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Oldest & Best Manuscript Evidence Database

Mark 16:9-20

The Longer Ending of Mark

KJV Reading Defended

Mark 16:9-20, the longer ending of Mark.

Why the KJV Reading Is Retained

Modern critical editions often bracket or footnote Mark 16:9-20 because several early witnesses end Mark at 16:8.

Disputed unit

The ending complex at Mark 16:8/38–16:20/33, with five ending states.

Major omitted passageMajority Greek supportPatristic supportLatin supportSyriac supportLectionary supportScant evidence against KJV

Evidence assessment

The Longer Ending is carried by Codex Ephraemi, Bezae, Washingtonianus, Sangallensis, Koridethi, Families 1 and 13, twenty-six further named Greek entries, three lectionaries and the Byzantine reconstructed witness, with the Latin D/I/V states, Peshitta and Harklean, Ethiopic and Gothic. Irenaeus quotes Mark 16:19 as the conclusion of Mark's Gospel around AD 180. Sinaiticus, Vaticanus and 304 end at 16:8, and four further Greek entries carry the Short Ending before the Longer Ending.

Primary support for the KJV reading

Byzantine reconstructed witness with second-century patristic quotation

King James Bible reading

Mark 16:9-20 in the King James Bible

The longer ending of Mark, including the resurrection appearances, the commission, and the ascension statement.
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Evidence sources

Where the evidence on this page comes from.

Sources used for the witnesses, readings, dates, and notes on this page. Complete citations appear in the References section at the end of the page.

Governing apparatus and count scope

The current digital ECM Mark apparatus, built on full transcriptions of 209 selected Greek manuscripts together with the reconstructed versional and patristic states. Counts below name the entries this apparatus displays.

Full witness information

Earliest KJV-supporting evidence

The earliest reviewed support at a glance.

Before AD 150 — Epistula Apostolorum, related awareness of the longer ending. Exact citation: c. AD 180 — Irenaeus quotes Mark 16:19 by name.

Earliest surviving Greek support: Fifth century — Codices A, C, D, and W.

Primary support for the KJV reading

Byzantine reconstructed witness with second-century patristic quotation

The sections below preserve each supporting, competing, and related record under its proper evidence type.

Majority Text standing

The Longer Ending, Mark 16:9-20

The Longer Ending is the overwhelming numerical Majority Text reading and the form transmitted by nearly the entire surviving Greek manuscript tradition.

Estimated Greek support: Approximately 1,653 Greek manuscripts

This is the site's established working count for Greek manuscripts containing the Longer Ending. The exact total can change as fragmentary, damaged, or newly catalogued witnesses are assessed.

Source scope and denominator

The current digital ECM Mark apparatus, built on full transcriptions of 209 selected Greek manuscripts together with the reconstructed versional and patristic states. Counts below name the entries this apparatus displays.

Greek support in the cited corpus

33 named Greek entries plus three lectionaries and the Byzantine reconstructed witness carry the Longer Ending

Greek competing evidence in the cited corpus

3 named Greek entries end at 16:8

Lectionary evidence

Over 1,000 Greek lectionaries

Principal competing witnesses named in the snapshot

  • Codex Sinaiticus (01)
  • Codex Vaticanus (03)
  • Minuscule 304

Evidence represented on this page

Greek manuscripts

Represented

Ancient versions

Represented

Church fathers

Represented

Printed editions

No entry listed

Complete source-scoped roster

Complete roster within the stated source scope.

This roster preserves every named or grouped state recovered in the governing sources, including exact readings, competing readings, corrections, related forms, lacunae, versions, and aggregate traditions. When Maj or Byz appears on the KJV side, it marks the numerically dominant Greek transmission at that unit. The green Majority Text card above supplies the best available passage-specific estimate. The grouped siglum is then retained so it is not mistaken for one individual manuscript.

Apparatus and roster scope

The current digital ECM Mark apparatus, built on full transcriptions of 209 selected Greek manuscripts together with the reconstructed versional and patristic states. Counts below name the entries this apparatus displays.

