Is Mark 16:17-18 proof that snake handling tests one's faith?
The short answer
No. The signs in Mark 16, such as casting out demons and drinking poison, were not given to prove an individual's faith or a "special anointing," as the Church of God with Signs Following teaches. They were given to confirm the truth of Christ's message.
What the signs were for
The miraculous signs Mark lists (Mark 16:17-18) confirm that Christ's teaching is true. They are not a test that each believer must pass to show he has faith or a special anointing.
A commentary's explanation
Bernard Orchard's A Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture makes these points:
- On their temporary mission in Palestine, Christ gave the apostles power over demons to strengthen their preaching. Here he promises believers signs that guarantee the truth and divine origin of the doctrine they have accepted (Hebrews 2:4).
- The promise is made to the community of the faithful, not to every individual believer.
- Such signs may have been more frequent in the early Church, when the gospel was new to a skeptical, hostile world.
- Yet the promise is not limited to one period: in every age miracles have shown that Christ remains with his Church.
Continue exploring
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- The Anti-Catholic "Bible"Tract
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- Why do Matthew and Mark list Thaddeus, but Luke another Judas?Q&A
- Are Catholics free to interpret Bible verses without the Church's approval?Q&A