Hi Deep,
As usual, you throw out a smoke screen, copy/pasted from one of your atheist gurus/gods -- Dawkins, Hitchens, et al -- and give zero references where you found it. Why? Are you afraid it is too easy to refute your sources?
Deep, you postulate, "The Book of Mark (not Mark's writing, obviously, just entitled that) is widely known as the first Gospel. But what if it's a work of fiction?. . . Mark's original book did not include the last twelve verses."
While both religious and secular writers tell us that Mark and the Gospel he wrote are not fictional nor fabricated -- I will agree that, most likely, verses 9-20 of Mark 16 were not written by Mark. It does appear that a scribe, or scribes, added this at some later point in time. However, this does not, in any way, change the message and theme of the book: Jesus Christ, the Servant Son.
Actually, you will find that each of the four Gospels has a specific theme or focus. Much the same as sports writers who report Alabama football games will find a unique focus for their stories. One may focus on the offense and the running game; another may focus on the skills of the quarterback; another may focus on the awesome Alabama defense (as Arkansas discovered this past week); while a fourth may focus on the coaching.
All are writing about Alabama football -- but, each with a different focus. Thus, we, the readers -- get a more complete picture of the game by reading the stories of all four sports writers. The same is true when we read the four Gospels -- we get a more complete understanding of Jesus Christ and His earthly ministry.
Viewing the four Gospels:
Matthew's Gospel sees Jesus Christ at the King -- because he is writing primarily for the Jews.
Mark's Gospel sees Jesus Christ as the Servant Son -- he is writing for the Gentiles.
Luke's Gospel pictures Jesus Christ as the Perfect Man.
John's Gospel -- the fourth Gospel, the Gospel written by the apostle John -- has more of a theological emphasis, focusing on the deity of Jesus Christ -- the preexisting Son of God, God the Son.
Same game, different focus. Same Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, seen from four different points of view.
Four Gospels! One Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ -- the overall theme of the entire Bible.
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SHOULD MARK 16:9-20 BE IN THE BIBLE?
Got Questions Ministry -- GotQuestions.Org
http://www.gotquestions.org/Mark-16-9-20.html
Question: "Should Mark 16:9-20 be in the Bible?"
Answer: Although the vast majority of later Greek manuscripts contain Mark 16:9-20, the Gospel of Mark ends at verse 8 in two of the oldest and most respected manuscripts, the Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus. As the oldest manuscripts are known to be the most accurate because they were copied from the original autographs (i.e., they are copies of the originals), and the oldest manuscripts do not contain vv. 9-20, we can conclude that these verses were added later by scribes.
The internal evidence from this passage also casts doubt on Mark as the author (of verses 9-20). For one thing, the transition between verses 8 and 9 is abrupt and awkward. . . . The author should be continuing the story of the women based on the word “now,” not jumping to the appearance to Mary Magdalene. Further, for Mark to introduce Mary Magdalene here as though for the very first time (v. 9) is odd because she had already been introduced in Mark’s narrative (Mark 15:40, 47, 16:1), another evidence that this section was not written by Mark. . .
While the added ending offers no new information, nor does it contradict previously revealed events and/or doctrine, both the external and internal evidence make it quite certain that Mark did not write it. In reality, ending his Gospel in verse 8 with the description of the amazement of the women at the tomb is entirely consistent with the rest of the narrative. Amazement at the Lord Jesus seems to be a theme with Mark. . . . Some, or even one, of the early scribes, however, apparently missed the thematic evidence and felt the need to add a more conventional ending.
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GOSPEL OF MARK
Got Questions Ministry -- GotQuestions.Org
http://www.gotquestions.org/Gospel-of-Mark.html
Author: Although the Gospel of Mark does not name its author, it is the unanimous testimony of early church fathers that Mark was the author. He was an associate of the Apostle Peter, and evidently his spiritual son (1 Peter 5:13). From Peter he received first-hand information of the events and teachings of the Lord, and preserved the information in written form.
It is generally agreed that Mark is the John Mark of the New Testament (Acts 12:12). His mother was a wealthy and prominent Christian in the Jerusalem church, and probably the church met in her home. Mark joined Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey, but not on the second because of a strong disagreement between the two men (Acts 15:37-38). However, near the end of Paul’s life he called for Mark to be with him (2 Timothy 4:11).
Date of Writing: The Gospel of Mark was likely one of the first books written in the New Testament, probably in A.D. 57-59.
Purpose of Writing: Whereas Matthew is written primarily to his fellow Jews, Mark’s gospel appears to be targeted to the Roman believers, particularly Gentiles. Mark wrote as a pastor to Christians who previously had heard and believed the Gospel (Romans 1:8). He desired that they have a biographical story of Jesus Christ as Servant of the Lord and Savior of the world in order to strengthen their faith in the face of severe persecution and to teach them what it meant to be His disciples.
Brief Summary: This gospel is unique because it emphasizes Jesus’ actions more than His teaching. It is simply written, moving quickly from one episode in the life of Christ to another. It does not begin with a genealogy as in Matthew, because Gentiles would not be interested in His lineage. After the introduction of Jesus at His baptism, Jesus began His public ministry in Galilee and called the first four of His twelve disciples. What follows is the record of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.
Mark’s account is not just a collection of stories, but a narrative written to reveal that Jesus is the Messiah, not only for the Jews, but for the Gentiles as well. In a dynamic profession, the disciples, led by Peter, acknowledged their faith in Him (Mark 8:29-30), even though they failed to understand fully His Messiahship until after His resurrection.
As we follow His journeys through Galilee, the surrounding areas, and then to Judea, we realize what a rapid pace He set. He touched the lives of many people, but He left an indelible mark on His disciples. At the transfiguration (Mark 9:1-9), He gave three of them a preview of His future return in power and glory, and again it was revealed to them who He was.
Connections: Because Mark’s intended audience was the Gentiles, he does not quote as frequently from the Old Testament as Matthew, who was writing primarily to the Jews. He does not begin with a genealogy to link Jesus with the Jewish patriarchs, but begins instead with His baptism, the beginning of His earthly ministry. But even there, Mark quotes from an Old Testament prophecy regarding the messenger -- John the Baptist -- who would exhort the people to “prepare the way for the Lord” (Mark 1:3; Isaiah 40:3) as they awaited the coming of their Messiah.
Practical Application: Mark presents Jesus as the suffering Servant of God (Mark 10:45) and as the One who came to serve and sacrifice for us, in part to inspire us to do the same. We are to minister as He did, with the same greatness of humility and devotion to the service of others. Jesus exhorted us to remember that to be great in God’s kingdom, we must be the servant of all (Mark 10:44). Self-sacrifice should transcend our need for recognition or reward, just as Jesus was willing to be abased as He lay down His life for the sheep.
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Deep, my Friend, your Tag Line reads: Nothing is worse than ignorance with conviction.
I would change that to read: Nothing is worse than bold statements made -- with nothing to support them. This makes them look like horses with no legs!
My Friend, be careful riding horses with no legs! You end up with saddle sores -- and get nowhere!
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
