CIRCULATION
[p. 195] CIRCULATION
Acts 11: 22 - 30; Romans 15: 15 - 33: Ephesians 4: 15, 16
JT I have in mind the idea of circulation in the things of God. It appears in these passages, the material combined with the spiritual, leading up to the truth of the body viewed organically. In the physical creation we have many illustrations of what is spiritual, and among them is the idea of circulation. It is evident that it appears in a variety of ways there, entering into the animal organisms, but also as seen in the movements of the sun, the winds and the waters as they are regarded in Scripture. So in view of the increasing extension of the work of God and its widespread nature, it occurred to me that the idea of circulation would help us, for where it is non-existent there must of necessity be paralysis or the negation of life.
I think Acts 11 furnishes the idea; beginning with the ears of the assembly. If we hear aright and have the sense of responsibility as to the work of God we shall seek to see the end of what we hear, hence as the assembly at Jerusalem had evidence of the work of God at Antioch, circulation was the result; and so in the work of God generally, those who are exercised and have ears to hear will hear and will seek to further it, so that it may prosper and hence that there may be a return for God; whatsoever form this may take, it will be on the principle of circulation. It is a simple suggestion, but I think it will be found to be practical and helpful in the present extended work of God covering many nations. But there must be uniformity both in the general course and in the end of each item of work.
MWB Ecclesiastes 1 bears out the principle of circulation: “All the rivers run into the sea, yet the [p. 196] sea is not full: unto the place whither the rivers go, thither they go again”.
JT I had thought of that passage. Water in the creation helps to illustrate the thought. Then you have the sun arising and going down and hasting to the place from which it arises, and the winds turning towards the south and then towards the north, and returning again to their circuits; and the waters running into the sea, to the place where they go, they go again. Creation as a whole furnishes us with the thought before us in a variety of ways.
AJHB That principle maintains a link between every part of the whole divine system; and tends, as you say, to uniformity.
JT Yes. There is the result of ministry, for instance. If brethren are always apparently receiving and there are no returns, then it is evident there is no circulation or that it is greatly hampered. If we have what is of God going in one direction only there is defect somewhere, and the place that material things have in the scriptures read makes the matter very tangible and practical. They are presented as the effect of circulation, and that through arteries wholly in keeping with the inflow. The outflow is equal to the inflow, that is to say, Barnabas and Saul represent what came in to Antioch and also what went out from Antioch; first of all in a spiritual way, and then in a material way.
CCE Everything goes wrong if there is not proper circulation in the body.
JJ Do you think this peculiar expression “the ears of the assembly” would show that the truth of the body was existent?
JT This section introduces the great truth of the body, but in such a practical way that the simplest can take it in. We have not the doctrine of it yet, as in Ephesians, but the simplest can see the principle of it here. There is a volume of spiritual wealth [p. 197] coming out from Jerusalem, and is there to be a return? You find immediately that there was a return, and of the most tangible kind; what was most needed perhaps at Jerusalem. The ears suggest that there is an organism. It is the only place you get the expression “ears of the assembly”, and it shows that the state of things at Jerusalem was marked by intelligent interest in the work of God, wherever it might be. I suppose “ears” would represent that, so that you would look for a result. “The eye cannot say to the hand, I have not need of thee”; the hand is essential to the eye; if something is to be done corresponding to what the eye sees, the hand is necessary. All is on the principle of circulating control. Jerusalem would have in mind that there should be a return, and there was a return, and that of a kind that was most needed at Jerusalem. That is just the principle, whether we view it spiritually or materially. The coming in of Agabus accentuates the need. He and the others coming from Jerusalem bring in the mind of God: this led to the movement of love in Antioch to meet the need that should arise in Jerusalem.
JJT Does circulation precede the body functioning?
JT It is necessary for life, so that you have the remarkable expression in Ephesians 4: “Fitted together, and connected by every joint of supply”. There is the idea of supply, whatever it may be.
