GENEALOGICAL REGISTRY IN A DAY OF DEPARTURE (1)
GENEALOGICAL REGISTRY IN A DAY OF DEPARTURE (1)
JT In speaking of priesthood and genealogy I refer to what we get in Ezra and Nehemiah; each one had to establish his genealogy; and I thought this epistle would help us to see how these things are worked out now. There is mention made in Nehemiah of a certain number of priests’ garments which were provided. Nehemiah himself provided a good number, suggestive of the hope that he had cherished, that there would be priests to wear them.
You observe, that as to Timothy the apostle remarks on his genealogy in a spiritual sense; the faith that dwelt in his mother and grandmother dwelt also in him; he is marked off in Scripture as of a spiritual generation. Of course, every Christian is, but it is remarkable about him that mention is made of his mother and grandmother, both of whom had faith. Paul was his spiritual father, so that his parentage in that way established his genealogy. Then the fact that he was entrusted with the testimony reminds us of priesthood, because that was the responsibility the priests had; they were in charge of the ark and the holy things, they were over the ministry. It seems obvious that these are details to be looked for, and absolutely essential now. If that which is of God is to be preserved and continued, there is the need of establishing our genealogy; and being priests, we are to wear priests’ clothes.
Ques In what way do you apply the thought of genealogy now?
JT It is to be shown that one is of Christ.
TMG Of His order.
[p. 223] JT Yes. You may have to wait till the coming of the Lord to be sure of this as to some.. In Nehemiah’s day they had to wait until a Priest should arise with Urim and Thummim. There are those who are the Lord’s that one would not know to be such; but there are those who prove their genealogy by separating from what is evil, and following that which is good.
JMcF Has the genealogy to be proved before the priest is ready to minister?
JT Yes; before one can be recognised as qualified for that which is of God, one has to show that he is a true Christian.
TMG That would be proved in separating from what is not according to God.
JT It resolves itself into the question, Are you going to qualify for what is of God?
Ques Is Timothy looked at as the fruit of the apostle’s labour, and as the fruit of his mother and grandmother, the subjective work?
JT Yes; under God, Paul’s ministry and character formed him, so that he is often spoken of as Paul’s child. You will remember that he appeared historically when Barnabas failed; and he is said to have been the son of a believing woman; his natural father, a Greek, is not called a believing man, so that he could not have added anything to Timothy spiritually. Paul became his spiritual father, and we is, I think, more said about Timothy in the epistles than about any other man except Paul himself. I am only remarking on the circumstances which the epistle is set in regard to these points.
Rem It is said that he was well reported of by the brethren. Would that be an evidence of his genealogy?
JT Yes; the apostle associated him with the ministry in some of his letters; that to the Corinthians for example. He says, “the brother Timotheus”, 2 Corinthians 1: 1.
[p. 224] Ques Does it not say in regard to Timothy, “I have no one like-minded”?
JT Yes. “Who will care with genuine feeling how ye get on”, Philippians 2: 20. That was a very striking tribute to a servant.
Rem It also goes to show what is necessary for the maintaining of the testimony here.
JT I think Paul’s addresses to the assemblies help us in our relation to one another. He links others with himself. Paul represented the official authority, but he graciously and considerately brings in others who were marked by a brotherly spirit in writing to the saints.
Rem Paul, although an apostle, valued the prayers of the brethren. “Brethren, pray for us”, he said; 2 Thessalonians 3: 1. What he was, in that way, gave moral weight to his authority. The brotherly spirit that he manifested would be a support to what he was officially.
JT Yes. It is very nice to see that Peter regards Paul as a beloved brother; being an able minister, he was also a beloved brother, 2 Peter 3: 15.
Rem That would bring in liberty among saints.
JT Yes. It says of Peter in Acts 2: 14, that he stood up with the eleven, showing that at the outset the great object was to establish the authority of Christ. God had made Jesus both Lord and Christ, hence Moses is superseded. Peter stood up with the eleven, not then with the one hundred and twenty; and in verse 42 it says, “They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine”; instead of Moses’ it was the apostles’. The thought of the brother comes in later, and that is a feature that continues; it marked Paul’s ministry. That is what is to be maintained so long as we are down here.
There can be nothing at all for God apart from the [p. 225] recognition of the authority of Christ. The enemy is always trying to substitute man’s influence for Christ’s, so that now the test is, “he that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me”. Note that in associating Sosthenes and Timothy with himself in writing to the Corinthians the apostle says “the brother”, showing that it is not simply that he was a Christian; of course, every Christian is a brother, but when you say the brother, it means the kind of man he is characteristically; he represented the spirit of Christ as taught in John 13. Joseph is a type of Christ in this respect. He went out to seek his brethren, and to befriend them, having the spirit of a brother in his heart; but, instead of finding a brotherly spirit, he found the spirit of murder; the spirit of a brother was not in them, but it was in him. In the final issue he reveals himself as their brother. Judah comes to judge himself and pleads for his father before Joseph, and he pleads for his brother Benjamin; so that the spirit of the brother is reached in the heads of the tribes, and when it is found there Joseph reveals himself to them. In that way Christ is typified by Joseph; He did the part of a brother to Israel, but they did not appreciate it. You have to learn the thing in Christ in the way in which He dealt with those whom He brought into relationship with himself.
WK If we impress upon each other the true -spirit of a brother we do good.
