Was The Apostles Commission in Mark 16:15-16 Fulfilled In 60 AD

[JD731]

The epistle of Paul the apostle, to the Colossians, was one of 4 epistles that was written from Paul's imprisonment in Rome in AD 60. This was 30 years after the birth of the church of Jesus Christ in 30 AD. In case there are some who are unaware of God's use of numbers, thirty is his number for maturity. In the first chapter he makes some incredible statements, one of which deals with my question.

23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

All the world is under heaven.

 

[Van]

Not addressing Mark 16:15-16, but addressing Colossians 1:23, we have two different statements presented by the translators.

In the KJV, quoted above, we have the statement that the gospel has been preached to every creature which is under heaven."

However, if we look at the NASB, we have the statement that the gospel has been "proclaimed in all creation."

Certainly some aspects of the gospel, such as the invisible attributes of God, have been proclaimed to every person capable of discernment by what He has made. That is a long way from the claim some human witness of the gospel has preached it to every person who had lived up to that time.

As a minimalist, asking the question, "What is the least God seems to be saying," I conclude our commission has not yet been fulfilled.

 

[JD731]

Not addressing Mark 16:15-16, but addressing Colossians 1:23, we have two different statements presented by the translators.

In the KJV, quoted above, we have the statement that the gospel has been preached to every creature which is under heaven."

However, if we look at the NASB, we have the statement that the gospel has been "proclaimed in all creation."

Certainly some aspects of the gospel, such as the invisible attributes of God, have been proclaimed to every person capable of discernment by what He has made. That is a long way from the claim some human witness of the gospel has preached it to every person who had lived up to that time.

As a minimalist, asking the question, "What is the least God seems to be saying," I conclude our commission has not yet been fulfilled.

It appears that two possibilities exist in relation to the KJV and the NASB.

1) The translators were not translating the same text and they were being honest with the texts they had.
2) The translators did not believe the text they were translating and practiced the art of dynamic equivalence to correct the text.

In either case, both can be wrong but both cannot be right. This leaves a major opportunity for division in the body of Christ, something God does not want.

1 Cor 1: 10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

 

[Van]

It appears that two possibilities exist in relation to the KJV and the NASB.

1) The translators were not translating the same text and they were being honest with the texts they had.
2) The translators did not believe the text they were translating and practiced the art of dynamic equivalence to correct the text.

In either case, both can be wrong but both cannot be right. This leaves a major opportunity for division in the body of Christ, something God does not want.

1 Cor 1: 10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Yes, the Greek word translated "to" and "in" is the preposition "en: with the primary meaning of to be within something. Translating "en" as "to" is rare, with most modern translations going with "in." Exceptions using "to" include the RSV, NRSV, but not the ESV, the NIV and NKJV.
However, those going with "in" include the NASB, ESV, NET, WEB, LEB, and CSB.

 

[JD731]

Yes, the Greek word translated "to" and "in" is the preposition "en: with the primary meaning of to be within something. Translating "en" as "to" is rare, with most modern translations going with "in." Exceptions using "to" include the RSV, NRSV, but not the ESV, the NIV and NKJV.
However, those going with "in" include the NASB, ESV, NET, WEB, LEB, and CSB.

I think God is honored when I and a couple others on this forum employs the K.I.S.S method of study. If I had to learn all that Greek and if I had to buy studies from these celebrity scholars and if I had to compare all these translations to arrive at my conclusions of what God has made simple, I would not have time to process it all and I would probably never even ask the question that I asked in my op.

Here is another question relative to Mark 16:15-16.

Would Jesus Christ give the apostolic commission to these chosen men without the possibility of their being equipped to obey him and accomplishing what he commanded of them?

Here is the command;

Mr 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Here is what Paul, an apostle, said 30 years later;

Col 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Many things in the scriptures are simple and easy to read but they are impossible for some to believe. I think this might be one of them. Hence, they have been changed by someone and there is a division. It is not about what the words mean but about the words themselves.

