ELDERSHIP
[p. 387] ELDERSHIP
Acts 14: 23; Acts 20: 28 - 32; Ephesians 4: 15, 16
JT What is in view is to show how the local assembly may function, being constituted for self-acting. The word ‘assembly’ applies in the full sense to the local gathering, as it does to the whole assembly, as for instance “the assembly of God which is in Corinth”. Other features of it are mentioned characteristically and apply locally, such as the ‘body of Christ’ (without the article) and the ‘temple’ (without the article), but the local assembly by itself might serve as a prime thought in the scriptures, implying the economy as in administrative service, the assembly viewed as that in which the divine economy functions in localities. It is not seen functioning administratively as a whole; it will appear that way in the future in the millennium according to Revelation; but the present administrative function of the assembly is in localities. Hence it conveys a whole thought in any locality where it may function by itself, yet not ignoring other assemblies. These remarks are made in the hope that they may clarify what is before us. Acts 13 and 14 furnish peculiarly the material needed for this, the Pauline feature of the assembly. The first great result of the missionary work of Paul and Barnabas, namely the deputy of Cyprus in the thirteenth chapter — Sergius Paulus, “an intelligent man” he is called, gives a clue to what is in mind as to assembly function. In verse 12 it is said that “the proconsul, seeing what had happened, believed, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord”. He recognises the peculiar character of the teaching of the Lord; and then we are told immediately of Paul’s company — “Paul and his company” — as if that feature was coming into evidence, the Pauline side of the assembly. In these two chapters we have the material needed for the assembly viewed thus, first in this man, and then we read of the result of their [p. 388] preaching at Antioch of Pisidia, the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit — another element needed for the working out of the assembly now; those composing it are to be filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. We are told of the man at Lystra that he was healed, that he had been lame from his mother’s womb and that he had never walked. “This man heard Paul speaking, who, fixing his eyes on him, and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, Rise up straight upon thy feet: and he sprang up and walked”. The man, it is said, “heard Paul speaking” — that is the thought to keep in mind, and Paul seeing him discerned that he had faith, and said “Rise up straight upon thy feet: and he sprang up and walked”, that is, he represents that side that is needed in assembly service or administration, namely, balance. Then all these cumulative thoughts enter into the verse read in chapter 14: 23, the apostles Barnabas and Paul chose them elders in each assembly as if to set up the assemblies to qualify to act for God.
JF What would be the marks of those that were chosen as elders? What would the apostles look for especially?
JT Well, it gives us an outline of what is required in an elder in 1 Timothy 3, does it not? There it is anyone desiring to serve as an overseer or an elder, “If any one aspires to exercise oversight, he desires a good work. The overseer then must be irreproachable, husband of one wife, sober, discreet, decorous, hospitable, apt to teach ... that he may fall not into reproach and the snare of the devil”. Is that not a good account of what is required?
AHS You mentioned, as the first result, Sergius Paulus as an intelligent man; you stressed the importance of intelligence; had you in mind to develop that a little?
JT I thought we should look at it as leading up to what we have in mind, how brethren acting in a local [p. 389] assembly need intelligence and a readiness to observe teaching in others. Elders themselves may teach, “apt to teach” it is said, but as set in any locality they are ready for any teaching that may come in through others and judge it according to its true value. Here it is that he was amazed at the teaching of the Lord, carrying authority with it. Every true local man will recognize and value it. If he receives that teaching he will be used of God to express it in a locality if he is apt to teach, although he may not have gift he will do that.
FWW What would be involved in the teaching of the Lord?
JT I think it carries authority with it. He taught with authority in the days of His flesh, not as the scribes, not religious discourse, but authoritative as from God, so the apostles were marked by that, and all teaching should be, in measure, because if anyone speaks it should be as oracles of God.
FWW Involving the great principle of subjection?
JT Exactly. You bow to the truth. At times you hear all sorts of cavilling remarks about what is said, but is it true? John says, I wrote something to the assembly but Diotrephes did not receive it, “babbling against us with wicked words”. Where God is working in souls there will be submissiveness to the truth of God, so that we should avoid all fanciful things and be sure it is the truth.
FWW I was wondering if anything can be done with us at all unless that feature is established with us?
JT Subjection is the thought with God to begin with, the gospel is announced for the obedience of faith, not bowing our heads as a bulrush — and the Holy Spirit is given to those who obey God. It is in such there will be subjection to the teaching of God; it will be wonderful to us.
Ques It is said previously he desired to hear the word of God. Would that be more general? The teaching [p. 390] of the Lord is what is peculiarly authoritative for the moment.
