How are we to understand Mark 16:15-18 (about the signs which would accompany the believers) if we take it literally. We do not see these signs today.

Evidence For Christianity ^ | John Oakes, Ph.D.

[SeekAndFind]

Question:

Mark 16: 17-18 of the NIV translation reads: “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

My question about this passage is since we don’t see many christian believers performing in these manners, what did Jesus mean by this if we should be taking this literally?

Answer:

Actually, this is a somewhat complicated question. The reason is that of the entire New Testament, Mark 16:9-22 is the most controversial in terms of whether it actually belongs in the original. There is significant evidence that the original Mark did not include these verses. You probably have a footnote in your Bible about this issue. This is literally the only significant passage in the New Testament about which there is significant doubt. If we are not entirely sure that this passage was in the original, this might have some effect on the importance of interpreting, as you can imagine.

Let me do this. Let me assume that this passage represents actual words of Jesus and proceed from there. You can do your own research on the textual support for the passage and decide what you think about that.

I believe that here Jesus is not necessarily talking about what will accompany all believers for all time from then on. \

To give an analogous example, Jesus spoke to the apostles in Acts 1:4,5, telling them to wait in Jerusalem for the gift his Father had promised them.

This was a prophecy of the miraculous outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost in Jerusalem. This certainly was a sign which accompanied the ushering of the Kingdom of God. However, it was not a statement about what was to happen at all church services from then on.

What I am saying is that it is possible to read Mark 16:17 to say this: These signs will accompany those who believe: it will be a sign to you that the Kingdom of God I have been telling you about has come.

It is even possible that Acts 1:4-5 is describing the same or a similar discourse by Jesus as Mark 16:15-20. If I am right, Jesus is not talking here about what one will find in Christianity in general from then forward, but rather he is talking about what would accompany the coming of the Kingdom.

To what extent these phenomena were to continue is a bit of an open question, as Jesus did not say.

Bear in mind two things:

1. This is my interpretation. You should think about yourself and perhaps read other commentators.

2. Your feeling about the importance of the interpretation of this passage might be radically affected by consideration of whether or not this passage was in the original Mark.

[Tell It Right]

IMHO we see many miracles in the Middle East, which is causing many to come to Jesus.

Here in the West, though, even us Christians are too "civilized" to have the kind of pistis faith necessary for a lot of miracles.

[bk1000]

I’ve seen and participated in some, but not all of these things. Haven’t picked up snakes or drank poison.

[cuban leaf]

On two separate occasions. My wife was healed miraculously by the laying on of hands and prayer. It’s one of the reasons we don’t have healthcare insurance. We don’t need it.

[Sans-Culotte]

I like the author’s explanation. In my Bible Study at church, we are studying Acts, and there are all kinds of miraculous events going on in that book that have not been replicated since.

[Obadiah]

Western culture considers itself far too sophisticated to want, or need, Jesus. In fact, as we know, much of Western culture has viciously sought to remove the message of Jesus from any part of their lives, publicly or otherwise.

When Western nations become as desperate as many in the Middle East then they may turn their gaze heavenward.

[circlecity]

This passage does not appear in the earliest manuscripts of Mark we have.

[smvoice]

It’s very easy to understand and explain if 2TIMOTHY 2:15 is heeded.

[tired&retired]

“I believe that here Jesus is not necessarily talking about what will accompany all believers for all time from then on. “

These things are happening and unfolding right now. Most do not understand Jesus on this.

[Faith Presses On]

I believe that in all ages, all of these things are spiritually true about believers.

On the seemingly most difficult of them, those with a sincere faith can pick up spiritual snakes with their hands and drink spiritual poison, and in either case they won’t be hurt, providing they’re not doing so to test God, but in obedience to Him. I have to believe that those churches that actually practice snake handling are sorely misguided.

Through the gift of faith in Christ, we have the victory that overcomes the world (1 John 5:4), and to the pure, all things are pure (Titus 1:15). That would go for poison.