 

[Van]

I think God is honored when I and a couple others on this forum employs the K.I.S.S method of study. If I had to learn all that Greek and if I had to buy studies from these celebrity scholars and if I had to compare all these translations to arrive at my conclusions of what God has made simple, I would not have time to process it all and I would probably never even ask the question that I asked in my op.

Here is another question relative to Mark 16:15-16.

Would Jesus Christ give the apostolic commission to these chosen men without the possibility of their being equipped to obey him and accomplishing what he commanded of them?

Here is the command;

Mr 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Here is what Paul, an apostle, said 30 years later;

Col 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Many things in the scriptures are simple and easy to read but they are impossible for some to believe. I think this might be one of them. Hence, they have been changed by someone and there is a division. It is not about what the words mean but about the words themselves.

False doctrines arise from poor translation choices, such as translating a word that means "in" as if it meant "to."

 

[kyredneck]

Was The Apostles Commission in Mark 16:15-16 Fulfilled In 60 AD​

The apostolic commission was actually fulfilled with the 'gospel bomb' of Pentecost.

 

[JD731]

False doctrines arise from poor translation choices, such as translating a word that means "in" as if it meant "to."

Maybe! Having two different renderings of a text causes the reader to have an opinion rather than a conviction of what is taught. It will affect whether one believes Col 1:23 fulfills Mark 16:15 some 30 years later. You say, (I think) in your scholarly opinion, it doesn't.

 

[JD731]

The apostolic commission was actually fulfilled with the 'gospel bomb' of Pentecost.

ky, I would rather think something was started at Pentecost, like the church, rather than something being fulfilled.

 

[Van]

Maybe! Having two different renderings of a text causes the reader to have an opinion rather than a conviction of what is taught. It will affect whether one believes Col 1:23 fulfills Mark 16:15 some 30 years later. You say, (I think) in your scholarly opinion, it doesn't.

I claim to be a bible student, studying God's word as commanded in scripture. I do not claim to have any credentials indicating my view should be accepted over any other studied view. That bag belongs to those who peddle God's word.

Yes, I do say, with scripture, that portions of the gospel, the invisible attributes of God, have been proclaimed in all creation by what He has made.
And I do not agree with those that claim scripture indicates that the gospel has been preached to every human. And as I said, that bogus view arises from a poor translation choice.

 

[kyredneck]

ky, I would rather think something was started at Pentecost, like the church, rather than something being fulfilled.

I know you well enough to know that you're going to think whatever your Dispy KJVO box confines you to.

A few hours/days(?) before Pentecost Christ gave them their commission:

8 But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1

He didn't say "I want you to try" or "give it your best shot". He told them that they indeed would be His witnesses unto the uttermost part of the earth, which they were. Christ unequivocally stated that these eleven would indeed be His witnesses unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Next chapter, Acts 2:

5 Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
8 And how hear we, every man in our own language wherein we were born?

The preaching at Pentecost was a gospel bomb that broadcast the gospel to every nation under heaven:

So belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. But I say, Did they not hear? Yea, verily, Their sound went out into all the earth, And their words unto the ends of the world. Ro 10:17-18

 

[JD731]

I claim to be a bible student, studying God's word as commanded in scripture. I do not claim to have any credentials indicating my view should be accepted over any other studied view. That bag belongs to those who peddle God's word.

Yes, I do say, with scripture, that portions of the gospel, the invisible attributes of God, have been proclaimed in all creation by what He has made.
And I do not agree with those that claim scripture indicates that the gospel has been preached to every human. And as I said, that bogus view arises from a poor translation choice.

Every human is not what the KJV says. It says "every creature. "The offices of apostle and prophet are offices related to a specific group of people, Israel, in the beginning of this age. It is a people whom God is concerned that "every one" has the gospel preached to them for more than one reason.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you....

Acts 3:22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.


26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

If every one of them must hear, then it is the gospel they must hear because that is what can cleanse them from their sins.

We can identify the creature by context.

 

[Van]

Every human is not what the KJV says. It says "every creature. "The offices of apostle and prophet are offices related to a specific group of people, Israel, in the beginning of this age. It is a people whom God is concerned that "every one" has the gospel preached to them for more than one reason.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you....