PL Is it seen in Luke 8 where the women who had been healed, ministered to the Lord of their substance? Did love for Him have an outlet in that way?
JT That illustrates it. In chapter 7 grace flowed out from Him abundantly, but there was to be a return, and there was a return with the women; they “ministered to him of their substance”. Spiritually [p. 198] the substance they had would be the result and outflow of His ministration of grace to them.
EJMcB Do you look at the prophets here as stimulating the circulation by a direct word from the Lord?
JT Yes; that confirms what we are saying.
PL It says the prophets “went down”. Going down marks the mind of a prophet.
FSM There was true administration in the assembly at Antioch in accord with the exhortation in Galatians: “Let him that is taught in the word communicate to him that teaches in all good things”, chapter 6: 6. There was a circulation set up and continued.
JT That passage is very appropriate and practical. The work of God extending, implies that there is ministry, and “all good things” are to be provided by those who receive it to those who minister — those through whom the Lord meets the spiritual need. The work of God always requires this kind of circulation. The Spirit of God makes more of material things than some may think; it enters into the working out of the great spiritual organism. Every one that is ministered to spiritually is bound to challenge himself as to this feature of circulation — whether he is answering to it. The ministration from the divine side was in Christ at very great sacrifice and cost, and the apostle shows in Romans 15 how he was in accord with this, but there was to be a return in the offering up of the nations, being “sanctified by the Holy Spirit”. That would be an appeal to every one as to the return, and it becomes very practical and tangible. If it is material — not that we should speak unduly of what is material, but only as Scripture does — we shall see it is introductory to what is spiritual. Giving in this way accustoms us to the idea of a return; we soon see that God is looking for more than the material [p. 199] answer from us; He looks also for a spiritual return — “the sacrifice of praise continually”.
JJ In Philippians the apostle puts the return on the highest possible level: “an odour of sweet savour, an acceptable sacrifice, agreeable to God”, chapter 4: 18.
Ques Paul speaks of having “mutual comfort among you, each by the faith which is in the other”. Romans 1: 12. Would that be on a similar line?
JT Yes.
DLH Is there not a very interesting scripture in 2 Corinthians 9, referring of course primarily to giving? “Now he that supplies seed to the sower and bread for eating shall supply and make abundant your sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness: enriched in every way unto all freehearted liberality, which works through us thanksgiving to God”, verses 10, 11. Is that the principle you are referring to?
JT It is in a very striking way. Material giving helped the needy saints, but the return that reaches God is not material but spiritual. He obtained thanksgivings from those who were helped by the material giving. It shows how the material develops into what is spiritual for God.
MWB Do you think the Lord has been helping us a little on this line by warning us as to being too local? If we restrict ourselves to our own locality rigidly, we shall militate against this principle of circulation.
JT Yes. One is struck in attending prayer meetings, how little, even in prayer, the brethren circulate, how limited are our prayers. I am not complaining, of course, but only pointing out that prayer must be universal as well as local if it is to be according to God. Romans 15 is intended to show the extent and activity of the ministry that God gives through one and another, how far afield it goes.
The apostle had the “circuit” in his mind, and he enlarges on the idea; he says, “in a circuit”, verse 19. He had in mind to go further by means of what he would find in Rome, which was a remarkable thing; “filled with your company”, verse 24, shows the working of the organism. He might go to Spain without touching Rome, but that would not go with the idea he had in mind, the idea of circulation, the idea of the organism, so that he enlarges on this circuit of his ministry. It is not merely historical, but to show what pains God takes in causing the light of His grace to meet man and how far afield it goes. Well, there is to be a return surely, and that is what should challenge every one that receives the grace.
JJT So that Rome becomes a “joint of supply”.
JT That is exactly how it is presented.
CCE I was wondering whether communications were not essential, that is, that practically we should keep in touch with one another wherever we are. Otherwise, how do things come to the ears of the assembly?
