Changes

The final words in many manuscripts of Mark 16:8 are “ἐφοβοῦντο γάρ,” meaning “for they were afraid.”  But it is implausible that the bold [[Gospel of Mark]] originally ended that way.  Most scholars have recognized that implausibility, but rather than remove this implausible ending they instead use it to argue for inclusion of another unlikely ending, Mark 16:9-20, which is not even in the earliest manuscripts of [[Codex Sinaiticus]] and [[Codex Vaticanus]].

The final words in many manuscripts of Mark 16:8 are “ἐφοβοῦντο γάρ,” meaning “for they were afraid.”  But it is implausible that the bold [[Gospel of Mark]] originally ended that way.  Most scholars have recognized that implausibility, but rather than remove this implausible ending they instead use it to argue for inclusion of another unlikely ending, Mark 16:9-20, which is not even in the earliest manuscripts of [[Codex Sinaiticus]] and [[Codex Vaticanus]].

== Greek syntax of the last word of 16:8 disproves its authenticity ==

== Unlikely ending as to Greek syntax - the last word of 16:8 cannot be the real ending ==

The last word in the reported verse 16:8 is "γάρ", which is a post-positive term in Greek such that it is usually the second word in a sentence.  "γάρ" is a conjunction meaning "for", "since", or "because", with the reason to follow.  It is exceedingly unlikely that the word "γάρ" would be the last word in a book.

The last word in the reported verse 16:8 is "γάρ", which is a post-positive term in Greek such that it is usually the second word in a sentence.  "γάρ" is a conjunction meaning "for", "since", or "because", with the reason to follow.  It is exceedingly unlikely that the word "γάρ" would be the last word in a book.