JT Yes; Timothy represents this in a marked way. I suppose it is true that Philadelphia suggests that that phase of the assembly is marked by that spirit.
WK It is much needed that this should be brought before us. The thought is to bind together in love; to have the same care for one another.
Rem . In Hebrews 13 it says, “Let brotherly love continue”.
TMG “A new commandment I give unto you that ye love one another as I have loved you”, John 13: 34.
TMG Does not everything in Christianity take its character from Christ?.
JT Christ is the pattern of everything for God.
WK So that, as to the question of love, brotherly love would permeate the saints, not mere human feeling. It would be the character of the love of Christ that would be seen.
Rem A verse in Proverbs says, “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city”, Proverbs 18: 19.
WK Brotherly affection is so tender that once it has been intruded upon it is hard to regain.
JT There is in the gospel the thought of what is presented to men on the part of God in Christ, and then what man is to be towards man is also presented in Christ; the latter is the brotherly spirit.
Rem We must be right in that regard before we can take up priestly service.
JT The brother cares for the saints, like Timothy. A priest is to “minister unto me”, as Jehovah said of Aaron and his sons in Exodus 28.
Ques Would the clothes set forth the priestly character?
JT It is said, “Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness”, Psalm 132: 9. This would include one’s dress in every relation. Righteousness must mark one always; whether it is in business, or in the family, one must be righteous. Then Jehovah says, “I will also clothe her priests with salvation”. Thus one is free from the power of the enemy and every worldly principle and taint.
JMcF Righteousness, faith, love, peace are spoken of later in this epistle. Would they answer to [p. 227] the clothing?
JT I think so. There are several things mentioned in the chapter before, us, and they are all said to be “in Christ Jesus”; so the breakdown does not affect them; the believer can fall back on them.
TMG It is a great mercy that it is so.
JT John’s ministry is really parallel with this. His is a reserved ministry; we may say, John 21: 22. “If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?” The Lord held back information regarding John. John says he had written some things, but the world could not contain what could be written; so that there is an infinite reserve.
TMG I suppose that is what Mr. Darby had in his mind when he recommended the brethren to read John’s writings.
JT John’s ministry is specially for the last days. It presents what is beyond man’s and Satan’s power to damage. In John 21 the net does not break.
Rem Timothy was to stir up the gift that was in him.
JT I suppose Timothy was neglectful in this respect. We are all apt to become neglectful. The great thing is to make the most use possible of what we have.
JMcF What is said in verse 7 would lead us to think that he was rather timid. “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind”.
JT It is a great thing to make use of what we have; to make the most of it; rekindle is the word.
Rem If there is the brotherly spirit it would help bring that out.
JT Yes; when Paul landed on the island of Melita, he put sticks on the fire; there was need of warmth, and Paul supplied it. The tendency in many of us is to shrink back. But “God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power and of love and of wise discretion”.
[p. 228] Ques Would you say that Paul here is like the priest trimming the lamp?
JT Yes. Timothy had to see to it that he used what he had.
Rem The thought of rekindling implies that there was something there.
JT Gift may become ineffective through carelessness or non-usage. “Say to Archippus”, says the apostle, “Take heed to the ministry that thou hast received in the Lord that thou fulfil it”, Colossians 4: 17.
Rem That is what happened in the history of the assemblies.
JT The gifts of the Spirit were set aside to give place to human ability and education. If one does not use what he has from God, room is made for fleshly ability.
Rem Through the recovery of the truth room has been made for the Holy Spirit. There has been a rekindling.
JM There would be a good deal of encouragement in the recognition of what we have.
JT There is always a disposition to belittle what is available; were there dependence the Lord would supply local needs. The thing is to gather sticks, as Paul did on the island, and produce heat. The saints are very quick to recognise heat.
Timothy was Paul’s beloved child, but what is said of him may be said of others who have gift from God. Of course, no one has gift now by the laying on of hands.
TMG He is a pattern servant for the last days.
JT It says, “Have an outline of sound words, which words thou hast heard of me in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus”. That is how the truth is to be held, and then it goes on to say, “Keep, by the Holy Spirit”. The things of God are to be kept by the Holy Spirit which dwells in us.
JM I suppose that is the only way in which [p. 229] the truth can be maintained. It cannot be held if there is not the moral condition.
JT Having the doctrine is like a creed unless it is held in faith and love. I think faith connects our souls with God. It is unseen. Love is what can be seen.
Rem “That good thing which was committed unto thee, keep by the Holy Spirit”. Is that something special?
JT No doubt he had received something special. But the things of God are to be kept by the Holy Spirit, not by mental power or in a creed.
JMcF Why is the tenth verse brought in?
JT Life and incorruptibility are in keeping with John’s ministry. The annulling of death shows triumph, but what it brought to light was life and incorruptibility.
Ques Would you connect “life and incorruptibility” with Aaron’s rod that budded?
JT Yes. The priesthood is established in connection with life.
Rem Would not life and incorruptibility be the two things necessary to carry on the testimony?
WK Everything had been corrupted, and nothing but the power and energy of life could preserve the servant. What you want is the actual power of life in the soul, and to be free from all the corruptions that are around.
Rem “We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren”, and there is no partiality I think these things, life and incorruptibility, are what should mark us; they are the great preservative elements. The flesh works death and corruption, whereas the Spirit’s activities are marked by life and incorruption.