Today's reading includes Paul's speech, in which he sums up his missionary activity. This speech is both a report and an instruction. Speaking of his ministry, it is no coincidence that Paul mentions that during the entire time of his missionary journeys he...
Today's reading includes Paul's speech, in which he sums up his missionary activity (vv. 17-38). This speech is both a report and an instruction. Speaking of his ministry, it is no coincidence that Paul mentions that during the entire time of his missionary journeys he was not a burden to anyone (vv. 33-35). Apparently, this point was fundamentally important for the apostle, which is not surprising: after all, it was a matter not only of the material, but also of the spiritual. And the point is not only that taking payment for preaching would be at least strange. The point is in the very attitude toward the ministry entrusted by God. If one sees it merely as ordinary work, just like any other, then, of course, one can demand payment for it, as for any other work. But Paul, as can be seen, consistently adheres to the instruction that Jesus gave to His disciples when sending them to preach even during His earthly ministry (Mt 10:8).
His main concern becomes the preservation by those whom God has appointed as presiders of the churches, of all that he had testified to them during his preaching (vv. 27–32). Paul understands that both false teachers and false prophets will appear very soon; their appearance is inevitable, and one must be ready for it (vv. 29–30). To preserve fidelity to what the apostle testified means to preserve fidelity to Christ and the Kingdom. But this is beyond the strength of one person, and therefore Paul advises the heads of the churches to listen to both themselves and their church (v. 28).
At first glance, this is merely about what we today would call intra-church democracy. But the point is not only in the structure of the church communities. The point is how Paul sees the Church. For him, it is above all the new people of God, created by Christ Himself. No human can govern any church community in the sense in which one usually speaks of governance in our not yet transfigured world: after all, provided this community remains the Church, by definition it can be governed only by the resurrected Jesus Himself. The role of the head of the church turns out in this case to be predominantly functional: he can and must stand at the head of the community and at the head of the assembly, but he cannot give his church anything that any other of its members could not give it. And it is not surprising: after all, any church community, provided it lives a full-fledged spiritual life, receives everything necessary for such a life from Christ Himself. There are no other sources in the Church and there cannot be.
But in that case, the experience of communion with Christ, and thus the experience of the Kingdom, can be preserved not by individual people, regardless of the position they occupy, but only by the whole community as a whole. And yet, to hear oneself is also necessary: after all, the church community is not a collective in which the personality is lost, but a community of personalities following Christ in all their uniqueness. The experience of each one in such a situation turns out to be exceptionally important, although it cannot, of course, be considered the ultimate truth.
Apparently, Paul understood that one can guard against false teachers only by living a full-fledged spiritual life. No church structures, no theological concepts, and not even any creeds can by themselves protect the Church from destruction from without and from within. The only protection against it can be solely fidelity to Christ and life according to the laws of the Kingdom.
20
20:28 Take heed therefore - I now devolve my care upon you; first to yourselves; then to the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers - For no man, or number of men upon earth, can constitute an overseer, bishop, or any other Christian minister.To do this is the peculiar work of the Holy Ghost: to feed the Church of God - That is, the believing, loving, holy children of God; which he hath purchased - How precious is it then in his sight! with his own blood - For it is the blood of the only begotten Son of God, Jo1 1:7.
20:29 Grievous wolves - From without, namely, false apostles.They had, not yet broke in on the Church at Ephesus.
20:30 Yea, from among yourselves men will arise - Such were the Nicolaitans, of whom Christ complains, Rev 2:6; to draw away disciples - From the purity of the Gospel and the unity of the body.
20:31 I ceased not to warn every one night and day - This was watching indeed! Who copies after this example?
20:32 The word of his grace - It is the grand channel of it, to believers as well as unbelievers. Who is able to build you up - To confirm and increase your faith, love, holiness. God can thus build us up, without any instrument. But he does build us up by them. O beware of dreaming that you have less need of human teachers after you know Christ than before! And to give you an inheritance - Of eternal glory, among them that are sanctified - And so made meet for it. A large number of these Paul doubtless knew, and remembered before God.
20:33 I have coveted - Here the apostle begins the other branch of his farewell discourse, like old Samuel, Act 12:3, taking his leave of the children of Israel.
20:34 These hands - Callous, as you see, with labour. Who is he that envies such a bishop or archbishop as this?
20:35 I have showed you - Bishops, by my example, all things - And this among the rest; that thus labouring - So far as the labours of your office allow you time; ye ought to help the weak - Those who are disabled by sickness, or any bodily infirmity, from maintaining themselves by their own labour. And to remember - Effectually, so as to follow it; the word which he himselfsaid - Without doubt his disciples remembered many of his words which are not recorded. It is happier to give - To imitate God, and have him, as it were, indebted to us.
20:37 They all wept - Of old, men, yea, the best and bravest of men, were easily melted into tears; a thousand instances of which might be produced from profane as well as sacred writers.But now, notwithstanding the effeminacy which almost universally prevails, we leave those tears to women and children.
20:38 Sorrowing most for that word which he spake, that they should see his face no more - What sorrow will be in the great day, when God shall speak that word to all who are found on the left hand, that they shall see his face no more!