FELLOWSHIP
FELLOWSHIP
1 Corinthians 1:1 - 3; 2 Corinthians 1:1,2; Galatians 1:1,2; Acts 9:32 - 43; Acts 10:1 - 18
JT I think these scriptures would indicate how Peter’s ministry prepared the way for Paul’s economy; I refer to the action of Peter in going down to Lydda of his own voluntary will, as it would appear he did. It is said that he, passing through all quarters, came down to the saints there and raised up Æneas, saying, “Rise up, and make thy couch for thyself”. He anticipated what was to come about through Paul’s ministry, namely, that there were to be assemblies formed, and these were to be so constituted that they could make, as it were, their own beds, and he indicates, I think, how the work of God was to proceed. He goes to Lydda as “passing through all quarters”; that is to say, it was in a universal way, but when he goes to Joppa it is as sent for, and the Spirit of God mentions that Lydda was near to Joppa.
In the last incident, his visit to Caesarea, he is sent for by order of heaven, but he also goes under personal direction from heaven. He goes to Lydda; he is sent for from Joppa on account of need there, and he is sent for from Caesarea by order of heaven, and in the latter case he is also prepared by heaven, as I have said, to respond to the invitation accorded to him. He goes to Caesarea, as it were, by way of heaven; he is not called up to heaven like Paul; heaven comes down to him, so he goes to Caesarea, as we may say, by way of heaven, for he is to convey there the mind of heaven, and it seems to me that this section in the Acts which we have read furnishes us with that which underlies the present economy of local assemblies,
[p. 166] linked up universally on the one hand by such an influence as Peter’s, as far as ministry goes, and on the other hand by Paul’s ministry.
Paul’s first letter to Corinth has a wider bearing than the second. The first is to the “assembly of God which is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all that in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”. The second is “to the assembly of God which is in Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia”. Then the letter to the Galatians is addressed, not to the ‘saints’ in Galatia, but to the assemblies of Galatia, meaning in every instance that what was to exercise authority — the authority of the Lord — was the assembly. Others addressed with the assembly would indicate that they should be governed in their localities by the principles set out in the epistles. The apostle distinguishes between what is general and what is local by the pronouns ‘we’ and ‘ye’. “The bread which we break” (1 Corinthians 10:16) is the general thought. Peter’s work, I believe, in these chapters indicates what underlies the whole system. Each company is to be able to make its own bed for itself, and if help be needed, the indication is plain enough that it is to be from the neighbourhood of need. They sent for Peter because Lydda was near to Joppa; and if help be needed at a distance, it is by the order of heaven and that has to be made plain. Peter did not claim liberty to go of himself; and he was very explicit in explaining his service at Caesarea when he went to Jerusalem; he showed that the movement was God’s, not his. It was a long distance from Joppa to Caesarea, but these distances are of no moment to heaven; the point is whether heaven orders them, and if heaven orders them, this must make it plain. So Peter is very explicit; at Jerusalem he says, “What was I, that I could withstand God?” (Acts 11:17). It is God’s doing, and if it be God’s doing, the saints bow.
[p. 167] Ques In what character does he go to Caesarea, as apostle, or brother, or as a man?
JT Simply as “Simon, whose surname is Peter”. He is sent for. It is one thing to be sent for, but it is another thing to be sent. The idea of an apostle is that he is sent; the idea of being sent for is that I am needed.
GN Is it the thought that the ministry given through Peter and Paul would produce right spiritual conditions locally?
JT Undoubtedly. In passing through all quarters Peter was, no doubt, guided of the Lord, but it does not say so. He was in accord with what God was about to do — he was in line with it. He was not standing up for what God had been doing in Jerusalem; there was now a new movement and he discerned it. Saul had been converted and Peter’s service was to make way for that, and there was hearty co-operation. At the end of his ministry in the second letter, Peter indicates that he is with the Lord in all that He is doing; so he speaks of “our beloved brother Paul” (2 Peter 3:15). And Paul’s writings brought out the assembly’s heavenly character and its universal bearing. Peter in the first epistle he writes says, “She that is elected with you in Babylon salutes you” (1 Peter 5:13). He was writing from the east to the dispersion in Asia Minor and he links them all up.
JB Regarding what is local, I suppose making your own bed means that there is material there that can adjust its own circumstances?
JT Yes, that is the thought; and if help be needed, the universal principle makes every brother available. But Peter is sent for and the Spirit makes it plain that Joppa was near to Lydda.
JB How would you recognise a local company as to boundary? I mean as to its position geographically?
JT I would look for “two of you”, as within [p. 168] boundaries actually existing. They would be material God could recognise in the “place”; and heaven is at their disposal. “If two of you shall agree on the earth concerning any matter, whatsoever it may be that they shall ask, it shall come to them from my Father who is in the heavens. For where two or three are gathered together unto my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:19). Heaven is at their disposal and the Lord is with them.
Ques If there were two or three in another place, would that constitute another company?