So we have the victory over the serpent, Satan, through Jesus, who crushed his head, and although Satan might try to kill us through having his servants poison our drink (the enemies of the Lord persecuting and trying to execute believers), God is our protector and we have eternal life through Him even if we are killed for our faith.

As believers, we can also heal the spiritually sick (even dead) through touching them with the Gospel.

[tired&retired]

Jesus had to hold back the power as people were not ready for it. If the power is upon someone who is not ready, they will harm themselves and others.

This is why the pearls are not given to the swine. I don’t say this to be insulting. We treat Jesus like a lifeguard that can pluck us out and save us.

While He can do that, He was/is trying to teach us how to swim.

[semaj]

Just because we are not witnesses of these things, doesn’t mean they aren’t happening. Normalcy bias, anyone?

[tired&retired]

Last year I visited a monestary for a week and observed the approximately 50 monks residing there. I had a discussion after with the Abbot as to why the monks were not growing spiritually.

The greatest reason was that people are so afraid of digging to cleanse the depths of their souls. If they go deep, they feel they need antidepressants or picked up. It doesn’t work that way.

[tired&retired]

Last year I visited a monestary for a week and observed the approximately 50 monks residing there. I had a discussion after with the Abbot as to why the monks were not growing spiritually.

The greatest reason was that people are so afraid of digging to cleanse the depths of their souls. If they go deep, they feel they need antidepressants or picked up. It doesn’t work that way.

[tired&retired]

Last year I visited a monestary for a week and observed the approximately 50 monks residing there. I had a discussion after with the Abbot as to why the monks were not growing spiritually.

The greatest reason was that people are so afraid of digging to cleanse the depths of their souls. If they go deep, they feel they need antidepressants or picked up. It doesn’t work that way.

[HarleyD]

There is no need to try to interpret these words. First, this section is found in later text but no where in earlier text. Second, old rule: scripture is suppose to interpret scripture. Thus if there is one verse that states something, is there another verse that supports the same thing? These verses in Mark stands alone and it is very dangerous to build a whole principle around it. So why the effort to try to interpret them? They are only an interesting footnote.

As for miraculous healing powers, one might remember dear Epaphroditus who became sick to the point of death. While God had mercy and healed him, it doesn't appear from Phillipians 2 (25-30) this was always the case even for Paul. Paul didn't jump up and claimed healing in the name of Jesus. He was thankful that God restored him Epaphroditus to health.

BTW-

This scripture also brings up an interesting point of infallibly and inerrancy of scripture. Infallible is that the word of God is incapable of being wrong or making mistakes. Inerrancy is that the scriptures is faultless in its teaching.

As far as infallibly goes, if some enthusiastic scribe inserted additional text or made a numbering error into a version of text, this does not make the entire text (or Bible) fallible. It only means the additional text should be treated cautiously. You don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.

As far as inerrancy goes, the Bible is always faultless in it's teaching as any true believer will testify. It is up to us to find the correct teaching.

[tired&retired]

Sorry for the 3 post.

I’m on a train in a remote part of a 3rd world country and the internet service is spotty.

[tired&retired]

Thank you for the very wise words.

“As far as inerrancy goes, the Bible is always faultless in it’s teaching as any true believer will testify. It is up to us to find the correct teaching.”

[chesley]

I’ve picked up snakes, but not as part of my Christian religion. I was just an idiot boy that thought the snake was dead. Not so.

[mjp]

These signs will accompany those who believe: it will be a sign to you that the Kingdom of God I have been telling you about has come.

Signs of the second coming (from Matthew chapter 24):

-deceptions
-false Christs
-wars and rumors of wars
-famines
-plagues and pestilences
-earthquakes
-antisemitism
-offenses
-betrayals
-hatred
-false prophets
-lawlwssness abounding
-love decreasing
-increased missionary work
-abomination of desolation
-new Jewish nation in Judea
-new jewish temple
-great tribulation of 2.5 years
-martyrdoms
-flight of Jews from Judea
-increased Satanic powers
-surfeiting
-sex crimes
-procrastination and lethargy