If we are to find and follow our Lord's plan to disciple all nations, it is imperative that we look carefully until we find His plan. Could it be that His plan for accomplishing "The Great Commission" is included in "The Great Commission?"
It seems obvious that obeying our Lord's command to baptize includes evangelism, because being a believer is a biblical requirement for baptism (Acts 8:37). And, while many may differ, the command to baptize does not necessarily include even a hint that church membership is a part of fulfilling "The Great Commission." Certainly, Jesus says that He will build His church, but does that necessarily mean that His command to us is to make church members?
If obeying the command to disciple all nations includes evangelism and baptism [which it does], then obeying "The Great Commission also includes the step of teaching.
Since, as seen by the perfective aspect (completion) of the aorist tense, the command to make disciples is to bring each disciple to a certain state of completion. Obviously, evangelism, followed by baptism, fulfills (brings to a state of completion) the part of the command to make disciples that is included in "baptizing," but what about "teaching?" What does "teaching" include? What is one of the things that would characterize a disciple who has been brought to a state of completion?
Since the command to make disciples includes the command to teach them to observe all things that our Lord has commanded, His command includes teaching them to obey His command in "The Great Commission." A believer is not completely discipled until he has been taught to observe "all things" that Jesus has commanded.
Therefore, the command is to make disciples, teaching (present tense, a continuous process) them to a state of completion (perfective aspect of the aorist tense of "disciple") in which they will obey the command of Jesus to make disciples, who will in turn, make disciples who will make disciples.
With the perfective aspect (completion) of discipling achieved by "teaching" (present tense--a process), we now paraphrase:
"In whatever land you may have been born, wherever you may live now, whether your Lord leaves you where you are or sends you to a distant land, whether you are a missionary, a pastor, or work at a secular job, as a habitual pattern of life, make disciples, bringing them to a state of completion by teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you--including obeying My command, in "The Great Commission," to make disciples who will, in turn, make disciples who will make disciples."
Since "The Great Commission" commands making disciples who will observe (do) all things that Jesus has commanded, "The Great Commission" applies to all who are discipled, and all who are discipled are to make disciples.
Further, seeing that all are to make disciples, but all cannot go, it would not be logical for "The Great Commission" to command all to go.
Therefore, translating the participle "Go ye" tends to change a universal command, that is to be obeyed as a habitual pattern of life by all believers, to a command for a special few who are called to a distant land.
Copyright 1997 by Wendell E. Miller
Downloaded from http://www.biblical-counsel.org
May be printed and distributed
by individuals and not-for-profit ministries
without written permission.
Proceed to Rethinking The Great Commission: Part IV
Return to Rethinking The Great Commission: Part II
Before submitting your comments, please refer to Guidelines for Submitting Your Comments to "Let's Rethink It."
Send your comments to rethink@biblical-counsel.org.