JT Very good. The word of God is a great general thought; it is said in this book that the word of God spread itself. The teaching of the Lord would be more specific, and needed in young believers.
JDU The teaching of the Lord seems to come in here very definitely in spite of the opposition and the hostility of the enemy. Does that come in in connection with His authority?
JT Quite so. You mean this other man that sought to turn away the deputy from the faith, Bar-jesus the magician. No doubt God ordered all that activity of the devil to bring out this striking feature of the ministry, namely, the teaching of the Lord, this authoritative teaching. The character of the material accruing from the ministry in Antioch is to be noted. It is said in verse 48, “And those of the nations, hearing it, rejoiced, and glorified the word of the Lord, and believed, as many as were ordained to eternal life”; that is a feature brought out in the work at Antioch, that those who believed were working out the counsels of God. The work of God takes on that character, meeting human need, but at the same time working out the counsels of God, “As many as were ordained to eternal life” believed. It says further, “And the word of the Lord was carried through the whole country. But the Jews” (which of course, were represented in Bar-jesus in the early part of the chapter) “excited the women of the upper classes who were worshippers, and the first people of the city, and raised a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and cast them out of their coasts. But they, having shaken off the dust of their feet against them, came to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit”. I think it well to call attention to this because it enters into the local assembly. We are to come together not in a doleful way or spirit in our meetings for care, or with [p. 391] personal feelings affected by the cares of the day. So this word ought to bear much weight, “The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit”. Our assembly meetings are often very sluggish because of our state, there may be a good deal of sanctimoniousness at the beginning, and it may be thought well of, but the Lord’s supper is intended to promote good feeling and joy, so that He has us with Him in the service in His mind which is before Him. I think this verse is intended to fit in there to show how the local assembly functions, and it is to function in certain relations in joy and happiness.
JF Would that mark us when we come together first?
JT Well I think it ought to, it may be suppressed a little; a certain sobriety, decorum and order should mark us as in the anointing, but the Lord’s supper is calculated to promote joy, especially the cup, involving the new covenant.
CG Is discipleship the underlying of the joy in the Holy Spirit with us in this place?
JT Well it is remarkable that that is the description we have of them — two things — those that believed were ordained unto eternal life, as if no other believers are of any value, that is we must recognise the sovereign counsels of God, the sovereign selection of God. Then they were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. It seems to me that these are the two elements that have great place in the assembly and imply happy conditions.
JDU Does that follow upon the recognition of the word of the Lord — His authority? I was thinking of the principles of the kingdom — righteousness, peace and joy.
JT Quite so. The word of the Lord is pervading throughout, it is mentioned here twice in the end of the chapter. The real difficulty, I believe, with many is want of subjection, having light as to the assembly in a way but want of subjection — the state of subjection.
NBS You mentioned Paul and his company as [p. 392] being a feature marking the assembly. Would that mark those here who are the subject of Paul’s ministry?
JT Well I think that is why it is mentioned just at that particular place, and John Mark left the company at that time as if he was not ready for Paul’s line of things; perhaps it was too much for him that it should be Paul and his company; natural relationship affected him evidently at that point. Paul had no room for natural feelings in the assembly.
Rem The disciples being filled with joy and the Holy Spirit stand in contrast to what may have been more or less expected through persecution.
JT Yes, they were above it, a word for us at the present time, the enemy would so depress us as to rob God of our service in the assembly.
JBS Would you say a little more as to principles of subjection, seeing that the element of insubjection is ever present in our hearts?
JT Well, it is the way up to the divine appointment, that is, the assembly is said to be subjected to Christ, by divine appointment she is placed in that position, and each of us is to arrive at that position in self-judgment as to the exercise of our wills; hence the assembly is often sluggish because our wills are not held in check, the Spirit is grieved by the exercise of our wills. He is given to those who obey God, according to Acts 5.
JDU Should it not open the door for the joy that is spoken of here if we realise what it is to escape from the outside scene where there is so much sorrow, to where the Lord is supreme in the midst of those who love Him?
JT Quite so. It is a beautiful touch in Genesis 7 as to Noah’s setting in the ark. The human occupants are all full-grown — no children — Noah and his wife, and three other families, all under one head, for it is Noah and his house. It is to Noah in that relation that the creatures come into the ark, they come to Noah, a most happy state of things; Noah is attractive, they come [p. 393] in of themselves, two by two to Noah into the ark. That is the point, the Lord as in the assembly is in a position to be approached, family relationships being there, and there in an intensified way, so that we should be ready for all the joys accruing from such a relationship; and it is obvious that the working of will is not in action, but attraction, they come to Noah into the ark.
