This evening I was reading a few chapters in “the Journey from Texts to Translations: The Origin and Development of the Bible” by Paul D. Wegner, when a quote from Codex Washingtonianus jumped out at me. This codex, also known as W or 032, is dated around the 4th/5th century A.D., is known for a unique textual variant of Mark 16.14, which is only extant (as far as I know, please correct me) in this particular document, and a partial quote in Jerome. The text says:
“And [the disciples] excused themselves, saying, ‘This age of lawlessness and unbelief is under Satan, who by his unclean spirits does not allow the true power of God to be comprehended. Therefore now reveal your righteousness.’ So they spoke to Christ; and Christ addressed them thus, ‘The limit of the years of Satan’s authority has been fulfilled, but other terrible things are drawing near, even to those sinners on whose behalf I was handed over to death, that they may turn to the truth and sin no more. In order that they may inherit the spiritual and incorruptible glory of righteousness in heaven.’”
Paul Wegner mentions this variant in his discussion on the agrapha (αγραφα), or sayings of Jesus that are not recorded in the New Testament. I can’t say for certain why a scribe would have inserted this into the text, but the allusion to the amillennial interpretation of Revelation 20.3 and the binding of Satan jumped out at me. The common amillennial interpretation of that verse says that it is speaking of a type of binding of Satan that keeps him from “deceiving the nations” in such a way that the Gospel is able to go forth. This binding is done essentially at the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and finds an exclamation point in the miracle at Pentecost. This fits Jesus supposed remarks here when the disciples bring up the fact that Satan has an authority to keep people in darkness. Notice what he is supposed to have said: “The limit of the years of Satan’s authority has been fulfilled…” Which seems to me that Jesus is saying that Satan’s ability to blind people to the true power of God is now bound, so that they may see it and be saved. This is especially interesting in light of verse 15 which follows, which is the “Markan” great commission to “go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to all creation.”
If anyone has more information on this verse, please share it with me. I’m not saying that this was the intent of the redactor, but it seems to be a clear allusion to me at least. What do you guys think?
p.s. I am not saying that this is an argument for amillennialism. Certainly, we would not want to make an argument on a textual variant that has essentially zero possibility of being original. I just thought that the allusion could warrant some discussion on the variant itself.
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According to Metger and Omanson, Jerome referenced this ending as well. Omanson writes: “The manuscript evidence for this ending in Codex W is extremely limited, and the ending includes several words and expressions that are not found elsewhere in Mark [Metzger lists these]. This ending is probably the work of a second or third century copyist who wished to soften the severe condemnation of the Eleven in 16:14.”
It is interesting though. You’ll find, however, that there’s very little work done in these more profound variants (there’s the root of a dissertation idea for you). I find them quite interesting and after I’m through with school might try my hand at translating directly from copies of some of the codices, highlighting the significant differences.
Thanks for the info and the images you sent via email Rick. I would love to look into why certain changes and such were made. Some of them are obvious– smoothing out a “problem” or what have you, but this particular variant I think is very interesting in considering why someone would want to change it. Certainly, Omanson and Metzger’s ideas make sense, but its such an ornate and lengthy gloss to cover the fact that the disciples still didn’t get it.
Well, and what makes this interesting, and even historically significant, is that for a period and for a group of people, THIS verse really was Scripture for them and part of their tradition. I believe there’s more work to be done with passages like this than what has been considered in recent years.