GENEALOGICAL REGISTRY IN A DAY OF DEPARTURE (2)
[p. 230] GENEALOGICAL REGISTRY IN A DAY OF DEPARTURE (2)
JT The two thoughts that are prominently in mind are in Ezra and Nehemiah; namely, genealogy and priesthood. It seems to me that the analogy between Ezra and Nehemiah and 2 Timothy is very pronounced: the Scriptures which were written aforetime, being written for our learning, these two books should be specially studied in connection with the last days.
The thought of genealogy is very pronounced; that is, as to those who have professed to have returned from Babylon. They are required to show that they are genuine; and then that they are clothed in priestly garments. Nehemiah provided priests’ clothes, showing that he had in his mind that there would be priests. I think Timothy answers to these ideas, his genealogy, his clothing, and his priesthood. As to the latter, he is entrusted with the testimony. It comes out specially in this chapter. It will be observed, that he is addressed in the first chapter as the apostle’s “beloved child”, and here as his “child”. So that it is as of a certain spiritual generation that he is addressed in both.
Rem He is marked out to carry on the testimony. How do we establish our genealogy?
JT First of all by separating from evil, and then by following what is good with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. One forms links of affection with the saints. The tabernacle was marked by links or hooks of gold, and a Christian proves that he is genuine by the fact that he establishes these links with the Lord’s people in seeking to be among them. It is not simply being a professed believer, one ought to show that he values the saints [p. 231] by being with them, and thus forming links of affection with them, as I said.
Rem It is not simply outward separation; it is that, but it is more. Did you say, that having love for the brethren would establish the links?
JT Yes; God’s tabernacle was formed, after the people had come out of Egypt; the principle for us therefore is that there must be separation first, and then a recognition of what is of God as found among His people, who are following righteousness, faith, love, and peace. One is not only to be identified outwardly with them; definite links are to be formed. One is known as one of the brethren by brotherly love.
Rem The apostle puts trust in Timothy, but he spoke of “all who are in Asia” having turned away from him.
JT Yes; Paul was now the test for all. He represented the truth, for he was set for the defence of it. He was in every way in keeping with it. So that such an one as that is a test as to whether there is true affection for Christ. Paul, being in such circumstances, as he was, in prison, for Christ, became a test. It is all well to be happy with each other in the meeting; it is love so far as it goes, but the test of the love is the reproach under which those are who are true to Christ in every way. Paul had become the test for the saints, being in great reproach. Onesiphorus is a contrast to those in Asia. He had often refreshed the apostle, and was not ashamed of his chain. Being in Rome, Onesiphorus had sought out the apostle, and found him. It may seem to us now that every Christian would gladly seek out the great apostle, but we little realise the reproach he was in.
Rem So Timothy is told not to be “ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner”.
JT “If we deny him, he also will deny us”,
[p. 232] 2 Timothy 2: 12. All goes on those lines in Timothy. God’s things have come into great reproach. In many instances those who are seeking to walk in the truth are not known, in large cities especially, but if they were known they would be despised. In the eyes of the ordinary man of the world, our exercises and judgments are regarded as positively unfair, especially in reference to current events. The end of the first chapter is very searching, because it shows how on the one hand the mass of Christians, true Christians too, as the epistle to the Ephesians shows, may fall short when the test comes. They did not apostatise, nor give up any doctrine, but they simply turned away from Paul; he was the test, as we have said.
TMG He had the truth, and was -faithful in maintaining it.
JT There was always a test for the people of God, and how we answer to it brings out the genuineness of our genealogy. The Lord in the sixth of John says, “Will ye also go away?” He had been speaking words that were spirit and life, and so there was a test. Many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him; so He says to the twelve, “Will ye also go away?” And Peter says, “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast words of life eternal”. They clung to Him as appreciating what He ministered.
JMcF Referring again to priesthood, the way you are looking at it is, according to the book of Numbers: the priests had charge of the vessels of the tabernacle. It is not the thought of Leviticus, of approach to God?
JT No, it is more those that are responsible for the testimony. You have the idea of priesthood in the first chapter, and so here in the second: “The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses the same commit thou to faithful men,
[p. 233] who shall be able to teach others also”. Paul laid stress on what Timothy had heard from him, he, being the wise architect, not only had laid the foundation, but indicated the whole structure. John was not to be an architect, nor Peter, but John comes in to maintain the thing that Paul set up; the structure in the abstract is never to be surrendered although the outward appearance of it may be gone. “A wise architect” (1 Corinthians 3: 10) is a remarkable expression, because the Corinthians were accustomed to architecture. Corinthian architecture is valued, and no doubt suggests the skill and wisdom of man. The divine system is formed according to wisdom, and the stress that Paul lays on what he said to Timothy, I think, proved that it is not to be surrendered; whatever change may have come over the saints through worldliness and other failure, the thing itself is not to be given up. Mr. Darby said “Cleave to Paul”.
Ques Will you say why this epistle is addressed to a young man?
JT Perhaps because there was no other. “I have no man like minded”, Paul says to the Philippians; Philippians 2: 20. I suppose Paul would have been very thankful if an older one were available. We have to be content with what is available. There were, however, certain deficiencies in Timothy, some of these attributable to his youthfulness.
Rem Perhaps the older ones had not come on.
