Jesus’ gospel preached to Israel was called “the gospel of the kingdom,” while Paul’s gospel was called “the gospel of the grace of God.”

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. ¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you (Jesus’ Messianic Law of “the Sermon on the mount”): and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV)

The above verses are often referred to by the church-at-large as “The Great Commission,” but The Apostle Paul commends us to a “commission” that is different from Jesus’ to Israel’s ‘Twelve Apostles’ in Matt. 28.

It’s difficult to understand how anyone can question the unique character of the ministry and message of the Paul as “the Apostle to the Gentiles” (Rom. 11:13) in forming “the church, the body of Christ.”

Unless we have our understanding clear by “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2Timothy 2:15 KJV) we will wrongly assume that Jesus’ Commission to His Apostles of Israel is for us today. In that case we would have to contend with the following several seeming contradictions that then would arise.

‘Commission’ Contradictions to be Explained:

1. – ⁵ These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: ⁶ But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Matthew 10:5-6

Paul writes:  ¹¹ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Titus 2:11

2. Should the 12 Apostles go to ‘all nations’ or only ‘the circumcision’? – ¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Matthew 28:19

Paul writes:  ⁹ And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we (Paul) should go unto the heathen, and they (the Twelve) unto the circumcision. Galatians 2:9 (KJV)

Question: How can we explain Jesus’ words to His twelve Apostles to go to “only Israel” (Matt. 10:5-6) and go to “all nations” (Matt. 28:19)?

The answer is that in Matt. 10:5-6 we see Jesus’ words to His “little flock” of believers being gathered before the cross at the time when the Kingdom was only “at hand,” but Matt. 28:19 is His words after the cross and His resurrection… when the Messianic Kingdom gospel was to be offered to “all nations” by His still small remnant of disciples.

3. Was Paul sent to baptize? – Jesus said: ¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Matthew 28:19

Paul writes:  ¹⁷ For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 1 Corinthians 1:17

4. Are Believers to be Baptized ‘by Jesus’ or ‘into Jesus’? – ¹ When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, John 4:1

Paul writes:  ³ … so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Romans 6:3 This is the ‘waterless baptism’ of the grace gospel whereby every believer is “baptized dry” being “set into His body” (cf. 1Cor 12:13). Thus, believers immediately become partakers of Jesus’ cross-experience in that His death and resurrection, becomes their death and resurrection (cf. Rom. 6:3-4). This frees the believer from the dominion of sin, from their “old man,” (Rom. 6:6-7) and empowers them with Christ’s resurrection life for living righteously.

5. Are we to give witness to Christ’s earthly ministry? – ²² Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us (with the Eleven) … Acts 1:22

Paul writes:  ¹⁶ Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him (Jesus of Nazareth’s earthly ministry) no more. 2 Cor. 5:16

6. How do we know what to believe and say? – ¹¹ But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye ‘premeditate’: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. Mark 13:11

Paul writes, we have the written “word of truth”:  ¹⁵ that from a child thou (Timothy) hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: ¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:15-17

7. Is Paul or Peter the ‘chiefest’ of All the Apostles, as masterbuilder upon Christ?

Paul writes:  ¹⁰ According to the grace of God which is given unto me (Paul), as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 1 Corinthians 3:10      

⁵ For I (Paul) suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. 2 Corinthians 11:5

These seeming contradictions are easily explained when we “rightly divide the word of truth” (2Tim. 2:15) as Paul admonishes us to.

We must realize Jesus and His disciple’s earthly ministries were first unto the Nation Israel, shunning the Gentiles (Matt. 10:5-6). But God’s plan was that Israel would be set aside (see verses below), while He called and converted Saul of Tarsus to be Paul and “the Apostle to the Gentiles.” (Rom. 11:13), for Paul to form “the body of Christ” by the power of the new "gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24) for “salvation” based upon ‘pure grace’ that operates “through faith… without the works program of Israel, as Israel was “under the Law.”

“Let their (Israel’s) eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. ¹¹ I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their (Israel’s) fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Romans 11:10-11
²⁵ For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” Romans 11:25