In Part I we saw good evidence suggesting that there is not a command to "go" in The Great Commission. But, if there is not a command to go, is there another command?

• Disciple--An Explicit Command

  Although there is not an explicit command to go in Matthew 28:19-20, there is an explicit command in Matthew 28:19-20 to "disciple" all nations. In the Greek New Testament this command is given as an aorist active imperative of (roughly transliterated) "mathateuo." Since there is no explicit command to "go," but , instead, a command to "disciple," it appears that the emphasis is not on "going," but on "doing"--making disciples.

  Editorial Note: David Benzel, a graduate of Grace Seminary and a missionary who teaches theology in Far East Russia, wrote to say, in part: "It is interesting that the actual imperative ("make disciples") is aorist instead of present tense. This means that this is . . . something we are to accomplish, rather than just "be doing" without ever really getting it all done. If it were a present tense then it would mean this is how we are to be spending our time, but instead it means the accomplishing of it (not simply the doing) is to be our goal."

  Keeping in mind these thoughtful comments, let's consider the implications of aorist tense. Can we provide support for the ideas expressed by this missionary-teacher?

• The Significance of the Aorist Tense

  In Verbal Aspect in the Greek of the New Testament with Reference to Tense and Mood (Peter Land Publishing, Inc. 1989, page 133), Stanley E. Porter says:

  The aorist in Greek first and foremost indicates perfective aspect but may, though does not necessarily implicate relative temporal reference by means of various deictic indicators. In those cases where deixis is not limited, the aorist can be used omnitemporally [gnomic aorist seems to fall into this category], timelessly [without reference to a specific time], as well as present and future-referring, leaving perfective aspect as the essential semantic component"[bold face added].

  Perfective aspect (completion), according to Porter, is so basic to the use of the aorist tense that he lists this significant fact in both his introductory comment and summary statement! If we accept Porter's view of the aorist tense, then it follows that the perfective aspect (completion) of the aorist tense provides implications that are of great significance in fulfilling "The Great Commission."

• Implications of Perfective Aspect

  Far-reaching Implications seem to flow out of the perfective aspect of the aorist tense. Consider these possibilities:

  Discipling of all nations is a command to be obeyed, accomplished/completed (although the command to disciple all nations does not necessarily command that every individual be evangelized and discipled);

  Since discipling of all nations is to be accomplished, a viable plan is essential;

  Perfective aspect implies that the nations remain discipled--complete discipling should result in disciples who are, among other things, "cult-proof";

  A nation remaining discipled inherently includes making disciples who can/will disciple the next generation--especially those of his own household;

  While the command is to disciple all nations, it is people who are to be evangelized, baptized, and taught. Therefore the command to disciple all nations is a command to make disciples in all nations, and to so completely disciple the population that the particular country would be characterized as having been discipled.

  If the One making the command has provided the plan, then love, obedience, wisdom, our Lord's commendation, and success all depend upon finding and following His plan.

Proceed to Rethinking The Great Commission: Part III

Return to Rethinking The Great Commission: Part I

Send your comments to rethink@biblical-counsel.org.

Return to Home Page