None of these are proper contextual based responses but merely examples of pure eisgesis that completely ignore immediate context and force into the text what is simply not there.
Bob's post is equally wrong. The preceding context has nothing to say about missions but about PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP "IN CHRIST" the vine
and fullness of joy and answered prayer.
11
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
Here is Christ's reason and it has nothing to do with apostleship or missions but with PERSONAL JOY
12
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Nothing about apostleship or missions but PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS with each other.
13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
Nothing about apostleship or Missions but about PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST as friends.
16
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
The preceding context to this verse has NOTHING to do with apostleship, authority of apostolic office, missilonary endeavors but is totally and completely about their PERSONAL IN CHRIST relationship as represented by the vine and banches.
How did they become part of that relationship, not primarily due to their own choice but primarily due to His choice. Their choice was the consequence of His choice first and that is how they were saved (v. 3) or became part of the vine.
Their fruit IN THAT PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with Christ is "ordained" as well:
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.- Eph. 2:10
Paul is not talking about the apostolic office or authority or missions of the Ephesians but He is saying the very same thing Jesus says in
John 15:1-16 - they were chosen by Christ to be in the vine, that was God's workmanship and their fruits in this personal "in Christ" relationship were also "ordained" by God.
This context has NOTHING to say about the apostolic office, its authority or the Great Commission but is purely RESTRICTED to their PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with Christ as "branches" IN THE VINE.
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