HG Would such joy normally find expression in praise in the assembly?
JT It would. It is said of the Lord Himself that He rejoiced in spirit and said “I praise thee, Father”. That is the point to be introduced in assembly service.
Ques Is it presented as a characteristic setting rather than being arrived at by some specific occurrence?
JT It is a characteristic state, being filled with faith — faith and the Holy Spirit; it is to be noted here — filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
Rem Being filled with faith is sometimes presented as in relation to some specific service, but this would be more a characteristic thought to mark the assembly at all times.
JT I should think that saints are capable of this; in their ordinary everyday life they have trials; the Lord Himself was troubled in spirit and deeply depressed — I speak reverently — but ever ready to return to the joy, His own joy with God. It is the ability to come back to christian normalcy, characteristically a people of joy. Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice”, Philippians 4: 4.
HB We should come together with joy in our hearts rather than come together to be warmed up.
JT You bring something into the assembly when you come in in that way.
To come now to our brother’s question as to the persons mentioned in verse 23, “Having chosen them elders”, I think the ‘they’ is the apostles, that is their choice; of course the bearing of it would be that they chose them for [p. 394] the assemblies.
JF Sometimes the word blameless has been questioned as to what it means, “being found blameless”, what do you think that includes? It has been said, ‘who is blameless?’ — there is no one blameless.
JT You are referring to 1 Timothy 3 — this word is to be understood in its setting. It is characteristic; public blemish, no blame attaching to him. There are people who never get rid of certain conditions, governmentally they are attaching to them. So that a man who fails in business or the like cannot function as an elder.
Rem He may recover, I suppose, by self-judgment, and win the confidence of the brethren again as God helps him.
JT Yes. But there are governmental things that attach to us; we may be happy with God and able to function as priests God-ward, but not to function publicly in the government of the assembly.
JF Would a bankrupt be included?
JT Yes, but there are many other such things that attach to us.
Rem I was thinking of Peter. Paul says he was to be blamed, and yet as bowing to his judgment he can speak of himself as an elder.
JT But that is another matter. Peter denied the Lord and got clear of that, but then there are governmental things that cannot be liquidated, they must stand.
CM Do you mean they are sealed upon us?
JT Well, the Lord is very gracious, but the thing is there, and why is it there? God has right-of-way in His house. He speaks of putting leprosy there Himself. There must be some secret cause if a man has something like that attaching to him governmentally, but we just have to leave it, it cannot be removed down here in the sphere of God’s government. Of course that is more solemn, because who is not exposed to that? One feels we may speak of these things but not feel [p. 395] them sufficiently.
JDU Will that apply to other qualifications, for instance the house in order?
JT Quite so. Things that are within his own province to rectify, it is for him to see to these himself. The Lord will help in doing it, but it is all within his range to accomplish.
JM What you spoke of as being fixed on him on the line of righteousness, he may not be able to liquidate that. Is that a little different from what you are referring to? You spoke of one failing in business, he may never be able to make that matter right. You spoke of one having it in his power to alter matters.
JT He “must be irreproachable, husband of one wife”, he would not have two wives as was possible in those days when people came in from heathendom — “Sober, discreet, decorous ...” These are qualities within the range of anyone who has the Holy Spirit. “Not given to excesses” — he is not a teetotaller but he does not take excess of wine. Every one of these are within his power if he has the Holy Spirit and if he has not got them he is disqualified.
Rem It is what a man is in his responsible history before men.
JT Exactly, it is what a man might be from his own point of view, his side of the matter, not only what God makes him. I have the means of having these qualifications; if I aspire to eldership I must have them. I might like the glory of the office, but I must have the qualifications.
ESH In Leviticus 21 there were those who were not able to approach with the bread of their God, there were certain defects. Is there anything there that would link on with what you are saying?
JT These would be constitutional defects in Leviticus 21. Persons who are christians in the systems are under bad teaching, they are constitutionally defective, and disqualify themselves, and they suffer for it.
ESH It says “a blind man” first, would that fit in here?
FWW You were drawing attention to the difference between this and priestly service in drawing near to God.
JT Yes, he may even speak to God according to Leviticus but not anything else, not to offer, not to function in the full sense of priesthood.
JF Are we to understand that if these things are true of an elder, that he is at perfect liberty to take up what is spiritual. Is that so?
