Normally I would wait until the last step to read a commentary since we are trying to discover the meaning for ourselves, but since I happen to be at the library, this week's assignment is just to read this short synopsis of what I found in the Word Biblical Commentary on Matthew 28:16-20 by Donald Hagner and respond to one question at the end.
1) One scholar says that Matthew 28:18-20 is the key to the whole understanding of the entire Gospel of Matthew. It serves not only as a conclusion of the Gospel, but also as a microcosm. In it we find these elements that are emphases from earlier in the Gospel:
a. Christology (all authority is given to me)
b. Discipleship (make disciples of all nations)
c. Ecclesiology - the theology of the Church (baptism, his presence with them always)
d. Righteousness (teaching them to do what I have commanded you)
2) Hagner then proceeds to compare and contrast Matthew's commission with those found in the other Gospels (just like we have - your work is better than his). :>)
3) Schieber has seen a concentric structure (or a chiasm of sorts):
A : Authority (v18b)
B : Making disciples (v19a)
C : Baptizing (the central element)
B' : Teaching (v20a)
A' : Presence
4) There have been many interesting offers on the genre of Matthew 28:18-20. Some ideas have been cult legend, word of revelation, theophany, farewell speech, priestly blessing, covenant renewal, official decree. The two genres that Hagner find most helpful are the "enthronement hymn" (parallel texts in Dan 7:13-14; Phil 2:9-11) and the "commissioning narrative." The form for a commissioning narrative is based on Old Testament commissions of patriarchs and prophets (God commissioning, say, Abraham or Jonah, for example). Not all commissioning narratives have all the same elements, but there are some similar forms. The fullest pattern contains these elements:
a. introduction
b. confrontation
c. reaction
d. commission
e. protest
f. reassurance
g. conclusion
Can you fit the elements of Matthew 28:16-20 into this form? (Hint: our passage doesn't contain a protest or a conclusion, which reports the obedience of the commissioned.)
Extra Credit (and for a ton of fun): What elements do you find in the commissioning of Jonah? What elements are found in the commissioning of Abraham (Genesis 12)? How does Abraham's commissioning compare with Jesus' Great Commission in the Gospels? Note the similarities.
a. introduction: v.17–as directed by Jesus, the disciples went to Galilee and saw and worshiped Him
ReplyDeleteb. confrontation: v.18–Jesus said all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him
c. reaction: v.17–the disciples worshiped Him but some doubted
d. commission: v.19–go making disciples, baptizing and teaching
e. reassurance: v.20–I am with you always till the end of the age
a. introduction: (v16) “Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.”
ReplyDeleteb. confrontation: (v17a) “And when they saw him”
c. reaction: (v17b) “they worshiped him, but some doubted.”
d. commission: (v18-20a) “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
e. reassurance: (v20b) “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Great work Inger and Collin! You had slightly different results, but they both work.
ReplyDelete