Page 539 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

REU - REVELATION

the question of how often additions occur in other would want to remove such a portion of Scripture from
passages that cannot be traced. the Bible? I believe the devil would. [See Death, Jesus
“The notes in the NAB, however, correct this Christ, Judgment, Millennium, Prophecy.]
impression. The ‘Freer Logion’ occurs in only one Greek REU (a friend, fellowship). Ge. 11:18.
manuscript (fourth to fifth century). The ‘Shorter REUBEN (behold a son). Eldest son of Jacob (Ge.
Ending’ is found only in a few late Greek manuscripts. 29:32; 30:14; 35:22; 37:19-22; 42:22-37; 49:4).
The normal ending (Mk. 16:9-20), however, seems to Reuben’s children form the tribe of Israel by that name
originate from the first century and seems to be (Ge. 4:6-9; Nu. 1:21; 2:16; 32:1-33; Jos. 13:15-32;
accepted as genuine in the majority of manuscripts. The 15:6; 2 Ki. 10:32-33; 1 Ch. 5:25, 26; 12:37; Eze.
NAB translators really objected to this ending only 48:6-31; Re. 7:5).
because the vocabulary and style of Mk. 16:9-20 are REUEL (fellowship of God). (1) A son of Esau (Ge.
said to deviate from the rest of Mark. Yet such 36:4). (2) Moses’ father in law (Ex. 2:18). In Ex. 3:1 he
objections have nothing to do with the determination of is called “Jethro,” and in Nu. 10:29, “Raguel.” There is a
the text, but rather with the question of how one judges simple explanation for the seeming discrepancy. First,
the text. the names “Reuel” and “Raguel” are from the same
“With regard to the normal ending of Mark 16, W.R. Hebrew word. In other words, they are the same name.
Farmer concludes: ‘In fact, external evidence from the Second, the name “Jethro” “is not a proper name, but a
second century for Mk. 16:9-20 is stronger than for title of honor denoting ‘excellency’ (Halley). Moses’
most other parts of that Gospel” (W.R. Farmer, The Last father-in-law’s name was Reuel (or Raguel) and his title
Twelve Verses of Mark, p. 31). Jerome knew that there was Jethro.
were manuscripts in his time that omitted Mk. 16:9-20, REUMAH (concubine). Ge. 22:24.
but he was personally convinced of the authenticity of
these verses. There are only three known Greek REVELATION. The Greek word for revelation,
manuscripts that end at 16:8, and one of them [Codex apokalupsis, means “an uncovering,” and is used of (a)
Sinaiticus] has a large open space after verse 8. All the the drawing away by Christ of the veil of darkness
remaining Greek manuscripts contain verses 9-20 after covering the Gentiles (Lk. 2:32), (b) the mystery of the
Mark 16:1-8, and most of them do not have a single purpose of God in this age (Ro. 16:25; Ep. 3:3), (c) the
note or insertion of other data. Mk. 16:1-20 has both communication of the knowledge of God to the soul
the authority of the Majority Text, as well as the (Ep. 1:17), (d) the expression of the mind of God for
authority of the oldest text. If it still remains uncertain the instruction of the churches (1 Co. 14:6, 26), (e) the
whether Mk. 16:9-20 is well attested textually, then very revelation of Christ at His coming (1 Co. 1:7), (f) the
little of any of the text of the New Testament is well manifestation of God’s children when Christ establishes
attested” (pp. 130,131). His kingdom (Ro. 8:19) (Vine). Early revelation among
men before the writing of the Scriptures. It is interesting
The doctrine of providential preservation also points to to see that man knew a great many spiritual truths in
the genuineness of Mark 16:9-20. It has been in the the earliest days after the Fall before the Bible began to
Bibles used by God down through the centuries. Mark be formed. Ac. 3:21 and Lk. 11:50 tell us there have
16:9-20 was in all English translations preceding the always been prophets of the Lord to warn and instruct
ERV of 1881. It was in the Bibles which were carried to men. By considering several other Bible verses we can
the ends of the world during the great revival/ learn quite a lot about just what God’s people knew in
missionary era of the last four centuries. And it is olden times. (1) Salvation. They had revelation of
wickedness and folly to question its authenticity on the substitutionary salvation. Abel’s offering proves this.
basis of two unreliable manuscripts (Sinaiticus and Abel was a prophet (Lk. 11:50,51) and offered by faith
Vaticanus) which were hidden away for centuries in the (He. 11:4). This means he offered according to God’s
pope’s library and in an eerie monastery at the foot of Word, because “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by
Mt. Sinai. the Word of God” (Ro. 10:17). (2) Saviour. They had
There is also the internal witness which testifies to the revelation of the Redeemer who would come to the
authenticity of Mark 16:8-20. Every truth of Mark earth in the last days (Lk. 1:68- 70). Job probably lived
16:9-20 is confirmed by other portions of Scripture. in the days before Abraham, and he knew about the
There is nothing heretical or spurious there. To end the coming Saviour (Job 19:25). (3) Resurrection. They had
Gospel of Mark at 16:8 leaves the disciples amazed and revelation of resurrection (Job 19:26,27). (4) Second
afraid. On the other hand, to end the Gospel at verse 20 Coming. They had revelation of God coming to judge
leaves the disciples in this condition: “And they went wicked men. Enoch prophesied of this great truth (Jude
forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with 14-15), and he was Noah’s great grandfather (Ge.
them, confirming the Word with signs following.” Who 5:21-32). (5) High priest. They had revelation of a

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