Quote:
Originally Posted by Timmy
Is it known, to any certainty, how many generations of copying there is between the oldest extant copies and the originals?
A theory I've read on this passage has it that the very original ending of Mark was lost forever, damaged from being on the outermost portion of the rolled up scroll. The ending we have now was added by a scribe at some point (possibly very early), based on other writings and/or oral testimony. This commentary also said we should not assume it is not inspired, but didn't go into much detail as to why -- other than to say it is (to some extent) consistent with other scriptures. Not sure I buy that. It's one thing to see Paul shake a viper off of his hand ( Acts 28), and another matter to turn this into a sign that will follow all believers! |
Generations? Yes, exact number of copies? No. Why? Because many could have been destroyed
I don't think the verses in Mark were saying anyways that these are all signs that will follow each and every believer, but rather are potentional signs.