Great Commission and Evangelism in Early Christianity

Tertullian, On Prescription Against Heretics Supporting witness

Matthew 10:5 It is only at the last that He instructs them to go and teach all nations, and baptize them, Matthew 28:19 when they were so soon to receive the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, who should guide them into all the truth.

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Supporting witness

...uble you and would turn you away from the Gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than that which has been delivered to you, let him be accursed." And again he says, "To me, who am the least of all the apostles, this grace is given," and, "I fill up in my flesh what was behind of the afflictions of Christ." And once more, in another place, he declares of himself that he was a minister of Christ more than all others, as though after him no other was to be looked for at all. For he commands that not even an angel from heaven is to be received in that way. How, then, shall we believe the claims of this Manes, who comes from Persis and declares himself to be the Paraclete? By this very thing, indeed, I rather recognize in him one of those men who transform themselves, and of whom the Apostle Paul, that elect vessel, has given us very clear warning when he says, "Now in the last times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding marriage, and commanding people to abstain from foods, which God has created

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness

Paul himself, after the Lord spoke to him from heaven and showed him that by persecuting His disciples he was persecuting his own Lord, and after Ananias was sent to him to recover his sight and baptize him, "preached," it is said, "Jesus in the synagogues at Damascus, with full freedom of speech, declaring that this is the Son of God, the Christ." This is the mystery Paul mentions was revealed to him: that He who suffered under Pontius Pilate is the Lord of all, King, God, and Judge, receiving power from the God of all because He became "obedient unto death, even death on the cross." Given that this is true, while preaching to the Athenians on the Areopagus—where no Jews were present, allowing him to preach God freely—he told them: "God, who made the world and all things in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made by human hands. Nor is He served by human hands as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and everything else. From one blood, He made all nations of men to live on the entire earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, so they might seek the Deity, possibly track Him down, or fi

Mark 16:15 Background

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Luke 24:47 Background

And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness

...ng that there is none like Him among the gods of the nations: for they are idols of demons. But I shall recite the whole Psalm to you, so you may understand what has been said. It is as follows: ‘Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, and bless His name; proclaim His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all people. For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: He is to be feared above all the gods. For all the gods of the nations are demons, but the Lord made the heavens. Honor and beauty are in His presence; holiness and magnificence are in His sanctuary. Bring to the Lord, O you countries of the nations, bring to the Lord glory and honor, bring to the Lord glory in His name. Take sacrifices, and enter His courts; worship the Lord in His holy temple. Let the whole earth be moved before Him: declare among the nations, the Lord has reigned. For He has established the world, which shall not be moved; He shall judge the nations with equity. Let the heavens rejoice, and the earth be glad; let the sea and its fullness shake. Let the fields and everything in them be joyful. Let all the trees of t

Tertullian, An Answer to the Jews Supporting witness

...g their hope toward His coming. Nor do we need to inquire further about this matter, since long ago all the prophets prophesied of it. For example, Isaiah says: "Thus says the Lord God to my Christ the Lord, whose right hand I have held, that the nations may hear Him; the powers of kings I will burst apart; I will open before Him the gates, and the cities shall not be closed to Him." This very thing we see fulfilled. For whose right hand does God the Father hold except Christ's, His Son's? He is the one whom all nations have heard, that is, whom all nations have believed. And His preachers, the apostles, are also pointed out in the Psalms of David: "Into all the earth," he says, "their sound has gone out, and their words to the ends of the world." For in whom else have all the nations believed, except in the Christ who has already come? In whom have the nations believed—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and those who live in Mesopotamia, Armenia, Phrygia, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, and Pamphylia; those staying in Egypt, and those living in the region of Africa beyond Cyrene; Romans and foreigners; yes, even Jews in Jerusalem, and all other nations? For example, even now the various tri

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness

...in Caesarea to Cornelius the centurion and the Gentiles with him, to whom the word of God was first preached, we can understand what the apostles preached, the nature of their message, and their understanding of God. Cornelius was described as a "devout man, one who feared God with all his house, giving much to charity and praying to God always." Around the ninth hour of the day, he saw an angel of God, who told him, "Your alms have come up as a memorial before God. Therefore, send for Simon, who is called Peter." When Peter saw the vision, where a voice from heaven said to him, "What God has cleansed, do not call common," it served to teach him that the same God who, through the law, distinguished between clean and unclean, had purified the Gentiles through the blood of His Son—He whom Cornelius also worshipped. Peter, upon arriving, said, "I truly understand that God shows no favoritism: but in every nation, the one who fears Him and works righteousness is acceptable to Him." He clearly indicated that the God whom Cornelius had previously feared and heard of through the law and the prophets, and for whom he gave alms, is indeed God. However, Cornelius lacked knowledge of the S

Origen, Commentary on John Supporting witness

...ne addressed to the shepherds. For at the end, an exalted and flying angel, having the Gospel, will preach it to every nation, for the good Father has not entirely deserted those who have fallen away from Him. John, son of Zebedee, says in his Apocalypse, in Revelation 14:6-7, "And I saw an angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the Eternal Gospel, to preach it to those who dwell upon the earth, and to every nation, and tribe, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, 'Fear God and give Him glory, for the hour of His judgment has come, and worship Him that made the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.'"

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Supporting witness

We find it also predicted that certain persons should be sent by Him into every nation to publish these things, and that rather among the Gentiles [than among the Jews] men should believe on Him.

Ignatius, Epistle to the Philadelphians (Long Version) Supporting witness

For those things which the prophets announced, saying, “Until He come for whom it is reserved, and He shall be the expectation of the Gentiles,” have been fulfilled in the Gospel, [our Lord saying,] “Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” All then are good together, the law, the prophets, the apostles, the whole company [of others] that have believed through them: only if we love one another.

