Lesson 2403

Lesson 2403)(07-14-18) Matthew 28:16-20
    “Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
    Today’s quote contains Jesus’ final instructions to His apostles. Therein, Jesus told His apostles, “Go ye therefore, and TEACH all nations, BAPTIZING them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: TEACHING them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:”. That instruction is one of the most mis-understood passages in the entire New Testament seeing that most bible scholars make the very wrong assumption that the word “baptizing”, as it is applied in the quote, is in reference to an action that is to be taken by some form of water ritual. If we actually read that instruction in the manner in which it was written, and is intended to be understood, we find that the act of “baptizing” was to be concurrent with and a part of the teaching. To fully understand the intent of Jesus’ instructions, we must first understand that the English word baptize was *transliterated from the Greek word baptizo, (or baptidzo). We should note that transliteration makes no attempt to define or bring forward all the implications of the term being transliterated. Baptizo, in the Greek language, means to place one item or entity into a certain substance of circumstance, with the intent to alter the appearance or character of the item or entity that is to be ‘baptizoed’. The term “baptize” literally has many implications, the usages of which depend entirely upon the context within which the term is applied. To baptizo, or baptize can literally imply the altering of someone or some thing by immersing them into into a water solution, or altering one by “teaching” that one a new doctrine. Therefore, the latter is the implied intent of Jesus demand that His apostles “baptize” all nations. The baptism Jesus demanded was a part of the teaching process in that the apostles were to convert, or alter, “all nations” by ‘teaching’ them, and thereby ‘baptizing’ them, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Therefore, both words, teaching and baptizing, are concurrent in today’s quote, and DO NOT suggest that a water ritual should be a part of what the apostles were to teach “all nations”. ~
NOTE: I realize that  this analysis is complex and maybe hard to understand. Therefore, if anyone has questions or comments concerning any part of this commentary, please feel free to ask.