FP Why was the need from this universal dearth to be ministered to from Jerusalem? The bounty is sent to the brethren there to administer.
JT Of course the metropolitan relations of the assembly there still existed. Jerusalem had the metropolitan idea as no other assembly had. The bounty was to be sent “to the brethren who dwelt in Judea”; “sending it to the elders” — these were those at Jerusalem evidently. Most of the need would doubtless be in the city, compare Romans 15: 26. The spiritual need was at Antioch, but the material need was at Jerusalem, and there were joints of supply. This principle is working today in certain parts of the world that one could mention, but then it ought to be general: every one that has received the ministry of the grace of God should be [p. 201] challenged as to whether there is a circulation through him in keeping with it.
JRS Does the material ministration put it within the reach of all?
JT Yes, for we may say each has something in this sense; but it is a question of what was needed. What was needed at Jerusalem at that time was material supply. It is a question of supply and joints of supply.
MWB We have in John 7 the “rivers of living water” flowing out.
WCG Is the principle seen in 2 Corinthians 10: 15: “When your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly?” It is a question of faith; by faith we see the need.
JT Yes; faith necessarily enters into all this; without it God is left out.
WW It is said of Barnabas that he was “a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith”.
JT In the work at Antioch he was one of the main arteries, so to speak, of circulation.
WCG He went all the way down to Tarsus to fetch a man whom he could see could circulate something.
JT And that was quite an undertaking; he went and found him and brought him to Antioch. It is significant that their service at Antioch precedes this principle of return; they were there a whole year. It says, “And so it was with them that for a whole year they were gathered together in the assembly and taught a large crowd: and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch”. The idea of the assembly is emphasized.
DLH Why on this occasion is the assembly, as such, not found ministering to the material need at Jerusalem? It was those who were “well off” who seem to have been exercised to give at this time.
JT I suppose it corresponds with chapter 13 where you have five distinguished persons, persons who were spiritually well off. These here are materially well off. I think it is to bring out the personnel of the assembly at Antioch, the kind of men that were there. It is a remarkable thing that the Spirit of God should note there were men well off among them. You might say that is a very trivial thing, but it is a matter of importance. If the Spirit of God is concerned about the consequences of the dearth for the saints it is important surely that there are those among them who have the means to relieve the sufferings. If God has caused His grace to reach their hearts, He has in mind their wealth as well; He can use that; it is to be sanctified. That is very practical, and it shows the economy into which we are brought, how God can take us on whether rich or poor, and if we are rich, we can show the genuineness of our love by giving to meet need. Here was need. Agabus announced the dearth, and now, what are these men going to do? It is a kind of challenge to the persons whom grace has affected. What are they going to do? They have no spiritual gift, it may be, but they have this. Are they going to circulate? Are they going to be in accord with the great system God is establishing — the body of Christ, which was now coming into view? Are they going to move in that current?
JHT Would Hebrews 13 be the blend of the spiritual and the material? “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise continually to God”, and then, “But of doing good and communicating of your substance be not forgetful, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased”, verses 15, 16.
JT That is good.
DLH Was there not a very fine movement [p. 203] of the Spirit of God on this occasion in the Gentiles ministering to the Jews? It was something unprecedented that Gentiles should minister to Jews.
JT The point was to bring out this — that the organism, the body, was coming into view, and that the power in it was overcoming national barriers and prejudices. It is something outside of national prejudices; it has overcome them.
EJMcB There was also a return to this contribution, for when Paul and Barnabas came away they brought Mark with them.
JT That is the idea; they did not come back empty-handed. It is the spiritual being supplied, that is, what was needed at Antioch. We have to admit the breakdown of John Mark, but we are entitled to view his full history; and so we can regard him as a most important recompense for the bounty of the Gentiles.
