The Appendices to the Gospel according to Mark. 375 



Therefore we hold that the authorship of the last twelve 

 verses of the Gospel according to Mark still remains an 

 open question. 



Discussion. 



The Armenian version furnishes us with a possible clue to the 

 authorship of the longer ending, which in one Armenian codex is 

 prefaced by the words "Of the Presbyter Ariston." Before dis- 

 cussing this evidence, however, we must first investigate the histor}- 

 of the version. 



From what language was the Armenian version translated ? Both 

 Syriac and Greek are mentioned as its source. Both languages were 

 used in Armenia, It may be inferred that both Syriac and Greek 

 authorities were used in the preparation of this version. 



Statements from three Armenian writers of the fifth century seem 

 to imply this. Their testimony is by no means identical, and yet 

 it combines "a certain conflict of assertion with a suspicious family 

 likeness" (Robinson). From a combination of these statements it 

 has been inferred that S. Mesrop, with the assistance of a Greek scribe 

 Hrofanos (Rufinus, probably) prepared a translation based upon the 

 Greek text, and S. Sahik (Isaac) a translation based upon the Syriac 

 (So Lake and Ken yon) . This first translation is dated about 395—400 

 A.D. (Kenyon). 



On the other hand J. Armitage Robinson in his careful study 

 (Euthaliana, p. 72 ff.) declares : "One fact seems to stand out distinctly 

 after the perusal of these puzzling statements [i. e. of the three early 

 Armenian writers] that the earhest attempts at translating the Scrip- 

 tures into Armenian were based on Syriac Codices." 



For the Syriac origin of the Armenian version it may be argued : 



1. The geographical position of Armenia makes it probable that 

 Christianity would be introduced into it from Syria, and it would be 

 most natural that the Syrian evangelists would bring and use their 

 own Syriac version. 



2. Syriac was the early ecclesiastical language of the Armenian 

 Church as we learn from the tradition which states that up to the 

 time of S. Mesrop and S. Sahik the Syrian language was used in the 

 Armenian services, which were therefore unintelligible to the mass of 

 the people. 



3. Much of the early Armenian Christian literature was translated 

 from famous Syrian fathers, as Ephraim and Aphrahat, and when, 

 about 400 A.D. the church history of Eusebius was given to the 