JT I do not think the Lord would pass by the older ones if they were available.
Ques Would you not also say that it indicates that the testimony is to be carried on in freshness and vigour, which is the thought of the young man?
JT Generally speaking, the main burden of the work of God falls on the younger men. It is said of them, “ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you”, 1 John 2: 14.
[p. 234] Rem A man might be up in years, and yet he might be young as to his spirit and energy.
JT That is illustrated in Moses, but John addresses those who were literally young men. It is not said of the fathers that they were strong. It has to be remembered that older ones are not generally equal to the strain of active service. There is no doubt that in this instance it was a question of availability, and Timothy was the only available one, having the necessary qualifications, but how a young man needs to be guided! He is very apt to be governed by impulse in his youthful energy. So that this epistle is to guide him. In writing this epistle, Paul, in a way, answers to the service of Aaron’s sons as set over the Levites; Numbers 4. “Thou, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus”. He was not to be strong in natural energy, but in the “grace that is in Christ Jesus”.
Ques Would you say what that means?
JT It is that the soul is built up in grace; that one, through exercise and usage comes to rely on the grace of Christ in his walk and service, instead of natural strength and human attainments. The supply of the grace that is in Christ Jesus is inexhaustible. It must have been a great comfort to the apostle to have a child like Timothy.
Ques What is the thought in enduring hardness?
JT I suppose we are all pretty well acquainted with military conditions now. This figure is much more readily taken in now than it would have been some years ago. You will only have to ask the young brothers, and they will tell you what military hardness is. It is painful to listen to what men have had to endure, but it is not any worse than what the Roman legions had to experience. Caesar’s soldiers had to endure endless privations. I suppose one would have to consider Paul himself, to apprehend fully what this means in spiritual [p. 235] warfare.
Ques Would it refer to what is physical?
JT That is a small matter: still it is included, as we may gather from 2 Corinthians 11. An unconverted man could go through much of that; but hardness in spiritual warfare is a serious matter indeed! As identified with “the testimony of our Lord” we have to face the consequences, but the compensation is sweet. We are to be superior to the pressure through the grace of Christ; but at the same time, the hardness becomes the occasion of discipline, and this involves distinct gain.
WK “That he may please him who has enlisted him as a soldier”. As soldiers we are to be wholly given up to the pleasure of the One who has enlisted us.
JT Yes; we have committed ourselves to the Lord for military service, and so we are now to be for His will and pleasure. We are not to be entangled with the affair’s of this life.
Rem A good soldier would stand a good deal in the way of rebuffs.
JT He is to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
Rem You were speaking last night of a sensitive brother. We should not be so easily offended if we were good soldiers of Jesus Christ.
JT We speak of the war being over; really it is not over, nor will it be over while we are here. Now therefore the question is, are we going to face a continuance of it? The hardships are all there, so it is “take thy share”. It is not simply that they are forced on us; they are there for anyone who wishes for them. Take your share of them.
Rem We need not look for things to become more easy. This epistle says they are becoming worse and worse.
Rem It is all connected with another Man; as you were saying, He is the pattern.
Ques Are not the sufferings supposed to be taken up [p. 236] voluntarily?
JT It seems as if they are: the point is not to shirk them; they are there.
TMG You do not turn aside because of the difficult conditions “If a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned except he strive lawfully”. Things have to be done lawfully. “If any man strive”. Things have to be done according to rule.
Ques What would that convey to you?
JT There is such a thing as rule governing service. Paul, for instance, would not enter on another man’s line of things; he would go according to his own “measure”, 2 Corinthians 10.
JMcF Does it suggest that you are to strive The point I think in it is that the thing has to be done lawfully. A man might be really superior in a contest, but if he were not governed by the rules of the game he would lose.
WK You cannot take short cuts: you cannot push other people out of the way.
JMcF You cannot preach wherever you like, for example; you could not go into an unclean place.
JT You have to recognise others. If you go out to make a show, get large audiences, and go into an unclean place, that would be an illustration of unlawful enterprise. Romans 12 outlines the rules governing ministry. The principle of rule works two ways: it maintains order, and on the other hand, it curbs the will. It is to be another will than yours. You may govern your own house, or your business, but directly you come to the house of God the cherubim remind you that there is another will there; it is the will of God.
Ques You mean as to Paul, that he would not go on another person’s ground?
JT Yes, that is what he says, “another man’s line of things”.
[p. 237] Rem A brother should be dependent on the Lord as to where he should go, and then go with the fellowship of the saints.
JT We shall find there is work to be done, so that we do not need to interfere with each other. There is one other thing here, and that is, the thought of agriculture. “The husbandman must labour before partaking of the fruits”; he must labour to get the fruits. So it is not simply that you go to a meeting and get the things; if you do you are simply getting them without working. That is right from a divine side and on the side of those who can minister; but then one must labour in order to get fruit.
Ques Would that suggest exercise of soul?
JT Yes, you must labour; you do not come to a meeting like this unexercised.
TMG You must not say, ‘I cannot dig’.
WK The object of these figures is to show how the character of the individual saint is formed, and what things are necessary to form that character at the present time. There are three distinct figures, each of which is necessary. You want the characteristics that have been described, submission to Christ; the recognition of the law or rule that governs the position; and labour.