Aorist Passive Participle in the Great Commission
In Matthew 28:19, the original Greek reads
πορευθέντες οὖν μαθητεύσατε πάντα τὰ ἔθνη,
βαπτίζοντες αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸὄνομα τοῦ πατρὸς
καὶ τοῦ υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος,...
Now that first word, πορευθέντες, is an aorist passive participle. I have not seen a single translation that gets this correct. They all translate this word as "Go" - an imperative. But the aorist passive participle does not have "mood". A better translation would be, "Having been sent".
The theological implications of this translation are important, I think. The passage most emphatically does NOT mean that you must leave your current location, go somewhere else, and make disciples. The passage says that you are already where God has called you to be. Now make disciples where you are.
Now you should not interpret my comments here as saying that nobody is ever called to move anywhere. Nor should you think that I am saying we do not need missionaries: we do. I am saying that the missionary calling to go elsewhere should not be foisted on people from this passage. This passage will not bear that weight.
posted by Adrian C. Keister @ 2:00 PM
4 Comments
4 Comments:
In the Greek, “go”—like “baptizing” and “teaching”—is a participle. Only the verb “make disciples” is imperative. When a participle functions as a circumstantial participle dependent on an imperative, it normally gains some imperatival force. While it remains true to say that the main imperatival force rests with “make disciples,” not with “go,” in a context that demands that this ministry extend to “all nations,” it is difficult to believe that “go” has lost all imperatival force. (Expository Bible commentary).
James,
Yes, I've seen that comment, or the same effect somewhere or others. It's convinced me that "Go" is an acceptable translation. I am still firmly unconvinced by some missionaries who seem to tell everyone they have to leave and go elsewhere, or they think you're not as mature a Christian. That's what I still don't buy. Thanks for posting!
Another comment: the participle from the verb "go" is in the passive voice. While there are passive imperatives (Romans 12:2 comes to mind), wouldn't that mitigate against the participle picking up imperatival force from the neighboring imperative?
Another comment: the word "disciple" is the verb, not the noun. So, my favorite translation is "Having been sent, disciple the nations."
Just a passerby who is quite "late to the party" as it were... (I was impressed with a comment that Mr Keister left on Amazon and got here.)
Just wanted to add that I have heard this translated "As you are going..." The point being that as you go /anywhere/ you are called to make disciples (or to disciple others, given your comment about "disciple" being the verb form rather than the noun form).
It is assumed you will go...to the market, to the temple, to eat together with others, etc. As you are going, disciple others in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
You seem to have gotten the hang of Jesus' calling for those who love Him.
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