Mark 16 15

Mark 16:15 kjv

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

Mark 16:15 nkjv

And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

Mark 16:15 niv

He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

Mark 16:15 esv

And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

Mark 16:15 nlt

And then he told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.

Mark 16 15 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Matt 28:19-20"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations...teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."Parallel Great Commission, command to make disciples.
Luke 24:46-47"Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and rise...and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed...to all nations."Emphasis on proclaiming repentance and forgiveness to all nations.
Acts 1:8"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses...to the end of the earth."Power for global witness through the Holy Spirit.
Rom 10:14-15"How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?"The necessity of proclamation for faith.
Isa 49:6"I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."OT prophecy of Israel's universal mission, fulfilled in Christ and the church.
Psa 96:3"Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!"OT command to declare God's glory globally.
1 Pet 2:9"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood...that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."Believers called to proclaim God's praise.
Col 1:23"...if indeed you continue in the faith...which you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven..."A claim of the Gospel's widespread proclamation even in the apostolic age.
Jon 3:2-4"Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you...Jonah went to Nineveh...and he called out..."OT example of a prophet sent to Gentiles with a divine message.
Ezek 3:17"Son of man, I have made you a watchman...whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me."The responsibility to deliver God's message.
Phil 2:9-11"Therefore God has highly exalted him...so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow..."Ultimate cosmic triumph and confession of Christ's Lordship.
John 3:16"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."The universal scope of God's love and the offer of salvation.
John 20:21"As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you."The commissioning of disciples mirroring Jesus' own mission.
Rom 1:16"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."The Gospel's universal power for salvation.
2 Cor 5:18-20"...God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself...and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ..."Believers as ambassadors of reconciliation to the world.
Heb 4:2"For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them..."Emphasizes the power of hearing and believing the good news.
Acts 13:47"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.'"Paul's justification for Gentile mission based on OT prophecy.
Rev 14:6"Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people."Future global proclamation of the eternal gospel.
Titus 2:11"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people..."God's grace bringing salvation universally.
Eph 3:6"This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel."The inclusion of Gentiles as co-heirs through the Gospel.

Mark 16 verses

Mark 16 15 Meaning

Mark 16:15 delivers Jesus' definitive charge to His disciples, forming a crucial component of what is widely known as the Great Commission. It is a universal imperative to spread the good news of salvation through Christ. The verse encapsulates a clear directive: the disciples, and by extension all believers, are commanded to actively disseminate the message of the Gospel across the entire inhabited world to every human being, indicating the universal scope and boundless reach of God's redemptive plan.

Mark 16 15 Context

Mark 16:15 appears in what is traditionally known as the "Longer Ending of Mark" (Mark 16:9-20). While scholarly debate exists regarding its original authorship and textual authenticity compared to earlier manuscripts, it has been widely accepted and transmitted in the church as part of the canon for centuries. Within this section, the verse immediately follows Jesus' resurrection and His appearance to the eleven disciples. He had previously appeared to Mary Magdalene and two disciples on the road, but His resurrection was met with unbelief by some. This command is therefore given to the apostles who were struggling with doubt, affirming His living presence and commissioning them for a momentous task. Historically, this command served as the foundational impetus for the rapid expansion of the early Christian church beyond its Jewish origins, addressing a perceived Jewish exclusivity and declaring the universal embrace of God's salvation.

Mark 16 15 Word analysis

  • And he said (καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς - kai eipen autois):
    • And he said: Signifies a continuation of Jesus' instructions to the disciples post-resurrection. This statement carries divine authority and forms the very foundation of the apostles' mission.
    • unto them: Specifically referring to the eleven disciples, present as the immediate recipients of this command. Through them, the mission extends to the Church throughout history.
  • unto them, Go ye (Πορευθέντες - Poreuthentes):
    • Go ye: This is an aorist participle, best translated as "having gone" or "as you go." It implies action in conjunction with the main verb, "preach." It's not just a command to physically depart but implies an ongoing missionary endeavor while moving through the world, engaging with daily life and journeys. It emphasizes intentionality and movement in spreading the Gospel.
  • into all the world (εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἅπαντα - eis ton kosmon hapanta):
    • into all the world: Refers to the inhabited earth (the oikoumenē), emphasizing a global, comprehensive reach. Kosmos here denotes the structured, inhabited creation, particularly human society. The scope is unrestricted by geographical, cultural, or ethnic boundaries.
  • Preach (κηρύξατε - kēryxate):
    • Preach: An imperative verb meaning "to proclaim as a herald." It implies a public, authoritative, clear, and unambiguous declaration of a message. It involves vocal announcement, instruction, and persuasion, not merely private sharing.
  • the gospel (τὸ εὐαγγέλιον - to euangelion):
    • the gospel: Literally, "the good news." This refers specifically to the message of salvation centered on Jesus Christ – His identity as God's Son, His life, atoning death, victorious resurrection, ascension, and ultimate Lordship. It includes the offer of forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, and eternal life to those who believe. It's the "good tidings" for all humanity.
  • to every creature (πάσῃ τῇ κτίσει - pasē tē ktisei):
    • to every creature: Ktisis can mean "creation" in its broadest sense (Rom 8:19-22) or "human beings/creatures" within the created order (Col 1:23, Heb 4:13). In the context of "preaching the gospel" which requires comprehension and faith, this phrase is widely understood to mean "every human being," "all humanity," or "all people." It implies the universal offer of salvation, irrespective of social status, race, or gender. It rejects any form of exclusivity.

Mark 16 15 Bonus section

  • The radical inclusivity of "to every creature" stood in stark contrast to the common Jewish exclusivism of the time, which often focused salvation and blessing primarily on the Abrahamic covenant people. Jesus breaks down these barriers entirely, extending the invitation to reconciliation with God universally.
  • While Mark 16:9-20 is textually disputed by some modern scholars, its theological substance, particularly verse 15, strongly aligns with other undisputed commissioning passages in the Gospels (e.g., Matt 28:18-20, Luke 24:46-48, John 20:21) and the missional practice evident throughout the Book of Acts.
  • The emphasis is on proclamation (κηρύξατε), not conversion. While the desired outcome is faith and repentance, the command focuses on the act of clear, public announcement of the good news. This reminds believers that their role is to faithfully deliver the message, trusting God for the outcome.
  • The divine authority underpinning this command is absolute, as implied by Jesus' post-resurrection appearance and His earlier declaration of "all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me" (Matt 28:18).

Mark 16 15 Commentary

Mark 16:15 is a foundational missionary mandate from the resurrected Christ. It is a powerful command, not merely a suggestion. "Go ye" implies proactive, Spirit-empowered movement rather than passive waiting. The mission is global ("all the world") and indiscriminate ("every creature"), demonstrating the universality of God's love and salvation, breaking down any perceived ethnic or social barriers to the Gospel. The core activity is to "preach the gospel"—a public, authoritative proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ. This isn't about promoting an ideology or a social program, but declaring a saving truth that offers new life and reconciliation with God. The implication is that this task, initially given to the apostles, extends to all who bear the name of Christ, underscoring the Church's ongoing responsibility to bring this redemptive message to all peoples until the Lord returns.