Tuesday, June 8, 2010

The Great Commission: All Nations!

4 comments:

David Rogers said...

Excellent! Once again, totally in agreement.

I believe that another argument in favor of the discipling of invidivuals as opposed to socio-political structures is that, in regard to the participial phrases βαπτίζοντες αὐτοὺς (“baptizing them”) and διδάσκοντες αὐτοὺς (“teaching them”) in verses 19 and 20, the antecedent of them (αὐτοὺς, masculine) is nations (ἔθνη, neuter).

According to the committee of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod appointed in 2005 to clarify the mission of the synod, “The change in gender is an example of a ‘construction according to sense.’ It brings out the fact that we are dealing with persons (the masculine αυτους covers people of both sexes) and not with the mass conversion of whole nations.”

(Not insinuating the WELS is our authority on this. I just found the quote helpful.)

Unknown said...

I am an editor for Christian.com which is a social network dedicated to the christian community. As I look through your web site I feel a collaboration is at hand. I would be inclined to acknowledge your website offering it to our users as I'm sure our audience would benefit from what your site has to offer. I look forward to your thoughts or questions regarding the matter.

Robert Wright
rev.robertwright@gmail.com
Christian.com

Stuart said...

Bart,

Top shelf. Amen, amen, and amen.

Chris Johnson said...

Great stuff Bart!

I like the line.... where you stated that if we are discipling others we will know their name. Priceless!

That is so true.... We have many folks, overseers included, that have the habit of overseeing things and not people. In other words, they are not necessarily making disciples... they may be tending to their sermons as a thing, but never carrying that over into making disciples.

Great content...I like these lessons a lot!

Syndication may be in your future :)

Blessings,
Chris