Mark 16:9-20 — "The Longer Ending"

The Church of the Brethren affirms the theological content of Mark 16:9-20 while acknowledging that textual criticism questions whether this passage was part of the original Mark. The Brethren characteristically hold both: they affirm that the passage is Scripture and teaches important truth about the resurrection and apostolic commission, while also remaining open to scholarly questions about its manuscript origins.

The Brethren do not treat Mark 16:9-20 differently from the rest of Mark in terms of its authority, but they do acknowledge that early manuscripts lack it. This reflects the Brethren commitment to both faithful Scripture reading and engagement with scholarly biblical studies. The passage's content (resurrection, appearances, commission) is affirmed as biblical truth.