06.05.2013 Views

Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

<strong>Word</strong> <strong>Pictures</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> NT [Mat<strong>the</strong>w: Chapter 28].<br />

boundless and <strong>in</strong>cludes earth and heaven. {Hath been given}<br />

(\edoth•\) is a timeless aorist (Robertson, _Grammar_, pp.<br />

836f.). It is <strong>the</strong> sublimist of all spectacles to see <strong>the</strong> Risen<br />

Christ without money or army or state charg<strong>in</strong>g this band of five<br />

hundred men and women with world conquest and br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>m to<br />

believe it possible and to undertake it with serious passion and<br />

power. Pentecost is still to come, but dynamic faith rules on<br />

this mounta<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> Galilee.<br />

28:19 {All <strong>the</strong> nations} (\panta ta ethn•\). Not just <strong>the</strong> Jews<br />

scattered among <strong>the</strong> Gentiles, but <strong>the</strong> Gentiles <strong>the</strong>mselves <strong>in</strong><br />

every land. And not by mak<strong>in</strong>g Jews of <strong>the</strong>m, though this po<strong>in</strong>t is<br />

not made pla<strong>in</strong> here. It will take time for <strong>the</strong> disciples to grow<br />

<strong>in</strong>to this _Magna Charta_ of <strong>the</strong> missionary propaganda. But here<br />

is <strong>the</strong> world program of <strong>the</strong> Risen Christ and it should not be<br />

forgotten by those who seek to foreshorten it all by say<strong>in</strong>g that<br />

Jesus expected his second com<strong>in</strong>g to be very soon, even with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

lifetime of those who heard. He did promise to come, but he has<br />

never named <strong>the</strong> date. Meanwhile we are to be ready for his com<strong>in</strong>g<br />

at any time and to look for it joyfully. But we are to leave that<br />

to <strong>the</strong> Fa<strong>the</strong>r and push on <strong>the</strong> campaign for world conquest. This<br />

program <strong>in</strong>cludes mak<strong>in</strong>g disciples or learners (\math•teusate\)<br />

such as <strong>the</strong>y were <strong>the</strong>mselves. That means evangelism <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

fullest sense and not merely revival meet<strong>in</strong>gs. Baptism <strong>in</strong> (\eis\,<br />

not _<strong>in</strong>to_) <strong>the</strong> name of <strong>the</strong> Fa<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>the</strong> Son, and <strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit,<br />

<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> name of <strong>the</strong> Tr<strong>in</strong>ity. Objection is raised to this language<br />

<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> mouth of Jesus as too <strong>the</strong>ological and as not a genu<strong>in</strong>e<br />

part of <strong>the</strong> Gospel of Mat<strong>the</strong>w for <strong>the</strong> same reason. See Mt<br />

11:27, where Jesus speaks of <strong>the</strong> Fa<strong>the</strong>r and <strong>the</strong> Son as here. But<br />

it is all to no purpose. There is a chapter devoted to this<br />

subject <strong>in</strong> my _The Christ of <strong>the</strong> Logia_ <strong>in</strong> which <strong>the</strong> genu<strong>in</strong>eness<br />

of <strong>the</strong>se words is proven. The name of Jesus is <strong>the</strong> essential part<br />

of it as is shown <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Acts. Tr<strong>in</strong>e immersion is not taught as<br />

<strong>the</strong> Greek Church holds and practices, baptism <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> name of <strong>the</strong><br />

Fa<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>the</strong>n of <strong>the</strong> Son, <strong>the</strong>n of <strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit. The use of name<br />

(\onoma\) here is a common one <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Septuag<strong>in</strong>t and <strong>the</strong> papyri<br />

for power or authority. For <strong>the</strong> use of \eis\ with \onoma\ <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

sense here employed, not mean<strong>in</strong>g _<strong>in</strong>to_, see Mt 10:41f. (cf.<br />

also 12:41).<br />

28:20 {Teach<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>m} (\didaskontes autous\). Christians have<br />

been slow to realize <strong>the</strong> full value of what we now call religious<br />

education. The work of teach<strong>in</strong>g belongs to <strong>the</strong> home, to <strong>the</strong><br />

http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/MT28.RWP.html (5 of 6) [28/08/2004 09:03:32 a.m.]

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!