Matt 28:18

[Anders G]

Tim,
You teach that Jesus’ authority is limited to the assembly today, and that He is granted full authority in the Kingdom. However, how are we to interpret Matt 28:18?

“All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

I can see three ways to approach the question, but neither seem totally satisfactory to me:

1. The word “given” is aorist tense, and if Jesus intended to say He has all power today, He would have used perfect tense. However, it is not future tense to indicate that He will be given power.

2. “all” is a hyperbola. However, Jesus talks about power “in heaven and in earth”.

3. There is a difference between “power” and “authority” (or “mandate”). However, this does not change anything in this respect because regardless we talk about the Kingdom or now, Jesus never has anything but authority from God.

So, what am I missing?
/Anders

[Randy A]

I think you are onto something with the second one regarding “all”. Perhaps “all” is relative, or exclusive to the assembly.

We are told in 1 John 2:15 to not love the world. In James 4:4 “friendship with the world is enmity with God”. All of this is due to the enemy of God controlling the world, until Christ returns and he is bound for 1000 years. Then the “all” is all inclusive.

Just my two cents.

[Anders G]

Thank You guys!
/Anders

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