Mark 13 10

Mark 13:10 kjv

And the gospel must first be published among all nations.

Mark 13:10 nkjv

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

Mark 13:10 niv

And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.

Mark 13:10 esv

And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations.

Mark 13:10 nlt

For the Good News must first be preached to all nations.

Mark 13 verses

Mark 13 10 Meaning

Mark 13:10 declares a divine imperative: before the final consummation of the age, the good news of the Kingdom of God must first be publicly proclaimed to every ethnic group and people on Earth. It emphasizes the universal and necessary nature of the Church's missionary task as part of God's overarching redemptive plan, linking the evangelization of all nations to the timing of the end.

Mark 13 10 Context

Mark 13:10 is embedded within the "Olivet Discourse" (Mark 13:1-37), where Jesus responds to His disciples' questions about the timing of the Temple's destruction and the signs of His coming and the end of the age. Following Jesus' prophecy of the Temple's complete demolition (v. 2), the disciples privately ask Him when these things will be and what will be the sign (v. 3-4).

Jesus' response, though initially addressing the immediate context of Jerusalem's fate (fulfilled in AD 70), extends to describe broader birth pains leading to the ultimate end. He speaks of wars, earthquakes, famines, persecutions of believers, and betrayal (v. 7-9). Amidst these unsettling pronouncements of tribulation and suffering for His followers, verse 10 stands as a significant clarification of divine purpose and sequence. It pivots from the difficult "birth pains" and persecution to declare God's essential task for the Church before the ultimate end arrives. This is not merely a sign of the end but a divinely ordained mission that must be completed. Historically, the audience (disciples and early church) lived within a Jewish worldview where salvation was often conceived as being primarily for Israel. Jesus' teaching here decisively broadens this perspective, asserting a global, universal scope for the Kingdom's message. There is no polemic as such but a significant reorientation of understanding regarding God's global plan that directly challenges prior narrow assumptions.

Mark 13 10 Word analysis

• And (καί - kai): A simple conjunction connecting this verse to the preceding statements about tribulation and persecution. It signifies that despite hardships, this mission will proceed, acting as an intervening, divinely appointed necessity within the sequence of end-time events. It does not mean the gospel proclamation is one more sign, but a foundational pre-requisite.
• the gospel (τὸ εὐαγγέλιον - to euangelion): Refers to "the good news." In the New Testament, this term denotes the joyful message of salvation through Jesus Christ—His person, death, resurrection, ascension, and His establishment of the Kingdom of God. It's not just moral teaching but a powerful announcement of God's redemptive work.
• must (δεῖ - dei): This is a strong Greek word conveying divine necessity, obligation, or absolute appropriateness. It signifies that this is not an optional suggestion or a mere possibility, but a preordained, essential component of God's plan that has to happen. It indicates a divine imperative from God Himself, not a human determination.
• first (πρῶτον - prōton): Denotes priority or sequence. Here, it clarifies that the proclamation of the gospel to all nations is a necessary prerequisite or event that precedes the ultimate end. It doesn't imply that nothing else will happen before it, but that the eschatological end of all things (as discussed in the Olivet Discourse) cannot fully materialize until this missionary task is accomplished. It sets a condition for the arrival of "the end."
• be proclaimed (κηρυχθῆναι - kērychthēnai): An infinitive form of the verb kērussō, meaning "to herald," "to preach publicly," or "to proclaim authoritatively." It indicates an open, official, and undeniable declaration. This is not passive sharing but an active, deliberate, and widespread missionary effort. It signifies a public witness to Christ.
• to all nations (εἰς πάντα τὰ ἔθνη - eis panta ta ethnē): This crucial phrase literally translates to "into all the peoples" or "to all the ethnic groups." The term ethnē (nations) in this context specifically refers to the Gentile nations, as distinct from Israel. It emphasizes the universal scope of the gospel, transcending racial, cultural, or geographical boundaries. It highlights God's plan to save people from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation, signifying the breaking down of the Jew-Gentile barrier for the purposes of salvation.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "the gospel must first be proclaimed": This phrase combines the divine mandate (dei - "must") with the temporal priority (prōton - "first") and the active missionary call (kērychthēnai - "be proclaimed"). It establishes that global evangelization is not merely an optional activity but a foundational, unavoidable, and necessary task for God's people before the arrival of the full eschatological conclusion. It underscores the unshakeable divine purpose.
• "to all nations": This defines the expansive, universal target audience of the gospel. It dramatically expands the disciples' narrow, Jewish-centric understanding of God's redemptive plan to encompass all humanity, breaking through existing societal and religious divides. This missionary scope indicates that salvation is not limited to one people group but is offered to everyone, everywhere.

Mark 13 10 Bonus section

• The fulfilment of "all nations" is often understood as reaching every unreached people group globally, indicating that the Great Commission remains unfulfilled while any distinct ethnolinguistic group remains without access to the gospel.
• This verse places missionary endeavor squarely within God's end-time plan, suggesting that diligent engagement in global missions actually hastens or enables the arrival of the eschatological conclusion. It transforms passive waiting into active participation in divine purpose.
• The tension between "first" (meaning before the end) and the reality that suffering and tribulation also precede and accompany this mission emphasizes that the work will not be easy or peaceful, but must be pursued despite all obstacles. It's a task accomplished amidst distress, not after it.
• The Olivet Discourse is sometimes debated over whether it refers solely to the fall of Jerusalem (AD 70) or to the final consummation. However, Mark 13:10, along with Matt 24:14, with its explicit global reach, pushes the horizon far beyond Jerusalem to a universal, eschatological fulfilment.

Mark 13 10 Commentary

Mark 13:10 serves as a pivotal statement in Jesus' eschatological discourse, redirecting the disciples' focus from mere curiosity about the "end" to the paramount mission that precedes it. Despite the promised trials, persecutions, and upheaval (described in preceding verses), the divine agenda includes a non-negotiable step: the global dissemination of the Gospel. The use of "must" (δεῖ) underscores that this is not contingent on human effort or success alone, but is God's fixed purpose for which He will empower His people.

The implication of "first" (πρῶτον) is significant. It means the "end" discussed in the Olivet Discourse—the culmination of the age and the full establishment of God's kingdom—will not come until the gospel has effectively reached "all nations" (πᾶντα τὰ ἔθνη). This provides hope and purpose amidst tribulation; the suffering Church has a clear, unavoidable task. It defines the Church's primary role as being outwardly focused, taking the message of Christ to every corner of the earth, thereby participating in God's universal plan of redemption. The proclamation here implies not merely broadcasting but bearing testimony, engaging with and bringing the message into contact with distinct people groups.

This verse therefore does not primarily serve as a timetable for the end but as a motivational mandate for global missions. It reminds believers that God has a universal saving purpose, and they are instrumental in its fulfillment. It ensures that the hope of salvation is extended far beyond its initial Jewish origins, signifying the breaking of ethnic and national barriers for entrance into God's Kingdom.