Mark 16:9-20 — "The Longer Ending"

The Wesleyan Church acknowledges the scholarly consensus that Mark 16:9-20 is not found in the earliest manuscripts and is likely a later addition to Mark's Gospel. However, the passage is included in most standard Bible translations and has been part of the Church's canon for centuries, so it is received as Scripture.

The Wesleyan approach balances textual-critical scholarship with practical use. While affirming the general reliability of Scripture and the Wesleyan Quadrilateral (Scripture, Tradition, Reason, Experience), the Wesleyans recognize that manuscript evidence must be respected. Mark 16:9-20 is theologically sound and expresses biblical themes (resurrection, commissioning of disciples, continuation of apostolic signs), but its disputed status should be acknowledged.

In Wesleyan practice, the passage is used in preaching and teaching but with awareness that it is textually disputed. The Wesleyans do not use the passage as a primary foundation for any doctrine but rather as a secondary support that expresses themes found more clearly elsewhere in Scripture.