Perspectives on the Ending of Mark: Four Views

by David Alan Black

Let me tip my hand at the beginning: I am absolutely convinced that the Longer Ending (Mark 16:9–20)2 is original based on the external evidence, and that it deserves the canonical status it has enjoyed throughout church history. I therefore have consistently preached and taught these verses as the inspired Word of God. In fact, I have even been known to go so far as to quote the Markan version of the Great Commission in public (16:15).3 In my judgment, the internal evidence, while interesting and controversial indeed, holds no satisfactory solution to the problem. What it does reveal is that the Longer Ending is different in some ways from the rest of the Gospel of Mark. How can one best account for these differences? There's the rub, and it is at that point that I hope to make a helpful contribution to the discussion. I believe the best answer to this question is provided by taking the Synoptic Problem into account. Once again, I will show you my cards. I will argue that Mark originally ended his Gospel narrative (comprised of the actual words of Peter) at 16:8 and then later supplied the last twelve verses himself as a suitable conclusion. Of course, this view is based on a certain solution to the Synoptic Problem, a topic that will occupy a major portion of this paper.