Go Into All the World: What Does Mark 16:15 Mean?

Mark 16:15 reads, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” King James Version (KJV)

TranslationMark 16:15
ESVAnd he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
NASBAnd He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
NIVHe said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
NLTAnd then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.

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Go Into All the World: Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

16:14-18 The evidences of the truth of the gospel are so full, that those who receive it not, may justly be upbraided with their unbelief.

Our blessed Lord renewed his choice of the eleven as his apostles, and commissioned them to go into all the world, to preach his gospel to every creature.

Only he that is a true Christian shall be saved through Christ. Simon Magus professed to believe, and was baptized, yet he was declared to be in the bonds of iniquity: see his history in Ac 8:13-25.

Doubtless this is a solemn declaration of that true faith which receives Christ in all his characters and offices, and for all the purposes of salvation, and which produces its right effect on the heart and life; not a mere assent, which is a dead faith, and cannot profit.

The commission of Christ’s ministers extends to every creature throughout the world, and the declarations of the gospel contain not only truths, encouragements, and precepts, but also most awful warnings.

Observe what power the apostles should be endued with, for confirming the doctrine they were to preach. These were miracles to confirm the truth of the gospel, and means of spreading the gospel among nations that had not heard it.

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Mark 16:15 | Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Verses 15, 16. – And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation (πάσῃ τῇ κτίσει). He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.

Here is a considerable interval of time, not noticed in any way by the evangelist. And he saith unto them; not on the day of his resurrection.

It would seem that this charge was delivered to them in Galilee, and that it is the same as that recorded in St. Matthew (Matthew 28:19), which was again repeated immediately before his ascension from Bethany.

Go ye into all the world; not into Judaea only, but everywhere. This command has expanded with the discovery in later times of new portions of the inhabited earth; and must ever be coextensive with geographic discovery.

Preach the gospel to the whole creation; that is, “among all nations.” Man is the noblest work of God. All the creation is gathered up in him, created after the image of the Creator. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.

These words are very important. The first clause opposes the notion that faith alone is sufficient for salvation, without those works which are the fruit of faith.

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; that is, he that believeth, and as an evidence of his faith accepts Christ’s baptism, and fulfils the promises and vows which he then took upon himself, working out his own salvation with fear and trembling, shall be saved.

But he that disbelieveth shall be condemned (ὁ δὲ ἀπιστήσας κατακριθήσεται,). The condemnation anticipates the doom which will be incurred by continual unbelief.

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Daniel Isaiah Joseph

Daniel's seminary degree is in Exegetical Theology. He was a pastor for 10 years. As a professor, he has taught Bible and theology courses at two Christian universities. Please see his About page for details.

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