ACC ~ Mark 16 v15b

THE GOSPEL PROCLAIMED TO ALL CREATION

NOVATIAN: He willed that the apostles as spiritual progenitors of the new humanity would be sent by his Son into the entire world, [1] so that all human sufferers might come to the knowledge of their creator. Insofar as any choose to follow him, they have One whom they now address in their prayers as Father, [2] instead of God. His providence has run and at present runs its course not only among individuals but also through whole cities and states, whose overthrow he predicted by the words of the prophets. His providence indeed runs its course through the whole cosmos itself. THE TRINITY 8. [3]

[1] Cf. Mt 28:19; Mk 16:15; Eph 4:11-12.

[2] Cf. Mt 6:9; Lk 11:2; Rom 8:15.

[3] Cetedoc 0071, 8.24; ANF 5:617**; cf. FC 67:39.

THE UTTERMOST PARTS OF THE EARTH

AUGUSTINE: The command to the apostles to be witnesses to him in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and even to the uttermost parts of the earth [1] was not addressed exclusively to those to whom it was immediately spoken. They alone would not be the only ones who would carry such an enormous task to completion. Similarly he seems to be speaking to the apostles very personally when he says: “Behold I am with you even to the end of the world,” [2] yet who does not know that he made this promise to the universal church which will last from now even to the consummation of the world by successive births and deaths? LETTER 199, TO HESYCHIUS 49. [3]

[1] Cf. Acts 1:8.

[2] Mt 28:20.

[3] Cetedoc 0262, 199.57.12.287.14; FC 30:396-97**.