Mark 9:38

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And John answered him, saying, Teacher, we saw one casting out demons in your name, and he followed not us: and we forbade him, because he followed not us.

Verse 37 Read Chapter 9 Verse 39

Augustine of Hippo

AD 430

His situation was in some ways parallel to that of one who, while not yet embracing the sacraments of Christ, nevertheless esteems the Christian name so far as even to welcome Christians and accommodate oneself to their service for this very reason and no other—that they are Christians. This is the type of person of whom it was said that he would not lose his reward. This does not mean, however, that such individuals ought prematurely to imagine themselves quite safe and secure simply on account of this kindness which they cherish toward Christians, while at the same time remaining uncleansed by Christ’s baptism, and not thereby incorporated into the unity of his body. Such persons are now already being guided by the mercy of God in such a way that they may also come to receive these loftier gifts, and so depart this present world in safety. Such persons assuredly are more profitable servants even before they become a part of the body of Christ, than those who, while already bearing th... Read More

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Augustine of Hippo

AD 430

There may be something catholic outside the Church catholic. The name of Christ could exist outside the congregation of Christ, as in the case of the man casting out devils in Christ’s name. There may by contrast exist pretenses within the church catholic, as is unquestionably the case of those “who renounce the world in words and not in deeds,” and yet the pretense is not catholic. So as there may be found in the church catholic something which is not catholic, so there may be found something which is catholic outside the church catholic. On Baptism, Against the Donatists ().

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Cornelius a Lapide

AD 1637

But Jesus said, Do not forbid him, for there is no man that doth a miracle in My name, and can soon (Gr.Ï„Î¬Ï‡Î±, i.e, easily) speak ill of Me. Do not hinder him in a good work, and one that honours Me; because even if he does not follow Me, yet he is doing the selfsame thing which you do, that is to say, he is celebrating My name, and he is making it known to men by casting out devils. Wherefore he does nothing that is against My name, but rather propagates and glorifies it.

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Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation - 2 Peter 1:20