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"I am not saying that at all. What the Apostle John was cautioning folks about was that Mark sometimes did not have the events in proper sequence."

OK. Like I posted before, I don't know much about other Church historical people's or documents. My studies have focused mostly on what the Scriptures themselves say.

Whatever you do, don't take this comment about what the apostle John allegedly said at face value.

The fact is we do not know what the apostle John may or may not have said about the gospel of Mark. For all we know he said nothing. There is a tradition within the church that Papias was a disciple of the presbyter named John. Not the apostle. Papias never makes any reference to having been a disciple of the apostle John. What we have from Papias comes down to us from other, later church fathers, like Eusebius. His own writings have disappeared. All we have are fragments quoted in other sources. In one place Papias admits that he received nothing directly from the apostles, but only from an early "oral tradition".

So, ultimately this alleged comment about Mark's writing counts for nothing. It's opart of an opral tradition would dubious roots in the early church.

We get our true understanding of Scripture from Scripture itself.

"We get our true understanding of Scripture from Scripture itself."

That and the Holy Spirit is what I've relied on.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Sincerely

The fact is we do not know what the apostle John may or may not have said about the gospel of Mark. For all we know he said nothing. There is a tradition within the church that Papias was a disciple of the presbyter named John. Not the apostle. Papias never makes any reference to having been a disciple of the apostle John.

Ireneus also credits Papias with being a "Hearer of The APOSTLE John" as well as a companion to Polycarp. We now have two early Church Fathers who agree on that point. You can find the statement of fact in Book V, Chapter XXX, Paragraph 4. It says......."And these things are born witness to in writing by Papias, the hearer of John, and a companion of Polycarp".

I doubt Ireneus, being himself a disciple of Polycarp, would make this distinction about Papias. Both Eusebius and Ireneus lay claim to Papias being a hearer of John......so maybe there is some credence to my contention that the Apostle told the folks to be cautious when reading Mark. But, if you would like to disregard this as it is not scripture, that is fine by me.

You still have to deal with the obvious facts that the Sabbath in [Mark 16:1] is not the weekly....but the High Sabbath spoken of in [John 19:31]. You must also deal with the fact that the only place in the four gospels that speaks of an early Sunday morning visit to the tomb (in the Greek) is Mark 16:2 and is easily proved to be other women....not Mary Magdalene and friends who have visited earlier the previous afternoon.

Thank you, Douglas, for pointing out to our friends that we do indeed study and discuss God's word on His Holy Sabbaths.