JT Yes, that would be another place; but the places are not determined by the saints, they are determined under the government of God.
GFM What would be a man’s local responsibility primarily, or where would it be?
JT In the place where he lives.
GFM But in the broken state of the church, people have to leave their own place and go to another.
JT Well, that would come under the head of general fellowship, but it is quite obvious that the responsibility of such is attached to the company where they break bread.
Ques Suppose he does not dwell in that place, would he be free to take up the responsibility in another locality?
JT “All that in every place”. If in any of the places adjacent to Corinth there was a brother, all the injunctions specially directed to Corinth would be taken up by him, and he would be amenable to them as belonging to the assembly there; but if an assembly were formed where he lived, his local responsibility would be in it.
Ques With regard to what you said about being sent for by a local company where there is need, could that be done now?
JT Yes, surely. We ought to be available. It [p. 169] is a great matter to balance things rightly, so that we should be preserved from independency — from congregationalism.
GFM I thought that what you suggested just now was very good, that the regulation comes from the top.
JT Yes. In the first instance they sent two men; observe the care. Two men were sent from Joppa to Lydda, and then from Caesarea the angel directed that men were to be sent, and Cornelius seeks out two of his household and a pious soldier. He takes them into his confidence and unfolds to them what has occurred, so that they are able to unfold to Peter the cause of their coming. And when Peter explained to the saints at Jerusalem he tells them that there were six brethren there: “Moreover ... six brethren accompanied me”; so that no stone is left unturned to maintain confidence, to carry conviction and to promote unity. Everything is on the principle of adequate testimony. It is very fine to see this, because it says after Peter’s explanation, “And when they heard these things, they held their peace and glorified God, saying, Then indeed God has to the nations also granted repentance to life” (Acts 11: 12,18).
AR Did you say that when help was needed at Caesarea, which was a distant place, that it was then there was direction from heaven; but when it was the place that was near it was not a case of necessity for that?
JT Well, that is how it is put. It says Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and they sent two men to Peter.
Ques Does that mean that the meeting nearest to another has a particular interest in it and responsibility in regard to it?
JT I think that is suggested. One would not say too much of that as to this particular passage, but there are other passages which show conclusively [p. 170] that the principle on which we stand is that of “love thy neighbour as thyself”. The direct responsibility is on those that are nearest obviously. In Deuteronomy 21 when a man is found dead in the field, the responsibility attaches to all; then “thy elders” — the elders of Israel — are to come forth and “measure unto the cities which are round about him that is slain”. Nothing is done until the measurement between the dead man and the nearest city is made, and then the elders of the nearest city take it up. In that passage we get too that the priests are called in, and that shows conclusively that the responsibility attaches to all the saints; we are not congregationalists, we are ready to help. The priestly side is for all the saints, but we operate through the city that is nearest to the place of difficulty.
GFM What would answer today to the man found slain in the field?
JT I suppose that primarily it has reference to the Lord. It is the responsibility for the death of the Lord. It would be anything that occurs through violence or hatred. The neck of the heifer has to be broken; it is man’s self-will and it has to be met because the land has to be kept pure.
WR What is the thought in the field?
JT The primary thought is that of the land; the field means that the sin did not actually occur in the city.
WR Do you mean it is not in a locality?
JT It is near the city, not in the city. There has to be a sacrifice — the heifer, which has not drawn in the yoke, has to be taken to a rough valley, or watercourse, which was not tilled or sown, and its neck broken. But all these things come within the responsibility of the elders of the city. It is for them to clear the land. All the saints are involved in anything that happens, but divine wisdom places the dealing with the matter in the hands of [p. 171] those near.
GFM You are not suggesting that one locality can take up and settle the affairs of another?
JT By no means. It is in the measurement the obligation of saints generally rests.
JB The elders of Israel would have a care over difficulties that might prevail in any city.
JT Yes, they would, in a general way.
FRB But their responsibility would be more in the line of defining where the direct responsibility should lie.
JT Well, their responsibility remained after they located the city. It is still “in Israel”, although now placed in the hands of a certain city. General interest, especially prayer, would continue.
Ques Would the function of the servant be distinct from the function of the local assembly?
JT Surely. General fellowship involves that each one should be available, but the principles in these chapters (Acts 9, Acts 10) should govern us.
JB I suppose it would show great weakness for any locality not to be able to make its own bed?
JT Yes, but it is right to seek help elsewhere. Here at Joppa they did it in a way that was commendable. They sent two men, and Peter went with them. He did not put them off, but went in their company.
EC Would you say that the apostle was called in at Corinth?
JT I do not know. He really writes his letter as an apostle. An apostle is not one sent for, he is sent, that is, he goes directly from God.
WH So that he has in himself authority apart from any need or condition in the locality.
GM Peter’s journey would be general; to be sent for would be specific.
AT Would it be right for an assembly not able to adjust things itself to send for one?
