Mark 16:9-20 — "The Longer Ending"

Swedenborgians acknowledge the scholarly consensus that Mark 16:9–20 does not appear in the earliest manuscripts. However, the passage is read and valued in Swedenborgian practice because it conveys spiritual truths consistent with Swedenborg's teachings about resurrection, spiritual power, and the continuation of Christ's work through the Church. Whether or not the passage is original to Mark, its content—Christ's resurrection appearances and his commission to proclaim the Gospel—aligns with Swedenborgian understanding of Christ's ongoing spiritual presence and authority.

Swedenborg himself taught extensively about the resurrection and Christ's continued governance over the spiritual realm. The longer ending's affirmations about casting out demons, speaking in new tongues, and healing the sick can be understood, in Swedenborgian terms, as spiritual rather than merely physical manifestations of divine power. While Swedenborgians are not committed to strict biblical literalism, they recognize in Mark 16:9–20 a witness to spiritual realities that Swedenborg described in his theological writings. The passage remains valuable for spiritual understanding even if its manuscript history is uncertain.