Mark 16:9-20 — "The Longer Ending"

Churches of Christ acknowledge the textual uncertainty of Mark 16:9–20, recognizing that this passage does not appear in the earliest and most reliable Greek manuscripts (such as Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus). However, the longer ending is not excluded from their Bibles or dismissed as unimportant. Churches of Christ typically include it in their canonical text (often with a textual note) and acknowledge it as part of the church's received tradition, even while noting the manuscript evidence.

This nuanced approach reflects the Restoration Movement's commitment to textual scholarship alongside fidelity to the church's historical reception of Scripture. Churches of Christ do not regard Mark 16:9–20 as fraudulent or unworthy of attention, but neither do they claim it was originally penned by Mark. The passage is read in churches, cited in preaching, and treated as authoritative for Christian practice (particularly regarding the commissioning of disciples). The scholarly consensus about its late origin does not lead Churches of Christ to exclude it from the biblical canon or regard it as less binding than the undisputed portions of Mark.