JT Quite so, he is quite at liberty to rule in the house of God, he is aspiring to exercise oversight, a great need amongst the brethren.
JF I was thinking of the spiritual side, it does not seem to be stressed; but if the practical is there, do you think God has helped him in these things so that he is free for what is spiritual?
JT But he would be spiritual if he had these qualifications, these are public qualifications; the spiritual must underlie these things or they would not be there.
JF There are indications that the spiritual is present.
JT The spiritual is there supporting them, but the spiritual leads inwards to God which is not the point here, it is what he is publicly.
Rem There is no suggestion in the Acts that these men were not available in each assembly.
JT Not at all! They seem to be in each assembly, and more than one; there is never an instance of one man being appointed an elder in one city, showing how wrong the episcopalian idea is, it is “elders”.
Weir. If a brother’s wife was unconverted and opposed, would that debar him from serving in eldership?
JT I think it would, especially in any public activity, not that he would not be allowed to speak about things, but we are dealing here with the public assembly,
[p. 397] that which represents God in this world, and God is particular as to those who rule.
JM Does the thought of the influence that a man has in a responsible sphere underlie what you are saying as giving the right and ability to carry things in the house of God?
JT That is what is mentioned — “Having his children in subjection with all gravity; (but if one does not know how to conduct his own house, how shall he take care of the assembly of God?)” That comes into the apostle’s mind in saying that it is obvious that such a man should not go into the assembly and rule there when he is unable to rule his own house.
GMcK Why is such a strong warning given against a novice?
JT Does it not say “not a novice, that he may not, being inflated, fall into the fault of the devil”? A novice is likely to become inflated with his position, he is not equal to it, not balanced. “The fault of the devil” there is that he aspires to be as great as God. A young man coming into eldership may rival an older brother who knows better, who is more balanced and stable. He would fall into the fault of the devil. It is not exactly a young man but a novice, a person not versed in the things of God; a young man may overcome his years by gravity like Timothy himself, but a novice would be one not conversant with these things. Eldership would mean experience with God in the things of God.
FWW Would that feature be seen in the man in Lystra?
JT That is what I thought, he was balanced. There is something of God in the man; what is brought to light in this man is constitutional. The thing was there; he heard Paul speaking. It was not what Paul was saying, but the kind of speaking, and that attracted him; as with Lydia, it was Paul speaking. Paul saw there was something in the man, so there is a remarkable connection [p. 398] between the apostle and the convert. Paul said in a loud voice, “Rise up straight upon thy feet” as if this was an urgent case. That is the kind of thing that underlies eldership.
FWW He was a novice hitherto because he was the same as he was when he was born. Is that so?
JT He certainly never had any experience in walking, and therefore he could have had no experience spiritually; but there was something in the man already evidenced before Paul discerned him, that is, he was listening to Paul, he was there ready to listen. People who are ready to listen to what is distinctly Pauline are marked by assembly features. Paul saw it, he cried with a loud voice “Rise up straight upon thy feet” as if to say, this is the kind of material; and I believe what is seen in this man underlies eldership, a balanced man.
Ques So this is particularly in view of the testimony. Uprightness has a large part in it, has it not?
JT You see how Satan immediately comes forward here; they lifted up their voices in Lycaonian, “The gods, having made themselves like men, are come down to us” — the whole paraphernalia of the devil was ready to meet this wonderful thing that God had brought about through Paul’s ministry.
CM Would you make a difference between a man who never walked and a novice?
JT Quite so, he never walked, he could have no experience. A novice means that you have some experience in a thing but you are not properly experienced; but this man would be ready for that; because he has the thing in him, Paul could see the thing in him.
EAK Was it a satanic feature that they singled out Paul as the speaker when that which was pleasing to heaven had engaged the attention of the man of Lystra?
JT It was the leading thing in this chapter; and Satan is taking the leading thing — Paul speaking — and could not set it aside by a frontal attack; he would [p. 399] set it aside by bringing in ceremonialism, too, as in Colossians, to divide the work of God by that sort of thing: or as the damsel who had the spirit of Python, it is the devil’s way of setting aside the real truth for the moment.
JF Did he not want to absorb what was of God by associating him with what was current?
JT That is it; it is remarkable that the priest of Jupiter was there ready, all ready for the moment, in the crowds. It is Satan’s work, and the casual observer would think it is taking on great proportions, but the devil is giving it those proportions; it is what appeals; we have to watch for that.
Ques The man standing straight upon his feet would not lose his balance in the turmoil?
JT He would not be carried off his feet in the crowd.
