The Church always has enemies. Jesus himself told us this would be the case … yet the Church is (and will be) triumphant! “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18
Paul is of the same mindset. And he so informs the leaders of the Ephesian Church of this stark reality.
“For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous WOLVES enter in among you, not sparing the flock.” Acts 20:29, vicious enemies from without!
The adjective “grievous” simply means “heavy!” These are not “pups!” (And wolves generally hunt in “packs,” thus the plural number!)
“Not sparing” insists on the idea of not “forbearing,” not exhibiting any level of “tolerance, kindness, or patience.” They have come to “destroy” the works of God!
Purveyors of false doctrine!
They are said to “enter in” because likely they lived far away from Ephesus. We know many Judaizers, men who denied that God’s Grace alone saves sinners from Hell, dogged Paul wherever he went! These dangerous characters probably lived in Jerusalem, and tracked Paul for the direct purpose of reversing his “Bible Preaching” ministry. Here’s the essence of Paul’s theology: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9, to which I echo a hearty “Amen!”
Someone long ago quipped …“To be forewarned is to be forearmed!” Paul was wise to have instructed these Elders in such a fashion.
Diligent “shepherds” (this Greek word being equivalent to the noun “elder” … that is, an “overseer,” precisely an observant shepherd’s duty) then would be on the lookout for those approaching, encroaching devils, those wolves!
Then Paul immediately writes more, more danger! The Church is a hated entity, organism!
“Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” Acts 20:30, now even more enemies, this time springing from “within” the Church!
Speaking (not the preaching verb here, rather the conversation verb, “laleo”) perverse things … meaning “twisted things!” Prevaricated doctrines! Misrepresentations of God’s Word!
Listen to Peter, years later, writing of Paul’s sometimes hard-to-understand Epistles … “They that are unlearned and unstable WREST (twist), as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” 2 Peter 3:16, using the same verbal root as did Luke/Paul in Acts 20:30 above, “strepho.”
Now here’s the critical question. WHY such false doctrine, probably in both cases … from “without”: and from “within?”
The answer is given us … “to draw away disciples after them.” This is an “ego” thing!
Willing to tear to pieces a local Church assembly … for vanity’s sake! To cultivate a personal following! (Jesus on that subject: “The hireling careth not for the sheep.” John 10:13b)
Oh, the responsibility of being a PASTOR these days. Pray for that man of God who faithfully fills the pulpit of the Church you attend. He is a “defender” of the faith, in many ways.
Having to watch for “wolves from without” and “self-bloated insurrectionists from within” … both seeking harm to the Church.
No wonder Moses prayed daily: “Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies BE SCATTERED; and let them that hate thee FLEE before thee.” Numbers 10:35
Not a bad prayer to resurrect and use daily!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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