Acts 13:47 Background

For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

Romans 10:15 Background

And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Revelation 14:6 Background

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

Mark 13:10 Background

And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations.

Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Direct teaching

Having therefore received their orders, and being fully assured by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and established in the word of God, with full assurance of the Holy Ghost, they went forth proclaiming that the kingdom of God was at hand.

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Supporting witness

...ayer to the gods of my country. But, as they did not respond, I called upon those among us known as Christians. Upon investigation, I found a great number and multitude of them and initially acted against them, which was quite inappropriate, as I later understood their power. They began the battle, not with weapons, armor, or bugles, as such preparations are detestable to them because of the God they carry in their conscience. Therefore, it appears that those we think are atheists have God as their guiding force entrenched in their conscience. Throwing themselves on the ground, they prayed not only for me but for the entire army, that we might be saved from the current thirst and hunger. We had been without water for five days because there was none, being deep in Germany, in enemy territory. Simultaneously as they threw themselves on the ground and prayed to God (a God unknown to me), water poured from the sky, refreshingly cool upon us but as withering hail upon Rome's enemies. Immediately we acknowledged the presence of God following their prayer—a God unconquerable and indestructible. Based on this, let us pardon such individuals who are Christians, lest they pray for and ac

Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness

...." Also, with respect to the apostles personally, He says, "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, that bring good tidings of good," Isaiah 52:7, even proclaiming the gospel to the Gentiles, because He also says, "In His name shall the Gentiles trust." That is, in the name of Christ, to whom He says, "I have given you as a light of the Gentiles," Isaiah 42:6. However, you insist that it was the gospel of a new god that was then set forth by the apostle. Then there are two gospels for two gods. And the apostle made a great mistake when he said that there is not another gospel, Galatians 1:7, since on that view there is another. So he might have defended his gospel better by proving this, rather than by insisting that there is only one. But perhaps, to avoid this difficulty, you will say that this is why he added immediately afterward, "Though an angel from heaven preach any other gospel, let him be accursed," Galatians 1:8, because he knew that the Creator was going to introduce a gospel. But in that case you entangle yourself still more. For this is now the net in which you are caught. To affirm that there are two gospels is not what a man would do a

Origen, Commentary on Matthew Supporting witness

And the Apostles on this account left Israel and did that which had been enjoined on them by the Saviour, Make disciples of all the nations, Matthew 28:19 and, You shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judæa and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

We do not allow our women to teach in the church, 1 Corinthians 14:34, but only to pray and to hear those who teach. For our Master and Lord, Jesus Himself, when He sent us twelve to make disciples of the people and of the nations, never sent women out to preach, although He certainly could have done so if He had wanted to. For the mother of our Lord and His sisters were with us; also Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Martha and Mary the sisters of Lazarus, Salome, and certain others. For if it had been necessary for women to teach, He Himself would first have commanded these women also to instruct the people along with us. For if the head of the wife is the man, 1 Corinthians 11:3, it is not reasonable that the rest of the body should govern the head. Therefore let the widow regard herself as the altar of God, and let her sit in her house. She is not to go into the houses of the faithful under any pretense to receive anything. For the altar of God never runs about, but stays fixed in one place. Therefore let the virgin and the widow be such women as do not run about or wander into the houses of those who are outside the faith. For women like these are wanderers and shamele

Cyprian, Connection to Matthew 10:5 Background

For when first He sent His disciples on the ministry of salvation, He bade them, saying, "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not."

Anonymous, Treatise Against the Heretic Novatian Supporting witness

Whence also the Lord Christ charges upon Peter, and moreover also upon the rest of His disciples, Go and preach the Gospel to the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Lactantius, Of the Manner in Which the Persecutors Died Supporting witness

Then were they dispersed throughout all the earth to preach the Gospel, as the Lord their Master had commanded them;

Tertullian, Apology Supporting witness

...have answered well enough the charges of the many crimes on which these fierce demands are made for Christian blood. We have fully presented our case. We have shown how we can prove that what we say is true, from the trustworthiness and antiquity of our sacred writings, and also from the confession of the powers of spiritual wickedness themselves. Who will dare to refute us, not with skill in words, but, as we have made our demonstration, on the basis of reality? But while the truth we hold is made clear to all, unbelief meanwhile, even at the very time when it is convinced of the worth of Christianity, now well known both for its benefits and from the intercourse of life, takes up the idea that it is not really something divine, but rather a kind of philosophy. "These are the very things," it says, "that the philosophers advise and profess: innocence, justice, patience, sobriety, and chastity." Why then are we not allowed the same freedom and immunity for our teachings that they have, when we are compared with them in what we teach? Or why are they not also forced to the same acts, by refusing which our lives are put in danger, if they are so much like us? For who forces a phil

Acts 11:20 Background

And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the LORD Jesus.

Luke 9:6 Background

And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.

Mark 16:20 Background

And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

Go, 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.

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

Go 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.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

since our Lord, when He sent us, said, Go and make disciples of 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.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

for the Lord did not say, Baptize into my death, but, Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Didache, Connection to Matthew 28:19 Background

since our Lord, when He sent us, said, "Go ye, and make disciples of 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."

Didache, Connection to Matthew 28:19 Background

thou shalt so baptize as the Lord commanded us, saying: "Go ye, 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): "

Cyprian, Seventh Council of Carthage Supporting witness

Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Cyprian, Seventh Council of Carthage Supporting witness

And in another place: Go and teach the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Tatian, The Diatessaron Background

Matthew 28:19b and teach all the peoples, and 7 baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit;

Matthew 28:19 Background

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Matthew 28:20 Background

teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”