Mark 16:9 to Mark 16:20 are bracketed [ ] in better translations with a margin note that these verses do NOT appear in early manuscripts. It is assumed that a Scribe seeking to provide a closing paragraph to Mark’s rather abrupt ending included these verses apart from the inspired Text.

Mark 16:16 does NOT teach that water baptism is an element of salvation but that “belief” in Messiah by faith is an element of salvation as clarified in part b of the Scripture. The Scripture says nothing about those who believe but are not baptized. Anyone seeking to use Mark 16:16 as textual support for the legalistic doctrine of water baptism as necessary for salvation is guilty of the Negative Inference Fallacy.

It is the one who believes, trusts, in Jesus as Messiah who is saved, not the one who works. The Church of Christ and its doctrinal stance on water as an element of salvation makes this religious organization a religious cult of works.