JHT Would the apostle in his last journey to Rome bring out this feature of circulation? It says that at Sidon he was suffered to go to his friends and refresh himself — would that be the material side? Then it says that at Puteoli he found brethren and stayed with them seven days. I wondered if the friends and brethren would suggest the secret side, the disciples being more the public side.
JT Indeed. The thought before us is seen strikingly throughout Paul’s history.
PL Would Phoebe represent an artery in the way of succour, while, on the more spiritual side, we have “Prisca and Aquila, my fellow-workmen in Christ Jesus”; and then “all the assemblies of the nations” thankful, Romans 16. Are they arteries, so to speak?
JT Phoebe is a beautiful artery, taking, as undoubtedly she did, the letter from Paul to Rome, with all these beautiful salutations. How much they would accentuate the affections of the brethren at Rome. Then in Aquila and Priscilla you have a dual idea [p. 204] reminding us indeed of Christ and the assembly. They are never mentioned apart; they are mentioned six times, I think — three times Aquila is first, and three times Priscilla is first, as if there were a beautiful blend there. And the way they travel; they first left Rome and came to Corinth, then Paul took them away from Corinth to Ephesus, and they are alluded to there as having the assembly in their house; and then at Rome again they are similarly alluded to, so that they were undoubtedly characteristic of the principle we have before us. How beautifully they would speak of Paul’s ministry! How the assembly would be enhanced in their house!
JJ Matthew speaks of Joseph of Arimathaea as “a rich man”, and Luke calls him “a good man”. I suppose he comes in in a very special way at the moment of need.
Ques The first mention of Barnabas is that he was possessed of land and sold it and brought the money and laid it at the feet of the apostles. Acts 4: 37, and that is how he got his name. Would that give point to the ministry in Antioch?
JT Yes, the noble way he acted.
HMS Would the passage in 1 Corinthians 4 where the apostle speaks of “stewards of the mysteries of God” cover both material and spiritual things?
JT In principle it would. Whatever one has, can it be used to meet current need? We shall not need material things in heaven, but we do down here, nor can the testimony go on without them.
Rem We work with our hands that we may have something to distribute.
JT Quite so. Romans establishes the great principles that should govern us as christians, and every one has something. He has his members, his body to offer, so that each may be a contributor.
[p. 205] Rem Peter and John gave what was needed in Acts 3.
JT Exactly, such as they had. It is a question of what is needed. If it be spiritual ministry, we must be concerned about that, but if material things are needed, we must be concerned about that.
FSM So personal service and hospitality and material gifts might all be the outlet as expressive of appreciation of spiritual ministry.
GJE The material is as much in need of circulation as the spiritual.
JT It is essential, and I believe that is just why it is mentioned that God takes account of those men who were well off. Did they say, Let us have a collection? Paul recognized that elsewhere, but there is not a word about it here; it is what “each of them” did. The appeal in this scripture is to persons who have means. What are they going to do? The assembly in Jerusalem has spiritual wealth, and it has ears; it has taken account of what is going on at Antioch, a long way off. It furnished Barnabas, and Barnabas, actuated by the same thought, goes off and gets Saul, so that the spiritual supply is abundant; Jerusalem was characterized by it; and Barnabas and Saul for a whole year taught a large crowd in the assembly at Antioch. Thus the spiritual side was well taken care of. The prophets bring out that there is another kind of necessity in the ordering of God, and how is that to be met? Will Antioch be actuated by the spirit of Jerusalem? The facts stated show that it was; the men with means determine to do something, and do it.
Ques Is it at all like the offering of the princes in the book of Numbers?
JT Very much — the waggons and the other offerings. The waggons denote provision for Levites — the Lord’s servants; the other offerings were to God — the dedication gift of [p. 206] the altar.
EJMcB You have a very beautiful case in the wealthy woman of Shunem. She would detain the prophet and see to it that there was a room in her house for him.
