The Great Commission

Appendix P from my Acts commentary, looking at the subject of “The Great Commission,” a theme running through the book of Acts.

APPENDIX P – THE GREAT COMMISSION

“The Great Commission” theological terminology subsumes the final commands of Jesus to his disciples as recorded in Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16, Luke 24:46-49, John 20:21-23, and Acts 1:8. Bible students often consider Matthew’s account to be the most complete single statement of Jesus’s command. Therefore, teachers usually put it forward as the prime example. 

The four primary views of the extent of this command are:

• Jesus gave “The Great Commission” to the apostles, as apostles (therefore only for apostolic times).
• Jesus gave “The Great Commission” to the apostles, as preachers (therefore incumbent upon preachers through the ages).
• Jesus gave “The Great Commission” to the apostles, as individual Christians (therefore incumbent on Christian individuals through the ages). 
• Jesus gave “The Great Commission” to the apostles, as officers and representatives of the church (therefore incumbent upon the church through the ages).

I have combined the first two views, and consider it under three headings.

To the apostles as either apostles or preachers

Most, if not all, agree that the apostles were present when Jesus gave the commands. Some conclude that only the apostles were present (e.g., Matthew 28:16 – “Then the eleven disciples went...”). Based on the latter understanding, one interpretation is that the “Commission” was given only to the apostles, as apostles – and therefore only for apostolic times.  The apostolic times recorded in Acts disputes this conclusion. While the apostles are in the forefront, other disciples – that is, other than the apostles – preach, baptize, teach, and even perform miracles. A study of the book of Acts should make note of such occasions. 

1. The scope of the commission is broader than might be fulfilled by twelve men  – “teach all nations.” While the apostles fulfilled this to an extent in their lifetimes, Mark 16 makes it clear that the gospel is for “all the world” and “to every creature.”

2. The time of the commission is broader than might be fulfilled by twelve men – “alway...until the end of the world.” Jesus does not command just the eleven. There is something bigger than and living beyond the eleven, based on the end of verse 20.

3. The act of baptizing herein commissioned is broader than might be fulfilled by twelve men. The book of Acts tells of men who were not apostles who performed baptisms (Cf. Acts 8:12-13; 8:36-38; 9:5, 9, 18).

4. The act of teaching herein commissioned is broader than might be fulfilled by twelve men. Even in the days of the apostles, men who were not apostles evangelized and taught (Cf. Acts 6:9; 8:5, 35; 11:19, 22; 13:1; 18:24-26).

The Luke and Acts passages militate against the “apostles only” position. Luke 24:49 says they will be endued with power from on high, and Acts 1:8 states that they will be witnesses after the Holy Ghost comes upon them. Acts chapter 2 records the fulfillment of this. The baptism of the Holy Ghost, the promise of the Father, came not only upon the apostles, but also upon the entire church (cf. Acts 1:15; 2:1-4; they were all filled). The Holy Ghost came upon the assembled church and empowered them as witnesses to fulfill the given commission. The apostles (representing the church) were given the commission, and the church (as a church, not as individuals) were baptized in the power of the Holy Ghost.  Others in Acts took part in preaching and baptizing. Paul’s statement that “Christ sent me not to baptize” (I Corinthians 1:17) is hard to square with an “apostles only” commission or an individual commission.

To the apostles as individual Christians

Other Christians believe that Christ gave the Great Commission to individual Christians. In practical terms, this means any Christian can and should – independently and without any necessary reference to others or to the churches – commence to evangelize, baptize, and teach.

1. If in the Great Commission Jesus directly commissions Christians as individuals, then all Christians may go independently and without regard to the churches. However, neither the Acts nor the rest of the New Testament endorses “unattached” Christians.

2. If in the Great Commission Jesus directly commissions Christians as individuals, then all Christians may baptize converts indiscriminately. There is no evidence in the New Testament of such a practice in the early church.

3. If in the Great Commission Jesus directly commissions Christians as individuals, then all Christians may teach and instruct regardless of their status in or with a church, or with or without recognition by any churches. However, God sets the gift of preaching and teaching in the church, and the church recognizes God’s gift (I Corinthians 12:28-29; Ephesians 4:11).

The “individual” answer to this question bypasses the authority of the church and makes individuals authorities unto themselves. Even the individual apostles were set “in the church.” I Corinthians 12:28.

To the apostles as officers and representatives of the church

The Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20 is a command fulfilled by local assemblies of believers. The task of the commission and the people of the task will last the length of time God promises it to last – “...I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world...”

1. The New Testament examples of fulfilling the commission points toward church authority rather than apostolic or individual authority. Other church representatives who were not apostles engaged in the evangelistic, baptizing, and educational ministries of the church. They were always visibly connected with other baptized believers.

2. The time period of the commission given expects a continuity through the time. The churches of the Lord provide that continuity.

The Holy Ghost came upon the assembled church and empowered them as witnesses to fulfill the given commission. Jesus gave the apostles (representing the church, Matthew 28) the commission, and the church (as a church, not as individuals; Acts 2) were baptized in the power of the Holy Ghost. The Lord Jesus Christ testified of his position of power and authority. He delegated authority to the church. The church has the authority to disciple – to preach, baptize, and teach as the Lord’s representatives.

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. 

• Evangelizing all nations. Acts 17:26-27; 20:26-27
• Baptizing the evangelized. Acts 2:41; 8:12; 10:47-48
• Teaching the baptized (to observe all things). Acts 2:42; 18:11; 19:8-10

A collated commission of the Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts passages

Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. (And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them) Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. 

And he said unto them, 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.  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 alway, even unto the end of the world.  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 

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.  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 Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.