Mark 16:15

Grammatical and Rhetorical Analysis of Mark 16:15: The Aorist Participle and Imperative

This exegetical study of Mark 16:15 is based on a b-greek discussion from Fri Dec 24 18:48:22 EST 2004. The initial query concerned the grammatical mood and tense of the verbs “Go” and “preach” in Mark 16:15, noting their appearance as an aorist participle and an aorist imperative, respectively. The discussion questioned whether a present imperative might be expected instead, given the nature of the command.

The main exegetical issue revolves around the precise semantic and rhetorical force conveyed by the Greek construction πορευθέντες (an aorist participle) followed by κηρύξατε (an aorist imperative). While many English translations often render this as two coordinated imperatives (“Go and preach”), the Greek structure inherently subordinates the action of the participle to the main imperative. This raises questions about the aspectual understanding of the aorist tense in an imperative context—whether it signifies a punctiliar, completed action, or merely focuses on the achievement of the command—and how the participle’s action relates temporally and causally to the main verb, especially regarding the concept of “Attendant Circumstance” versus a more literal sequential or preparatory action.

πορευθέντες εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἅπαντα κηρύξατε τὸ εὐαγγέλιον πάσῃ τῇ κτίσει. (Nestle 1904)

Key differences with SBLGNT (2010):

• The Greek text of Mark 16:15 in Nestle 1904 is identical to SBLGNT 2010.

**Textual criticism (NA28), lexical notes (KITTEL, BDAG).**

Regarding textual criticism, the grammar of Mark 16:15 is stable across major manuscript traditions, including those reflected in NA28. While the longer ending of Mark (16:9-20), which includes verse 15, is bracketed in critical editions due to its absence in important early manuscripts (e.g., א B), the internal grammatical construction of verse 15 itself does not present significant textual variants relevant to the participle or imperative discussed.

Lexical notes for the key terms:

• πορευθέντες: This is the aorist participle (masculine plural nominative) of πορεύομαι, meaning “to go, proceed, journey.” BDAG highlights its frequent use in contexts of movement or departure, often implying a destination or purpose. KITTEL (TDNT) emphasizes the sense of setting out on a journey, often with a definite mission. The aorist aspect here typically denotes simple occurrence without emphasizing duration, focusing on the act of going itself.
• κηρύξατε: This is the aorist imperative (second person plural) of κηρύσσω, meaning “to proclaim, preach, announce.” BDAG notes its usage for authoritative public proclamation, especially of a divine message or authoritative declaration. KITTEL stresses its function in broadcasting a message publicly and officially. The aorist imperative, unlike the present imperative, generally focuses on the command’s accomplishment as a whole or as a single, decisive act, rather than on the ongoing process of the action. It can carry a perfective force, indicating “get it done” or “bring it to completion.”

Translation Variants

The translation of Mark 16:15 presents a central challenge in rendering the Greek aorist participle πορευθέντες (go) in relation to the aorist imperative κηρύξατε (preach). Many English versions opt for a coordinated rendering, employing two imperatives connected by “and.” This approach, exemplified by the KJV (“Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature”), NASB (“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation”), and NET Bible (“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature”), treats the participle as an “Attendant Circumstance” participle. As articulated by Wallace (Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics), this grammatical construction involves a participle whose action is coordinate with the main finite verb, often translated as “and” + a finite verb. Wallace’s criteria for such participles include their common occurrence as aorist participles with an aorist main verb (often imperative or indicative), preceding the main verb, and found frequently in narrative. Mark 16:15 fits these features, suggesting a primary interpretation of two simultaneous or closely linked commands.

Grammatically, the aorist imperative κηρύξατε generally carries a perfective aspect, focusing on the command to “get the gospel proclaimed” as a completed action, rather than an ongoing process (“keep proclaiming”). This is in contrast to a present imperative which would typically emphasize the initiation or continuous nature of the action (“start proclaiming” or “keep on proclaiming”). The aorist participle πορευθέντες similarly indicates a simple, un-durative “going.”

Rhetorically, however, the choice to use a participle rather than a second imperative introduces a nuance of subordination. As various scholars have noted, rendering both verbs as coordinate imperatives in English can obscure this original Greek subtlety. The participle “piggy-backs” on the mood of the finite verb, but its subordinate grammatical status demotes its content relative to the main imperative. The “going” (πορευθέντες) is presented as a necessary prerequisite or accompanying action to the primary command of “proclaiming” (κηρύξατε). It highlights a sequence of notions: the mission requires physical movement to the world (κόσμος) before the message can be proclaimed to every creature (πάσῃ τῇ κτίσει). This subtle distinction suggests that while the actions are closely linked and perhaps simultaneously commanded in effect, the Greek structure prioritizes the proclamation as the ultimate goal, with the going as its enabling condition.

Conclusions and Translation Suggestions

The grammatical construction in Mark 16:15, with an aorist participle of motion preceding an aorist imperative, allows for multiple interpretative nuances that challenge direct one-to-one translation into English. While the “Attendant Circumstance” interpretation rightly identifies the coordinated nature of the actions in English idiomatic expression, it is crucial not to lose the inherent subordination of the participle in Greek, which subtly emphasizes the imperative’s action as the primary focus.

The aorist tense in both the participle and imperative focuses on the whole action or its completion, rather than its duration. Thus, the command is not merely to “go and keep preaching,” but to “go and accomplish the proclamation.” The act of going is presented as the essential preparatory or accompanying step for the overarching imperative to preach.

Based on this analysis, the following translation suggestions offer varying degrees of emphasis on the grammatical and rhetorical nuances:

1. “Go into the whole world, and proclaim the gospel to all creation.”
   This translation adopts the widely accepted “Attendant Circumstance” rendering, treating both verbs as coordinated imperatives, focusing on the directness and joint fulfillment of the commands.
2. “Having gone into the whole world, proclaim the gospel to all creation.”
   This rendering highlights the temporal sequence and the participatory nature of the participle, emphasizing that the going is a condition or preparatory step for the preaching, without making the going itself a separate, equally weighted command.
3. “Go, then, to every part of the world, and ensure the gospel is proclaimed to all creation.”
   This suggestion attempts to capture the perfective aspect of the aorist imperative (“get it proclaimed”) and the demoted but essential nature of the participle (“go”) as a necessary precursor to the main mission, emphasizing the successful accomplishment of the proclamation.