Acts 3:22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.


26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

If every one of them must hear, then it is the gospel they must hear because that is what can cleanse them from their sins.

We can identify the creature by context.

1) To draw a distinction between every human and every creature and then only imply every creature is a subset of humanity is pure malarkey.

2) Every one of Peter's audience is non-germane to the discussion.

3) Yes, everyone who does not heed the gospel will be destroyed, but that is non-germane to the discussion.

4) The gospel does not "cleanse" anyone "from their sins." The blood (sacrificed life) of Jesus does, when God gives an individual to Christ. (Recall the washing of regeneration?)

5) Yes creation is identified by the context.

 

[JD731]

I know you well enough to know that you're going to think whatever your Dispy KJVO box confines you to.

Bless you, ky, for your discernment.

A few hours before Pentecost Christ gave them their commission:

This was actually ten days.

8 But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1

You are agreeing with me without even knowing it. Read the book of Acts and you will find their preaching in Acts 2-7 is to Jerusalem and Judaea only. Then in chapter 8 the field is broadened to the Samaritans, who represent the 10 tribes of Israel. (Enter the order here)
Acts 3:25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. 26 Unto you first

This was not just a few days, it amounted to about 8 years. It was only then that God raised a new apostle up to take the gospel to the world. His name was Saul who became Paul. In his letter to the Colossians he said the first 3 phases were complete since every one of them had heard the gospel.
It is not my fault that God chose to spread his gospel and to build his church in this manner but I can follow logic and I can believe him.

He didn't say "I want you to try" or "give it your best shot". He told them that they indeed would be His witnesses unto the uttermost part of the earth, which they were. Christ unequivocally stated that these eleven would indeed be His witnesses unto the uttermost part of the earth.

These men and these men alone were eye witnesses of his resurrection and God did not say they would be face to face witnesses to the whole world. They are the only authors of the NT scriptures containing their testimony to what they saw and heard. The fact there are no apostles and prophets after these days should speak volumes to us. If you do not believe these men then you don't believe God. It is that simple.

Next chapter, Acts 2:

5 Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
8 And how hear we, every man in our own language wherein we were born?

The preaching at Pentecost was a gospel bomb that broadcast the gospel to every nation under heaven:

So belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. But I say, Did they not hear? Yea, verily, Their sound went out into all the earth, And their words unto the ends of the world. Ro 10:17-18

We have a definitive statement about the limitations of the band of apostles referred to in scriptures as "the twelve" that did not include the apostle Paul. Take a look;

7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles):
9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

Paul is the apostle to the world of gentiles. As far as I can tell he was the only apostle who went to Europe.

Think about these things ky. Words have meaning and context and substance.

 

[JesusFan]

I know you well enough to know that you're going to think whatever your Dispy KJVO box confines you to.

A few hours/days(?) before Pentecost Christ gave them their commission:

8 But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1

He didn't say "I want you to try" or "give it your best shot". He told them that they indeed would be His witnesses unto the uttermost part of the earth, which they were. Christ unequivocally stated that these eleven would indeed be His witnesses unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Next chapter, Acts 2:

5 Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
8 And how hear we, every man in our own language wherein we were born?

The preaching at Pentecost was a gospel bomb that broadcast the gospel to every nation under heaven:

So belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. But I say, Did they not hear? Yea, verily, Their sound went out into all the earth, And their words unto the ends of the world. Ro 10:17-18

Speaking to the known Earth of their time, not to missionaries who would centuries later be taking the gospel into darkest Africa or into Muslim nations now

 

[JD731]

Speaking to the known Earth of their time, not to missionaries who would centuries later be taking the gospel into darkest Africa or into Muslim nations now

There are no visions, appearances of God, still spoken voices, miracles, signs or anything of the kind since the "Amen" of Revelation 22. The canon was closed and the church is commanded to believe the same things and that there is no divisions when our Lord comes.

The authority from God to the entire world are the words these apostles and prophets wrote. They are eye witnesses and the passing of time has not diminished what they wrote and the authority of their words. God has preserved them.