{"author":null,"canonical_references":[],"database_sha256":"8cfbe7284c6936871d57c02dc6aa63ebbdfd4722422d539dd9f716e46e91112e","date_end":null,"date_start":null,"edition_year":null,"id":"sermonindex-ecf-2738","native_reference":{"book_number":510,"chapter_from":18,"chapter_to":18,"system":"MyBible module coordinates (mapping unverified)","verse_from":3,"verse_to":3},"public_import_allowed":false,"record_kind":"verse-keyed-module-record","review_required":["English edition and exact text","author/work attribution","dating","verse mapping and citation kind","reuse and attribution","split author quotations and deduplicate"],"review_status":"unreviewed","source_html":"<p><b>Augustine of Hippo</b>: [Paul] has repeatedly said of himself that he was working with his own hands so as not to burden anyone, and it is written of him that he joined with Aquila because of the similarity of their handicraft, so that they might work together to maintain a livelihood. From these and other such passages of the Scripture it is clear enough that our Lord does not reprove a person for procuring these things in the usual manner, but that he reproves a person who would serve in the army of God for the sake of these things, one who in his works has his eye fixed not on the kingdom of God but on the acquisition of these things. This entire precept is reduced, therefore, to the following rule: namely, that even in the procuring of these things we should keep our mind on the kingdom of God and that in the service of the kingdom of God we should give no thought to these things. In this way, even if these things be lacking at times (and God permits this usually for the purpose of exercising us), not only do they not weaken our resolve, but they even strengthen it for trial and approval.<br/><i>— SERMON ON THE MOUNT 2.17.57-58</i></p><p><b>Bede</b>: They were of the tent-making trade. As exiles in the land and strangers, they build tents for themselves to use on the way; σκῆναι in Greek are called tabernacles, deriving the etymology from shading, among which shade is called σκία; σκῆναι or σκηνώματα mean something like little shades, which the ancients formed from woolen, wooden, or Cilician cloths, or from the leaves or branches of trees. Mystically, just as Peter by fishing draws us from the waves of the world through the nets of faith, so Paul by setting up the tents of protection defends us from the rain of sins, the heat of temptations, and the winds of treacheries, both by word and by deed. At this point, there are two verses in Greek that are not found in some of our manuscripts. He discussed in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded Jews and Greeks. Then follows what both manuscripts have, added:<br/><i>— Commentary on Acts</i></p><p><b>John Chrysostom</b>: Let no one who is a craftsman be ashamed, but rather those who are reared for no purpose and do nothing, the ones who employ many servants and enjoy an immense court. For being raised as an unceasing worker is the nature of philosophy. The minds of such people are purer, more vigorous. The one who does nothing is really one who does much in vain and, full of indolence, in an entire day accomplishes nothing. The one engaged in work will take on nothing superfluous in haste, neither in deeds nor words nor thoughts. For such a person's entire soul, throughout the day, has been set on a painful means of existence. We, therefore, ought not to scorn those who support themselves by the work of their hands, but we should really count them blessed because of this.… Paul, after countless journeys, despite such great wonders, stayed with a tentmaker and sewed skins. Angels honored him and demons trembled at him, and still he was not ashamed to say, \"These same hands served my needs and those who were with me.\"<br/><i>— CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 18.3-5</i></p><p><b>John Chrysostom</b>: Lo, what a justification he found for dwelling in the same house with them! For because here, of all places, it was necessary that he should not receive, as he himself says, \"That wherein they glory, they may be found, even as we,\" it is providentially ordered that he there abides. Observe how, not in Jerusalem, nor near it the crisis was hasting to come, but at a greater distance. And with him he abides, and is not ashamed to abide, nay, for this very reason he does abide, as having a suitable lodging-place, for to him it was much more suitable than any king's palace. And smile not thou, beloved, to hear of his occupation. For it was good for him even as to the athlete the palaestra is more useful than delicate carpets; so to the warrior the iron sword is useful, not that of gold. \"And wrought,\" though he preached. Let us be ashamed, who though we have no preaching to occupy us, live in idleness.<br/><i>— Homily on Acts 39</i></p><p><b>Origen of Alexandria</b>: But the tents can be referred to perfect souls, to which the name Israel too fits, from seeing God. But these tents are, he says, \"like shady groves, and like gardens beside rivers, and like the tents which the Lord has pitched.\" Therefore he shows that there are other tents which the Lord has pitched, to which the tents of Israel are like. It befits me to go forth outside this world, in order that I may see what are the tents which the Lord has pitched—those, no doubt, which he showed to Moses, when he was building the tabernacle in the desert, saying to him: \"See,\" he says, \"that you make all things according to the type which was shown you on the mountain.\" Therefore, in imitation of these tents which the Lord pitched, Israel ought to make tents, and each one of us to prepare and construct his own tent. Hence it seems to me not to have happened by chance that Peter indeed and Andrew and the sons of Zebedee were found fishermen by trade, but Paul a tentmaker by trade. And since those, called from the trade of catching fish, are changed and become fishers of men, the Lord saying: \"Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men,\" there is no doubt that Paul too, since he also was called an Apostle through my Lord Jesus Christ, was changed by a similar transformation of his trade, so that, just as they from fishers of fish were made fishers of men, so this man too was transferred from making earthly tents to constructing heavenly tents. For he constructs heavenly tents, teaching each one the way of salvation and showing the road of the blessed mansions in the heavens. Paul makes tents when, from Jerusalem round about as far as Illyricum, he fills up the Gospel of God by constructing churches; and in this manner he too makes tents after the likeness of the heavenly tents which God showed to Moses on the mountain.<br/><i>— HOMILIES ON Numbers 17.4</i></p>","source_html_sha256":"0002e93c4c0c4196bb25a9c921dda2a408a07224545bfe69284cbaefd455ba51","source_module":"ECF","source_row_id":2738,"source_url":"https://www.sermonindex.net/commentary/ecf/","text_sha256":"4f6cd1d6c1ac80c4b876b8a31d873fd14041511fb9c7a8ef484d3dc70f1f106d","translator":null,"work":null}