The Freer Logion is a unique textual variant found in
the Codex Washingtonianus (also known as the Freer Gospels, designated by the
siglum W), an early 5th-century manuscript of the New Testament. This
variant appears after Mark 16:14 in some versions of the Longer Ending of the Gospel
of Mark, offering an additional passage not found in most other manuscripts of
the New Testament.
In the context of Mark’s Longer Ending, which
describes Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances and instructions to His
disciples, the Freer Logion provides an intriguing supplement to Jesus’ rebuke
of the disciples for their unbelief and hardness of heart. The text of the
Freer Logion, translated from Greek, reads as follows:
“And they excused themselves, saying, ‘This
age of lawlessness and unbelief is under Satan, who does not allow the truth
and power of God to prevail over the unclean things of the spirits. Therefore
reveal your righteousness now’—thus they spoke to Christ. And Christ responded
to them, ‘The term of years of Satan’s power has been fulfilled, but other
terrible things draw near. And for those who have sinned I was handed over to
death, that they may return to the truth and sin no more, that they may inherit
the spiritual and incorruptible glory of righteousness that is in heaven.”
The Freer Logion is significant for several reasons.
Firstly, it offers a glimpse into the diversity of early Christian texts and
the variations that existed among copies of the Gospels. Secondly, it reflects
early Christian attempts to grapple with theological issues such as the problem
of evil, the role of Satan in the world, and the purpose of Jesus’ death. The
passage emphasizes Jesus’ victory over Satan and suggests a time of testing or
tribulation before the full realization of God’s kingdom.
However, because the Freer Logion is found in only a
very limited number of manuscripts and differs significantly from the broader
manuscript tradition, most biblical scholars do not consider it part of the
original text of the Gospel of Mark. Its inclusion in the Codex Washingtonianus
highlights the complexities of textual transmission and the challenges faced by
scholars in reconstructing the earliest and most authentic text of the New
Testament writings.
Despite its limited textual support, the Freer Logion
remains a subject of interest for scholars studying the textual history of the
New Testament and the development of early Christian theology.