Matthew 28:19

 

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

(1611 KJV)   Goe ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Sonne, and of the holy Ghost:

Webster's Bible 1833 Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Bishops Bible 1568 Go ye therfore, & teache all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, and of the sonne, and of the holye ghost:

Geneva Bible 1560 Go therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and the Sonne, and the holy Ghost,

The Great Bible 1539 Go ye therfore, & teach all nacions, baptising them in the name of the father, & of the sonne, & of the holy goost:

Matthew's Bible 1537 Go therfore & teache all nacyons, baptisyng them in the name of the father, and the sonne, & the holye ghoste.

Coverdale Bible 1535 Go ye youre waye therfore, and teach all nacions, and baptyse them in the name of the father, and of the sonne, and of the holy goost:

Tyndale Bible 1534 Go therfore and teache all nacions baptysinge them in the name of the father and the sonne and the holy goost:

Wycliffe Bible 1382 Therfor go ye, and teche alle folkis, baptisynge hem in the name of the Fadir, and of the Sone, and of the Hooli Goost;

 

Counterfeit Versions

(1881 RV) Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost:

(1901 ASV) Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into

the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:

(AMP) Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

(CSB) Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

(CEB) Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

(CEV) Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

(ERV) So go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

(ESV) Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

(GNT) Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

(HCSB) Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

(JB PHILLIPS) But Jesus came and spoke these words to them, “All power in Heaven and on earth has been given to me. You, then, are to go and make disciples of all the nations and baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to observe all that I have commanded you and, remember, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.”

(LEB) Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

(LB) Therefore go and make disciples in all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

(NABRE) Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit,

(NASV) Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

(NCV) So go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

(NET) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

(NIRV) So you must go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

(NIV) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

(NKJV) Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

(NLV) Go and make followers of all the nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

(NLT) Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

(NRSV) Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

(NWT) Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit,

(RSV) Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

(TLV) Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, immersing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Ruach ha-Kodesh,

(VOICE) Go out and make disciples in all the nations. Ceremonially wash them through baptism in the name of the triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

(WEB) Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

 

Textus Receptus – Traditional Text

πορευθεντες ουν μαθητευσατε παντα τα εθνη βαπτιζοντες αυτους εις το ονομα του πατρος και του υιου και του αγιου πνευματος

 

Hort-Westcott – Critical Text

πορευθεντες ουν μαθητευσατε παντα τα εθνη βαπτιζοντες αυτους εις το ονομα του πατρος και του υιου και του αγιου πνευματος

 

Corrupted Manuscripts

None

 

Affected Teaching

The Greek word in question is “mathêteusate” which carries with it the meaning of “teach, instruct, become a disciple.”  If you will notice that the King James Bible uses the word “teach” in translating the Greek word.  This is the correct rendering because it does carry the meaning of “instruct or become a disciple.”  The word is used only 4 times in the New Testament.

 

Matthew 13:52 (KJV)   Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

 

Matthew 27:57 (KJV)   When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:

 

Matthew 28:19 (KJV)   Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

 

Acts 14:21 (KJV)   And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,

 

If you notice the modern versions above all use the phrase “make disciples.”  This is an erroneous translation because there is no word for “make” in the Greek and therefore it is an added word in the English.  The word “make” carries with it 16 different synonyms and among them the following two could cause trouble in understanding.  First the word “make” can be used as a synonym for “create, fashion, or construct.”  These words cannot be used to describe a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ because no mere human can create or fashion a disciple.  Secondly the word “make” can be used as a synonym for “force, compel, or command.”   You can yell and threaten all you want but that will not make anyone a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.  God is the only who makes disciples for the Lord Jesus Christ by electing them to salvation and then when their day comes, He places the Holy Spirit in them and then they become saved and at the same time they become a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is by the hand of God and not the hand of man.

 

This is why the Lord commands his children to go into the world and to teach.  Teaching implies that the word of God will be used to expound the truth and God does not save apart from his word.

 

Romans 10:17 (KJV) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 

Another reason that the word “teach” is correct because it harmonizes with verse 20 below.  In verse 19 we are told to teach but in verse 20, we are told what to teach.  So it dovetails right into verse 20 and keeps the continuity of the meaning.

 

Matthew 28:19-20 (KJV)   Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  {20} Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

Now in Matthew 27:57, the word is translated as “disciple.”  It states that Joseph was a disciple of Jesus but it does not say “ a man made him the disciple of Jesus” and because it only states that he was the disciple of Jesus, we cannot place anything more in that verse than what is being plainly taught.

 

Matthew 27:57 (KJV)   When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:

 

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