Lets look at this again Mark 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
If we are to take the word for truth it tells us right here it tells what the signs were for. It says they were confirming the word of God. What word were they confirming the old testament or the writing of the new testament which we know was not if force at this time but was in process of being recorded.
Now ask your self with an open heart for truth Is God still having to confirm his word today or do we by faith believe in the written word he had recorded what do you think can he have finished the new testament that was being recorded so the we by it can have the faith we need to be his children by faith or does he still need to work signs to get you to believe?
I have shown you what I believe the answer is to the question so I will step back and let you work it out for yourself but if I can answer any questions to help just feel free to ask.
Well did the Corinthians need signs for confirming? Paul spent a whole chapter on the "charismatic gifts" and it was for order in teh church and not for confirming the word of God.
How about in the over 400 dialects and tongues that have never heard the gospel once in todays world? Does God not want to confirm HIs Word to them with power?
Everyone in the first century was speaking that word. wasn't that enough power without a scroll? After all Paul said in Romans 1 that he was not ashamed of the gospel for the gospel is the power of God to salvation. and all He had was the spoken word!
So the people who never heard in those days got signs and wonders when they heard the gospel (the spoken scripture) but the people today who never have heard the gospel and the hundreds of people groups who have no Scripture in their language are not entitled to have that confirmation now? YOU seem very unfair to the same people today as to the ones in the first century.
Besides, when Paul instructed the Corinthian church about the gifts, He not once mentioned confirmation.
1 Corinthians 12
King James Version
12 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
It was not for confirming, but edifying the church!
YOu cannot link two differing events and put them as an all encompassing doctrine.
Once again, After Peter was given the keys ot the kingdom, we see Peter first preaching to the Jews after the church was born.
Then conferring the Spirit to the Samaratins whop heard and believed but were not baptized in te triune formula as commanded.
Then to the gentile worlds when he went to cornelius and unlocked the door fo the gospel to the gentiles as well.
What do you think the keys were for that were given to Peter? So he could have a neat key ring?