extant MS. of the Gospels, by an appeal to the Fathers (p.198).—In this Lectionary, (and also in the Lectionary of the West,) the last Twelve Verses of S. Mark’s Gospel have, from the first, occupied a most conspicuous, as well as most honourable place (p.204).—Now, this becomes the testimony of ante-Nicene Christendom in their favour, and is therefore decisive (p. 209).

THE OMISSION OF THESE TWELVE VERSES IN CERTAIN ANCIENT COPIES OF THE GOSPELS, EXPLAINED AND ACCOUNTED FOR.

The Text of our five oldest Uncials proved, by an induction of instances, to have suffered depravation throughout by the operation of the ancient Lectionary system of the Church (p. 217).—The omission of S. Mark’s “last Twelve Verses,” (constituting an integral Ecclesiastical Lection,) shewn by an appeal to ancient MSS. to be probably only one more example of the same depraving influence (p. 224).

This solution of the problem corroborated by the language of Eusebius and of Hesychius (p. 232); as well as favoured by the “Western” order of the Gospels (p. 239).

GENERAL REVIEW OF THE QUESTIONS SUMMARY OF THE EVIDENCE; AND CONCLUSION OF THE WHOLE SUBJECT:

This discussion narrowed to a single issue (p. 244).—That S. Mark’s Gospel was imperfect from the very first, a thing altogether incredible (p. 246).—But that at some very remote period Copies have suffered mutilation, a supposition probable in the highest degree (p. 248).—Consequences of this admission (p.252).—Parting words (p. 254).

On the Importance of attending to Patristic Citations of Scripture.—The correct Text of S. Luke ii. 14, established (p. 257).

Eusebius “ad Marinum” concerning the reconcilement of S. Mark xvi. 9 with S. Matthew xxviii. 1 (p. 265).

Proof that Hesychius is a Copyist only in what he says concerning the end of S. Mark’s Gospel (p. 267).

Some account of Victor of Antioch’s Commentary on S. Mark’s Gospel; together with a descriptive enumeration of MSS. which contain Victor’s Work (p. 269).

Text of the concluding Scholion of Victor of Antioch’s Commentary on S. Mark’s Gospel; in which Victor bears emphatic Testimony to the Genuineness of “the last Twelve Verses” (p.288).

On the relative antiquity of the Codex Vaticanus (B), and the Codex Sinaiticus (א) (p. 291).

On the (so-called) “Ammonian” Sections and on the Eusebian Canons: a Dissertation. With some account of the Tables of Reference occasionally found in Greek and Syriac MSS. (p. 295).

On the Interpolation of the Text of Codex B and Codex א, at S. Matthew xxvii. 48 or 49 (p. 313).

L’Envoy.

Ἀναστὰς δὲ πρωῒ πρώτῃ σαββάτου ἐφάνη πρῶτον Μαρίᾳ τῇ Μαγδαληνῇ, ἀφ᾽ ἧς ἐκβεβλήκει ἑπτὰ δαιμόνια. ἐκείνη πορευθεῖσα ἀπήγγειλε τοῖς μετʼ αὐτοῦ γενομένοις, πενθοῦσι καὶ κλαίουσι. κἀκεῖνοι ἀκούσαντες ὅτι ζῇ καὶ ἐθεάθη ὑπʼ αὐτῃς ἠπίστησαν.

(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. (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.

Μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα δυσὶν ἐξ αὐτῶν περιπατοῦσιν ἐφανερώθη ἐν ἑτέρᾳ μορφῇ, πορευομένοις εἰς ἀγρόν. κἀκεῖνοι ἀπελθόντες ἀπήγγειλαν τοῖς λοιποῖς· οὐδὲ ἐκείνοις ἐπίστευσαν.

(12) After that He appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. (13) And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

Ὕστερον, ἀνακειμένοις αὐτοῖς τοῖς ἕνδεκα ἐφανερώθη, καὶ ὠνείδισε τὴν ἀπιστίαν αῦτῶν καὶ σκληροκαρδίαν, ὅτι τοῖς θεασαμένοις αὐτὸν ἐγηγερμένον οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν. Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, “Πορευθέντες εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἅπαντα, κηρύξατε τὸ εὐαγγέλιον πάσῃ τῇ κτίσει. ὁ πιστεύσας καὶ βαπτισθεὶς, σωθήσεται· ὁ δὲ ἀπιστήσας, κατακριθήσεται. σημεῖα δὲ τοῖς πιστεύσασι ταῦτα παρακολουθήσει· ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί μου δαιμόνια ἐκβαλοῦσι· γλώσσαις λαλήσουσι καιναῖς· ὄφεις ἀροῦσι· κἂν θανάσιμόν τι πίωσιν, οὐ μὴ αὐτοὺς βλάψει· ἐπὶ ἀρρώστους χεῖρας ἐπιθήσουσι, καὶ καλῶς ἕξουσιν.”

(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. (16) He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (17) And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My Name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; (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.”

Ὁ μὲν οὖν Κύριος, μετὰ τὸ λαλῆσαι αὐτοῖς, ἀνελήφθη εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν, καὶ ἐκάθισεν ἐκ δεξιῶν τοῦ Θεοῦ· ἐκεῖνοι δὲ ἐξελθόντες ἐκήρυξαν πανταχοῦ, τοῦ Κυρίου συνεργοῦντος, καὶ τὸν λόγον βεβαιοῦντος διὰ τῶν ἐπακολουθούντων σημείων. Ἀμήν.

(19) So then after the Loan had spoken unto them, He was received up into Heaven, and sat on the Right Hand of God. (20) And they went forth, and preached every where, the LORD working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.