Mark 16:15-20

In the gospel of Mark Jesus sends out his disciples, saying: "Go out to the whole world; proclaim the gospel to all creation."

In many versions of the Bible the gospel of Mark ends with the 8th verse of this chapter. Verses 9-20 are included in some ancient manuscripts but not in others, thus it seems these verses were added at a later date. Without these verses, the gospel of Mark ends with a report that the women who found the tomb empty went away too fearful to speak to anyone. With verses 15-20 the gospel of Mark ends much like the gospel of Matthew with a commandment to the disciples of Jesus to preach the gospel throughout the world.

The original gospel of Mark may have wanted to direct the reader's attention away from the disciples of Jesus to the apostle Paul. The apostles of the church in Jerusalem, who were the former disciples of Jesus, were resisting Paul's teaching among the Gentiles that made faith sufficient for salvation and thus made keeping Jewish law unnecessary. The gospel of Mark seems to have been written to support largely Gentile churches. By omitting a charge by the risen Lord to his former disciples (now apostles), the gospel of Mark effectively undermines the church in Jerusalem (which they led). For readers aware of Paul's ministry, the gospel seems to favor his gospel to the Gentiles.

Grace and peace...Bob