This teaching of Mark 16 was given by Pastor Barry Forder at our family service on 16th December 2018 and concludes our verse-by-verse journey through the Gospel of Mark.
In this study we look at the last chapter in this incredible Gospel, considering the evidence for the Resurrection, and the preposterous claim put forward by the Jewish leadership, that the Disciples of Jesus had come and stolen the body – while a highly trained unit of Rome’s finest soldiers just slept??!!
We also look at the claim that the last 16 verses of Mark’s Gospel were a later addition. The claim is made that in two of the ‘oldest’ and ‘most reliable’ manuscripts these verses were not there, thus proving them to be a later addition.
This all sounds very scholarly, and the average person will simply accept the footnotes in their ‘Bible’, after all, surely we can trust the translators can’t we?
Well actually no. A resounding no!
We now know that Sinaiticus and Vaticanus (the two manuscripts referred to as being older and more reliable) are totally unreliable and were actually forgeries set up by the Roman Catholic church with the express attempt to undermine the true text of the Bible as has been passed down, century to century.
The sad fact is that most people simply accept modern translations, believing the ‘it’s easier to read’ propaganda without realising that whole verses are missing, words are changed, the Deity of Christ is intentionally obfuscated, and error after error is introduced into the text.
God had preserved His word, and every jot and tittle does matter!
Modern versions are nothing more than a commentary on the text (at best), where the translators tell you what they think the original Hebrew or Greek text said. Not what it actually says, so that you can be guided yourself by the Holy Spirit to understand God’s Word.
May this study bless and challenge you!
We love and serve a Risen Saviour who does not leave us afraid (v8), but empowers us to be witnesses of His resurrection to this world!
Every blessing,
Pastor Barry
December 2018
