Mark 16:15

[Eddie_Mac]

In the Gospel of Mark 16:15 Jesus told the eleven apostles:

"He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. "

Why did Jesus say “creature” and not “man” or “everyone”?

This part of the gospel is the commissioning of the eleven.

Eddie Mac?

 

[Spencerian]

In the Gospel of Mark 16:15 Jesus told the eleven apostles:

"He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. "

Why did Jesus say “creature” and not “man” or “everyone”?

This part of the gospel is the commissioning of the eleven.

Eddie Mac?

Hi. I suspect one needn’t be a theologian to answer this one.

Biblical language for some today has “exclusionary language.” Christ never speaks of “womankind.” The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are masculine in description.

But, as God created all things, humans in particular, He would be the last to exclude anyone from His complete plan of salvation through Christ.

While animals and plants cannot understand God’s message of salvation as humans do, Christ’s directive to the Disciples obviously cannot be for them, nor do the material souls of these creatures need it. The verses that follow confirm that Christ may be using “creature” to ensure and emphasize that the Eleven preach to every human from any class–Jews, Gentiles, men and women:

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents [with their hands], and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.j

 

[Edward_Pothier]

In the Gospel of Mark 16:15 Jesus told the eleven apostles:

"He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. "

Why did Jesus say “creature” and not “man” or “everyone”?

This part of the gospel is the commissioning of the eleven.

Eddie Mac?

The text of Mark 16:15 commands preaching the gospel to “pasa tē ktisei” and the Greek word ktisis (of which ktisei is an inflected form) can refer to “creation, what is created, creature …”

Edward Pothier

 

[JonathonofOhio]

The text of Mark 16:15 commands preaching the gospel to “pasa tē ktisei” and the Greek word ktisis (of which ktisei is an inflected form) can refer to “creation, what is created, creature …”

Edward Pothier

…basically he’s saying to preach to everyone and not to exclude anyone because of their social status or race.

 

[Eddie_Mac]

Thanks for all of your replies.

 

[Mintaka]

All creation was groaning for salvation, so preaching to all creation wasn’t a bad plan.

This is the Biblical basis for stuff like St. Francis and St. Anthony of Padua preaching to the birds and the fish whenever humans wouldn’t listen to them.

 

[fred_conty]

Would it be a stretch to say that he intended that all creation be blessed thru them since His Word is holy in every way and makes holy everything it touches?

Just a thought.