John vi. 70.) This also is the view of Chrysostom and Cyril, — But most of the Latin fathers apply the " choice " to eternal election. So also does Lampe. My own impression is, that, for once, the expression includes both official and eternal election.
The Greek word rendered " ordained " means simply, " I have placed you " in a certain position as my apostles.
When our Lord says, " I have chosen and ordained you that ye should go and bring forth fruit," I think He refers to the work of conversion and building a Church in the world. " I chose and set you apart for this great purpose, that ye should go into all the world preaching the Gospel, and gathering in the harvest and fruit of saved souls ; and that this work begun by you might remain and continue long after your deaths." And then to encourage the eleven, He adds, " It was part of my plan that so bringing forth fruit, ye should obtain by prayer everything that ye need for your work."
It is vain to deny that the verse is a very difficult one both as to its connection and contents. As a general rule I hold strongly that the things spoken by our Lord in this last dis- course decidedly belong to all believers in every age, and not to the eleven only. Yet there are perhaps exceptions, and this verse may be one. — The expression " Go and bring forth fruit" certainly seems to apply peculiarly to the eleven, who were to " GO " into all the world and preach the Gospel. It is as though our liord said " Take comfort in the thought that I chose you as my friends for this great purpose, to go and preach, to reap an abundant harvest of souls, to do lasting work, and to obtain a constant supply of grace and help, by prayer." — I cannot see how the word "go " can apply to any but the eleven to whom the Lord was speaking ; and this weighs heavily with me in interpreting it. — " Th-at your fruit should remain," again, is a phrase that I cannot apply to anything but the lasting and abiding work which the Apostles did when they went through the world preaching the Gospel. But I freely admit that I find in the verse " things hard to be understood."