Warning: Mark 16:9-20 used by false teachers with intent or by ignorance to promote false doctrine in the apostasy of charismata. What is the Truth?

False doctrines such as “Baptism Saves,” “Snake Handling” and “Drinking Poison” as evidence of the Holy Spirit’s presence or evidence of salvation or evidence of “Baptism in the Holy Spirit”…these doctrines of demons find their origin in Scriptural additions not authorized by the Holy Spirit.

Mark 16:9-20 is far too often used by apostates, those with an agenda seeking to obscure and deny the sufficiency of faith, alone, in Messiah Jesus as foundational to salvation, forgiveness of sin, initiation of covenant promise with the Father.

Mark 16:9-20 is far too often used by zealots seeking self-aggrandizement in “Churches” of charismata, Pentecostalism, Full-Gospel Churches, Non-denominational Churches, to promote ludicrous-dangerous behavior, demonically rooted fanaticism.

Mark 16:9-20 is an addition to the Scriptures that does NOT appear in early manuscripts. Mark 16:9-20 was most likely an addendum to Mark’s rather abrupt Gospel conclusion and most likely added as an addendum by a well-meaning Scribe who never intended for the paragraph to be absorbed into the inspired Text.

Most likely, as Mark’s Gospel was copied and recopied over time, the addendum found its way into the Text by error; therefore, do not base doctrine or Church protocol, your personal walk with Jesus, on Mark 16:9-20 and know that the better Bible translations bracket these verses and warn you that they’re not found in early manuscripts.

Mark 16:9-20 (NASB)

9 [[[c]Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. 10 She went and reported to those who had been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping. 11 And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it.

12 Now after that, He appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country. 13 And they went away and reported it to the rest, but they did not believe them, either.

The Disciples Commissioned

14 Later He appeared to the eleven disciples themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reprimanded them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen from the dead. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 The one who has believed and has been baptized will be saved; but the one who has not believed will be condemned. 17 These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

19 So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.]]

[[[d]And they promptly reported all these instructions to Peter and his companions. And after that, Jesus Himself also sent out through them from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.]]

Footnotes

1. Mark 16:1 Or Jacob
2. Mark 16:4 I.e., its size drew their attention
3. Mark 16:9 Later mss add vv 9-20
4. Mark 16:20 A few late mss and ancient versions contain this paragraph, usually after v 8; a few have it at the end of the ch