quote:
To tie it back to the opening post. Look at the Micah quote: what does the Lord require of you?. He doesn’t go on to say that that you have to believe a certain theology. The great commission is about building a church, guided by His Holy Spirit, to carry on the work of Jesus, by taking His message of hope, justice, peace, mercy, forgiveness and above all love to the world.
It doesn't matter what Micah wrote.
This thread is about the "Great Commission" described by the various gospel writers and how it changed over time.
Which Gospel speaks of building a church to carry on the work of Jesus?
Which Gospel depicts Jesus' work as spreading a message of hope, justice, peace, mercy, forgiveness and love, to people other than the Jews?
There is no Great Commission in Mark.
In Matthew we have the well known
"go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
It is interesting though that in the Book of Acts the author doesn't portray the disciples as baptizing that way. (Acts 2:38, 10:48)
Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
So he [Peter] ordered that they [Gentiles] be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Of course baptism wasn't part of Luke's Great Commission, just repentance and remission of sins.
When we conflate the gospels, we then create a fifth gospel. They weren't written to be sewn together.
Matthews version seems to be the tradition the early church fathers quoted, although a little shorter.
IgnatiusGo ye and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
They left off the part about obeying commands.
It changes as the needs of the religion changes.