PAUL'S LETTERS TO TIMOTHY (1)
PAUL’S LETTERS TO TIMOTHY (1)
The following were considered at this reading:- 1. Recovery of present truth corresponds with Ephesians.
2. True character of this dispensation.
3. Our correspondence morally with this.
4. Efforts of the enemy to nullify the whole position.
5. Repentance.
6. Recovery.
7. Activity of the priests.
In his opening remarks J.T. said he hoped we might see that each one of us should be in the testimony in an active way. This epistle being written to one brother (sisters, of course, are in mind too) confirms this. The word to Timothy in regard to his position in the testimony is a pattern for us — how we are to act, and to be committed in the way of a charge. Paul left Timothy at Ephesus for a certain purpose. Ephesus would call to mind the present time, the position that has been recovered to us in the truth, for everything God has in mind in Ephesus has, in a certain sense, been brought out amongst us; that is, the heavenly position has been reached and enjoyed, involving the purpose and service of God.
It was observed that Timothy was a young, timid, and, possibly, weak man: we are not to shrink from our responsibilities in the testimony by feelings of inadequacy. In the first epistle he is to keep the entrusted deposit, himself, so to say. In the second epistle he is to keep it by the Holy Spirit. We noted Acts 19, where Paul laboured at Ephesus, and Acts 20, where he called the elders from Ephesus to Miletus,
[p. 461] and were impressed with the determined effort of the enemy to rob the saints of the truth and joy of their heavenly calling.
The character of our dispensation was brought out, verse 1, “God our Saviour ... Christ Jesus our hope”, and the sound teaching in verse 11 is “according to the glad tidings of the glory of the blessed God”. We are to be in correspondence morally with these glad tidings. We rested on Paul’s allusion to mercy being shown him in verse 16, and “the grace of our Lord surpassingly over-abounded with faith and love”.
Verses 3 to 10 show clearly the attempt of the enemy to set aside the truth. If this line were allowed to go unchecked it would nullify the whole position. Mention was made of conscription for warfare in the book of Numbers — how each one is summoned to the armed forces. The great features of the dispensation are brought out in the first verse to stabilize us as to what God has brought in, and then the “grace, mercy, peace”, which God has maintained amongst us, and will until the end. We must keep to the instruction, or else we shall be influenced by other things coming in. It is not a question now of the apostles — it is in the assembly that the truth is preserved by the Spirit.
The matter of mercy and grace was emphasized, not only in this reading but in the subsequent ones. How are we going to do things in the assembly? Verse 7 was quoted, “desiring to be law-teachers, not understanding either what they say or concerning what they so strenuously affirm”. The activity of God’s throne in mercy is asserted as things come up amongst us. It was observed that at the end of chapter 5 of Romans grace reigns through righteousness to eternal life; that grace personified is, so to say, on the throne, and, corresponding with this, righteousness is our leader.
[p. 462] The local assembly as a city of refuge was mentioned, and how Paul came into it and was protected. It says all were afraid of him, “But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles”, (Acts 9:27).
The difference between the old covenant and the glad tidings of the glory of the blessed God was introduced as showing the great superiority of Christianity over everything else. Achan was put to death under the old covenant; this would not be so today.
We were reminded of how certain legal and judaising principles might spread over a whole province, so that Paul says in Galatians 1:6, “I wonder that ye thus quickly change, from him that called you in Christ’s grace, to a different gospel, which is not another one”, and in Galatians 2:5: “To whom we yielded in subjection not even for an hour, that the truth of the glad tidings might remain with you”.
The matter of repentance was touched on, and Luke 17:3,4 was read. It was pointed out that someone might say when the brother came the second time saying, ‘I repent’, that this indicated he was not right the first time; but we have to heed his words, for “by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (Matthew 12:37), and we are to forgive “until seventy times seven”, Matthew 18:21. We cannot read a man’s heart, his motives are known to God. Leviticus 13 and 14 was considered - the looking of the priest — he goes by what he sees, not by what he does not see. The priest does not wait until the man becomes right — “and the priest shall go out of the camp”, Leviticus 14:3. It might be said of someone under assembly discipline, ‘We are waiting until he comes back to the meeting’, but in Luke 10 the Samaritan came to him, and in Luke 15 the shepherd went after that which was lost until he found it.
It was observed at the close of this meeting in matters of discipline a person should be given every benefit. Elihu says even to Job, “I desire to justify thee” Job 33:32, showing that the Lord would make the best He can of any case. We want to have a forgiving spirit amongst us.