After twenty centuries, you’d think
we would have gotten this straight. But I’ve been in the church for 48 years –
and in the ministry for 43 – and have yet to hear even one preacher or teacher
explain what the Great Commission really means.
Hear me out.
The very first word of the Great
Commission is πορευθεντες (poreuthentes), which is a participle, properly translated “going forth,” or
“as you are going,” or even “as you are going about your normal daily routine.”
A participle is an –ing word,
like walking, singing, or reading. It is not a command. Jesus is not saying
“Go,” He is saying, “As you are going.”
So let’s get this straight – the
commission is not to go; the commission is to do something else in the
context of our normal comings and goings.
In all my study, I have never found
an English translation that accurately renders πορευθεντες, the first word of
the Great Commission. However, one of my students did find two
English translations that do it right:
1. Young's
Literal Translation reads, “Having gone, then, disciple all the
nations, (baptizing them—to the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Spirit, teaching them to
observe all, whatever I did command you,) and lo, I am with you all the
days—till the full end of the age.” (emphasis added)
2. The International
Standard Version Ed.2 is, “Therefore, as
you go, disciple all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching
them to obey all that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you every
day until the end of the age.” (emphasis added)
OK, so Young takes the present participle (going) and makes it a past
participle (having gone); and the ISV hides the participle altogether, but both
accurately capture the intent of the participle. Obviously, a more literal
rendering would be “as you are going,” but at least these two translations avoid the totally wrong command, "Go." And that's a good thing.
So this is my first insight on "What the Great Commission Really Means." It is not a command to go anywhere. Too many Christians have assumed that since they can't go somewhere like the mission field, that it doesn't apply to them. WRONG! The Great Commission applies to all believers -- AS YOU ARE GOING ABOUT YOUR NORMAL DAILY ROUTINE . . .
Tune in next week for Insight #2.
:-)
Good word, brother, thanks!
ReplyDeleteGood insight on the passage.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from the First Church of the Panhandlers, the corner of Westhimer and Gessner Rd. Houston, TX. 'Bout time John. Welcome to the world. 2000 years isn't enough time to tweek the system because it is not a system ... its a relationship.
ReplyDeleteThe translation of many is truly missed among many within the greater Church, (including up until recently myself). This is a game changer for the church. Now convincing generations of believers who have heard the command will be a unique task.
ReplyDeleteI truly find this to be fascinating. This forces a change of thinking. Instead of "Go" which leave room for people to stay behind to hold up the home front, "As you are going" leaves no one behind. It puts action to all that are here to go, as they are going about their daily routine. Great insights.
ReplyDeleteI think this has certainly been a lesson that I have not only had to learn, but one that I wish others would also take the time to learn as well. Mission work was the first half of my 2015 year- the idea of "Going" was so over glamorized that they forgot to actually live out the great commission- as they were going.
ReplyDeletePreach brother! I am actually studying participles in my Greek class right now and what I am being taught is right on with the translation you've offered above. It makes me wonder why so many translators have missed this all of these years. Is it just a case of "that is what we've done for generations and we're sticking to it?" I'd love to teach this to my congregation, though, I'm afraid they might start looking for some rope, firewood, and matches.
ReplyDeleteI like the general premise of this argument; not everyone needs to go abroad to disciple others. Having said that, the Greek is not as cut-and-dried as this post seems to indicate. For instance, the following article explains that sometimes participles do in fact function imperativally, and it actually uses this particular text as an example. http://zondervanacademic.com/blog/the-participle-as-imperative/
ReplyDelete