The Meaning of "All Creation" in Mark 16:15
In Mark 16:15, Jesus instructs his disciples, "Going into all the world, preach the gospel to all the creation" (LITV) [1]. The phrase "all the creation" (Greek: pasē tē ktisei) in this context refers to the entire human race [2].
The passage is part of the Great Commission, where Jesus gives final instructions to his disciples before his ascension. This command emphasizes the universal scope of the gospel message. While the term "creation" can broadly refer to all things brought into existence by God [3, 4], including the physical universe and spiritual beings [5, 6, 7], its usage in Mark 16:15 is specifically directed towards humanity.
The concept of creation itself is fundamental to biblical theology. God is identified as the Creator, bringing all things into being out of nothing through an act of His will [3, 4]. This creative act is attributed to the Godhead generally, to the Father, to the Son (Jesus Christ), and to the Holy Spirit [3, 4]. For instance, John 1:3 states that "All things were made by him," referring to the Logos, or Christ [9]. Similarly, Colossians 1:16 affirms that "by him were all things created" [5, 6, 7]. This includes both visible and invisible things, whether in heaven or on earth [6, 7]. The act of creation distinguishes Jehovah as the true God [3].
However, when "creation" or "creature" appears in certain New Testament contexts, it can denote specific subsets of creation. For example, in Romans 8:19-22, "creation" refers to the whole human race, while in Romans 8:39, Colossians 1:15, and Revelation 5:13, it refers to the whole creation [2]. In Revelation 5:13, "every creature" is depicted as giving praise to Jesus Christ, indicating that all parts of creation, animate and inanimate, acknowledge Him as Creator [8].
The interpretation of "all the creation" in Mark 16:15 as referring to humanity aligns with the evangelistic mandate to preach the gospel. The message is intended for sentient beings capable of hearing and responding to the good news. This understanding is supported by the broader context of the Great Commission, which consistently focuses on reaching people with the gospel.
Sources
- Mark “Mark 16:15 (LITV) — And He said to them, Going into all the world, preach the gospel to all the creation.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Creature — Denotes the whole creation in Rom. 8:39; Col. 1:15; Rev. 5:13; the whole human race in Mark 16:15; Rom. 8:19-22. The living creatures in Ezek. 10:15, 17, are imaginary beings, symbols of the Divine attributes and operations.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Creation — "In the beginning" God created, i.e., called into being, all things out of nothing. This creative act on the part of God was absolutely free, and for infinitely wise reasons. The cause of all things exists only in the will of God. The work of creation is attributed (1) to the Godhead (Gen. 1:1, 26); (2) to the Father (1 Cor. 8:6); (3) to the Son (John 1:3; Col. 1:16, 17); (4) to the Holy Spirit (Gen. 1:2; Job 26:13; Ps. 104:30). The fact that he is the Creator distinguishes Jehovah as the true God (Isa. 37:16; 40:12, 13; 54:5; Ps. 96:5; Jer. 10:11, 12). Th”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Creation — The formation of things which had no previous existence -- Ro 4:17; Heb 11:3. Effected By God. -- Ge 1:1; 2:4,5; Pr 26:10. By Christ. -- Joh 1:3,10; Col 1:16. By the Holy Spirit. -- Job 26:13; Ps 104:30. By the command of God. -- Ps 33:9; Heb 11:3. In the beginning. -- Ge 1:1; Mt 24:21. In six normal days. -- Ex 20:11; 31:17. According to God's purpose. -- Ps 135:6. For God's pleasure. -- Pr 16:4; Re 4:11. For Christ. -- Col 1:16. By faith we believe, to be God's work -- Heb 11:3. Order of First day, making light and dividing it from darkness. -- Ge 1:3-5;”
- Colossians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Colossians 1:16: For by him were all things created,.... This is a reason proving Christ to be before all creatures, to be the common Parent of them, and to have the government over them, since he is the Creator of them. The creation of all things, by him, is not to be understood of the new creation, for whenever that is spoken of, the word "new" is generally used, or what is equivalent to it, or some clause or phrase added, which determines the sense, and is not the case here: besides, all things that are in heaven are said to be created here: which, to say nothing of the sun, mo”
- Colossians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Colossians 1:16: For by him were all things created, etc - These two verses contain parts of the same subject. I shall endeavor to distinguish the statements of the apostle, and reason from them in such a way as the premises shall appear to justify, without appealing to any other scripture in proof of the doctrine which I suppose these verses to vindicate. Four things are here asserted: 1. That Jesus Christ is the Creator of the universe; of all things visible and invisible; of all things that had a beginning, whether they exist in time or in eternity. 2. That whatsoever was cre”
- Colossians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Colossians 1:16: For--Greek, "Because." This gives the proof that He is not included in the things created, but is the "first-begotten" before "every creature" (Col 1:15), begotten as "the Son of God's love" (Col 1:13), antecedently to all other emanations: "for" all these other emanations came from Him, and whatever was created, was created by Him. by him--rather as Greek, "in Him": as the conditional element, pre-existent and all-including: the creation of all things BY Him is expressed afterwards, and is a different fact from the present one, though implied in”
- Revelation (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Revelation 5:13: Every creature - All parts of the creation, animate and inanimate, are represented here, by that figure of speech called prosopopaeia or personification, as giving praise to the Lord Jesus, because by him all things were created. We find the whole creation gives precisely the same praise, and in the same terms, to Jesus Christ, who is undoubtedly meant here by the Lamb just slain as they give to God who sits upon the throne. Now if Jesus Christ were not properly God this would be idolatry, as it would be giving to the creature what belongs to the Creator.”
- John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 1:3: All things were made by him - That is, by this Logos. In Gen 1:1, God is said to have created all things: in this verse, Christ is said to have created all things: the same unerring Spirit spoke in Moses and in the evangelists: therefore Christ and the Father are One. To say that Christ made all things by a delegated power from God is absurd; because the thing is impossible. Creation means causing that to exist that had no previous being: this is evidently a work which can be effected only by omnipotence. Now, God cannot delegate his omnipotence to another: were this p”