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Great Commission

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Great Commandment.
This article is about the biblical episode. For the similarly named Little (or Lesser) Commission, see Matthew 10. For the modern evangelical association, see Great Commission church movement. For the musical group, see The Great Commission (band).

The Great Commission, stained glass window, Cathedral Parish of Saint Patrick in El Paso, Texas
Relief The Great Commission by Albert Wider on the priests' grave in Widnau, Switzerland
Events in the
Life of Jesus
according to the canonical gospels
Life of Jesus
Early life
Ministry
Passion
Resurrection
In rest of the NT
Portals: Christianity Bible

In Christianity, the Great Commission is the instruction of the resurrected Jesus Christ to his disciples to spread the gospel to all the nations of the world. The Great Commission is outlined in Matthew 28:16–20, where on a mountain in Galilee Jesus calls on his followers to make disciples of and baptize all nations in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The Great Commission is similar to the episodes of the commissioning of the Twelve Apostles found in the other Synoptic Gospels, though with significant differences.[citation needed] Luke also has Jesus during his ministry dispatching disciples, including the seventy disciples, sending them to all the nations and giving them power over demons. The dispersion of the Apostles in the traditional ending of Mark is thought to be a 2nd-century summary based on Matthew and Luke.[citation needed]

The Great Commission has become a tenet in Christian theology emphasizing ministry, missionary work, evangelism, and baptism.[citation needed] The apostles are said to have dispersed from Jerusalem and founded the apostolic sees,[citation needed] such as those at Corinth, Philippi, Ephesus, and Rome (see also Holy See). Preterists believe that the Great Commission and other Bible prophecies were fulfilled in the 1st century while futurists believe Bible prophecy has yet to be fulfilled at the Second Coming.[citation needed]

History

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It is not known who coined the term Great Commission, though it may have been Justinian von Welz[1] and it was later popularized by Hudson Taylor.[1]

New Testament accounts

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The following comparison table is primarily based on the King James Bible (KJV) English translation of the New Testament.[2]

Matthew 28:16–20 Mark 16:14–18 Luke 24:44–49 John 20:19–23 Acts 1:4–8
  • The eleven disciples went to Galilee according the instructions of an angel, and later Jesus himself.
  • On the designated mountain they saw Jesus: some worshipped him, others still doubted.
  • Jesus: 'All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.'
  • Jesus appeared to the eleven disciples as they sat eating.
  • Jesus accused them of unbelief because they did not believe those who had allegedly seen him after he had risen.
  • Jesus: 'Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.'
  • Jesus appeared in Jerusalem to the eleven disciples and others as they stood talking.
  • Jesus repeated that everything written about him in the Scriputes had to be fulfilled.
  • Jesus: 'Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.'
  • Jesus appeared in Jerusalem to the disciples (except Thomas) who were locked down in a house.
  • Jesus wished them peace twice and said: 'As my Father hath sent Me, even so send I you'.
  • Jesus blew the Holy Spirit over them, said: 'Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.'.
  • Jesus taught the disciples for 40 days in Jerusalem.
  • Jesus: 'commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, "but wait for the promise of the Father, which," saith he, "ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence."'
  • Disciples asked if Jesus would soon restore the kingdom to Israel.
  • Jesus: 'It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.'

There are multiple occurrences of the great commission given multiple ways. The multiple occurrences of the Great Commission refer to several post-resurrection instructions given by Jesus in the New Testament, interpreted by scholars as collectively forming the foundation of Christian mission.

The commission is given in several settings:

  • Galilee (Matthew 28:16–20): Jesus tells the Eleven to make disciples of all nations, baptize, and teach.[3]
  • Jerusalem (locked room) (John 20:19–23): Jesus commissions the disciples, saying, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”[4]
  • Jerusalem (later appearance) (Luke 24:44–49): Jesus states that repentance and forgiveness will be preached to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.[5]
  • Mount of Olives (Acts 1:6–9): Jesus says they will be his witnesses to the ends of the earth, empowered by the Holy Spirit.[6]
  • Sea of Galilee (John 21:15–17): Jesus instructs Peter to “feed my sheep,” viewed as a pastoral commission.[7]
  • At table (Mark 16:14–15): In the longer ending of Mark, Jesus commands the disciples to preach to all creation. This passage is absent from the earliest manuscripts and considered a later addition by many scholars.[8]

