PAUL'S LETTERS TO TIMOTHY (3)

PAUL’S LETTERS TO TIMOTHY (3)

1 Timothy 2:1 - 15; 1 Timothy 3:1 - 16

We considered the following:- 1. Need for greater scope in our prayers as covering universal matters.

2. Warnings of hardness in our relations with our brethren.

3. Interference in local assemblies.

4. Clearing the Lord’s name.

5. The greatness of the thought of mediatorship; verse 5.

JT opened the meeting by saying that what should occupy us at this time is that God is one, and the mediator of God and men one, in chapter 2, and then in chapter 3 the assembly, finishing with the great thought of the mystery.

Chapter 2 begins with what is priestly; “first of all” indicating there is something to be first, that is we are thinking of men in regard to the general position, feeling for them, for it is “supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings be made for all men”; the full priestly thought is in mind. With that, of course, is the great thought of sonship alongside the priesthood. It does not come up here but it is well to think about it because priesthood and sonship go together. Priesthood is the great preservative amongst us in regard to everything. In Deuteronomy the priests have the last word about everything. All this helps us in view of the present time, because priesthood is not local in that sense — it is universal. We have to think about the position as priests, and see everything according to that point of view, so that the saints are responsible in regard to everything that happens in the assembly, whether it be local or universal. We are to see that everything ^[p. 468] is in accord with the law of God. The priest’s mouth is to be enquired at. If you wish to know the law the priests define it, and so today, it is the commandment of the Lord. The priests would define, enlarge and bring out the truth as to the commandment.

Galatians 6:1 brings in the thought of “ye who are spiritual”. They can always be consulted because the spiritual think on these lines — not natural carnal persons, but minds that are always running in the channel of considering for God. In view of the present time when there is so much stress universally, we should take on this thought of greater scope in our meetings for prayer, having in mind quietness and tranquillity amongst the saints.

(Note. - In reading these impressions it might help to have in mind that we were viewing this epistle in connection with the highest, that is the full unfolding of Christianity in its heavenly character. Touches of this came into all our meetings - the impressions of the glad tidings of the glory of the blessed God, chapter 1, the greatness of the Mediator standing in relation to God and men, chapter 2, the greatness of the assembly, being mentioned twice, and finally the word as to the Lord Jesus being received up in glory, were all before us. Our brother said that is just ahead of us — to be received up in glory in view of fixed eternal conditions, and hence the great need for everything being right now in our localities.
There was a sense of urgency in all the readings that each one of us is responsible to judge elements which would nullify by hardness or legality the greatness of what we are now enjoying, for the Ephesian position was not held by apostolic authority but in the moral power of a man of God full of sympathy for the testimony but not flinching or swerving in relation to the truth.)

Emphasis was placed on the expression, “My words” (Matthew 7:24), and “My words” (Luke 9:26), especially in relation to forgiveness; also the need of giving full weight to what the Lord said to His disciples in Luke 17:3,4.

The matter of the priests and elders saying the same thing was introduced and we observed in Deuteronomy 21:5, “And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near”; it was stressed that there should be no divergence in the speaking of the local elders and the universal priests. If there is a divergence it is a question of how the truth has been apprehended, but if there is patience and a waiting on God He will reveal His truth.

The seriousness of one local company interfering with another local company came up at this point, and we were impressed with the Lord’s jealousy of His rights in each locality, noting the Lord’s separate word to each of the seven assemblies in Revelation 2 and 3, and also, “For where two or three are gathered together unto my name, there am I in the midst of them”, (Matthew 18:20). Flowing out of this we were helped to see that in 1 Corinthians 5 it is not a question of repentance, but of the offender “being such” and “him that has so wrought this”. It was a matter of public wickedness. Here a helpful suggestion was made that, while many matters such as “some fault” (Galatians 6:1) can be ‘mended’ privately, others involve the one, two, three of Matthew 18, while certain cases in which the Lord’s name has been dishonoured must come under assembly discipline. In 1 Corinthians 5, nothing is said about repentance but “Remove the wicked person from amongst yourselves” 1 Corinthians 5:13.

In the second epistle grace is shown, and forgiveness “lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with excessive grief” (2 Corinthians 2:7), and then the assembly itself is to repent, “but that ye have been grieved to repentance”, 2 Corinthians 7:9.

Much was said about 1 Corinthians 5 and the universal report. Paul, though absent, judged as present. Indeed in each reading of the five we touched in some way upon the Corinthian epistles, our brother insisting that we must go to Paul and to Corinth for assembly order and assembly discipline and that the understanding of the first and second epistles to Corinth is imperative in view of all that pertains to the local assembly.

It was clearly indicated that most cases coming up amongst us fall into the first two classes and that if we were more spiritual and priestly, persons would be restored. The seriousness of withdrawing from a person rested upon us as we were reminded of J.T.’s own word, ‘Putting a man out of fellowship is like putting a man to death’.

(Note - There was sympathetic support from all present and, what cannot be adequately expressed, a feeling that the time had come for a deepened regard for each of our brethren in line with Ephesians 4:32, more kindness, more grace, more forgiveness, more love: and, when this is brought about, the rapture).

We rested for some time on 1 Corinthians 5 as feeling the need of greater wisdom in handling matters which come up amongst us. Reference was made to the early ministry of J.T. as to what is capital sin. All this was balanced by the expression that we are never given a ‘yardstick’ but the priest maintains the law, and the Holy Spirit is amongst us.

The greatness of the mediator was stressed. The Mediator of God can be no less than God and the Mediator of man must be a man, so that the Lord’s humanity is in view. All this should add to the service of God when we realize that we have such a Person as our Mediator.