Unpopular opinion: I like the long ending of Mark. I know the original ending at 16.8 is appropriately disorienting but there’s something valuable and authentic to 16.9-20
In 2020 I wrote for Earth and Altar on the original ending and talked about how liturgically it provides us with a gap in which we place ourselves in the story! That said, I love the extended ending for other reasons! These things are what make reading scripture fun IMO.
I think it is important that we know what is original, but I have a personal belief that when things like this happened and they wind up sticking around, there is an important reason to it and God let it be there that reason. Do I have anything to back that up? No its just what I believe haha
Really unpopular opinion: I even like the part about taking up serpents.
I am 100% with you. The shared urgency, emotive negativity, etc actually does something that lets the “suddenly” and “distressed” nature of Jesus’ victorious ministry to be transferred to the Church. If the Gospel ended with Jesus, the short end is fine. But the story isn’t over.
Anyway this is why I’m a bad biblical scholar
And for that matter, the short ending’s last phrase, “the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation” is so freaking baller ⛹️
correct opinion, bc the lengthened ending of mark, whomever added it, is God-breathed and useful for &c &c &c