Great Commission

The Great Commission is a tenet in Christian theology emphasizing mission work and evangelism, particularly (but not exclusively) emphasized by evangelicals. It has been a primary basis for Christian missionary activity in general. The most familiar version of the Great Commission is recorded in Matthew 28:18-20, in which Jesus is recorded as saying:

Related Topics:
Christian theology - Evangelism - Evangelicals - Missionary - Matthew - 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." (KJV)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The commission from Jesus suggests that his followers have the duty to go, teach, and baptize. Although the command was given directly only to Christ's apostles, Christian theology has typically interpreted the commission as a directive to all Christians of every time and place.

Related Topics:
Jesus - Apostles - Christian theology

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Critics note that the portion of Mark 16 which records the commission is not found in two of the oldest Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, the Codex Vaticanus and the Codex Sinaiticus. The response generally given is that this is immaterial, as essentially the same thing is quoted as having been said by Jesus in at least three other New Testament passages, and that additionally and that the passage in question was regarded as part of the canon of the scriptures throughout most of Church history.

Related Topics:
Greek - Manuscripts - New Testament - Codex Vaticanus - Codex Sinaiticus - Canon - Scriptures

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Evangelicals often contrast this "Great Commission" with the "Limited Commission" given to seventy of Jesus' followers as reported in Luke 10, in which they were to restrict their mission to their fellow Jews, to whom Jesus referred as "the lost sheep of the house of Israel".

Related Topics:
Luke - Jew

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~