The end of Mark (not for the first time)
BroJames
Purgatory Host
In the Purgatory thread on textual criticism @KoF posted
As I understand it, there are three possibilitiesthe end (or lack of) of Mark is important if, as many argue, it is a source used to write the other gospels.
- the gospel ended at Mark 16.8
- one of the endings printed in most English bibles is correct
- there is a (probably unrecoverable) lost ending.
Comments
Well, in the scenario I've suggested above it certainly seems relevant: the other gospels must have added some other source for the resurrection story.
The other gospels weren't just wholly copying Mark, of course. They had recourse to various Jesus stories floating around--perhaps these were compiled into the mythical Q document, but I (as is obvious) don't put much stock in that. If Matthew and Luke had recourse to an oral tradition and, perhaps, some participant accounts or the accounts of those who knew the participants, then you have the raw materials for the endings. John is different, since that gospel was more of a group project, especially the ending.
There's a fourth possibility, that we have the ending of Mark incorporated as the ending of either Matthew or Luke, which we know include a lot of Markan material. Other, less serious possibilities include:
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Endings are very significant. It's been observed that we don't know what kind of story we're reading until we know how it ends. I'm reminded of the way Victorians would re-write various plays to give them happy endings. (Romeo and Juliet and Medea are two examples that spring to mind.) Change the ending and you've changed the message.
I should point out that if we assume the Gospel of Mark ends with only the first eight verses of chapter 16 this would be consistent with the endings of a lot of Greek tragedies: a divine pronouncement which often left the characters "trembling and bewildered" and seen as a legitimate end-point of the story.
Just a quick note--
In the accepted end of Mark verses, there is in fact a statement of the resurrection. It just isn't as full as in the other Gospels, which is putting it mildly. Here it is:
Verse 8 is a strange one as it implies that they didn't tell any man about it, even though verse 7 says that they were instructed to do so.
Not that strange. In my life I think I've had more instances of people failing to pass on a message than of their actually passing it on.
That's not been my experience.
If they had not passed it on, we would not be discussing it
That doesn't stop it being a puzzle.
Telford's post reminds me of the start of Jonah, "go tell the Assyrians, but Jonah did not tell anyone" (paraphrase for effect).
But, of course, they must have told somebody or else Mark couldn't have written it down. This is where one of the "extended endings" fits rather nicely, because it then states (paraphrase) "So then Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and told her: 'No, seriously, I really do want you to tell them.' And then she did. And she wasn't believed. And then Jesus appeared to two disciples who were booking out of town, and they went back and reported it. And they weren't believed, either. And then Jesus appeared to the whole group and say 'Oh, for My sake, I can't keep sending people to you! Believe!'"
I am interested by @Crœsos comment that a lot of Greek tragedies have abrupt endings with the main characters trembling in fright. So maybe verse 8 was meant to be the end--even though it would then end on the awkward point @Telford mentions: stating that they didn't tell anybody---when, obviously, they must have. It does not feel like a proper end, even accepting @Thomas Rowans ' argument that the Resurrection itself was not a primary focus for Mark.
Whether that's true I don't know, and Mark's Greek is notoriously rough.
'gar' is in keeping with the disorienting way the narrative arc ends overall. It's a neat idea.
But they fled and did not tell anyone.
A scenario: when the women return to Jerusalem, they likely looked like they had seen a ghost--I know I would. The disciples who had stayed behind take notice at how strange the women were acting. They ask what happened? At first there is silence, but after persistent questioning, one of the women fess-up. And the rest is history.
I love this! I feel really silly for not having considered the ending of Mark in light of the Messianic Secret theme of that gospel. I'll have to go away and play with that idea. Thanks!
@questioning I am taking a preliminary look at the gospel for next week. It contains two parables: the seeds planted in the ground and the mustard seed. What initially strikes me about the mustard seed story is how invasive the plant is, not easy to be manipulated. I think the ending of Mark ties into the story because no matter that the women kept silence about the empty tomb, the story gets out and eventually spreads. Yes, there is more to it, but I find it enlightening how Mark ties the two stories together.