JT That is a good illustration of what we are considering; she knew what was needed. It is the idea of supplying what is needed. The prophet did not need a well-furnished apartment. He needed certain things, and she supplied them. One would not think of enlarging on the material side, save to bring out the position, the present divine economy, to show how large a place material things have in it, and how “such sacrifices” become an offering to God, a return to Him of thanksgiving.
FI Does not the material giving in the normal way proceed from the spiritual circulation?
JT Yes; it ought to be promoted by that. If the grace of God has been brought to you, and you are well off, you are moved to give. That is the idea. Here there is not a word about a collection; it is a question of persons who were well off and what they did. And they acted nobly; they acted quite in keeping with Jerusalem. Jerusalem had spiritual princes; Antioch had men well off in a material way, besides there were also certain prophets and teachers, five being mentioned by name.
Ques Have you in mind that at Antioch there were conditions suitable for the development of these things?
JT Yes. God selected that city for this, and I believe the basis of Paul’s ministry is there. It is the idea of circulation suggestive of the organism — the body — which he develops in Colossians and Ephesians.
Rem So it takes on a distinctive character; they are called christians there.
JT God greatly honoured Antioch, because, I believe, it responded so quickly and intelligently to [p. 207] His thought at that juncture — the truth of the body. It responded at once to Jerusalem, and that is what God is looking for now — that brethren should be in the knowledge of what He is doing and alert to supply what is needed. That is how the work is to be maintained and the testimony to go on.
AL So Paul gathered sticks to light a fire to warm the saints when it was needed.
JT Very good. No doubt his service in that was more needed then than a discourse on the mystery!
JOS Paul’s sister’s son is mentioned in Acts 23 as a joint of supply.
JT It shows how God will use what is available; what was needed then was provided by the youth. The saints at Jerusalem are not mentioned as aiding the apostle in his distress.
Ques Would Aquila and Priscilla having the meeting in their house tend to circulation — no rent to pay?
JT It would. Paul’s currency would circulate there. Aquila and Priscilla would be especially the arteries for the circulation of Paul’s thoughts, and so would Lydia.
GJE How do we find out what is needed?
JT That is another thing. One could mention a great many needs that are current at the present time. It is a question of discernment, but God helps in this, too. He has His men like Agabus, men of understanding, to indicate His mind.
GJE The company must be in the spiritual circulation really to estimate what is needed aright. It is not human indiscriminate giving.
JT There was a very fine state of things at Antioch. The course of instruction by Barnabas and Saul brought this about. The disciples were first called Christians there, that name evidently conveying what marked them.
AJG If we are careful about the needs of others [p. 208] our own shall be met. Paul says, “My God shall abundantly supply all your need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus”. Philippians 4: 19.
JT Quite so. “Give, and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall be given into your bosom: for with the same measure with which ye mete it shall be measured to you again”. Luke 6: 38. That is God’s way, for God is greatly concerned about His principles. He has established principles in the creation, and these are reflected in the assembly and He is greatly concerned that they should be maintained.
PHH Does God bring in dearth and famine to test us on this line? Tribulation comes in as a result of what was sown in Stephen, but is the dearth something specially ordered of God?
JT Yes, it is another side of the position. It was not Satan’s work, it was God’s. It came in at this time, and the saints are forewarned, and these men act nobly, as we have said; there is an immediate response to the principle or truth that was now coming into evidence in the course of the testimony. What is to be noted here is the personnel, for you will not have much without persons of this kind. It is not merely a certain number in fellowship, but persons of quality — persons who meet the evident requirements.
FW Does the idea of circulation enter into that scripture: “Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that is treading out corn”, 1 Corinthians 9: 9? Would the treading out the corn be spiritual and the provision for the ox what is material?
JT Exactly — the ox being typical of one who serves effectively.
WT According to Matthew’s gospel, after the Lord was risen, the chief priests held a council and [p. 209] decided to give a large sum of money to the soldiers to circulate a lie.
JT That is a striking fact, and has much that corresponds today. This should stimulate us in circulating the truth.
