The term "commissioned" in a biblical context refers to the act of being appointed, authorized, or sent forth to fulfill a specific task or mission, often by divine mandate. This concept is deeply rooted in Scripture, where individuals are called and empowered by God to carry out His purposes.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the idea of being commissioned is evident in the lives of the prophets and leaders of Israel. For instance, Moses was commissioned by God at the burning bush to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. In Exodus 3:10 , God says to Moses, "So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt." This divine commissioning was accompanied by signs and wonders, affirming Moses' authority and mission.

Similarly, the prophet Isaiah received a commission from God in a vision. In Isaiah 6:8 , Isaiah responds to God's call: "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'" Isaiah's commission involved delivering messages of both judgment and hope to the people of Israel.

New Testament Context

The New Testament further develops the theme of commissioning, particularly through the life and ministry of Jesus Christ and His apostles. Jesus Himself was commissioned by the Father to bring salvation to humanity. In John 20:21 , Jesus says to His disciples, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you." This statement underscores the continuity of divine mission from the Father to the Son and then to the disciples.

The Great Commission, found in Matthew 28:18-20 , is perhaps the most well-known example of commissioning in the New Testament. Jesus commands His disciples: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." This commission extends the mission of Jesus to His followers, empowering them to spread the Gospel worldwide.

The apostle Paul also experienced a personal commissioning. In Acts 9:15 , the Lord speaks to Ananias regarding Paul: "Go! This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel." Paul's commission was to be an apostle to the Gentiles, a mission he pursued with zeal and dedication.

Theological Implications

The concept of being commissioned carries significant theological implications. It emphasizes the authority and responsibility bestowed upon individuals by God. Those who are commissioned are not acting on their own accord but are representatives of God's will and purpose. This divine appointment often involves empowerment by the Holy Spirit, as seen in Acts 1:8 : "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Furthermore, commissioning highlights the communal and missional nature of the Christian faith. Believers are called to participate in God's redemptive work in the world, sharing the message of salvation and embodying the love of Christ in their actions. This ongoing mission reflects the heart of God for all nations and peoples to come to know Him.(imp. & p. p.) of Commission.652. apostolos -- a messenger, one sent on a mission, an apostle
... Spelling: (ap-os'-tol-os) Short Definition: an apostle, a messenger, an envoy, a
delegate Definition: a messenger, envoy, delegate, one commissioned by another ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/652.htm - 7k

3009. leitourgia -- a service, a ministry
... properly, official (technical) service offered by a duly authorized minister; used
of believers ministering to the Lord as His duly-commissioned priests -- a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3009.htm - 7k

5578. pseudoprophetes -- a false prophet
... 5578 ("a false prophet") specializes in "the art of ," like about how they were
"commissioned" by the Lord to touch the world with their message. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5578.htm - 8k

6680. tsavah -- to lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command ...
... charge (5), charged (17), charging (1), command (56), commanded (332), commander
(1), commanding (18), commands (6), commission (3), commissioned (4), commit (1 ...
/hebrew/6680.htm - 6k

On an Errand for Jesus.
... About the middle of the second year of His public life, He chose out twelve
men and commissioned them for a special bit of work. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on service/on an errand for jesus.htm

Whether it is Lawful for a Man to Kill his Wife if She be ...
... adulteress. Objection 2: Further, that which the law can rightly do, can be
rightly done by one whom the law has commissioned to do it. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful for 21.htm

The Ordinances of the New Testament.
... Jordan. Mat.3:5, 6. Jesus baptized by proxy. John 4:1, 2. He commissioned
his ministry to preach baptism unto all the world. "Go ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /chapter viii the ordinances of.htm

Epistle xxx. To Mauricius Augustus.
... Footnotes: [1599] Or Scribo may be the official designation of the officer
commissioned to distribute the imperial bounty. Cf. II. 32, note 7. ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle xxx to mauricius augustus.htm

Epistle Lviii. To Martin, Scholasticus .
... And, since he is a priest of ripe and cautious judgment, if you are willing to treat
with him on the questions which he has been commissioned to entertain, we ...
/.../epistle lviii to martin scholasticus.htm

Epistle xxxii. To Peter, Subdeacon of Sicily.
... And the same brother says that he had learnt the state of the case from thy telling
him, for that he had been commissioned by thee to ascertain who was the ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle xxxii to peter subdeacon.htm

Whether one who is under Another's Power Can Give Alms?
... is under another's power must not give alms of anything in respect of which he is
subject to that other, except in so far as he has been commissioned by his ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether one who is under.htm

Go Teach all Nations
... But Christ commissioned His disciples to proclaim a faith and worship that would
have in it nothing of caste or country, a faith that would be adapted to all ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 86 go teach all.htm

Definiteness of Purpose in Christian Work
... The others tell us that Christ called certain men unto him and commissioned them
to tell his story; but in this instance after Jesus had said, "Foxes have holes ...
/.../chapman/and judas iscariot/definiteness of purpose in christian.htm

Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
... for the devil! " when they who are commissioned to teach men the way to
heaven do in fact teach them the way to hell! These are ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 32 upon our lords.htm

Commissioned (5 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Commissioned (5 Occurrences). ... (WEY RSV). Numbers 27:23
and he laid his hands on him, and commissioned him, as Yahweh spoke by Moses. ...
/c/commissioned.htm - 8k

Lieutenant
... 2. (n.) A commissioned officer in the army, next below a captain. 3. (n.) A
commissioned officer in the British navy, in rank next below a commander. ...
/l/lieutenant.htm - 7k

Nicanor (1 Occurrence)
... Nicanor was one of the three generals commissioned by Lysias-the others being
Ptolemy, son of Dorymenes, and Gorgias (1 Maccabees 3:38). ...
/n/nicanor.htm - 14k

Ensign (21 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) Formerly, a commissioned officer of the army who carried the ensign
or flag of a company or regiment. 5. (n.) A commissioned...
/e/ensign.htm - 15k

Commissioners (7 Occurrences)

/c/commissioners.htm - 8k

Commission (11 Occurrences)

/c/commission.htm - 11k

Nun (31 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 31:23 He commissioned Joshua the son of Nun, and said, "Be strong and
of good courage; for you shall bring the children of Israel into the land ...
/n/nun.htm - 18k

Unlike (13 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 2:17 We are; for, unlike most teachers, we are not fraudulent hucksters
of God's Message; but with transparent motives, as commissioned by God ...
/u/unlike.htm - 10k

Officer (70 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Specifically, a commissioned officer, in distinction from a warrant officer.
3. (vt) To furnish with officers; to appoint officers over. ...
/o/officer.htm - 30k

Justice (212 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) A person duly commissioned to hold courts, or to try and decide controversies
and administer justice. 6. (vt) To administer justice to. Int. ...
/j/justice.htm - 46k

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