436 Clarence Russell Williams, 



original conclusion of the Gospel, granted by practically all critics 

 today, alone is of major importance to our discussion. 



That the Longer Conclusion was not composed by the writer of 

 the Second Gospel has been so frequently demonstrated, by argu- 

 ments from vocabulary, style, and purpose, that it is not necessary 

 to rehearse the proof. It was appended to the abbreviated form of 

 the Gospel as a fitting conclusion, but was not composed for this 

 purpose, but taken from an existing work as is shown : 



a) By the abrupt beginning, without an expressed subject. Since 

 the previous section has been speaking of the angels and the women, 

 we would expect the name Jesus to be expressed here. 



b) By the return in time to the resurrection itself, making v. 9 

 parallel to v. 1, and showing that here we have a new and independent 

 account, " a condensed fifth narrative of the Forty Days." (Hort.) 



c) By the introduction of Mary Magdalene as though for the first 

 time, with the explanatory appellation "from whom he had ca^t 

 out seven demons," when she has recently been mentioned by name 

 three separate times, 15 : 40, 47 ; 16 : 1. 



The Longer Conclusion furnishes a generalized and con\'entionalized 

 narrative of the resurrection appearances, in a somewhat rhythmical 

 structure. It is evidently based on the other Gospels and on Acts : 



vs. 9-11 based on John 20: 11-18. 



vs. 12, 13 based on Luke 24 : 13-35. 



V. 14 combines reminiscenses of John 20 : 19—29 and Luke 24 : 36f. 



vs. 15, 16 based on Matt. 28 : 19 with reminiscenses of John 20 : 21 f. 

 and Luke 24 : 47. 



vs. 17, 18 a brief summary of Acts, where we read of casting out 

 demons, speaking with tongues, and taking up a serpent. 



vs. 19, 20 a summary of events narrated in Acts in Johannine 

 language. 



Not only the vocabulary but the whole tone of the Longer Con- 

 clusion shows Johannine influence. The narrative is didactic rather 

 than historical. The emphasis upon faith and belief makes it evident 

 that the writer is tracing the slow recovery of the apostles from the 

 unbelief evoked by the crucifixion to the final triumph of faith in the 

 risen Christ which fits them for the proclamation of the gospel mes- 

 sage. We have a close parallel to John xx and xxi, on which the 

 narrative is in part based. "The historian has given place to the 

 theologian, the interpreter of St. Peter, to the scholar of St. John." 

 (Swete.) 



Resell has attempted to prove that the Longer Conclusion goes 

 back to a source earlier than the canon, a source used by Paul, and 



