Mark 16:9-20 does not necessarily support continuationism, since it still does not address whether what Jesus spoke of was something for the foundation laying period of the church during the time of the apostles.
The Apostle Paul said to test all things and to hold fast to that which is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21). If Mark 16:9-20 proves that various sign gifts such as speaking in tongues and casting out demons are meant for today, then what about the handling of snakes and consumption of poison?
We have no record of Christians remaining unharmed when dealing with snakebites and drinking venom. That could very well be a reference to Paul's encounter with barbarians in the Book of Acts. New Testament scholar James R. Edwards provides these interesting comments in his commentary on Mark 16:18:
"The word for "snake" is the Greek word ophis, which means a generic snake or serpent, although not necessarily poisonous, as does the Greek word echidna (so Acts 28:3-6).29 Given the reference to poisonous drink immediately following, one would have expected the latter word in v. 18. The word ophis is, however, the same word used in Genesis 3 (LXX) of the temptation of the serpent. This raises the question whether the image of "picking up snakes in their hands" cannot be understood metaphorically, that is, that in the age of salvation the curse of the serpent has been overcome."
There also is the dispute as to whether Mark 16:9-20 is part of the original text of the gospel narrative in the first place. This source well summarizes matters:
"These verses are lacking in many of the oldest and most reliable Greek manuscripts, as well as in important Old Latin, Syriac, Armenian, and Ethiopic manuscripts. Many of the ancient church fathers reveal no knowledge of these verses, including Clement, Origen, and Eusebius. Jerome admitted that almost all Greek copies do not have it. Many manuscripts that do have this section place a mark by it indicating it is a spurious addition to the text. There is another (shorter) ending to Mark that is found in some manuscripts. Others point to the fact that the style and vocabulary are not the same as the rest of the Gospel of Mark."
The Apostle Paul said to test all things and to hold fast to that which is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21). If Mark 16:9-20 proves that various sign gifts such as speaking in tongues and casting out demons are meant for today, then what about the handling of snakes and consumption of poison?
We have no record of Christians remaining unharmed when dealing with snakebites and drinking venom. That could very well be a reference to Paul's encounter with barbarians in the Book of Acts. New Testament scholar James R. Edwards provides these interesting comments in his commentary on Mark 16:18:
"The word for "snake" is the Greek word ophis, which means a generic snake or serpent, although not necessarily poisonous, as does the Greek word echidna (so Acts 28:3-6).29 Given the reference to poisonous drink immediately following, one would have expected the latter word in v. 18. The word ophis is, however, the same word used in Genesis 3 (LXX) of the temptation of the serpent. This raises the question whether the image of "picking up snakes in their hands" cannot be understood metaphorically, that is, that in the age of salvation the curse of the serpent has been overcome."
There also is the dispute as to whether Mark 16:9-20 is part of the original text of the gospel narrative in the first place. This source well summarizes matters:
"These verses are lacking in many of the oldest and most reliable Greek manuscripts, as well as in important Old Latin, Syriac, Armenian, and Ethiopic manuscripts. Many of the ancient church fathers reveal no knowledge of these verses, including Clement, Origen, and Eusebius. Jerome admitted that almost all Greek copies do not have it. Many manuscripts that do have this section place a mark by it indicating it is a spurious addition to the text. There is another (shorter) ending to Mark that is found in some manuscripts. Others point to the fact that the style and vocabulary are not the same as the rest of the Gospel of Mark."
