Review: George M. Soares-Prabhu’s “Two Mission Commands: An Interpretation of Matthew 28.16-20 in the Light of a Buddhist Text”
To be honest with you, this article is fascinating. Well, half of the article is fascinating. Soares-Prabhu (SP)’s article uses a command to spread religion in both Christianity and Buddhism as a way to shed light on both texts and traditions. His thesis suggests that comparing similar texts from a Western religion and an Eastern one help provide a basis for developing a uniquely Asian perspective for Biblical interpretation. However, his goal is neither one of comparative religions nor any sort of syncretic theology. As he says, “But this paper is not meant to present a comparative study of Christianity and Buddhism. It has a much more limited aim: to provide an example of an Asian interpretation of the Bible by comparing a familiar biblical text with a ‘parallel’ from the Buddhist tradition.”[1]
He begins the article with a large and detailed history of the development of socio-cultural interpretation and hermeneutical philosophy. The purpose for this historical inventory is to show the difficulty in constructing a truly “Asian” interpretation of biblical literature. He has a great quote in this section describing the importance of recognizing the reader’s social location when performing an exegesis. Quoting Roland Barthes, he says, “A written text is like a musical score; just as a musical score becomes music only when it is performed, a written text produces meaning only when it is read.”[2] To extend the metaphor, each performance of a musical score is temporal and finite, and therefore unique to that moment in time. Similarly, when we interpret a text or belief we do so in a temporal and finite manner. We may have a different social location later in life, or new perspectives gained through life experiences.
He then moves into an analysis of the two religious texts structurally in order to show the similarities and differences between the two texts only, not between the two faiths. The texts involved are the Great Commission from Matthew 28:16-20 and a mission command from the Buddha in Mahavagga 1.10-11.1. He gives them both a parallel structure in order to visualize the similarities and differences:
| Matthew 28:16-20 | Mahavagga 1.10-11.1 |
| 28:16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshipped him; but some doubted. | 1.10 At that time there were sixty-one Arahants in the world. |
| A | A |
| 18 And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. | 1.11 The Lord said to the Bhikkus, ‘I am delivered, O Bhikkus, from all fetters human and divine. |
| (cf. Matthew 5:13-16) | You, O Bhikkus, are also delivered from all fetters, human and divine. |
| B | B |
| 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, | Go now, O Bhikkus, and wander for the profit of many, for the happiness of many, and out of compassion for the world, for the good, profit, and happiness of gods and human beings. |
| Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, | |
| Let not two of you go the same way. | |
| 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; | Preach, O Bhikkus, the dhamma, which is good in the beginning, good in the middle and good in the end, in the spirit and in the letter. Proclaim a consummate, perfect and pure life of holiness… |
| C | C |
| And lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.’ | And I will go also, O Bhikkus, to Uruvela, to Senanigama, in order to preach the dhamma.’ |
Bhikkus – Pali word for Buddhist monks
Arahants – Pali word for saints
Dhamma – Pali word for dharma, or teachings
SP divides the texts into three sections in order to compare and contrast them. You can see in the italicized texts the striking similarities. SP discusses four issues at hand. First, while the Christian commission rests solely on the authority of Jesus Christ, the Buddhist commission comes from the enlightenment of the Buddha as well as the Bhikkus. Their experience allows them to spread the dharma as authoritatively as the Buddha himself. Second, they both ask their followers to go everywhere and spread the good news/dharma. The only difference is that Christ instructs his disciples to baptize all converts, where Buddhism lacks the concept of a singular conversion event. Third, both commissions say that their desire is to spread the word of liberation from sin/suffering. However, the Christian commission says to go to all nations. The Buddhist commission simply says to all human beings, regardless of national identification. SP points out that this difference has led Christianity to go down many dangerous paths of colonization and oppression through expansion. Finally, both commissions end with a promise to abide with the disciples/Bhikkus during their times of trial.
This article was such an eye-opener for me. It really puts forth a clear way to begin constructing a truly Asian interpretation of this universal commission. The author shows us both the universality of certain religious concepts through their most treasured documents. He then uses these comparisons to shed new light on texts in a specifically Indian way. This article makes me want to study more Buddhist texts and look for more similarities and differences.
[1] George M. Soares-Prabhu, “Two Mission Commands: An Interpretation of Matthew 28.16-20 in the Light of a Buddhist Text” in Voices from the Margin: Interpreting the Bible in the Third World, ed. R.S. Sugirtharajah. Rev. and expanded 3rd ed. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 2006, p. 342.
[2] Ibid, 333.
Embodied Theology 