Women had a role. In Matthew 28:7–10, women at the tomb are told to inform the disciples to go to Galilee.[9] Some scholars interpret this as an early form of commissioning. N.T. Wright refers to these women as “apostles to the apostles,” highlighting their role as first messengers of the resurrection.[10]

Several scholars comment on the multiple forms of the commission:

  • F.F. Bruce writes that the commission was “repeatedly” given to reinforce its universal authority.[11]
  • Christopher J.H. Wright notes the settings vary—“in upper rooms, on mountain slopes, beside the sea”—emphasizing adaptability and continuity.[12]
  • John Piper calls them “a series of encounters... shedding new light on the same flame.”[13]
  • Craig L. Blomberg sees the accounts as forming a composite of Jesus’ final instructions.[14]

Some scholars and theologians interpret Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:19—to baptize “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”—as an implicit affirmation of a Trinitarian framework.[15] The use of the singular “name” (*ὄνομα*, *onoma*) followed by three distinct persons is seen by many as theologically significant. F.F. Bruce writes, “The threefold name does not imply three gods, but three persons within the one Godhead.”[16] Basil of Caesarea argued, “We are bound to be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, so that our faith may be in the Trinity.”[17] Augustine stated, “The three are one, not because the Father is the same as the Son and the Holy Spirit, but because they are of the same divine essence.”[18]

This formulation, unique in the Gospels, became foundational in later Christian liturgy and doctrine, particularly in the development of Trinitarian theology in early creeds and baptismal formulas.

See also

Interpretations

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The commission from Jesus has been interpreted by all evangelical Christians as meaning that his followers have the duty to go, make disciples, teach, and baptize.[19][20] Although the command was initially given directly only to Christ's eleven Apostles, evangelical Christian theology has typically interpreted the commission as a directive to all Christians of every time and place, particularly because it seems to be a restatement or moving forward of the last part of God's covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12:3.[citation needed]

Full Preterists believe[citation needed] that the Great Commission was already fulfilled based on the New Testament passages "And they went out and preached everywhere" (Mark 16:20), "the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven" (Colossians 1:23), and "Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations" (Romans 16:25–26).[non-primary source needed]

See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Great Commission.

References

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  1. ^ a b Castleman, Robbie F. "The Last Word: The Great Commission: Ecclesiology" (PDF). Themelios. 32 (3): 68. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  2. ^ "Online Bible – King James Version". Biblehub.com. 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  3. ^ Matthew 28:16–20, English Standard Version.
  4. ^ John 20:19–23, New International Version.
  5. ^ Luke 24:44–49, English Standard Version.
  6. ^ Acts 1:6–9, English Standard Version.
  7. ^ John 21:15–17, New Revised Standard Version.
  8. ^ Bruce M. Metzger, A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, 2nd ed. Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1994, pp. 102–106.
  9. ^ Matthew 28:7–10, New International Version.
  10. ^ N.T. Wright, Surprised by Hope. HarperOne, 2008, p. 218.
  11. ^ F.F. Bruce, The Spreading Flame. Eerdmans, 1958, p. 31.
  12. ^ Christopher J.H. Wright, The Mission of God. IVP Academic, 2006, p. 313.
  13. ^ John Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad!. Baker Academic, 2003, p. 72.
  14. ^ Craig L. Blomberg, From Pentecost to Patmos: An Introduction to Acts through Revelation. B&H Academic, 2006, p. 6.
  15. ^ Matthew 28:19, English Standard Version.
  16. ^ F.F. Bruce, The Hard Sayings of Jesus. IVP, 1983, p. 240.
  17. ^ Basil of Caesarea, On the Holy Spirit, trans. David Anderson. St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1980, ch. 10.
  18. ^ Augustine, On the Trinity, Book I, ch. 4.
  19. ^ "Evangelicals and Evangelicalism". crcc.usc.edu. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  20. ^ "The Evangelical Manifesto | Os Guinness". Os Guinness | A quiet voice on behalf of faith, freedom, truth, reason and civility. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
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