The Value in Exile, The Great Commission (Part 1)

Over the next few posts I will look closely at the Great Commission. This will be more studious in tone, as we will look closely at some of the language within the famous passage. Of course, this will not be entirely exhaustive, but will pick out certain key components of it to help us process and think through our currently realities. I will address the language predominately in this post, along with some context. In the next post, I will address a broader and significant context to unpack its meaning. So, to begin, here is our famous passage - The Great Commission (I've highlighted the key words we we will address):

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

Go:

Although we translate this as an emphatic "Go!" there is important nuance missed. A more direct translation would be: "having gone." This is clunky in English, and so we simply translate it as "go." Yet, as a past passive participle it insinuates activity done to the subject (those Jesus is speaking to) in the past. Additionally, in context, right before he says "having gone," Jesus speaks these words: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." Therefore, who in the past is acting upon the subjects in the past? Jesus on account of his given authority!

The thrust of the word could be worked out this way: "Having arrived at the place you have been sent/called." Although still emphatic, this communicates following Jesus' lead through submission to His authority, and has less emphasis on the individual or group "going" on their own account. It also creates the question of "where?"

If we look at the scope of what takes place after this command, we see the disciples and apostles scattering particularly due to persecution. They become exiles of sorts, scattered amidst different people groups and cities. It becomes clear throughout the book of Acts and the New Testament that God used persecution to send His followers to places He wished them to be so that they would share the message of Christ's Kingdom! There was value in exile because God gave it the value in His intended purposes! Imagine what would change in our thinking today as the church in America if we looked at this passage through this lens?

Make Disciples:

Most translations state, "make disciples," despite the fact that "make" is nowhere in the text. Simply put, it is verb rooted in the noun, "disciple." English does not have the verb "disciple" in its usage, and so most English translations add the word "make." It could read instead, "having gone, disciple all [nations]...".

I find this difficult as a choice in translation simply because of what "make" can connotate and insinuate. It can certainly imply that something that was not has now become what is. It locates it in a specific time, moment, instance, and context where something is "made." It also communicates a lot of power in the hands of the ones doing the "making," which sounds like it is the listeners of Jesus' words, and where they are given responsibility for "converting."

Whereas, allowing "disciple" to be a verb and stand alone in the text would communicate more of a continuum and process. It maintains the call of the listeners to be about the discipling, not the "making" or the potentially implied "converting." It allows for it to be an ongoing reality, within which baptism and teaching would take part. I believe this allows room for more patience and humility in approach (remember, this is contingent on the authority given to Jesus!) as opposed to high control, power or dominance, and expectation in approach that can sadly characterize many of our efforts. Additionally, it communicates the reality that we are always discipling with our whole lives while immersed with others in the contexts of our relationships. God's people being in exile helps by placing people in places to consistently disciple.

Another important note to highlight is the use of the term disciple, which today we often define as "teach." However, it is interesting Jesus uses this word disciple and then later the literal Greek word "teach" in the same thought. If they are the same as we often understand them, then why use different terms as depicted in the original language? The key is understanding the nature of the verbs contextually. Discipleship is deeply relational in nature, while teach is strictly the instruction or relaying of content, such as commands of God. Therefore, we can see that Jesus has in mind for His followers to truly immerse relationally with the [nations].

Nations:

When we hear the word "nation," we probably think of nations as we have come to define them in more modern times - lands and places with definitive boundaries and markers. So, as Christians in America, we can easily think that means mission overseas. However, the word used in this passage is technically, "ethnos," from where we get the word "ethnicity." Ethnos meant much more than nation. In short, ethnos referred to people who are joined together by common culture and customs. This did not necessitate that ethnos was defined by the way someone looked, although this most certainly would have been a real indicator and representation of someone or people being of a different culture with different customs. In speaking to Jews, Jesus made it clear that their work and their lives were going to be amidst those not joined by Jewish culture and customs. This holds tremendous meaning, which we will unpack in our next post.

However, before we delve even deeper in the next post, consider how being in exile and being scattered as People of God breaks down the tendency to only associate with those who are of our own ethnos, who think like us, look like us, etc. Consider how easy it is today for the Church to become its own ethnos, solely set apart from the surrounding communities. Consider how easy it is for the Church to isolate itself and build its trenches in order to protect its "ethnos." Consider how easy it is for us to see the Great Commission as something done far from us, maybe overseas, but not done next door and within our communities.

In our considerations and thoughts amidst this, take heart! The beauty is this Great Commission is all contingent on Jesus and His authority. We simply get to participate with Him in this great calling. We can embrace the idea of being in exile within our culture because God is always up to something. As much as we are called to disciple, we are being discipled ourselves. Always learning. Always on a journey in following Jesus. Always forgiven. Always loved. Always empowered by Christs Word and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Semper Itineris. Semper Reformanda.