Greek support in cited scope
33 named Greek entries plus three lectionaries and the Byzantine reconstructed witness carry the Longer Ending
Greek competing evidence in cited scope
3 named Greek entries end at 16:8
Evidence classification
Byzantine reconstructed witness with second-century patristic quotation

Mark 16:8/38–16:20/33 — the ending complex

KJV/TR unit: the Longer Ending, Mark 16:9–20

Greek manuscripts

Supports the KJV/TR form

Longer Ending

04 05 032 037 038 1 13 28 33 69 124 205 209 346 427 543 565 700 732 788 792 826 828 892 983 1342 1424 1542S 1582 1689 2193 2542S 2886

Grouped evidence: Byz · [055V]

Lectionaries

Supports the KJV/TR form

L547 L844 L2211

Versional states

Supports the KJV/TR form

L:DIV K:Sms>B S:PHT Ä Go

Greek manuscripts

Related or qualified evidence

Short Ending followed by the Longer Ending

019 044 083V 579 K:Bms

Greek manuscripts

Related or qualified evidence

Short Ending, intermediate material, then the Longer Ending

099V K:Smss>Bms>F

Versional states

Related or qualified evidence

Short Ending only

L:K S:Hᴹ

Greek manuscripts

Competing reading

the Gospel ends at 16:8

01 03 304

Patristic and versional sigla on the end-at-16:8 line

Competing reading

Eus HesH PetrEv SevAnt CPA:CL2 K:Smss S:Vˢ

Assignment open among the Longer-Ending states

Non-directional evidence

4

Non-extant or partial

Non-directional evidence

041S 055 083 0233 L211 L547S L950

Church Fathers and literary witnesses

Precisely located citations and additional names reported by the controlling apparatus are kept separate. An apparatus-level attribution is not presented as an independently verified exact quotation.

Justin Martyr

AD 101–200

Rome

Record attached to Mark 16:20

Supporting witnessCitation type: Allusion

Uses language connected with Mark 16:20

Locator: INTF 12554

Open source

Epistula Apostolorum

before AD 150

Early church

Apparatus-level attribution

Supporting witnessCitation type: Patristic citation

The controlling apparatus reports Epistula Apostolorum for this reading, but the exact work and section are not identified in the current dossier.

Locator: Digital Editio Critica Maior, Mark (INTF), Mark 16:8/38–16:20/33; exact work and section are not separately identified in the current dossier

Open source

Tatian / Diatessaron

c. AD 170

Syria

Apparatus-level attribution

Supporting witnessCitation type: Patristic citation

The controlling apparatus reports Tatian / Diatessaron for this reading, but the exact work and section are not identified in the current dossier.

Locator: Digital Editio Critica Maior, Mark (INTF), Mark 16:8/38–16:20/33; exact work and section are not separately identified in the current dossier

Open source

Irenaeus

c. AD 180

Gaul

Against Heresies 3.10.5

Supporting witnessCitation type: Direct quotation

Quotes Mark 16:19 by name near the conclusion of Mark.

Locator: SC 211, INTF 10081

Open source

Eusebius of Caesarea

AD 301–333

Quaestiones ad Marinum, on 16:9

Mixed witnessCitation type: Evidence on both forms

Manuscript report in Quaestiones ad Marinum, on 16:9.

Locator: INTF 9725, 9726, 9727, 9730

Open source

Asterius

AD 301–400

Record at Mark 16:17

Supporting witnessCitation type: Close quotation

Close quotation in Record at Mark 16:17.

Locator: INTF 9980

Open source

Ephrem Syrus, Commentary on Tatian's Diatessaron

c. AD 360

Syria

Apparatus-level attribution

Supporting witnessCitation type: Patristic citation

Uses Mark 16:15 in connection with the Diatessaron

Locator: Digital Editio Critica Maior, Mark (INTF), Mark 16:8/38–16:20/33; exact work and section are not separately identified in the current dossier

Open source

Apostolic Constitutions

AD 367–400

Syria

Records at Mark 16:9 and 16:15–19

Supporting witnessCitation type: Direct quotation

Direct quotation in Records at Mark 16:9 and 16:15–19.

Locator: INTF 11944, 9513–9516

Open source

Macarius Magnes

AD 367–433

Apocriticus, on 16:9, 15, 17 and 18

Supporting witnessCitation type: Direct quotation

Direct quotation in Apocriticus, on 16:9, 15, 17 and 18.

Locator: INTF 10436, 10437, 10438, 10440, 10441

Open source

Ambrose

AD 374–397

Milan

Apparatus-level attribution

Supporting witnessCitation type: Patristic citation

Uses resurrection and commission material from the longer ending

Locator: Digital Editio Critica Maior, Mark (INTF), Mark 16:8/38–16:20/33; exact work and section are not separately identified in the current dossier

Open source

Epiphanius

c. AD 377

Panarion, on 16:19

Supporting witnessCitation type: Direct quotation

Direct quotation in Panarion, on 16:19.

Locator: INTF 9635 and 9636

Open source

Augustine

c. AD 400

North Africa

Apparatus-level attribution

Supporting witnessCitation type: Patristic citation

Receives and discusses the longer ending

Locator: Digital Editio Critica Maior, Mark (INTF), Mark 16:8/38–16:20/33; exact work and section are not separately identified in the current dossier

Open source

Jerome

AD 401–433

Epistle 120.3

Supporting witnessCitation type: Derivative use

Derivative use in Epistle 120.3.