JT I think it is quite right, as I said. If Peter has just raised up Æneas he has power; he is a man who can bring in Christ, a man in whom Christ operates, and that is the kind of man to send for. You want a man who can help you. Why should we not be sent for?
Ques Would it be right to go before you are sent for?
JT That would be more apostolic — more on the line of authority. But wisdom enters into all this, and the Lord guides and makes all plain as we look to Him.
GFM It always involves more exercise to take the initiative.
JT In Deuteronomy 21 what is said is, “Thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure unto the cities which are round about him that is slain; and it shall be, that the city which is next unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take an heifer”, etc. The elders of the city would not act under the direction of the elders of Israel, but on the authority of the word.
TT That is dealing with a person whose locality is unknown.
JT Yes.
Ques Was the locality not known when the measurement was made?
JT Yes, it was determined when the measurement was made.
JW The man who did the deed was not known, but the locality was known.
JT There is an element of grace in it, in that the land was cleared even if he is not known. The elders of Israel are not told to tell the elders of the locality what to do; their responsibility is the measurement. The purity of the land is of prime importance, and this is the responsibility of all.
Rem The elders of the city have a responsibility to act [p. 173] on the word.
GFM The elders of Israel would lay that on their conscience.
JT No doubt they would, but it is not so put; the law was there for both. This chapter (Deuteronomy 21) is the law governing the position. This would be read on such an occasion. The action of the elders of the city would be consequent upon the action of “thy elders” in measuring. They had fixed the responsibility; in doing so, they were acting on the word of God, and that equally applies to the city.
Ques Would the elders of the city be competent to deal with the moral question?
JT According to Corinthians the assembly is formally addressed, and I think it means that it is constituted with authority to deal with local matters, and that that is why it is so addressed. The saints at Corinth are called “the assembly of God” there. Those in every place are listening, as it were, and in listening, they would apply these instructions to their localities.
GFM You do not take from that that the measurement would be to the neighbouring meeting, do you? Suppose the dead man were in one meeting the measurement would not be to another?
JT It is a question of fixing the responsibility; if it be a question of leprosy in a house, we immediately look to the man that owns the house. He is the one, and it is he and the priest who deal with that. There is nothing about measurement in Leviticus 14.
Rem The thing is located there.
JT There is no question there of a dead man, but of leprosy. In the first letter to the Corinthians the bearing is universal, but in the second it is provincial — it is the whole of Achaia. I suppose the saints near would be more affected by the evil than those at a distance.
JB Do you suggest that if there be difficulty in a locality, and they are not able to make their own [p. 174] bed, the meetings that surround it would take up the matter?
JT I think that is right. With confidence we can allow much latitude. But what impresses one in these cases in Acts 9 and 10 is the care taken that everything is done with order. There are two men from Joppa, three men and six men connected with Peter’s visit to Caesarea; and all are acquainted, too, with what is going on.
Ques Is there any great significance in the soldier?
JT I think it shows that God can take up men in all professions. Cornelius himself was a soldier.
Ques Would it suggest training?
JT I would not like to bring in that there. It is not a “soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3). It is his ordinary profession.
JMcE Cornelius would have confidence in him.
JT Yes, he was a pious soldier. They would have had times together in prayer no doubt. The great thing is to have everything clear. There is something about “men” that is reliable; it says, “Quit yourselves like men” (1 Corinthians 16:13). When you come to matters in the house of God, to difficulties, it is extraordinary how much that is erroneous comes in. You hear this and that reported which are not as stated. It seems to me that the Spirit of God would emphasise the importance of adequate testimony. Peter went back with them to Joppa. He went also with three others to Cornelius.
JC The report of the house of Chloe could not be gainsaid.
JT Evidently the apostle accepted it.
GN What principle does Tabitha represent?
JT She was wanting in life.
Ques Would you say Æneas would be negative and Tabitha positive?
JT As to Tabitha, they washed her and put her in “the upper room”. I think that this indicates that she is found in an environment suitable for spiritual life. Peter puts all out; those affected merely by natural sentiment are put out, and after kneeling and praying, he said, Tabitha, arise, and she sat up and he gave her his hand. He links her with himself. What was in Joppa was linked up with what God was doing. He took her hand. There is a link, a living link, with the divine work. That bears, too, on what was about to happen among the Gentiles. How beautifully these companies are linked up livingly! It is a great thing to covet that. There should be no distance.
GM I would like to be clear as to the thought of being sent for. Is the local idea still maintained in that?
JT Certainly. You will observe that when Peter was at Joppa, he was in the house of a man called Simon, a tanner. When the emissaries of Cornelius come to him, he invites them in and lodges them; he is acting in the capacity of a local person. It does not say his host lodged them, but that Peter did it as if he were merged in the local company. It is not a question of being a visiting brother; it is a living state of things.
JMcE A partnership is a very real thing.
JT It is indeed.
Ques Being sent for was a very personal matter, was it not?
JT Yes.
GFM The cry from Macedonia would be on the same line?
JT Yes.