Rem In Romans 15 the apostle refers to the love of the Spirit.
JT It is a remarkable expression. The whole passage accentuates the idea of joints of supply. He was himself acting as a deacon, and he begged the Romans to pray for him; he needed their prayers that the ministry he had for Jerusalem might be acceptable.
PL Is not the Spirit’s own presence here and His great mission bound up with this great truth of circulation? “He shall receive of mine and shall announce it to you”. John 16: 14.
JT That is what we come to in the assembly. 1 Corinthians 12, as we all know, brings out what the Spirit is in the organism, and I think God would help us and perhaps further extend His operations through us if we accept the obligation of circulating what is needed, as these men at Antioch did: “Which also they did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul”.
Rem Hannah met what was needed, when the light was going out; she asked for a man child, and then lent him to the Lord.
MWB In that way would it be right to pray for the raising up of gifts as well as what is needed materially?
JT I am sure it would. The need is very great: the work is extending, and the need of pastors and teachers abroad among the saints is beyond expression at the present time. If we accept the obligation, and pray, the Lord will answer.
CHP Do you not think that in the ways of God giving in material things leads to spiritual increase?
JT [p. 210] It is sure to. The assembly at Antioch was greatly honoured; it served God well, affording a pivot on which, as it were, the testimony turned on its course. Chapter 13 brings out the great position the assembly held there; it was so honoured that the Holy Spirit spoke there, saying: “Separate me now Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them”.
Ques Is the principle summed up in David’s words: “Of thine own have we given thee” — everything returning to God?
JT That is how it stands. I suppose David represents this thought such as none other. 1 Chronicles 29 is a wonderful outgoing of heart of one who recognized that he received everything from God. That is the principle: “For of him, and through him, and for him are all things”. Romans 11: 36.
Ques Does not the state of heart enter very much into this? In the human body circulation depends upon a healthy heart.
JT I am sure that is true. The human body is, I suppose, the highest expression of circulation. The idea was there long before it was discovered. It is seen in the great physical creation generally, but it is more precise in the human body, and all we are speaking of leads up to it spiritually. In Ephesians 4 we have the assembly viewed spiritually edifying itself, “its self-building up in love”.
WW With regard to the ministry of the prophet going down to Antioch, would it flow out the more freely because of the good atmospheric conditions of that meeting?
JT That is evident. From the time the light entered Antioch to the beginning of chapter 13 there was steady progress there, so that it becomes an assembly owned of God, taken into His confidence in His service, as we have seen.
Rem Paul speaks of the Macedonians that “in a [p. 211] great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty has abounded to the riches of their free-hearted liberality”, 2 Corinthians 8: 2.
JT There it is not people who were well off but people who were very poorly off. If the stream of blessing goes back it is seen that God is working, but if it must flow only in one direction it is manifest that something is wrong.
MWB In what way would those who are beginning to take up Christian ground exhibit this principle?
JT First in the acceptance of obligation that there is to be a result for God in them. As soon as the grace of God comes into my heart through the gospel, this will normally show itself; and normally it will be in whatever way it is most needed.
JOS Like the Philippian jailor.
JT Exactly; he supplied what was most needed at the moment; he washed the stripes of Paul and Silas, and laid the table for them.
FSM There are many who do not know what exists in the way of need amongst the brethren.
JT That is true, and then there are those who do not seem to want to know, and the fact that they do not know is no sorrow to them. In the prayer meeting you get very few universal prayers. If I have “ears” I shall know what God is doing.
Ques Would the principle of circulation be seen in God’s ways in the gospel, that it has gone out from the Jew to the Gentile? Is there any possibility that it may now go back to the Jew again? I wondered whether God will work in these closing days among the Jews.
JT When God works among the Jews again it will be through a gospel suited to them — not the gospel which is preached now. They having refused it, Paul says: “This salvation of God has been sent to the nations”. There will be no special testimony to the Jews during this dispensation.