Locator: Epistula 120.3

Open source

Philostorgius

AD 401–500

Church History, record at Mark 16:17

Supporting witnessCitation type: Close quotation

Close quotation in Church History, record at Mark 16:17.

Locator: INTF 10820

Open source

Nestorius

AD 401–500

Sermon material at Mark 16:20

Supporting witnessCitation type: Close quotation

Close quotation in Sermon material at Mark 16:20.

Locator: INTF 10795

Open source

Cyril of Alexandria

AD 401–500

Anti-Nestorian material at Mark 16:20

Supporting witnessCitation type: Close quotation

Close quotation in Anti-Nestorian material at Mark 16:20.

Locator: INTF 11234

Open source

Severus of Antioch

AD 501–600

Homiliae cathedrales, on the ending and on 16:19

Mixed witnessCitation type: Evidence on both forms

Manuscript report in Homiliae cathedrales, on the ending and on 16:19.

Locator: INTF 11795, 11806, 11910

Open source

Photius

AD 801–900

Amphilochia, on 16:9 and 16:19

Supporting witnessCitation type: Direct quotation

Direct quotation in Amphilochia, on 16:9 and 16:19.

Locator: INTF 11540 and 11541

Open source

Pseudo-Clement

Late antique

Epitome records at Mark 16:16

Supporting witnessCitation type: Derivative use

Derivative use in Epitome records at Mark 16:16.

Locator: INTF 9381 and 9382

Open source

Acts of Pilate

Late antique

Records at Mark 16:15–19

Supporting witnessCitation type: Parallel tradition

Parallel tradition in Records at Mark 16:15–19.

Locator: INTF 11946–11953

Open source

Roster distinctions

  • GA 304 is a twelfth-century catena manuscript.
  • Codex Bobiensis (k) carries the Short Ending.
  • Codex Fuldensis is a sixth-century Latin Gospel harmony manuscript.
  • The surviving Curetonian text in Mark preserves 16:18–20.

Evidence notes

Important distinctions in the evidence.

  • GA 304 is a twelfth-century catena manuscript.
  • Codex Bobiensis (k) carries the Short Ending.
  • Codex Fuldensis is a sixth-century Latin Gospel harmony manuscript.
  • The surviving Curetonian text in Mark preserves 16:18–20.

Evidence assessment

Why the KJV reading is retained

The Longer Ending is carried by Codex Ephraemi, Bezae, Washingtonianus, Sangallensis, Koridethi, Families 1 and 13, twenty-six further named Greek entries, three lectionaries and the Byzantine reconstructed witness, with the Latin D/I/V states, Peshitta and Harklean, Ethiopic and Gothic. Irenaeus quotes Mark 16:19 as the conclusion of Mark's Gospel around AD 180. Sinaiticus, Vaticanus and 304 end at 16:8, and four further Greek entries carry the Short Ending before the Longer Ending.

Primary support for the KJV reading

Byzantine reconstructed witness with second-century patristic quotation

Evidence represented on this page

Evidence types, without turning rows into votes.

GreekRepresented
LatinRepresented
Other versionsRepresented
FathersRepresented
Printed editionsNot listed

References

Editions and works cited.

  1. Institut für Neutestamentliche Textforschung. New Testament Virtual Manuscript Room. Münster: University of Münster.

    New Testament Virtual Manuscript Room

  2. Aland, Barbara, et al., eds. Novum Testamentum Graece. 28th rev. ed. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2012.

  3. Robinson, Maurice A., and William G. Pierpont. The New Testament in the Original Greek: Byzantine Textform 2018. Nürnberg: VTR Publications, 2018.

    The New Testament in the Original Greek: Byzantine Textform 2018

  4. Tyndale House, Cambridge, ed. The Greek New Testament. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2017.

  5. Digital Editio Critica Maior, Mark (INTF). Mark 16:8/38–16:20/33.

    Open source

  6. INTF Kurzgefasste Liste / NTVMR manuscript metadata. Physical dates for the named Greek manuscripts.

    Open source

  7. INTF Patristic Citations database

    Open source

  8. Vetus Latina Gospel manuscripts register (ITSEE, University of Birmingham). Identity and physical date of the named Old Latin manuscripts.

    Open source

Previous contested passage

Mark 15:28

Numbered With the Transgressors

Next contested passage

Luke 2:14

Good Will Toward Men

Mark 16:9-20: The Longer Ending of Mark | Oldest & Best