The twentieth chapter brings out the eldership at Ephesus. The apostle had sent to Ephesus for them; he called over to him the elders of the assembly, men already functioning in it. No doubt those elders had done their work, or the assembly at Ephesus would not have been so prosperous, but he says to them in verse 28 “Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, wherein the Holy Spirit has set you as overseers, to shepherd the assembly of God, which he has purchased with the blood of his own” — a remarkable statement. The Holy Spirit had made them elders, not simply Paul’s delegate, although Timothy might have had to do with it; but the Spirit had made them elders, that is to say, the action of the Spirit in this book peculiarly brings out first hand knowledge; there is nothing unknown in any of us to the Holy Spirit, so that although we may have outward qualifications, the Holy Spirit is cognisant of what underlies all this, and if He sets us in the assembly to serve in any way it is because He knows we are suited to it. This gives the service of elders great distinction [p. 400] in Ephesus; they were set by the Holy Spirit as overseers, and they were to shepherd the assembly of God.
CM Is that the reason why, in connection with Abraham, that God let him into the secret, because he was bringing his household up rightly?
JT That enters into what we have been saying as to outward qualifications of elders. Abraham would order his house after him.
AHS In the previous scripture it was “having chosen them elders in each assembly”, and here is this wonderful expression “the assembly of God, which he has purchased with the blood of his own”. Is that a more universal thought, although said to the local elders?
JT It is the assembly at Ephesus that is in mind; it is employed to represent the mind of God in the whole assembly. So you do not get administration much in Ephesus; it is more what they were capable of in the way of intelligence, taking in divine counsels.
AHS That would no doubt give the local exercises wonderful dignity.
JT Quite so, “purchased with the blood of his own”. The Authorised Version makes it the “blood of God”, but it is not God; it is the “blood of his own”, “His own” is used as referring to Christ.
JDU Undoubtedly the object of very great love on the part of divine Persons — the ‘Holy Spirit’, ‘God’, and ‘His own’ are all mentioned in this wonderful transaction in regard to the assembly.
JT Yes.
Ques Does the “wherein” show how the elders would function as part of the assembly, not as detached in any sense from it?
JT Very good; the “wherein”, that is the flock. They would function as of it, but still as having their distinction as overseers. So the king of old was to be one of the brethren. It is a great matter to be able, however distinctive or distinguished one may be, whether in [p. 401] ministry or ruling, to merge with the brethren, to be one of them. That is our safety to know how to do that.
Ques The overseers would not necessarily be gifted men as we speak in ministry?
JT No, “apt to teach”, a readiness to teach.
CSS Would “conducting his own house well” be something more than rule?
JT “Conducting” conveys the thought of rule; he would be the thing he intended his house to be. One that conducts is one that knows the thing that he would conduct in. He would exemplify divine thoughts.
Rem So that the rule would take the form of influence by example rather than by laying down precedents or principles.
JT Quite so. You can see that love has been in the house, that is how the truth develops; conducting involves ruling, there is authority in the head of the house.
CSS Taking up details before God as connected with the assembly.
JT You mean as in the assembly, or in his own house?
CSS Both.
JT Well, quite so.
CGG Eldership in the Acts seems to be by apostolic appointment, but in Timothy it seems to be on the line of desire; would you open that out?
JT It is on the line of desire, but still coming under appointment. This instruction was for Timothy, the apostolic delegate, and the apostle instructs him as to what is required, and Timothy would insist on that because he had the apostle’s authority in appointing the elders.
Ques Is it to be noted “if any one aspires to exercise oversight, he desires a good work”? The office is not exactly presented as a desire.
JT This work is not an office. The archbishops, such as the Archbishop of York, have palaces and thrones. The throne is not the idea, the work is the point, it is the work of an overseer to “shepherd the assembly of God”, as we have it here “take heed ...”
ABJ Would that last clause of verse 28 give the overseer God’s estimate of His assembly, and strike the chord in his heart?
JT Very good — “The blood of his own”. It is a very strong expression of God’s love for Christ, what it was to Him when Christ had to die to secure the assembly. This is the public assembly, not the assembly viewed as the Eve type; it is a question of purchase.
Ques Why is the word “shepherd” used instead of “feed”?
JT It is the word in the original; he would have you not only to feed the sheep but to see that they are all there. The Lord set the example on the first day of the week; He went out after the two stray ones and got them together, and then came in among them to feed them, but Peter was to do both, he was to shepherd and to feed.
JF Is shepherding in view of the wolf, the wolf coming in?
JT That is right, the Lord opened that up in John 10.