The Great Commission

The Great Commission refers to the instruction given by Jesus Christ to his disciples after his supposed resurrection, as recorded in the New Testament (particularly in Matthew 28:18–20, Mark 16:15–16, and Acts 1:8). In these passages, Jesus commands his followers to spread his teachings, make disciples of all nations (gentiles), and to baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This directive is foundational for Christian missionaries. However, a critical examination of the biblical texts and their historical context raises compelling arguments that the Great Commission may not have occurred as described. Instead, it appears to be a later innovation added to support the emerging Christian Church’s universal mission.

The Fabricated Ending of Mark 16:9-19

The Gospel of Mark, widely regarded as the earliest Gospel, which was used extensively by the authors of Matthew and Luke, ends abruptly at Mark 16:8. In this oldest version, the women discover the empty tomb and are informed by a young man that Jesus has risen, but they flee in fear and tell no one. There are no recorded post-resurrection appearances of Jesus, no teachings, and no instructions to the disciples.

This ending starkly contrasts with the later Gospels, which depict elaborate resurrection scenes and detailed commissioning of the disciples. The absence of these elements in the oldest account strongly suggests that such narratives were later additions rather than part of the original story.

The longer ending of Mark (Mark 16:9–20) includes post-resurrection appearances and the Great Commission. However, this section is absent from the oldest and most reliable manuscripts, such as Codex Vaticanus and Codex Sinaiticus. Scholars widely agree that the longer ending was added by scribes in the second century to provide closure and align Mark with the other Gospels.