LUX: A Journal of Transdisciplinary Writing and Research from Claremont Graduate University Volume 2 | Issue 1 Article 8 2013 Unbelief, Lawlessness, and Satan: Viewing the Freer Logion as a Scribal Response to Open- Ended Eschatological Themes in Mark Seth Clark Claremont Graduate University,
[email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarship.claremont.edu/lux Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, and the History of Christianity Commons Recommended Citation Clark, Seth (2013) "Unbelief, Lawlessness, and Satan: Viewing the Freer Logion as a Scribal Response to Open- Ended Eschatological Themes in Mark," LUX: A Journal of Transdisciplinary Writing and Research from Claremont Graduate University: Vol. 2: Iss. 1, Article 8. Available at: http://scholarship.claremont.edu/lux/vol2/iss1/8 Clark: The Freer Logion as a Scribal Response to Open- Ended Eschatological Themes in Mark Clark 1 Unbelief, Lawlessness, and Satan: Viewing the Freer Logion as a Scribal Response to Open- Ended Eschatological Themes in Mark Seth Clark Claremont Graduate University School of Religion Abstract The focus of my study is to demonstrate that major variants in the text of Early Christian Literature were purposely inserted into the text in light of theological controversies by scribes who represented a certain perspective on behalf of an Early Christian community. The text on which this paper is focused is the ending of the Gospel of Mark and the major textual variant known as the “Freer Logion.” I will argue that the Freer Logion was purposely inserted to conclude themes that were left open by the author of Mark and not addressed by the scribe who inserted the Longer Ending of Mark.1 There seems to be a problem with the ending of the Gospel According to Mark.2 When one studies the various manuscripts of Mark, one finds at least four different endings that are not similar; they are actually very different (Metzger 1975, 122).