Time to go on the offensive. The heart of the argument for LE is early Patristic support, some of which is questionable. I am going to introduce a radically new concept to my opponent for purposes of evaluating questionable Patristic reference to the LE. Criteria. Applicable ones ranked in order of importance are:
1. Similarity in language. The obvious one.
2. Applicability. Direct versus indirect.
3. Scope. The extent of the support.
4. Similarity in context.
5. Consistency. Coordination with other evidence.
The first Patristic witness my opponent presents for the LE whole-heartedly is Justin:
Quote:
Our next patristic witness is Justin Martyr. In his First Apology, chapter 45 (in about 160), Justin treats Psalm 110:1-3 as a prophecy and illustrates its fulfillment. He writes: "That which he says, ‘He shall send to you the rod of power out of Jerusalem,’ is predictive of the mighty word, which his apostles, going forth from Jerusalem, preached everywhere. And though death is decreed against those who teach or at all confess the name of Christ, we everywhere both embrace and teach it. And if you also read these words in a hostile spirit, you can do no more, as I said before, than kill us; which indeed does no harm to us, but to you and all who unjustly hate us, and do not repent, brings eternal punishment by fire."
In this short chapter Justin mentions several things mentioned in Mark 16:9-20: the ascension of Christ, victory over devils, the use of the name of Christ, a lack of true harm done to Christians, the spread of the word, and the punishment of unbelievers. But the heaviest evidence consists of the verbal parallel between Mark 16:20 and Justin’s statement that the apostles “went forth everywhere preaching.” Justin’s words are ECELQONTES PANTACOU EHKRUXAN; the same three words are found, transposed, in Mark 16:20, and Justin repeats PANTACOU (writing, “we everywhere both embrace and teach it”) as if alluding to an authoritative precedent.
We will rate the criteria on a scale of 1-5 with 5 being the strongest:
1. Similarity in language.
http://www.textexcavation.com/marcanendings.html#justin
Quote:
[Justin]
εξελθοντες πανταχου εκηρυξαν
vs.
Quote:
[LE]
εξελθοντες εκηρυξαν πανταχου
The exact same 3 words but in a different order. Three sub-categories:
1 - Unusual. Are the words unique or common?
The words are "having gone out everywhere they preached". These words are in between, not common or unusual.
2 - Popular. Are the words likely to be used by the author in general due to popularity?
Yes, as these words would describe Justin's understanding of the ending of every Gospel as well as supposed Christian history.
3 - Complete phrase. is the usage a complete phrase from the original or a partial?
Here it is a partial as the complete original phrase includes "Jerusalem".
I rate this a "2" as there is no strong sub-criteria and the weaknesses of changed order, popular phrase and partial phrase.
2. Applicability.
Justin can not directly attribute to "Mark" since he is unaware of "Mark". His usage does not even explicitly identify any Gospel as a source.
A well deserved "1".
3. Scope.
3 words out of 12 verses. Another "1".
4. Similarity in context.
The context of Justin's quote is suffering for Jesus:
"And though death is decreed against those who teach or at all confess the name of Christ, we everywhere both embrace and teach it. And if you also read these words in a hostile spirit, you can do no more, as I said before, than kill us; which indeed does no harm to us,"
The context of the LE is being protected from suffering by Jesus:
"And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues;
they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
So the context is the opposite. Another "1". Seems unfair not to have negative rating here.
5. Consistency.
All authors before Justin show no quality evidence for the LE. Another "1".
So the ratings from Justin as evidence for the LE (scale = 1-5) are:
1. Similarity in language = 2
2. Applicability = 1
3. Scope = 1
4. Similarity in context = 1
5. Consistency = 1